'Four hundred? He probably keeps that much in the house.'
'I'll meet you in Bradford the day afterwards,' the Captain said quickly, and she frowned.
'What is it? My God, did you ask for more?' She half stood up, and looked round the room as if for a weapon. 'Were you planning to cheat me?'
He laughed, and pushed her back into the chair.
'Don't be daft, woman. Of course not. We agreed four hundred was about the right amount, and that was what I asked. The day after tomorrow. Which inn? You'd better stay the night, be ready to leave the minute I get there, in case they manage to follow me.'
Before she could reply there came a thunderous knocking on the door. The Captain jumped, and looked nervous. Enoch started to his feet and then subsided back into his chair. Miss Busby merely looked irritated.
'Dora will see to it,' Enoch said, his voice hoarse.
'Tell her to make them go away. You can't see anyone now.'
They heard Dora, muttering about folks who came at such a time, going towards the front door. As she opened it she began to say something, then gave a screech of fury.
'What yer think yer doin', pushin' past folk like that? Ere, 'oo are yer? An' 'oo are these fellers?'
'I want to speak with your sister, and if he's here, with Captain Thomas too. They have some explaining to do.'
The Captain and Miss Busby had both risen to their feet, staring in fright at the parlour door. It was pushed violently open and crashed against the wall. Sir Kenelm, pistols in his hands, stood surveying them.
*
Chapter 11
On arriving in Leeds Sir Kenelm stabled Mephisto at the usual inn, and walked to Mr Littlewood's house, not far away. He swiftly explained the situation, and both men then went to Mr Littlewood's offices. There the address Miss Busby had given was soon found.
'There is no need to get any money until you have spoken with her,' Mr Littlewood said. 'The bankers would be unwilling, at this time of day, to open their vaults, and if she gives you the information you need, tells you where they are hidden, there will be no need for it.'
'True. Thank you. I will now go and see what she has to say.'
'Not alone,' Mr Littlewood said. 'I will come with you, and we must take a constable. It's possible that rascally Captain will be there.'
'I can deal with him.'
'But there must have been two men involved. Didn't the boy who brought you the ransom note say another was waiting? They might both be there. And there's Miss Busby's brother, his wife too, and perhaps some sons. You can't overpower them all. And if you kill them, which I can see you are itching to do, you'll be the one ending up in court.'
Sir Kenelm laughed. 'I see you are determined to protect me. Very well, let us take a couple of constables, and if I am wrong and no one is there, I will apologise to them for wasting their time.'
When they arrived at Enoch Busby's house and Dora opened the front door they could hear men's voices coming from the parlour. Sir Kenelm burst in, and as he stepped into the room Mr Littlewood and two burly constables crowded in after him. Dora, protesting angrily, pushed in after them, and stood, arms akimbo, trying unavailingly to see past these tall, bulky men.
Captain Thomas rose to his feet while Enoch shrank back in his chair. Miss Busby seemed to be frozen, half turned towards them.
'What the devil do you mean, sirrah, breaking into this house?' the Captain demanded, but not venturing to approach Sir Kenelm and his pistols.
Sir Kenelm surveyed him sardonically.
'Take your hand away from that pocket,' he ordered. 'If, as I suspect, you have a pistol there and show it, I will shoot you before you can draw it.'
' 'Ere, sir, yer can't go shootin' folk like that,' one of the constables protested. 'We dain't know yer was armed.'
'I won't kill him,' Sir Kenelm promised, with a slight laugh. Now he knew the man he suspected of kidnapping Joanna and Amelia he was sure he would find them. 'I'll just make it exceedingly painful for him so that he tells me what I want to know.'
'I don't like it.'
'Then, Constable, go and relieve him of any guns he may have. But be careful not to get between me and him.'
The younger constable, urged on by the other, looking nervous, approached Captain Thomas and searched his pockets, finding not only a pistol but a long, very sharp knife. He put both on a small table near the door. Then he looked warily at Sir Kenelm's pistols, but when Sir Kenelm slid them into his pockets clearly decided not to demand their surrender too.
'You, I take it, are Mr Busby,' Sir Kenelm said. 'Are you armed too? If so, I advise you to hand your weapons to the constable here. And you, Miss Busby, what weapons do you have?'
'I – I don't 'ave no guns,' Enoch said hurriedly, and turned out his pockets to show they were empty. A couple of coins and a snuff box fell to the floor, the snuff box falling open and spilling its contents.
Miss Busby remained silent, but Sir Kenelm could see her hands, clutched together in front of her, were trembling.
'Where are my wife and daughter?' Sir Kenelm asked, facing the Captain.
The man sank back onto the chair, and leaned back, thrusting out his legs before him in an effort to appear at ease. One eyelid, the one above the branded cheek, was fluttering wildly, and he swallowed several times. Once he raised his hand as if to loosen his neckcloth, but swiftly dropped it again and began to twist a flashy ring on his finger.
'Who?' he asked. 'How should I know? Aren't they at home? Have they run away from you?'
He sniggered, and winked at Enoch. Sir Kenelm had to restrain the urge to take the man's thick neck between his hands and squeeze the life out of him. Instead he pulled the ransom note out of his pocket and held it for Enoch to see.
'Is this that wretch's hand?' he asked.
Enoch shivered, first shaking his head, then nodding.
'I never seen 'is writing,' he said.
Sir Kenelm turned to Miss Busby.
'You, however, Miss Busby, being such a superior governess, can no doubt tell me,' he said.
She started defiantly at him but refused to either look at the note or answer. After a moment she turned away her head and appeared to be contemplating something of immense interest in the flames.
Dora had by now succeeded in pushing her way past the men in the doorway, and went to stand by Enoch.
'I told yer no good 'ld come of listenin' ter that jumped up madam,' she said. 'Got yer inter trouble now, aint 'er?'
'Be quiet!' he hissed. 'Let Emmy talk 'er way outta this.'
'Where are my wife and daughter?' Sir Kenelm repeated. 'You'll get no ransom, so you might as well make things as easy for yourself as you can by telling me. If you leave them to die you'll swing. This way maybe you'll only be transported.'
'I 'ad nowt ter do wi' it,' Enoch suddenly said. 'It were Emmy's plan, 'er sent me ter find 'im,' he added, pointing a trembling finger at the Captain. 'All I did was let 'er stay 'ere.'
'Then no doubt, if you tell that to the magistrate, they will be lenient with you. Constable, I think we had better take the Captain and Miss Busby to the lock up, where we can question them – er, properly.'
At this Miss Busby's calm deserted her.
'You can't mean to take me to a prison!' she almost shrieked. 'Not me! I'm a respectable woman, I won't be locked up with whores and thieves!'
Sir Kenelm took a deep breath to calm himself.
'Are you not a thief, attempting to steal from me, and in a most despicable manner, using an innocent child and the woman you have always been jealous of because she is above you in every way? If you cooperate perhaps the law will be lenient. Do you know where they are hidden?'
She began to sob, dry racking sobs, and the tears fell unheeded down her cheeks.
'All I know is they're in some abandoned hut, on the moor. Dickon would tell you.'
'Dickon? The other man? Do you know him? he asked the constables, and they both nodded.
'Then let us lock these two up and
go to find him. I think we can depend on Enoch and his wife here to remain in the house, but perhaps one of you could stay on watch?'
*
Joanna and Amelia arrived back at Rock Castle as dawn was breaking. They were both desperately weary and footsore. Joanna's riding boots were not suitable for tramping miles across moorland. Her feet were blistered, and she had been hobbling painfully for the past two miles. Her arms, after the effort of breaking through the thatch, ached. Amelia was drooping, but had not suffered so badly.
As they came down from the moor one of the farm labourers had seen them, and rushed to tell the farmer at the nearby farm. He immediately came out to meet them.
'My lady! Oh, thanks be you're both safe and well!'
'Safe, but not so well,' Joanna said, with a shaky laugh. 'We have walked miles and are weary.'
'Then come in and rest for a moment, while I harness the pony to the gig. I'll take you rest of way.'
They sat in the farm kitchen, where the farmer's wife plied them with warm milk straight from the cow, and newly-baked rolls lavishly spread with sweet butter.
Joanna sighed in contentment.
'This is delicious. I hadn't been thinking of food,' she said, 'but we haven't eaten since early yesterday. We found a stream, so we had some water to drink, and without that would have been in far worse state.'
'I'll cook you some ham and eggs,' the farm wife offered.
'Thank you, but no. I hear your husband with the gig, and we must get to the Castle as soon as possible. They will be worried.'
'Aye. They had everyone out searching yesterday, and they will be out again no doubt unless you get there to stop them.'
It was a tremendous effort to move, to rise from the bench in that warm, friendly kitchen, but Joanna wanted to get home. Home? She smiled. The Castle was her home now. She no longer felt a stranger, an intruder, there, despite the odd nature of her marriage.
They met a couple of grooms riding out of the stable yard as the gig approached.
'My lady! Miss Amelia! Thank God you're safe. We must tell Mr Potts at once.'
Joanna nodded. 'Where is Sir Kenelm?'
'He went off to Leeds last night.'
Before she could ask further Potts emerged, also mounted.
'My lady!'
'Why did my husband go to Leeds?' Joanna asked. 'Here, help me down, and thank you so much for helping us,' she added to the farmer.
He was clearly eager to stay and hear all about it, for Joanna had not told him much apart from saying they had been stranded on the moors. Potts, however, dismounted and handed the reins to one of the grooms, then came to lift Joanna down from the gig. He had no option but to turn and go back home.
She stumbled, and Potts almost carried her to the doorway into the house, while Amelia ran after them. Mrs Aston met them as they entered, and seeing how weary Joanna was, said she must immediately go to her bed and rest.
Joanna nodded, but turned to Potts.
'Thank you. Can you send someone to Leeds to inform Sir Kenelm we are back?' she said.
'I'll go myself, my lady. He won't wish to be getting the money now you're back, safe.'
Mrs Aston was ordering one of the footmen to carry Joanna upstairs, but Joanna protested.
'No, I can manage, with an arm to lean on,' she said. It would be too shaming to have to be carried like a baby. 'I would so like a bath, though.'
Mrs Aston nodded. 'As you will. Amelia, can you manage? Go to Brigid, and she will see to you. Benjamin, go and get hot water for my lady, and plenty of it. Send Betsy to me. Come, my lady, I'll help you.'
Amelia nodded, and rather shyly came towards Joanna. She stretched up and kissed her.
'Thank you for rescuing me, Joanna,' she said, and turned away to scuttle up the stairs.
Joanna almost laughed at the astonished expression on her housekeeper's face. The entire household knew of Amelia's antagonism towards her step-mother.
'I think we are friends now,' she said softly as she began the agonising process of climbing the stairs.
'She called you by your given name!' Mrs Aston said, disapproval plain in her tone.
'I suggested it, as we are not far apart in age, and I will seem less the wicked step-mother.'
'I see. Well, if you think it will help. Ah, here's Betsy. Go and prepare the tub for her ladyship.'
*
It took all night, but at last the Captain agreed to lead them to the hut where he had imprisoned Joanna and Amelia.
'He only gave way because he knew we had caught Dickon,' Mr Littlewood said as they sat over a mug of ale in the constable's parlour, while he went to arrange for a vehicle to transport the Captain, under guard, to the hut.
'He knew the game was up, Dickon would not keep silent. I suspect he hoped to mitigate his sentence if he cooperated. At least we do not have to trouble the bankers for money this morning.'
Sir Kenelm laughed. 'When Miss Busby realised how much the Captain had demanded she was only too ready to put all the blame on him, saying it was his plan, she had naught to do with it.'
'So he turned on her.'
'I am grateful for your help. Go home and sleep now, you have been up all night.'
'And you?'
'I must go and rescue Joanna and Amelia as soon as possible. One of the constable's men will drive another gig they can ride home in. Now I will go and eat something before I set off. Mephisto will be rested.'
He was weary, but many cups of coffee, with several slices of beef and some eggs restored most of his energy, and he mounted Mephisto and went to follow the constable's gig which would keep to the main road out of Leeds for the first few miles.
They were only a couple of miles on their way when Potts came galloping up, pulling his sweating mount to a halt beside Sir Kenelm.
'Sir Kenelm,' he gasped. 'They are back home, they escaped! I wanted to stop you getting out the money, it's not needed!'
'Escaped? How?'
'I don't know, but they had to walk a long way. Got home at dawn, they did. I came straight away to tell you.'
'Thank you. We were on our way, the gallant Captain agreed to show us where they were. I will go and tell the constable they can take him back to gaol, then I'll head for home. Give your poor horse a rest before you follow me!'
Potts looked somewhat shamefaced.
'Yes, Sir Kenelm. I was in a hurry,' he excused himself. 'I knew you'd want to know they were safe as soon as possible.'
Within minutes the constable and his prisoner were on their way back to Leeds, and Sir Kenelm, again going cross country where he could, heading for the Castle. He would be needed later to give evidence, but his most urgent desire was to make sure Joanna and his daughter were safe and unharmed.
*
Joanna sank into the fragrant, scented hot water and began to relax. Brigid, as soon as Amelia appeared, had left the child with Sally and come to hear what had happened.
'She's so excited I can't understand the half of it. How does a hole in a roof come in?'
Briefly Joanna explained. 'How is she? My feet are battered, hers must be too.'
'She'll have a bath and be put to bed. But she called you Joanna. Is that from excitement?'
Again Joanna explained. 'I hoped it would make her accept me more readily.'
'I think you are her heroine, now! But I'll leave you to rest, I can see you are bone weary.'
Joanna then had to endure Betsy's questions, and when the maid saw the state of her feet, her appalled fury.
'I've some salve Mrs Aston makes, I'll fetch it. It will ease those terrible blisters.'
Joanna felt cosseted and was grateful. Soon she was climbing into bed. It was so warm and soft, and the bath had relaxed her, but her feet, despite the salve which had helped a little, were burning. She wondered whether they would prevent her from sleeping, but as soon as her head touched the pillow she was fast asleep.
She awoke, rested, and glanced at the window. It was dusk already, and she fe
lt remarkably hungry. She turned over and gasped. Sir Kenelm was seated beside the bed, reading a book. For a few moments she watched him, while he was unaware of her regard. His face was drawn, and she wondered whether he had slept the previous night. From what Betsy had told her the entire household had been searching for as long as it was light. Then Sir Kenelm had gone off to Leeds. When had he returned?
She must have made some sound, for he looked up from his book, and when he saw she was awake he dropped it to the floor and stood up to approach the bed.
'My dear Joanna! Amelia has told me what happened, how you escaped from that dreadful place.'
'Is she all right?'
'She had a long sleep, but from what she told me I understand she slept for a while in the hut, and she didn't have to work like you did, making that hole. How very ingenious of you! But you must stay in bed and rest. Betsy says your feet are in a dreadful state.'
'I'm feeling much better, and amazingly hungry! Is it nearly dinner time?'
'You will have it in bed, at once.'
Joanna did not feel up to arguing, and her feet were still painful, so she did not wish to have to dress and don even the softest slippers.
'Will you have a table laid in here, and eat with me?' she asked shyly. 'Or is Henry still here?'
'He went home this morning, when he knew you were safe, in case rumours had reached Albinia and she was worried.'
Somehow Joanna did not think her sister-in-law would have been unduly concerned about her fate.
'I don't know what happened here,' she said slowly. 'They asked for a ransom, I believe?'
'I will have dinner brought here, and we can exchange our stories,' he said, and went to pull the bell and give orders to Firbank, who came in so promptly Joanna suspected he had been hovering just outside the door.
Joanna insisted she was well enough to get out of bed if she did not have to wear shoes, so the table was set before the fire. Betsy came to brush her hair and help her into a dressing gown, and after the food had been brought she and Sir Kenelm began to explain what had happened to each of them.
It was quite like a meal in a simple home, husband and wife seated comfortably by their fireside, instead of in state in a formal dining room, Joanna thought wistfully.
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