Black Horse, a busy posting inn, but not
the one where the Malloren horses were waiting. Cyn called up that they
might be stopping, then leaned out to attract the attention of an
ostler. A shilling caught the wiry man’s eye. “Yes, your ladyship?”
“The Black Horse seems very busy today,” Cyn said. “Will we be able to have a private parlor?”
“This ain’t busy for the Horse, milady,” he said boastfully.
“There’ll be private rooms to be had, never fear.” He reached for the
coin, but Cyn withheld it.
“And is this the kind of inn where the best people stay?”
“We have many important regulars, milady,” he said proudly. “The
Duke of Queensbury racks up here, and the Earl of Portsmouth. Why, the
great Earl of Walgrave—him they call the Incorruptible—stayed here only
last night, and left not three hours past.” He fixed a suitably sober
look on his face. “Looking for his poor daughter, he is. The young
lady’s gone mad, and is running around the country stark naked with her
babe dead in her arms.”
“She should surely be easy to find then,” Cyn said dryly, and gave
up the coin. As soon as the man left he looked at his apprehensive
companions.
So their father was the Earl of Walgrave, one of the great lords of
the land, known to all for his wealth, power, and almost Puritan
rectitude. Hardly surprising that he had named a daughter Verity.
Perhaps Charles was not Charlotte but Constance.
So why were the sisters not seeking this paragon’s help?
This new element, however, certainly made their enterprise a great
deal more interesting. The Earl of Walgrave could easily mobilize the
authorities, including the army, to search for his daughter. Cyn
couldn’t help but doubt that Verity marrying her major would put an end
to the problem. An officer could be broken for less. Cyn’s own career
might be in jeopardy if his part came out.
There was something else too—some other detail to do with
Walgrave—but it tickled at the edge of Cyn’s memory and refused to be
pinned down.
He shrugged. The dice were cast, and he had never yet turned from an
enterprise because of danger. He smiled at his companions. “He is, at
least, long gone.
En avant, mes enfants
.”
The ostler had been correct. Though the inn seemed busy, there were
still good private rooms to be had. Cyn took a bedchamber as well as a
parlor.
As soon as they were alone, Verity said, “We should have told you. I’m sorry.”
“It would have made no difference. But you have a formidable opponent, if opponent he is.”
“Yes, and I fear Father is now on his way to Nana’s, and will soon
know some of the truth. I just pray Nana will be able to keep your part
in this secret, my lord. I would not like you to find my father your
enemy.”
Cyn glanced at Charles. She looked pinched and haunted, and he no
longer needed to wonder whom she feared. He wished he understood more.
Certainly the earl would not be pleased with a daughter who chose to
play the man, but was that the sum of her sins?
Cyn put a blunt question to Verity. “The Earl of Walgrave could keep
both you and William safe from Horrible Henry. Why are you fleeing him?”
Verity bit her lip. “It’s true. Perhaps I should go to him… I
can’t
risk William…”
“Nonsense,” said Charles crisply. “Father’s off in the wrong
direction, and when he turns around he still won’t know whom or what
he’s looking for. Henry V… Horrible Henry knows even less. We’ll get
you to Nathaniel before Father can interfere.” She turned to Cyn.
“Father stopped Verity from marrying Nathaniel once, and would do so
again.”
“Ah. And instead he arranged your marriage to whom?” When they
hesitated, he said, “Knowledge is power, and I think we need all the
power we can get.”
“Sir William Vernham,” Verity said. “His brother is Henry Vernham.”
“Never heard of ‘em,” dismissed Cyn with the arrogance of the high
nobility, and considerable
the one where the Malloren horses were waiting. Cyn called up that they
might be stopping, then leaned out to attract the attention of an
ostler. A shilling caught the wiry man’s eye. “Yes, your ladyship?”
“The Black Horse seems very busy today,” Cyn said. “Will we be able to have a private parlor?”
“This ain’t busy for the Horse, milady,” he said boastfully.
“There’ll be private rooms to be had, never fear.” He reached for the
coin, but Cyn withheld it.
“And is this the kind of inn where the best people stay?”
“We have many important regulars, milady,” he said proudly. “The
Duke of Queensbury racks up here, and the Earl of Portsmouth. Why, the
great Earl of Walgrave—him they call the Incorruptible—stayed here only
last night, and left not three hours past.” He fixed a suitably sober
look on his face. “Looking for his poor daughter, he is. The young
lady’s gone mad, and is running around the country stark naked with her
babe dead in her arms.”
“She should surely be easy to find then,” Cyn said dryly, and gave
up the coin. As soon as the man left he looked at his apprehensive
companions.
So their father was the Earl of Walgrave, one of the great lords of
the land, known to all for his wealth, power, and almost Puritan
rectitude. Hardly surprising that he had named a daughter Verity.
Perhaps Charles was not Charlotte but Constance.
So why were the sisters not seeking this paragon’s help?
This new element, however, certainly made their enterprise a great
deal more interesting. The Earl of Walgrave could easily mobilize the
authorities, including the army, to search for his daughter. Cyn
couldn’t help but doubt that Verity marrying her major would put an end
to the problem. An officer could be broken for less. Cyn’s own career
might be in jeopardy if his part came out.
There was something else too—some other detail to do with
Walgrave—but it tickled at the edge of Cyn’s memory and refused to be
pinned down.
He shrugged. The dice were cast, and he had never yet turned from an
enterprise because of danger. He smiled at his companions. “He is, at
least, long gone.
En avant, mes enfants
.”
The ostler had been correct. Though the inn seemed busy, there were
still good private rooms to be had. Cyn took a bedchamber as well as a
parlor.
As soon as they were alone, Verity said, “We should have told you. I’m sorry.”
“It would have made no difference. But you have a formidable opponent, if opponent he is.”
“Yes, and I fear Father is now on his way to Nana’s, and will soon
know some of the truth. I just pray Nana will be able to keep your part
in this secret, my lord. I would not like you to find my father your
enemy.”
Cyn glanced at Charles. She looked pinched and haunted, and he no
longer needed to wonder whom she feared. He wished he understood more.
Certainly the earl would not be pleased with a daughter who chose to
play the man, but was that the sum of her sins?
Cyn put a blunt question to Verity. “The Earl of Walgrave could keep
both you and William safe from Horrible Henry. Why are you fleeing him?”
Verity bit her lip. “It’s true. Perhaps I should go to him… I
can’t
risk William…”
“Nonsense,” said Charles crisply. “Father’s off in the wrong
direction, and when he turns around he still won’t know whom or what
he’s looking for. Henry V… Horrible Henry knows even less. We’ll get
you to Nathaniel before Father can interfere.” She turned to Cyn.
“Father stopped Verity from marrying Nathaniel once, and would do so
again.”
“Ah. And instead he arranged your marriage to whom?” When they
hesitated, he said, “Knowledge is power, and I think we need all the
power we can get.”
“Sir William Vernham,” Verity said. “His brother is Henry Vernham.”
“Never heard of ‘em,” dismissed Cyn with the arrogance of the high
nobility, and considerable
Similar Books
