they have."
Two hours later an impatient Lord Adrian had almost worn a path in the gra.s.s. The others huddled together for warmth. Suddenly all heads c.o.c.ked at a sound-a horse approaching at a dead gallop.
They remained hidden until it became clear the rider was heading for them. The horse plunged to a halt in their midst.
"Did you find them?"
"Aye. We had better hurry. The man and woman I followed have gone to a farm. There is a coach and four all ready to travel there. I saw two of the others before I left. I figure they will depart as soon as the
last one arrives." These words mobilized the group. Horses were brought forth. "Take the mare, Davey," ordered Lord Adrian. "She is fresh." The switch was made and they were off, the moon lighting the way. * * * *"Time to depart, ma belle," ordered the leader of the band at the farm cottage. "Where are you taking us?" Lady Juliane demanded. She held Andre while Alva clutched Leora. "Far enough from here to be safe until we get what we came after."
"Why not tell us what you want?" she pleaded.
His bitter laugh startled her. "As if you did not know."
"But I do not!"
"Bah! Why else did you go to Rouen? They sent for you. If you are not careful, your end will be like
your sister"s."
Lady Juliane tightened her hold on Andre"s hand. She had never expected to come face to face with Judith"s murderer.
"Move now. We waste too much time," he commanded. He grabbed Andre from Lady Juliane and set
him on his feet before shoving him toward the door.
Stumbling, Andre dropped the toy soldier he clutched. As he reached to pick it up, the man stepped on it, grinding it beneath his foot.
Lady Juliane walked slowly to the spot.
After meeting her look for several moments, the man cursed and stepped away.
Lady Juliane stooped and picked up the crumpled toy and handed it to Andre. "Put it into your
pocket-we will have it repaired." Taking his hand, she led him out of the cottage. Alva followed with Leora. They walked across the farmyard to the waiting coach and were roughly pushed in when they reached it. "Voici-Here," said one of the men. He tossed in Lady Juliane"s valise and another containing the children"s belongings.
Juliane hurriedly grabbed hers and stashed it behind her. With the pistol a secure b.u.mp against her back, she attempted to quiet the other"s whimpering.
"What will become of us?" cried Alva. "I"ll never see me Mum and Da again."
"Have faith-Lord Adrian will not let us come to harm," she a.s.sured Alva, not daring to question her
belief in the statement.
Lord Adrian halted his group. Cavilon and Mallatt edged up beside him. "Davey, how far is it?"
"Just a short piece now."
"As I thought. They most likely will have left. What is your guess as to their destination?" he asked Cavilon.
"There is not much choice for them. I would guess London or South Hampton-perhaps Dover-to be their goal. Any way they wish to go, they must use the same road for several miles." "My thought exactly. Did you say you saw all of them?"
"Only one was missing, m"lord. And he couldn"t have been far, because they all left the hut at the same time." "Let"s cross country then. We can get ahead and surprise them. They should not expect us." "Is this wise?" asked Cavilon. "Perhaps some of us should go on to the farm." "No, we will risk it." "You are usually right, Adrian. Let"s not waste time." Pounding over the treacherous dark landscape, Mallatt wondered how he had ever concluded that LadyJuliane would be a calming influence on his lordship"s life. His lord was now safely married, but here hewas on still another wild and dangerous adventure. This had better be the last time, he thought as hefollowed the thundering horses before him.
An hour"s ride brought them to their destination.
"We should have little trouble. They will believe us to be highwaymen. Mallatt, take Tom and go further up the road in case they get by us.
"Louis, take Lem and cover this side of the road. The rest of you, come with me to the other side. Have
your pistols ready. Remember those within the coach and take careful aim." He looked around at the men in the group.
"Dead men can do no harm."
Cavilon nodded and reined away.
Soon there was no sign of their presence. The waiting began once more. Sometime later the pounding of hooves caught their attention.
"Davey, is that the coach you saw?" whispered Lord Adrian.
"Aye, m"lord. I remember the front team-them white feet."
As Lord Adrian hoped, indeed prayed, it seemed all of the men were outside the coach. Two were on it
and the other two rode alongside.
"They get one chance," Adrian muttered. Spurring his mount from the brush, he called out. "Halt. Stop if you value your lives."
There was a momentary check in the coach"s progress, then bedlam broke loose as shouts, gunshots,
and men"s cries erupted amid the thundering of hooves and whinnying of horses.
Inside the lurching coach, Lady Juliane tightened her grip on the wall strap and dug into the valise she had managed to open earlier. Fumbling desperately, she found the pistol.
Outside in the dust left by the bolting coach"s teams laid the two riders and one of the men who had been atop it. The night"s blackness hid the quickly spreading stains beneath them. Lem halted and made sure of the work.
The remainder of Lord Adrian"s group pursued the coach, its teams now running wildly out of control.
As Mallatt and Tom caught hold of the teams and were slowing them, the others drew alongside.
Lord Adrian sprung from his mount, shouting "Juliane!" as the coach jerked to a halt. Wresting open the coach door, he was greeted by the thunderous explosions of two pistols.
Upon hearing Lord Adrian"s voice, Lady Juliane"s pulse increased. Then, seeing the gentleman across from her aim in the direction of Adrian"s call, she raised her pistol from behind her back and discharged it a fraction before he discharged his.
Her aim was true; she sat frozen as the gentleman sprawled forward, his blood spurting over the other occupants. The next moment the opposite coach door was jerked open and four pistols intruded. This increased the hysterics of Alva and the children. The Frenchman was roughly pulled out, thumping onto the ground.
A familiar voice commanded, "Lady Juliane, give me the pistol. It is over now."
Leora"s wailing penetrated her mind. Life came back to Juliane.
"Cavilon," she breathed, releasing her grip on the gun. She looked blankly at the open door nearest her, and then her body finally obeyed her mind.
"Adrian!" Juliane screamed and jumped from the coach. Dropping to the ground, she knelt beside her p.r.o.ne husband.
CHAPTER 23.
"Is he?" Julian asked fearfully.
"No, he is alive, but I can"t tell the extent of the wound. It is in the shoulder. Do you have anything to
staunch the bleeding?" asked Cavilon.
"Alva," Lady Juliane called, rising and turning toward the coach. "Quickly-one of Leora"s nappies."
The article was hurriedly handed to her. She knelt and pressed it to the wound. "What of the others?"
she asked as Comte de Cavilon knelt at her side.
"All dead but for the coachman and the gentleman you shot. I don"t think either will live very long.
"We must get Adrian to Trees." He motioned to the two men behind him. Between them they managed
to get the earl into the coach.
"Mallatt, handle the ribbons.
"Lem, care for the prisoners-we want answers from then if they live.