“Holes? How deep?”
“Deep enough to lame a horse or throw a rider. Six feet, maybe ten. One was much deeper.”
“That is good to know.”
“Perhaps they are there to catch intruders.” Vincent shifted from one leg to the other.
“What else more is there, Vincent?”
Gabriel could see the young man debating whether to go on. He gave the footman a stern glare.
“Well, I think—I could be wrong, see—but I think maybe the woman saw me.” He shrugged as if it mattered little.
Gabriel kept glaring until Vincent grew uncomfortable enough to continue. “I was at that wall, looking over, hanging on, when she stopped walking and looked around the grounds, casual like. Admiring the trees, so to speak, when suddenly she looked right at me. There were branches and such between us, so I could be wrong. She did not stop looking around. She did not cry out, but I had the feeling she saw me there. For a second, it seemed she gazed right into my eyes.”
“And the man?”
“Nah, he was behind her, like I said. She moved on before he came up to her.”
“It may not be so bad if she did see you. I will have to think about that. Is there any other more? Out with it now, if there is.”
Vincent flushed. “No, Your Grace. I swear that is all the more there is.” He turned to go. “Will you be needing me in the morning, Your Grace?”
“I haven’t decided yet. Be up and ready in case I do.” He had not thought to have Vincent along. Already the footman knew more than was wise, and must have guessed that this mission’s mystery meant someone was up to no good. Still, it might be useful to have him on hand.
He went above, to tell Amanda about Vincent’s “more.”
* * *
The inn at Colton was hardly luxurious, but Amanda did not care. Gabriel took two chambers for them upon their arrival and had a meal sent up to hers.
She and Gabriel ate in silence. The entire journey here had been made without their talking too much. She did not know what occupied his mind, but she could not control the thoughts that plagued hers.
Everything had changed when they’d woken this morning. The end had begun. Even last night it had affected their passion. That had been just as emotional as on the beach, but her heart had grown desperate while she’d held him, grabbing for whatever it could have while it could.
“If Vincent thinks my mother saw him, she probably did,” she finally said. “Fortunately, Mama is clever enough to sense that help is at hand, and keep this to herself.”
He took her hand. “First, we do not know for certain it was your mother. It could have been a friend, a sister, a wife. Then, we do not know she saw Vincent. The lad has a strong imagination and is full of himself what with these unusual duties he has been given.”
She finished her meal before speaking again. “I think we should go there tonight and try to get her out.”
“Even if it is your mother and even if she thinks we are coming, it will not affect how matters unfold. She is confined there. She can hardly choose to take a walk in the garden alone and run off with you.”
His relentless logic irritated her. “We won’t know until we go there.”
“We are not going anywhere until I confirm that this is the man, and the property, to which that dagger is delivered.”
“And how will you do that? Call on him tomorrow and ask if he recently received delivery of a stolen dagger? Present your card, sip some brandy, and have a chat? Ask if he happens to have a woman imprisoned in his house?”
“Something like that.”
Impossible. She could not sit here until tomorrow. “He might have seen Vincent. He could move my mother before we get there. We cannot waste time waiting for that dagger to be placed in his hand.” She began pulling garments out of her valise.
“What are you doing?”
“I am gathering the clothing I will wear this evening.”
He lifted the top item so it unfolded. “A man’s brown shirt.” He lifted the other one. “Pantaloons.”
She grabbed both from him. “I need those.”
He set his hands on his hips. “Why?”
“What if I need to go over a wall? It would be a fine thing if you are trying to help me do that while I am in a long skirt. Or . . . we may have to run fast. Today’s fashions barely permit walking.”
He sighed heavily and vaguely shook his head.
“Or I may have to climb a tree. Or . . . or . . .”
“Go in a window? Or out one?”
“Exactly.”
He muttered an exasperated curse.
“Very well. We will head over to this house as soon as you are ready, and take a look. We will only see what is what. We will not confront him about your mother. Hopefully we will not even see him. I will go so you can”—he gestured to the garments—“do whatever it is you do with those.”
* * *
Gabriel called for Vincent and quizzed him closely about those holes. It would be a hell of a thing if he or Amanda fell into one in the dark.
“You must ride back,” he said before sending Vincent away. “Find Stratton and Brentworth on the road. Tell them where we are staying. Say I request they meet us here after following the dagger to its destination.”
“I will leave at once, sir. I’ll ride through the night if need be.”
After sending Vincent off, he went down and told the coachman to prepare at once for a short journey. “Only a pair. We don’t want to sound like a mail coach on the road, and it is not far.”
By the time he had made his own preparations, Amanda had completed hers. He met her on the landing near their doors. She wore a dark, shapeless dress and carried an odd straw hat. She had pulled her hair into a tight roll on her crown.
She handed him a small cloth packet. “I will have no reticule, and no pocket if I remove this dress.”
He felt long, thin bulges inside the cloth. “Tools of the trade?”
“A few.”
“I said we would only take a look.”
“Thieves are always prepared for any opportunities.”
“There will be no opportunities this evening. I mean it, Amanda.”
She started down the stairs. “Of course, Gabriel. I accept that. Truly, I do.”
* * *
They left the carriage on the road a half mile from Mr. Yarnell’s house, not far past the village of Sudlairy, where Vincent said the inn was not suitable.
“Do you want to walk beside an unattractive and oddly formed woman, or beside a youth?” Amanda asked before leaving the carriage. “I recommend the youth. I can walk easier that way if it is farther than we anticipate.”
Gabriel looked like a man not happy with the choice given him. He rolled his eyes with exasperation. “The youth, then.”
She began stripping off the dress. “You might make a few alterations too. Find a way to appear less ducal, if that is possible.” She reached over and ruined the creases in his cravat and set the knot askew. “Hopeless. I should have advised you on what to pack, I can see. We don’t want any passerby to raise the word that a lord strolls down the lane, do we?”
He stepped out of the carriage and offered his hand. “I doubt anyone will notice.”
She knew him to be wrong, but did not argue.
She jammed the hat on her head. With a word to the coachman, they set off down the road.
Gabriel looked her over from head to toe. “That is what you wore when you broke into Sir Malcolm’s house.”
“Not these boots.”
“Ah, I forgot. Different footwear.”
“Don’t look at me like that. I could hardly make that jump in a dress, now could I?”
“So if you had been caught, you would have been wearing a shirt and pantaloons and a pair of slippers.”
“No shoes at all. You can’t get good toeholds in boots or any shoe that I know of. If you had ever attempted such a thing you would know that.”
�
�I have difficulty imagining anyone doing that, even you. When I try, I see you falling to the ground and hurt beyond repair.”
“My odds were at least even that I would not fall.”
“How reassuring. I would like you to promise me that you will never try that again, no matter what the reason. I will sleep better knowing you have given that up for good, even to escape a fate worse than death itself.”
She trod on, watching the landscape, looking for indications that they neared that house. “Ask me for the promise tomorrow, Gabriel.”
He stopped walking. “Amanda.”
What a lordly tone he used. If she spoke her mind about that, they would end up in a row. “I think we should leave this road and angle that way.” She pointed right. “I think I see a wall among the trees over there. The road seems to be turning that way too.”
He squinted, then looked up to note the sun’s low position. “Since we can’t just walk up to the gate, we will cut through this field.”
They left the road and trod on, aiming for the trees and wall.
“See how sensible it was for me to wear these clothes?” she asked.
He only shook his head like a man much put upon.
* * *
“Let me see,” Amanda whispered.
Gabriel peered over the wall while he hung by his fingertips. “There is not much to see. The back of the house. No one is in the garden or on the grounds.”
“How far away is the house?”
“No more than two hundred feet from here. This is a side wall.”
“That means we could get closer.”
He looked down on her. “There is no need. I can see fine from here.”
“Let me see too. Get down and help me to look.”
He lowered himself to the log he had pulled over to provide a step up. Amanda appeared to be examining the wall in a very suspicious manner.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Just waiting for you to help me up.”
“Are you seeing if you can climb it?”
“Me? Impossible, I’m sure. Also I am wearing boots, aren’t I? Now give me a boost up so I can see.”
Reluctantly he jumped off the rotting log. She took his place. He positioned himself, grabbed her around her waist, and raised her up. “Look quickly because I can’t do this long.”
“Oh, you can let go now.”
He didn’t, but he angled so he could see her grasping the top of the wall. “If I let go, you will drop.”
“I won’t.”
Her manner irritated him. Her weight did not strain him as much as he’d expected, but he was tempted.... The drop would not be far. He let go.
Her body remained on the wall, her chin at its top.
He looked down. Her boot toes rested in spots where mortar between the stones had fallen out.
“Gabriel, why didn’t you tell me about the window?” Her whisper sounded more like a hiss. “Didn’t you see it? One window’s drape is outside, not inside.”
He had not given it much notice. Actually, he had not noticed at all.
She dropped to the ground and brushed off her hands. “She is in that chamber. She put the drape outside so I would know where she was. She saw Vincent and she sent up a flag.” She turned. “Lift me again.”
He grasped her waist. “You do not know it is a flag. She might be in the cellar for all you know. The breeze could have made the drape billow out the window.”
“Drapes don’t billow out windows in summer. If they billow from the breeze, it is inside the chamber. Now lift me.”
“One last very brief look, Amanda. Then we are leaving. It will be dark soon.”
“I certainly hope so.”
He heaved her up. Only this time, she slid out of his hold and kept going. He looked up to see one of her legs over the top of the wall.
“Get down here.”
“I will be back soon.”
“Down. Now. I swear if you don’t, I’ll—” Only she was gone. He stared desperately at the spot where she had disappeared.
“You’ll what? Warm my pantaloons? The notion has a naughty appeal. I don’t know why.” Her voice came to the left of where he stood. She peered over the wall there. “There is a bench here, with a high back. Now that is convenient.”
He strode over to her. “Amanda—”
“Don’t scold and don’t bother commanding. I am going to let her know help has come. No one will see me, I promise.”
“Don’t move.” He strode back and pulled the big log over. “Stay right there.”
“Are you joining me? Well, come on then. It should be easy for you. You might take off your coats first.”
He stripped off his coats and dropped them. He positioned himself on the log, raised his arms so he could grab the top of the wall, and jumped.
Hardly easy, but pride made his first effort his best. He’d be damned before he failed where she had easily succeeded. Through sheer force of will, he managed to haul his weight to where he could throw a leg up, then pushed himself upright until he straddled the wall.
Amanda looked up at him. “See? The bench is right here. Careless of Mr. Yarnell. Going back will be much easier, I am relieved to say.”
He dropped to the ground. He eyed the bench. “Convenient, as you say. We will use it to get back over that damned wall after I use it to turn you over my knee.”
She gave a low laugh, and walked into the garden.
* * *
Everyone thought thieves liked the night. In truth, nighttime was fraught with difficulties to the trade. One could get lost. Constables were about. Sounds were obvious in the dark’s silence.
They much preferred dusk. The gray light dimmed colors and shapes. There was still enough light to see where one was going and to avoid detection. Others moved about too, and other people provided the best distractions.
Amanda explained all of this while she led Gabriel toward the house. She finally stopped where they could view that window clearly.
“If she is there, and the window can be opened, why didn’t she just leave?” he asked.
It took her a moment to understand his question. “Oh, you mean through the window. Mama did not go in and out high windows, only Papa did.”
“And you.”
“Only a few times, but yes, he taught me.” She debated her course of action. “You are displeased with me already, I know, and you will probably be displeased more before we are done. For example, you are not going to like what I do next.”
He lowered his head and glowered. “What is that?”
She gave him a quick kiss, then turned on her heel. “Do not follow.”
She ran across the garden to the house until she stood right under that window. She looked up at the drape flapping in the breeze. She whistled lowly, then waited, straining her ears to hear any disturbance in the house that indicated the wrong person had heard her. Her mother, she knew, would be doing the same thing.
After two long minutes, a hand gathered the drapes and brought them in the window. A face appeared. Her mother smiled down at her, then blew her a kiss
Amanda made a circular gesture from her mother down to herself.
Her mother shook her head. She made a twisting motion with her hand, then crossed her arms.
Amanda realized Gabriel had followed after all and stood beside her.
“Her door is locked from the outside, and also barred,” Amanda whispered to him. “She can’t leave on her own.”
“You learned all of that from a few hand gestures?”
“It was clear as could be what she meant.”
Her mother’s gaze shifted to Gabriel. One eyebrow rose while she gave him a good look.
Amanda grabbed Gabriel’s arm and pulled him toward the side of the house. “I’m going in after her,” she said, her voice low and fierce.
“Hell.” He glared at her. “Listen to me. If you go, I am coming with you.”
“I won’t argue, but you must follo
w my lead. The goal is stealth such as you have probably never practiced in your entire, notable life.”
“You will probably get us both imprisoned along with your mother,” he muttered. “Damn good thing Stratton and Brentworth are on their way, although I will never live it down if they have to rescue me.”
Together, they slid through the shadows around the house until they found a small side door. Of course it was locked.
“Give me my little packet.” She held out her hand.
The packet landed in her palm. She unfolded the cloth and removed a thin iron rod with a tiny hook at the end. Gabriel hovered at her shoulder, watching.
“What is that?”
“It is used by furniture makers, to help with upholstery.” She inserted the hook in the lock. “Let us hope this door is not barred too or, if it is, that the bar is one you can break with your strength.”
“That would make a lot of noise.”
“Which is why we must hope there is no bar there.”
She fiddled with the lock, and felt what she searched for. She took a deep breath, then pressed down. The lock’s mechanism gave way.
Gabriel turned the latch and pressed the door. It opened.
It gave into a passage getting dark in the dusk. She entered and moved quickly. Gabriel followed, trying not to make a sound, but his bootsteps could not be totally quiet. She sought the servant stairs. They were close enough to the kitchen that she heard sounds of someone in there working. She slipped around and up the stairs. Up three flights, they hurried. At the top, she paused to get her bearings.
“This way,” Gabriel said, pointing. “That is the back of the house.”
“My mother will have left some sign at the door that it is hers. She is expecting us.”
Together they paced past doors.
“Here,” Gabriel said, pointing down outside of one.
A piece of paper showed halfway out beneath the door’s bottom edge. The makeshift bar across the door announced it as their goal more clearly.
He swung up the bar. Amanda set to work with her tool. A few seconds later, she pulled the door open.
Her mother opened her arms. “Amanda! My clever girl, I knew you would find me.”
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