Chapter Twenty #3
“Thank you, Summerfield. Our horses have been ridden hard…but we can discuss that over the tea you graciously ordered on our behalf. Captain Trentchester and I were hailed by my brothers a few hours ago when by happenstance, we arrived at the same inn, with the same goal, while en route to find and rescue Pippa and Millie.”
“We do not need rescuing!” Pippa insisted.
Flaherty pinched her waist. She gasped and glared up at him. Pity he was ignoring her in favor of staring at her brothers. She would talk to him about his outrageous behavior later.
“We did not expect to run into you, Winston—or Captain Trentchester, for that matter,” Randolph muttered. “The both of you look like hell—though Roarke looks worse, as if he’d been a prisoner.”
Neither Winston nor Roarke answered the unasked question—what happened, and how did they end up at the same inn as Randolph and Miles?
Miles spoke up as he led his horse to the stables. “There is a decade between myself and Pippa. She has always been headstrong. These two were hoydens growing up. As far as I can tell, they are—”
“Rare and beautiful women,” Flaherty interrupted.
“Would ye not agree, Captain Trentchester?” The captain inclined his head, and Flaherty continued, “Me wife has the courage of two men. She protected yer son from kidnapping—there was a traitor in our midst—and took a blade to the back for her trouble. Yer wife’s courage was evident from the first, when we learned Millie made the journey here just days after giving birth. ”
“Stabbed!” Captain Trentchester roared. “Where were you when she was stabbed, Flaherty?”
“Searching the estate for your son, who had been kidnapped when Millie fell asleep.”
Pippa’s brothers rounded on the baron, who held up his hand. “We will continue this discussion at a lower volume in the comfort of the sitting room,” Summerfield stated. “If you choose to keep shouting, you can remain in the stables with your horses.”
Relief speared through Pippa. She was grateful that the baron had taken charge of the conversation.
“Our stable master will take good care of your mounts.”
Lady Phoebe finally spoke. “If you gentlemen would please join us, there is a washstand in the room right inside the back door with plenty of hot water, and another just off the kitchen. I shall ask Mrs. Green to come and take a look at your head, Captain Trentchester. Has a physician seen to it?”
“Aye, your ladyship,” the captain replied.
“She has experience with the men protecting us and will let us know if we need to summon Dr. Higgins.”
“Thank you, though I am certain there will be no need to summon another physician.”
Millie smiled as she leaned against her husband. “Roarke does not like to be poked and prodded.”
The baroness smiled. “What man does? Now then, gentlemen, there is always hot water on the boil for tea, and scones and iced teacakes always ready for unexpected guests. Though from the pinched expressions on your faces, I shall see what Mrs. Green has prepared for our midday meal. She normally keeps a supply of meat pies on hand for my brother’s guard, who at times eat while changing shifts. ”
Pippa noticed the hesitation on her brothers’ part and almost took pity on them.
They were accustomed to having the upper hand, just like Father, but that was no excuse.
They had offended the baron—not to mention Flaherty and their cousins—by arriving with their weapons displayed.
“Of course you will have to remember to use your inside voices and mind your manners, my dear brothers.”
Flaherty’s snort of laughter was echoed by O’Malley and Garahan. “Faith, I love it when ye’re feisty, lass.”
Pippa smiled, rose on her toes, and kissed his cheek. “I know.”
The women entered the building first and walked toward the kitchen. Pippa paused when she noticed the men were filing into the room with the healing supplies. “Dillon, are you joining us?”
“Shortly, love.” When Garahan called his name, her husband said, “Save me a scone or two,” and followed Garahan into the room.
She dragged her feet, wanting to stay with Flaherty.
It had happened rather quickly, this need to be with him.
Pippa had never felt anything like this around any of the men her father had considered as prospects for her hand.
She lingered in the hallway, but ducked into the pantry when she heard an ear-splitting whistle.
Careful not to be seen, she peeked out of the doorway and heard O’Malley give the order to wait here, while he led Garahan, her husband, and Tremayne outside.
Indistinct shouts told her nothing. She waited another moment, then a few more, relieved when Tremayne came back inside.
Her relief was short-lived when she heard his rumbling voice say, “Six men on horseback are approaching. We could use your expertise, men—not you, Captain Trentchester. Stay here and let Mrs. Green finish cleansing that wound before she bandages it. O’Malley wants you to check on your wife and babe, but asks that you not let her ladyship or the others know there is a situation brewing outside. ”
“Aye, Tremayne. I’ll do my best to keep the women calm and distracted.”
“They’re a crafty bunch.”
“Thank you for the warning,” Captain Trentchester replied. “So are my wife and Pippa.”
“I’ll send word if the situation becomes volatile,” Pippa heard Tremayne say.
Her heart sank as she watched her brothers rush outside. They were honorable men—just like Flaherty and the others—rushing to defend the innocent. She was torn… Should she alert Millie and the others, or wait until one of the men returned to advise the situation had been handled?
Her mind raced as she vacillated between wanting to warn the women and sneaking outside to find out who the new threat was.
Millie would be feeding her babe soon, and Pippa did not want her friend worrying needlessly.
She had been through enough. Decision made, Pippa checked that the hall was empty and slipped out of the pantry.
Praying neither Roarke or the cook would see her, she quietly opened the rear door and stealthily made her way outside.
She heard voices and slunk around the side of the building toward the sound.
She spied the two groups of men lined up facing one another as if ready to do battle.
O’Malley, Garahan, her husband, Tremayne, and her brothers faced six armed men who were hurling threats against them if they did not turn Millie and her babe over to them.
She craned her neck to get a better look, but did not see Millie’s brother-in-law among the men making their demands.
Grant must have hired the disreputable bunch to help him capture Millie and her babe, but where was he?
From the sound of the angry voices, Flaherty and the others would comply when hell froze over.
She smiled, remembering just how fierce the duke’s men were.
Watching them handle the situation and the group of men, horror filled her as a shout went up and a lone rider galloped up the drive toward the two groups of men.
Instead of joining them, he veered to the right, vaulted over a low stone wall, and cut through the baroness’s rose gardens—trampling them.
She heard Winston, shout, “Grant! Stop!” as the man rode hell for leather toward the manor house.
Dear Lord, Grant is here! Fear had her spinning around and running toward the rear entrance.
In that moment, Pippa knew that she and Millie had misjudged her brother-in-law.
She had to get to Millie and warn the others!
There was no doubt in Pippa’s mind that Grant would keep trying until he achieved his goal of abducting Millie and her babe. He would never give up!