Chapter Thirteen
B y the time Pol left for Riese Hall a week later, he and the squire were well-pleased with one another, and the partnership with the draper was serving the Haricot ladies well. They had already sold six of the shirts, and both gowns were displayed in the shop, drawing a great deal of attention. They were hard at work at several commissions from some of the more prosperous villagers, while still carving out enough time to make the practical garments that the draper had requested.
“Once I have made arrangements to get Gran away from the house, I will return for you,” Pol told Madame Haricot. She had promised to come and care for Gran during the journey.
“I shall be ready,” the lady promised, “and so will her room.”
Pol’s borrowed horse made easy work of the distance. The way was becoming familiar. He had made an early start, driven by a sense of dread that had been growing all week. He would not feel easy in his mind until he saw Gran, and knew that she was, at the least, no worse.
He arrived in Tissingham long before most of the gentry would be up, though if the Rieses had kept to their plans, the only one he would need to avoid was Baron Barton. He went straight to Squire Pershing’s place, and asked the stable master there if he could leave his horse while he visited his grandmother. The stable master might be able to give him the news he needed, too.
“Have the Rieses gone to London?” he asked.
“Aye, and Lord Barton with them,” the man said. “Word is that Lady Riese wanted to stay to give her son time to search for you, but Miss Riese threw a tantrum and Lord Riese refused outright. They didn’t want to stay here when they could be in London, going to all the parties and such. But Mr. Allegro, if you are planning to go back to Riese Hall, think again. They’ve put it about that you stole jewelry and silver when you left, and the magistrate has left instructions you’re to be arrested. And shot if you resist arrest.”
“It’s a lie!” Pol said, indignantly.
“So says the steward. He said you went straight off the estate from his house, and never had the chance, even if you were that sort. But Lord Barton says you must have been planning to leave, since you got away so quickly, so you may have stolen them at any time. He released the Whitelys on the argument that the word of a thief cannot be trusted, and nor can that of a female. Riese has them guarding the estate so you can be caught if you sneak back in.”
“Will you tell them?” Pol asked.
“Would I be telling you if I meant to peach on you, Mr. Allegro?” the stable master answered. “The way I see it, Riese is a liar and his mother is worse. You’ve always been a fair man to deal with, and more of a gentleman than most with a right to the name. And you rescued Miss Jackie from those Whitelys. From Riese, too, for that matter. They say you left here with Miss Jackie and Madame La Blanc. Is all well with them?”
“They are very well. They have entered into an agreement with a local merchant and are very busy.”
The stable master grimaced. “The magistrate has a warrant out for their arrest, too. Lady Riese says that they stole two gowns and a dozen shirts from her.”
Pol laughed. “They took garments that they still owned, for Lady Riese was refusing to pay for them. In fact, Lady Riese owes them more than ten pounds for previous orders, so if anyone is a thief, it is the person wearing the gowns she has not paid for.”
“I thought it might be something like that.” The stable master shrugged. “It makes no difference to Lord Barton. Be careful, Mr. Allegro.”
“Thank you for the warning,” Pol said, sincerely. It changed the way he planned to approach Riese Hall, which he still needed to finish searching. He’d have to go in through the servant passages and wait until a time he knew they would be empty. That meant he needed to go to ground for the afternoon, but he would do so somewhere he could watch the house. Fortunately, he knew just the place.
First, though, he must check on his grandmother.