The Faithful Heart by Merry Farmer Page B

Richard that the appointment and granting of lands and title
was illegal.”
    “No,” Madeline shook her head. “I mean, why
is he pleading with London one day then attacking carriages the
next? Isn’t that a contradiction.”
    Toby sighed. “I don’t know, my lady. I wish I
could defend his actions, but ever since….” He let his words drop
and his heart drop with them. “The problem is, the outlaws that
Ethan considers ‘his men’ have been doing far more thieving than
Ethan knows about. I mean, I’ve tried to tell him, I’ve tried to
tell him about Roderick, but these days he’s more interested in….”
His face went red. “Well, never mind what he’s been more interested
in. The forest is a very dangerous place right now.”
    The three of them exchanged glances, none of
them knowing what to do. Madeline swallowed, pressing a hand to her
stomach. “Should … should we inform Sir Crispin about this?” she
wondered aloud.
    Joanna chewed her lip. “I’m sure he’s already
on the alert.”
    “There are soldiers all through the forest,”
Toby confirmed. “But there are more and more outlaws joining in
every day. Rough men,” he blanched. “Thieves and cut-throats most
of them. Men who want a piece of the hoard.”
    “The hoard?” Joanna smirked at what she
assumed was her brother’s exaggeration.
    “Don’t laugh,” he pouted. “There’s more gold
and silver tucked away from all the highway robberies than, well,
than I know I want to think about.”
    “Really? And Ethan lets this happen?” Joanna
crossed her arms and shook her head. “And to think the man was once
our lord.”
    “He still is!” Toby protested. “And he can’t
very well be blamed for the crimes of others when he’s so …
distracted.”
    “Yes, well, we all know how you feel about
him,” Joanna arched an eyebrow.
    Toby flushed and looked more hopeless than
ever.
    “Oy! Someone plan a party without inviting
me, mate?” Jack jogged into the garden, startling the three of
them. His hair was still soaked and his embroidered tunic was
skewed, the linen shirt under it not tucked in. Toby skittered back
and glanced towards the wall as if he might run but Jack smiled at
him as he reached Madeline’s side. “Toby! Long time no see,
mate!”
    “Jack, um, Lord John.” Toby nodded, giving
him a stiff half bow with a guilty expression to match.
    “Nah, don’t bother with none of that, mate.
To you I’m still Jack Tanner.”
    “Yes, my … Jack.” Toby sent his sister a wary
glance. “I need to get back.” He turned and scrambled off towards
the garden wall.
    Jack scratched his goatee as he watched him
run off. “What’s got into him?”
    “Ethan is planning to waylay the nobles on
their way to and from the council and the outlaws are planning on
robbing them,” Madeline told him, not sure if it was her place to
say anything.
    “Oy, tell me somethin’ I don’t know,” Jack
glared at the wall as if Ethan were right on the other side. His
scowl lightened when he turned back to her. “Me an’ Crispin got it
under control.”
    “Really?” She brightened. Joanna didn’t seem
convinced.
    “Yeah,” he grinned. “Why don’t we take a walk
around town and I’ll tell you all about it. Joanna, you don’t mind,
do you?”
    “Not at all, my lord.” She curtsied and
started out of the garden. As she passed Madeline’s side she leaned
close and whispered, “Fight for him!”
    Madeline turned bright red.
    “What’s that all about?” Jack grinned, taking
her arm.
    She squeezed his arm and sighed, “I wouldn’t
know how to begin to tell you.”
     

Chapter Six

    The sky had clouded over and was threatening
rain by the time Jack and Madeline rode over the hill into
Kedleridge. The gloomy backdrop didn’t give the best view of his
manor but it still brought a smile to Jack’s face. He turned to
Madeline, riding beside him on a horse she had borrowed from
Aubrey. “Well, there she is,” he grinned, “My