Chapter 15 #2
“It’s true,” Mr. Dowling said. “Even with my fee paid to the bailiff, they’re going to claim Milly owes for her board while she’s been here. They pay the workers pennies, then charge them a shilling.”
Muchleigh confirmed this. “If we take her now, Gisborn will just send Mr. Reeve to collect on her debt. When she can’t pay, she goes off to gaol and it all starts over again.”
“I won’t leave my mum here!” Henry declared. “And I won’t let them send her to gaol. I’m going to get her right now!”
His father tried to shush him, but Robert intervened.
“Of course, we can’t leave her. They’ve not put a guard out here, and I’d wager Will’s talent over the lock on that door any day.”
“It’s true,” Will said smugly. “I’ve not met the lock to defeat me.”
“So we are just going to creep over and set her free?” Mr. Dowling asked, somewhat dubious.
“Your wife needs a doctor,” Robert said. “We cannot leave her here. And since it’s too risky for your family to return to your home, we’ll take you to ours. As for the good doctor, it seems we’ll have to get him out of gaol, too. We might as well add him to our collection.”
Mr. Dowling and his son whispered their thanks and praised the group’s boldness.
As for the other members of the group, they exchanged glances that Robert couldn’t help but notice.
He had no trouble interpreting their meaning, too, but John confirmed it when he shook his head and slapped Robert on the shoulder.
“Good God, Rob. You’ve gone quite mad!”
Robert merely grinned at his worried men. Fate had fully caught up with him, it seemed, and there was no turning back now.
“But I’m perfectly sane, gentlemen,” he announced. “It’s Gisborn, St. John, and the damn Sheriff of Nottingham who are quite mad… or will be once we are through!”
Marianne thought she must be going mad. She’d hardly slept, and as the morning drew on, her nerves were becoming more and more jangled.
Mr. Gisborn’s dinner was in but a few hours and everything turned on her being able to create a proper distraction.
The more she thought about it, the more worried she became.
Her worries only increased when Aunt Regina knocked at her door to announce that Mr. Gisborn was below, wishing to see her.
Marianne’s first instinct was to claim a headache, but it was too late for that.
Aunt Regina knew she was perfectly well today and that she claimed to be looking forward to seeing this very Mr. Gisborn at his dinner tonight.
She could hardly claim no wish to see him this morning.
“Oh, how lovely!” she said instead. “I will just… should I change into a better gown?” Fussing with her hair and wringing her hands, she looked for any excuse to put off their meeting.
Aunt Regina simply took this for missish nerves. “You look like a lady blushing for her beau; I daresay he will be more than pleased by your looks just as you are. Come along, let’s not keep him waiting.”
Marianne gave her what passed for a smile, then followed her down the stairs.
Mr. Gisborn was indeed in their drawing room, standing at the window, surveying the street scene outside.
When the ladies joined him, he turned and made Marianne an overly deep bow.
Then he offered a smile that was entirely too warm.
Their greetings were polite, Aunt Regina’s especially.
She fawned over Mr. Gisborn just enough to make him puff his chest, then she quickly announced that she had other duties and would leave the younger people to entertain themselves.
She was out of the room and had shut the door behind her before Marianne had a chance to invent reason for her to stay.
She was left with a leering Mr. Gisborn and a case of very frayed nerves.
“I must say, Mr. Gisborn,” she spouted to fill the air. “What a surprise to see you so early.”
“You are looking well today, Miss Maidland,” he declared. “I am happy to see that your ordeal yesterday had no lasting effects.”
“Ordeal?” she asked, hoping he only knew what they wanted him to know.
He took her hand and patted it with affection. “No need to pretend for me. Your uncle has told me all of it. Your cousin can be quite a handful, can she not?”
“Oh, but you mustn’t think badly of her! Please, Mr. Gisborn, she has learned her lesson. It was just a wild, foolish whim and she is much more sensible today.”
“I hope so,” he replied. “You can imagine how our friend Mr. Reeve felt when he was called here to search for her. And then you disappeared as well… for quite some time, I believe.”
Now she sensed that perhaps he had not simply accepted their story as true. He made no actual accusation, but she knew he was scrutinizing her carefully. She took a slow breath and was quite careful with her reply.
“Indeed… the whole day seemed to last an eternity! I was so worried for Meg, I’m afraid I lost any concept of time. You can imagine my horror when I came upon her there in the… oh, it was more than a shock. I will not think of it, even now. My cousin was saved and all is well, as you can see.”
“Yes, I can see indeed. I like how you have your hair,” he said, his eyes roving over her curls as if he might reach out and touch them. “This style accentuates your elegant features.”
“Er, thank you, sir.”
His hungry gaze made her feel anything but thankful. She wished she could step away, or better yet, run. The man was vile… and dangerous. She could not let him see her feelings, though. She had to play the game convincingly, despite how nauseous she might be.
Her smiles hoped to deceive as he moved yet closer to her. He was positively predatory, leering over her with eyes that roamed in ways they should not.
“You are blushing,” he said.
“Am I?”
“Do I make you nervous, Miss Maidland? Why is that?”
“I cannot say, sir. When you are around… I find I cannot breathe quite as I ought.”
She was having difficulty digesting her breakfast, too, thanks to his presence, but she did not mention that. Their plan would be ruined if she did not maintain an illusion of hopeful attraction.
“I find that my breath comes all the easier,” he said, his voice oozing seduction. “I appreciate it when things come easily to me.”
She cringed. He did not notice; he was too busy breathing down her neck
“I would expect that they do, sir,” she said, struggling for what to say in this unusual situation.
She remained frozen as he circled her, his body brushing hers here and there, too much for comfort yet not quite enough to merit a scream. He leaned in and spoke his next words into her ear, the heat from his body like a swarm engulfing her, making her itch.
“I hope so, Miss Maidland. I am very much looking forward to you coming to me, as you know.”
Such a thing to say! She wanted to swat him. His brass was shocking, to say the least. Instinctively she reacted. It was impossible not to turn and glare into his eyes.
But he merely laughed. “Such fire you have! I will like to see more of it… and I will, of course. You will come to me tonight. At my dinner.”
Oh, he’d see a great deal more than fire from her if he was not careful. But she smiled sweetly and hid her revulsion behind maidenly timidity.
“Yes… we will come to your dinner tonight. I cannot wait, sir. It was so very kind of you to invite us.”
“The honor is mine. I look forward to seeing you at Greenwood, and I’m sure you will approve of my home.”
His home. As if he were Greenwood’s master! Oh, such blatant presumption. It was all she could do not to show her disgust. But she didn’t. In fact, she managed an encouraging glance with another hard-won smile for him.
“A home with a fine master is a fine home indeed,” she said.
He was too proud to realize that she was not speaking of him. He took it as warm encouragement.
“A home is made even finer by the right mistress, of course. Ah, but you tease me with anticipation, Miss Maidland. Would that I could give up on my commitments today and stay here with you.”
She hoped he could not see that her insides were doing cartwheels at the hint he might be preparing to take his leave from her. Perhaps this misery was over already!
“Must you go soon, sir? I suppose you do have a great many duties to tend and things to manage at Greenwood Manor.”
“Sadly, I do, but today I am needed here on a matter of security for our town. The sheriff has need of me, else I would indeed stay here with you.”
“Oh, the sheriff? That sounds quite ominous! It isn’t anything… I should worry about, is it?”
“Don’t trouble yourself. You’ve no doubt heard whispers of recent criminal activity in the area. Fear not, though! We will soon put it all to rest.”
Now he had her full attention. “Criminal activity? Indeed, I know that my uncle has spoken of some petty issues… do you infer there are darker elements at play? Tell me what has happened!”
“Nothing that will be of any danger to you, I promise. Some trouble at a factory I own; a woman was abducted from there last night.”
“Abducted! Oh, but that’s dreadful. Who would take her, and why?”
“She is of no consequence. Likely some roving band of outlaws thought to have some fun with her.”
“Good heavens! This is quite… worrisome.”
“Now, now… you must not fret. As I said, your uncle and our good sheriff are working tirelessly with me. In fact, I am here today because some information has reached me that may bring an end to these hoodlums sooner rather than later.”
“My goodness, what could it be? What secret have you uncovered?”
He peered at her. For a moment she feared she’d been too bold to ask. She should not have let her curiosity carry her away; she should have played the part of ignorant, frightened miss a bit better.
However, he merely gave a smug smile and continued. “Rest assured, Miss Maidland, you are quite safe. I am more cunning than the forest rogues.”
“Forest rogues?”
“Indeed, a whole ragged band of them have set up in Sherwood. You see now why we nearly despaired when you and your cousin disappeared for so long yesterday.”