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He shifted a bit under her gaze. “No, and I don’t want to.”
“A little girl’s life.”
“I said I don’t wanna know.” He urged the horses forward.
“She was taken from her home two nights ago when she accidentally stumbled upon a few smugglers crossing her father’s property. A little girl no older than seven.”
“I’m not listening.”
She didn’t care if he didn’t want to know. He may call her idealism stupid or crazy, but his preference to stay ignorant was worse, in her mind. “That little girl has seen the faces of many dangerous men now. Do you really think once they escape into the country, they’re just going to let her go? Even if they did, how would she ever find her way back home?”
He set his jaw. “And what are you gonna do about it?”
“I’m going to help her escape.” Dinah spoke the words as an unwavering declaration. She’d helped the Bow Street Runners several times since coming to London earlier this year. Normally, it was nothing more than ballroom jobs—listening in on the right conversations, flirting with certain men until they slipped up and said something important. It was safe, even if it did mean she needed to be around rakes and jackanapes most of the time.
Which was, as it turned out, a situation her family neither approved of nor understood. But she was under very strict orders from Mr. Harding not to explain to anyone. So she didn’t.
The man made another turn left, then pulled the cart off the road completely and stopped beneath a large oak. “They’re camped fifty paces that way.” He pointed past her.
Dinah gave him a decisive nod and climbed down from the cart. She focused her gaze in the direction the man had pointed and started forward.
“Just remember what I told you,” he called after her. “If there be any problems at all, don’t bother coming back for me. I won’t be hanging around.”
She didn’t grace him with a reply or even a glance back. She simply pressed on farther across the field. Dinah would have much rather waited until night, but Mr. Harding had disagreed. This particular group of men often traveled at night. Moreover, after Mr. Harding’s failed attempt at rescuing the little girl last night, he didn’t want to wait and miss what might be their last opportunity today.
The yellow grass and wildflowers grew tall here. Though there were few trees, it wasn’t hard to see how a group of smugglers could remain hidden among such tall overgrowth. Dinah slowed her step the farther from the cart she walked. She wouldn’t be doing the little girl any favors if she were heard and caught herself.
The plan was simple, according to Mr. Harding. Who, admittedly, had already failed once at rescuing the little girl. But, he had been quick to explain, that was simply because the little girl had been too terrified to trust a strange man. Mr. Harding was confident the little girl would trust a woman, stranger or no. All Dinah needed to do was slip up close to the group unnoticed, get the little girl’s attention, beckon the child to her, pray she had enough courage to make a run for it, and off they’d disappear into the tall grass.
It seemed fartoosimple for Dinah. But when she pressed, Mr. Harding had admitted he had a man on the inside. Someone who’d been working as a smuggler for many months now. He’d only given her the man’s cover name: Crow. Dinah wasn’t exactly sure what it said about the man that he’d been given the name Crow, but it didn’t sound overly friendly or congenial. Regardless, Crow had been the first one to tell Mr. Harding about the little girl. He’d also said that the group of men often ignored her since she’d been scared into submission from the first. Mr. Harding seemed convinced Dinah would get quite far, possibly even back to the cart, before anyone was the wiser.
If the cart was even still there.
Rough grass scraped against her sleeves as Dinah pressed onward. She’d been happy when Mr. Harding had first offered her a job that wasn’t flirting, but now she wasn’t so sure. She’d never been trained for something like this, and she’d hardly had any time to prepare. But if they didn’t try something tonight, the little girl would be moved—possibly killed—and there wouldn’t be another chance at saving her.
The deep sound of male voices reached her, and Dinah slowed her step. Bending over, she kept her head below the tallest blades of grass. Slowly, she peeled away layers of grass in front of her and moved steadily forward. The voices grew louder. Dinah moved as close as she dared and then sat back on her heels. Several men were clustered together not far from her. It appeared they had trampled down a small section of grass where they might rest comfortably while still being hidden from anyone more than four meters away. Two of the men were sitting, talking in soft voices—the voices she’d followed. The rest, probably another five in total, were lying on the trampled grass, eyes shut. If they frequently traveled at night, it made sense they’d have to sleep during the day.
Dinah slipped up a half-foot closer. Where was the little girl? She prayed nothing had happened to her between last night and now. Dinah leaned far to her right, carefully looking over the group of men from between the many blades of grass surrounding her.
There. The little girl was sitting as far away from the men as she could manage while still being within the circle. She was awake—that was a blessing—and sitting up, her eyes darting about her every which way. Dinah slipped up closer to the little girl. If she reached out and touched her arm, the child would most likely scream. Instead, Dinah moved up close and whispered softly.
“Hello,” she said as quietly as she could manage.
The little girl’s head whirled around.
Dinah pressed a finger to her lips, telling her to stay silent. The little girl didn’t nod or respond but simply stared at her with wide eyes. Now that she wasn’t worried the little girl would scream at her nearness, Dinah moved closer.
“Wait until they aren’t looking, then slip into the grass. I’ll get you out of here.”
This time, the little girl nodded. Her gaze moved back to the men. One of the two said something, and the other tipped his head back and laughed.
“Now,” Dinah said.
The little girl shot backward and into the grass. Dinah wrapped an arm around her and together they started making their way toward the road and the waiting cart. With any luck, the men would continue laughing for some time and not hear or notice the little girl’s departure.
Dinah and the little girl made it three meters, then five, then ten. Dinah’s stomach eased; this was going to work. They were going to make it back to the cart before anyone noticed—
A loud call echoed about the field.
