Chapter 10
The number of farms between them and the coaching in was considerable. Jessica counted no fewer than five, as well as a potter’s shop, a weaver, and a washerwoman’s home. There was no shortage of people in need, and Ezra, Tej, and Rhys saw to them all.
Some of the people readily accepted the money. Others were reluctant, like Daniel and Iris. But they were all of them grateful, and they blessed the highwaymen for their charity.
Many curious looks shot her way. It seemed that, like Quentin, the people receiving aid were not used to anyone accompanying Tej, Rhys, and Ezra. How could she take it as anything but an expression of trust?
They walked along one of the paths that only Ezra, Rhys, and Tej seemed to see, until they emerged at the edge of the forest. A road ran past them, and, to Jessica’s surprise, they moved onto it.
Up to this point, they’d kept to the woods, but now they walked down the lane.
Just ahead was a small village of houses, shops, and a tiny church.
Rather than go into the settlement itself, they approached a thatched-roof cottage at the village’s outermost perimeter.
“This will be our final stop before we reach the Doe and Dove,” Ezra explained, as they neared the cottage.
Something painful lodged itself in her chest. Once they arrived at the coaching inn, she’d purchase a seat on the mail coach and return to London, leaving behind the three wolves.
Finding them again in the Essex wilderness would be nigh impossible.
They were highwaymen, after all, and well-familiar with keeping themselves hidden. Unless they wanted her to find them.
What if she did come back and search for Ezra, Tej, and Rhys? What would she want from them, and they from her?
Every step forward only confused her more.
For the next few minutes, she didn’t need to consider what was next. Just this moment, here, in this place—whatever it was.
Several kitchen garden beds lined up trimly outside the cottage, but Jessica didn’t recognize any of the plants growing—they certainly didn’t look like cabbages and carrots.
Near the beds, wooden racks were set up, from which hung bouquets of dried herbs.
The chimney released fragrant smoke into the air.
Unlike many of the farmhouses they had visited earlier, glass gleamed in the windows, behind which hung dimity curtains.
Rather than tame violets and pansies, wildflowers of many colors filled window boxes.
Ezra tied the horse to the fence outside. An orange tabby cat dozed on the front step, and it opened its eyes to golden slits as they edged past, barely interested enough to move out of the way.
How like a cat to be indifferent to wolves.
Ezra led the way, ducking underneath the low lintel, with Tej and Rhys following. As Jessica entered, her nose caught even more unusual scents: resin and strange green fragrances, with hints of spice and citrus beneath.
She blinked to adjust from the brightness outside to the dimness within.
When at last she could see, details emerged: heavy trestle tables covered with mortars and pestles, baskets of dried flowers, with more desiccated blossoms and plants hanging from the rafters, and glass bottles filled with liquids of all hues lining shelves along the rough plaster walls.
A small iron cauldron bubbled in the hearth, dampening the air with herbal steam.
Another cat, this one a pretty gray tabby with long, silky fur, wound around Jessica’s ankles before finding a spot in the window to observe the yard outside.
A small, thin man came forward, wiping his hands on his apron. Reddish hair sprouted from around his head in russet clouds, and his eyebrows were equally red and wild. Those eyebrows rose when he beheld Ezra, Rhys, and Tej, though he tugged on his forelock when he caught sight of Jessica.
“Mr. Brody,” the man said, in a surprisingly deep voice for one so spare and slight. “Mr. Mehta and Mr. Davis. I…is there something you need? Are you ill? If you tell me your ailments, I can find something in my stores or, if you’ve time, I can prepare something to meet your needs.”
“Hale as always, Mr. Gunner.” Ezra glanced at Jessica. “Our local apothecary, is Mr. Gunner.”
“I gathered,” Jessica answered dryly.
“Fourth generation.” The apothecary puffed out his narrow chest. “Learned the trade from my mother, and she learned it from her mother, and so on. They say my great-grandmother Thomasina would provide tinctures and remedies to Good Queen Bess when her royal quacks could not heal her infirmities.”
“An admirable heritage,” Jessica said, with a respectful nod.
“My mother always lamented that she had a son and not a daughter,” Mr. Gunner continued, “yet she broke with tradition and taught her vocation to me.”
“I’m certain you make her proud.”
“Your kindness is immeasurable, madam.” The apothecary beamed at her before turning to Ezra, Tej, and Rhys. “If you gentlemen and the lady are not ailing, I’m not certain I can assist you.”
“It isn’t us who requires assistance,” Tej said. “But others do.”
Ezra pulled a stack of coins from the diminishing pouch and handed them to the astonished Mr. Gunner. “This is payment upfront for Daniel and Iris Church. Their babe, Will, is poorly and needs your remedies. It would be much appreciated if you could visit them tonight.”
“Of course,” the apothecary said at once. “But this is surely too much to cover the treatment for one small child.”
“That amount is to ensure that anyone who seeks your preparations can afford them,” Tej explained.
“It should cover at least ten people,” Rhys added.
“More,” Mr. Gunner said decisively. “Over a dozen families, I should say. It always pains me when I cannot treat someone because they lack funds. I do what I can with what I have, but…I must feed myself…rent to pay…and there are costs that must be shouldered.” He spread his hands.
“Then this will help you help them,” Ezra said.
The apothecary dipped his head in gratitude before Tej approached him. As they talked in low voices, Jessica stepped closer to Ezra.
“At this rate,” she murmured, “you’ll have nothing left for yourselves.”
He shrugged. “We’ll find a means to manage.”
“There are always more carriages on the Essex road,” Rhys threw in. “More men like your former employer, with sparse charitable impulses but ample purses.”
She almost smiled—the Welshman was on the other side of the apothecary shop, yet his sharp lupine senses allowed him to hear things an ordinary human might not.
The church bell tolled five of the clock, and both Ezra and Rhys frowned.
“The next mail coach is at half past the hour,” Ezra said flatly. “Then nothing until tomorrow morning.”
“Where is the coaching inn?”
“At the other end of the village. If we leave now, you’ll have quarter of an hour to purchase your seat.”
She could find nothing to say in response. Her time with them was shortening at a disheartening pace, yet what could she do? London was her home, all she knew of how to exist.
At her silence, Ezra’s mouth thinned into a line. He strode to the front door and opened it, letting in the last pale light of day. Within an hour, it would be dark outside, and she’d be on the road west. Away from him, from Rhys and Tej.
As Ezra held the door open, Rhys went out of the shop.
He cast her a glance on his way out. Tej finished his conversation with Mr. Gunner before following Rhys.
He, too, gazed at her as he headed to the door, then walked out into the diminishing day.
There was nothing left for Jessica to do but head outside, as well, brushing past Ezra.
He sucked in a breath as their bodies skimmed close to each other. Yet he let her go by.
They put the apothecary shop behind them, moving out onto the high street.
The forest was close at hand, a dozen yards from the road.
Turning away from the woods, she looked down the lane and could just make out the two-story structure of the coaching inn at the other end of the village.
It was quiet now, no one in the yard or milling near the stables, but soon it would be filled with bustle and activity.
All four of them regarded the inn with grim finality. Jessica pulled off Rhys’s coat.
“Thank you for keeping me warm,” she said, handing it to him.
He looked at the garment a moment before donning it. Her heart seized when he bent his head and ran his face along the collar with a deep inhalation.
Did she, too, carry his scent? She didn’t possess his senses, but perhaps, if she was careful, she could hold his fragrance on her body for a little while longer. Curse her for bathing, and washing away Ezra and Tej from her skin.
Rhys suddenly picked up his head, his gaze sharpening. Tej and Ezra did the same. The men came alert as they stared off toward the nearby forest. Their noses twitched and a low growl came from each of them.
“Gunpowder,” Tej rumbled. “Not ours.”
“A local militia?” Jessica ventured.
Before he could answer, the crack of many firing guns filled the air. Something heavy and solid covered Jessica—Tej, shielding her with his body. Ezra and Rhys ducked to avoid the volley of pistols and long guns discharging. The sharp scent of smoke and gunpowder hung heavy in the atmosphere.
Tej straightened, though his arm was around her, as he and Rhys and Ezra turned toward the forest. He let out a low curse, and Jessica did the same.
A dozen masked riders clad in leather came thundering out from the edge of the woods. Guardians. They tucked their firearms into belts and baldrics before unsheathing silver-limned sabers. Blades glinted.
Jessica drew her pistol and aimed it at the mounted men.
She fired, and one of the Guardians yelped, dropping his saber in the dirt.
Ezra, Tej, and Rhys also pulled their guns and shot.
One Guardian fell from his horse, but the riders kept coming.
They would be upon them in moments, eleven of them against four.