“We were going to plot it out as we ate,” said Bevan, and Morris nodded slowly.
“Then we had best get started,” she said, and ignored the look they exchanged. When neither of them did just that, she offered, “The only thing I could think of is that we need a plan to knock down the six men to at least three. Much more favorable odds.”
Bevan nodded. “You have a good grasp of strategy. I am just not sure how we can do it without bringing too much attention to ourselves or causing your aunt to act against my brother too quickly.”
“Then we have to do it as stealthily as possible.”
It was a challenge and they quickly took it up. In some ways it was all done to keep her from joining in the rescue of Bened. She knew they wished her to stay right where she was alone, in the dark, safe. That was not something she intended to do and so she intended to hear all of their plan. If she could participate in any way, she would, and, if not, she would find another way to do so. Bened had helped her and she intended to repay that in the best way she could. He did not deserve to suffer at the hands of her mad aunt.
She smiled when Boudicca rushed over to sit on her lap and both men frowned at the dog. Men did not much like tiny dogs and poor Boudicca was going to be tinier than most. The dog looked at Morris, curled her lip, and snarled in a deep tone. Morris looked startled and Bevan laughed heartily.
“Ferocious little thing,” Morris said.
“I suspect she will always do her best to protect me since I saved her from drowning.” She patted the dog’s head and gave it a piece of her roasted chicken. “We need to make some decisions quickly as he cannot sleep much longer. They will wake him if he does.”
“Then we best make our plans. I do not suppose we can convince you to just wait here.”
“No, so best come up with something I can do. I know how to use a pistol.”
“First, we get rid of as many of her men as we can. Then, we need to try to get into the room where Bened is from as many ways as we can. There is a window and one door so the choices are few. To the house there are two doors and a window in each room.”
“I can get in the window,” said Bevan.
Primrose listened to the plans and soon thought they had a chance. If they had a few more people, they would have an even better one but she would take a nice gift of luck if she had to. While they tried to make a plan that would give her something to do yet not be in too much danger, she tried to think of where she could keep her dog.
Simeon was pleased to see the woman moving with her previous grace when they slipped out of the house to get their horses. “I realized we have not introduced ourselves. I am Lord Simeon Wootten of Willow Hill. And you?”
“Lilybet Wherlocke of here.” She glanced back at the building they had just left. “My parents bought this and were doing well. Too well. It stirred jealousy. It cost them their lives. If I had not been so young, it might have cost me my life as well but a cousin of my father’s arrived and took over. Since then I have been no more than a maid. So, I found my mother’s birth name and took that for myself. I had no wish to be a Foddam.”
“Ah. Relatives can be a curse. It is my aunt and uncle who are causing me and my sister such grief. I think a lot of that stems from jealousy as well. That and greed.” Seeing how she continued to stare sadly at her home, he said quietly, “But you still need to leave. My aunt will not leave you alive. Those men could return at any time.”
“I intend to leave but I am uncertain of where to go.”
“Find your mother’s people?”
“It is a thought. Let us get you to your uncle first.”
He nodded and mounted his horse. They were a few miles away by the time the sun came up and he relaxed. Not only was he back on the road to his uncle’s but he had gotten his rescuer away as well. If he could just find his aunt and make her pay for the things she had done, he would be a happy man.
By midday he could see that she needed to rest and began to search out a place for them to stop. He took one look at the village below the hill they sat on and frowned. The village was too quiet and he was certain that was his aunt’s carriage in the inn yard near the stables. Simeon signaled to Lilybet and drew her back down the hill on the side away from the village.
“There is a bad feeling to that place,” Lilybet said.
“I think it has been taken over by crooks and smugglers. River pirates and all that. Not that well read on the criminal class but what there is out here in the country are the sort holding that town. I am certain of it. We will find a little clearing to take a rest in.”