“Yeah, well, it ain’t just your cause any longer. The way Matthew was hurt means it was against one of us, that’s why we’ve pitched in to help. Dastardly folk like that need putting down, that’s what I say. We aim to protect the rest of our neighbours.”
The murmurs from the rest of the men seemed to agree with the spokesman.
Richard grinned and said, “I couldn’t wish for better men to help. Between us, we shall put away these villains and make the village secure. Aaron’s in charge while I’m gone, but I’ll be back as soon as I can to join you. Good hunting!”
He gave a cheery wave and left the room, followed by Aaron. Tossing a coin to Aaron’s son who had looked after his horse, he mounted Jamal and with a brief “see you soon,” cantered back to the inn.
Lucie was waiting for him and had arranged a light lunch. While they ate, he went over his plans with her and was pleased she was happy that they would travel back to her home the next day. He didn’t say he was going to leave her there while he dealt with Tasker. He wanted her safely out of the way in case there was trouble and knew she would likely refuse to let him return on his own, but he would tackle that problem later. He knew Rowten would guard her with his life, and at least, she would be far away from Tasker.
“Have you some plain old clothes you can wear for our return? I don’t want to draw attention to us for obvious reasons.”
“I do have an old dress which will go nicely over my trousers. I am going to ride astride aren’t I? It is too long a way to go side saddle, and I’d like to be comfortable.”
“Yes, no problem. We will not be wasting time, and though we have to break our journey overnight, we need to travel fast. Just bring a small bag with you for necessities, and I’ll do the same. We’ll get the inn to make up some food for us in case we can’t buy any on the way, but that is all the weight I want to take with us. Thankfully, we have good animals to carry us. We just need to rest them now and again, and they will see us through. I do not want to hire fresh ones and leave ours to chance.”
The preparations were soon made, and it was barely daylight the next morning when, after eating a quick breakfast, they left Clun and headed south.
* * * *
Two days later, a pair of very tired travellers rode slowly up the long drive between the ancient oaks that had been planted when the house was first built. The morning had been frosty, and the first of the leaves had fallen, covering the pebbled roadway and softening the sound of hooves. Richard was tempted to lift his exhausted wife off her horse and hold her close to him in case she fell asleep before they arrived. Yet, as tired as she was, she brightened visibly when the house came into view.
“Oh, how lovely, Richard. We are home. I didn’t realise before how much I missed it.”
He barely murmured a “yes, it is good to be back,” but it made him think what a good trooper she had been, not only to put up with the frightening drama of Tasker, but the inevitable shortcomings of living in a small hotel. Yet she hadn’t once complained. Indeed, he was the one who had seen the difficulties and problems and, now and again, had shown his irritation with the place. Indeed, another reason to think seriously about the future.
Rowten’s joy when he opened the door and beheld his beloved mistress being helped off her horse was monumental. He watched Richard hold her while she got her balance as she slipped down from the saddle then saw him pick her up and carry her up the stairs. He held the door wide as he greeted them and, at once, said, “Is her ladyship unwell?”
“No, just purely exhausted. We’ve had a devil of a ride. It’s a bath and bed for her, if you will get Mrs Firth to arrange it. I’ll have the same after I talk with you. Tell the grooms to nursemaid the horses. They have carried us well and will need care to recover.”
Within a short time, his orders were fulfilled, and soon, he sat down in the study with a plate of food and a glass of ale to talk with the butler.
“What about her ladyship—should I take her something to eat?” asked Rowten.
“Not until she has a long sleep. I suspect she needs rest more than anything else.”
For the next hour, he talked with Rowten, telling him most of what had happened in the interim since they’d left Ashbury Mead.
“Of course, Tasker followed us after a while. You were right to let me know his place was deserted. First intimation I got was when we were fired upon at the back of my manor house. I took every precaution after that, and now, it seems we have got him and a couple of men bottled up in a nearby cave in the hills. It was providential you have the harvest festival to celebrate, Rowten. It gave me an excuse to get my wife away while I deal with that madman. I’ll stay a couple of days to get over the journey and rest my horse, then I’ll return. Lucie does not know she is not coming back with me. She won’t like it. In fact, I’m prepared for arguments, but I cannot concentrate on what has to be done if I am worrying about her. Tasker is an evil villain. He will kill without mercy if it suits him. I am under no illusions. I have a fight on my hands when I return. So be it. I will need all my wits to defeat him, and the less I have to worry about the easier it will be. It will be up to you to protect her. Even, dare I say, argue with her, but in the end, she must do as she is told.”
“I’ll willingly help to keep her safe. More than that, I’d like to protect you as well. I’m not happy to have you go back and face danger. More than anything else, we miss you here. With her Grace gone, the place is not the same, and the servants pine for Lady Lucie like you wouldn’t believe. She has always been our ray of sunshine, and her absence has been a great loss to us all. Still, she is your wife, and we have to get used to it and accept that you will want to live in your birth place.”
“Well, perhaps not. I’ve not settled in my mind where we will have our main house. The area I grew up in is picturesque, but I know how overjoyed Lucie was to come back here, and although she has made great progress with turning a ruin of a house into something beautiful, it will be even harder for her to leave her beloved home again.”
Rowten gazed thoughtfully back at his master. There was more to that last remark than it seemed. He sensed ambivalence in his voice—was he having second thoughts as to where they would live? If so, it was a radical change from his attitude when the earl had left before. Rowten felt the difference in their status keenly. He would have liked to probe more, but it wasn’t his place to be inquisitive. He could only wait for whatever the earl chose to tell him. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to create a little pressure to stay.
“Now, tell me about the festival.” Richard changed the subject. “We passed quite a few travellers with horse-drawn booths heading this way.”
“The village has been a central point for the celebration for many a long year. Most times, the duchess opened up one of her meadows to contain them all, but this year, the village main street and square is being used. With her Grace gone and a doubt if Lady Lucie would attend, it wasn’t deemed right to ask if the field could be used again, so the townsmen decided to keep things local. I hope you will stay for the opening at least. It will be in a couple of days’ time, and it is usually a good show. The church gets filled with produce, which is handed afterwards to the poorest people, and the stalls are magnificent. The holders come from afar to sell their wares. A lot of people wait all year to buy their gifts at the fair. And, of course, there is also the Hiring Fair where people get their employment for the coming year, so there are usually many people looking for change in their jobs. Fortunately, we don’t have that problem. Our people at Ashbury Mead stay because they like their jobs. The servants tend to marry within the estate so don’t have the need to move away. The duchess knew everyone by name and looked after them all like a huge family. That’s why we are a bit rudderless, if you get my meaning.”
Indeed, Richard did get his meaning and suddenly frowned. “No pressure, Rowten. I’ll let you know what I decide when I have decided.” He rose to his feet.
“Yes, milord, I understand.” Rowten bowed his obedien
ce.
“I’ll have my bath now and rest. Is her ladyship in her own bed?”
“I believe so, milord.”
“Good. We’ll let her sleep. Wake me in a couple of hours if I haven’t stirred before. I have estate business to deal with and need to go through everything with Rigby. Have him attend me later this afternoon. A session before dinner should be enough for today.”
He went upstairs and slid into the warm bath with relief. As tired as he was, his mind was a maze of conjecture, and he felt totally adrift from the real world. He wished he could be in two places at once and solve the problems that beset him. He got into bed thinking he would never sleep, but a moment or two later, he was dead to the world and never heard the servants clear his bath water.
Rowten peeped in an hour later and was pleased he slept so soundly. A maid confirmed that her ladyship, too, was fast asleep. After a consultation with Rowten, Mrs Firth decided dinner could be put back at least an hour to give them more time to rest. “Shall we change the clocks so milord doesn’t notice?” she said humorously to Rowten.
“Better not, I think. His lordship is not one to be gulled. I don’t believe he will take offence at the extra hour. He looked a man in need of rest. He has much on his mind. We’ll leave dinner as long as possible and leave them to sleep.”
In the end, it was a slow awakening for both of them, and dressing comfortably, they came downstairs to find their meal set out and waited upon in the small cosy parlour. Relaxing more and loath to bestir himself, Richard decided to delay his work with Rigby until the following morning and told Rowten to cancel his meeting with the secretary. He needed further time to think things over.
“I took the liberty of changing your venue to here, milord. I felt that comfort was more important than custom.” The butler bowed anxiously as he led them into the room.
“How clever of you to guess we have got used to eating at a small table, Rowten,” Lucie interrupted. “It’s just right, isn’t it, darling? I was dreading eating in the dining room.”
“If you say so, my dear, it is suitable for tonight, I collect.” He nodded at the butler, but Rowten could still sense the constraint in his voice.
* * * *
Aaron decided to deploy his men in shifts, with him filling in wherever he was needed. All was quiet the first day, and then early the next morning, Aaron had gone up to Clee Grot and was lying concealed in some bushes on a nearby hillside, speaking softly with Tom Slater who was on the midnight till six watch. They were waiting for Evan Stebbins to show to take over the next shift when a movement of the bushes in front of the cave drew their eyes.
“All it needs is that lazy bugger, Evan, to show up and give the game away just when something’s happening,” whispered Aaron. “Is Barney with the horses? That looks like a face peering out to see if it’s clear. If it is, I’m tracking him to see where he goes. If Evan comes, keep him here till I return and keep watching in case someone else comes out.”
Finally satisfied no one was around to see, a man emerged from the bushes, and after another quick look to make sure, headed downhill to where he had tethered the animals. Aaron, crouching low and using every bit of camouflage he could find, followed behind, hoping that Barney was well hidden too.
Tom kept his eyes peeled on the entrance to the cave and was startled when a figure slid alongside him and whispered, “Sorry I’m late. I overslept. What’s doing? Where’s Aaron?”
“He’s gone after someone who came out from the Grot. The man is heading down to the horses with Aaron following, so his lordship was right. They’ve hobbled them and need to move them to new grazing. Aaron said to wait and keep watching in case someone else comes out, so I’ll hang on a bit with you. If there is trouble, both of us need to handle it. I hope you brought your gun with you.”
“I don’t mind watching, but I dursent like a fight. My wife will play merry hell if I get hurt. She’s already bent my ear this morning. I’ve had the devil’s own job to get out of the house with her moans. She’s not easy to persuade when she gets her dander up.”
“You offered to come when Aaron asked. Why didn’t you say so then? It wasn’t as if anyone was twisting your arm.”
Evan shrugged. “I dunno, you all seemed keen so I didn’t see the harm...”
“Well, you are here now, and he expects you to back him up,” Tom said, his voice filled with disgust. It wasn’t Evan’s wife who was at fault. It was Evan himself who was the coward. Knowing him from school days, Tom wasn’t surprised. Evan was the last man to volunteer if there was any fighting to be done. It was the money the earl was paying that had lured Evan to offer to help, probably thinking he could stay well back and be safe.
* * * *
Moseley was glad to get out of the cave. He wasn’t a lover of places like that. Too much like being entombed. Give him open spaces or woodlands, and he was fine. The cave felt full of ghosts with the sounds of the wind whistling through various apertures and even, he would swear, the odd sound of grinding rocks. He’d take his time sorting out the mounts and perhaps think about heading off and taking his chances elsewhere. He couldn’t see Tasker getting enough money to make it worth his while to stay—or passing it on, come to that—no matter how hard the man boasted. He was full of greed. All hot air and puke, he was, although he wouldn’t take him on, not with that vile temper he had. No, the only thing to do was to slide away and let Harry Smeeton handle him.
With thoughts of escape filling his mind, he forgot to look behind or take care, and when two strangers came at him, gagged his mouth, and bound him to a horse, he stopped thinking and, glad of the excuse to get away from Tasker, resigned himself to losing his freedom. The men mounted the other two horses and, taking a roundabout way, came to the foot of the hill where Tom was waiting in a good spot to keep an eye on the exit from the cave. Aaron passed his reins to Barney. “Keep your gun on him, Barn. I’ll send Tom down to ride home with you. I'll wait on to see if that lazy git Evan comes but get him”—he nodded towards Moseley—“locked up soon as you can. Then if you can, get someone to relieve me.”
He promptly began to climb the hill and was reassured to see Evan was there. "Took your time didn't you?" He growled, "We ain't playing games here, mate. This is serious."
Then Aaron turned to Tom with a grin on his face.
Tom said, “You got him, then?”
“Too right, I did. Sitting duck, he was. You get down to the horses and take him to Church Stretton along with Barney. His Lordship has already let the beak know what we have been doing, so he’ll get a nice cosy jail cell. We haven’t enough men to keep watching the place round the clock, so see if Walter will lend us two of his night watchmen. With Tasker penned up here, the earl’s house will be all right. Stable the horses and get back up here again after you’ve had some food. Oh, and bring some for us. Savvy?”
Tom quickly joined Barney in place of Aaron, and they set off to Church Stretton to notify the local magistrate and hand the man over to the police. They promised they would follow on with the other two culprits when they were caught.
Meanwhile, Aaron, after strict instructions to Evan to keep awake and watch, climbed the hillside to reach the other entrance—‘a good stretch of the legs’ his pa used to say when he was younger and herding sheep. He always thought his legs had failed after that, but come what may, he had to reach Jacob and tell him what had happened.
* * * *
“Where the bloody hell is he? He shouldn’t have taken as long as this moving the horses to another pasture. Reckon he’s scarpered? You know the man better than I, Harry.” Tasker fumed, almost crazy at yet another thing going wrong.
Smeeton shrugged. “I wouldn’t have thought so, but then who knows what a man will do. He won’t be leaving for more money, that’s for sure. A bullet in the back or the hangman’s noose is all he’ll get from them outside. On the other hand, he was mighty nervous of you. If you’ve scared him enough, he might be running. Personally, I think he’s
been nabbed. That damn farmer who gave up the whereabouts of this place, admittedly with a lot of encouragement, knew it well. So would a number of other villagers, I imagine.”
“You think I’ve led you wrong, Harry?”
“No. One has to play the cards as you see ’em. But I’m thinking it is time we got out ourselves and made a dash for freedom. I don’t like this place. Too confining, I mean.”
“I’ve been looking at the other end of the cave. There is a powerful draught coming through. I think we have a way out there. Want to try it?”
“Likely the entrance is watched, so yeah, I’m game. I'll do anything to get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.”
Chapter Sixteen
Two hours later, Aaron, having made his way round to where Jacob lay watching the other route into Clee Grot, was greeting the two men that Walter had sent.
“Good of you to help out. It’s not the best job in the world. If they were animals, one could dig them out, but the earl wants them to face justice. I’m in two minds after Matt’s beating, but I’m obeying orders—” He stopped in alarm as a rumble was heard and the ground shook.
“Jesus! That sounds like a rock fall. Are they trying to get out this way?”
The two night watchmen stared at one another. They were not used to the hills or the dangers, and a rock fall meant nothing to them.
“Jacob, we’d best go down there and see what’s up.” He pointed to the back entrance.
“You two men stay here. If we are not back in half an hour or so, get help. Get help if you hear another rumble like the last one. Savvy?” They savvied.
Nearly an hour passed, and the men were getting anxious when one cried out, “There they are. Just two of them, though.” They walked down to meet their companions.
Aaron was shaking his head as he approached the two men. “It was a roof fall all right, and at least one man was killed. We saw a bloodied arm and leg sticking out from the debris. The whole passage is blocked now. Nobody can get through, so we’ll have to go round the other side to see if anyone comes out there. I have Evan watching that exit, so we must hasten round there to help. It must have frightened the daylights out of anyone that didn’t get caught in that fall. If they did, then likely it put paid to the whole gang. This is the way I wanted it all along. I can’t stomach people like them. They are better off dead. So I count one a prisoner, one dead, and the other a maybe. Good day’s work, I believe.”
A Perilous Marriage Page 20