Wondering why a man would think he could learn about criminals just by reading about them, Lilybet said, “Aye, we must and there is one just through those trees.” She abruptly grinned at him. “Come along.”
Since she looked so pleased, he did not complain but followed her into the trees. He had followed her for only a few minutes before he heard a voice he knew as well as his own. A glance at Lilybet told him she had known Primrose was close. Simeon’s pleasure suddenly faded as he feared Lilybet would now go off on her own and she was not safe, any more than he was, while Augusta was still alive.
“Nay, I will not leave yet. Being with you is what will lead me to my mother’s family.”
“Well, always happy to be a useful fellow.”
Lilybet laughed. “I suspect many find you very useful for a lot of things. Let us go meet your sister. She has been searching for you.”
“I need to find someplace to put my dog so she is safe while we do this,” said Primrose.
“Safest place would be with you, sister dear,” said a deep voice from the edge of the clearing.
Primrose’s heart leapt so hard and fast she had to put her hand over it as she spun around and looked at the two riders at the edge of the clearing. Simeon looked far less elegant than he usually did and rather tired. The pretty black-haired woman next to him looked as if she badly needed to rest. Primrose set the basket down and ran to her brother’s side even as he dismounted. She immediately noticed his wince when she hugged him, however, and stood back a little to look him over.
“You are hurt,” she said. “Did they get hold of you?”
“For a short while but I escaped and this kind woman hid me from them,” said Simeon as he held out his hand and assisted Lilybet in dismounting. “This is Lilybet Wherlocke. She paid dearly for her kindness to a desperate man for they came after her as well. Aunt has her cane rods with her.”
“A Wherlocke?” asked Morris, studying Lilybet closely. “Yes, I can see it now.”
“My mother said we shared a certain look about us,” said Lilybet. “We can discuss that later, if you would be so kind, but you must get that man out of there. That woman seeks information on her niece and she will use any means she can to get him to give it to her.”
“Bened would never . . .” began Primrose, and ignored the sharp look her brother gave her over her familiar use of the man’s name.
“Nay, he would not and that is why you must get him out of there quickly. She will see that she needs more than her cursed rod and get her man who is so good with a knife.”
“You need to rest,” Simeon said. “I think you could use some salve on your wounds as well.”
“I have some and mayhap you can help me put some on when you return.” Lilybet slowly seated herself beneath a tree.
“Of course I will.” Primrose set the basket with her dog next to the woman, worried about how pale she looked. “Could you watch my dog for me?”
“I would be happy to. Now, go and get him away from that woman who is nothing but a curse for your family.”
Chapter Thirteen
A sharp pain stabbed repeatedly in the back of Bened’s head as the darkness faded from his mind. Then he cursed. The dryness in his mouth and throat told him he had been unconscious for a long time. Someone had gotten behind him and he had not realized it until too late. He knew why he had missed the warning as well. He had been so concerned about the enemy getting to Primrose that they had managed to get to him. It was a bad time to find out that his gift had a weak spot.
As he surveyed the room he was trapped in, his next clear thought was that Primrose was alone in the wood in the dark and he would not be there to ease her fear. From what he could see out the window he was not in the small inn, he was in one of the cottages. He could see the backs of the village buildings through the window. He hoped the people who had allowed Augusta to use their home were still alive and, if so, were getting as far away as they could.
The next thing he noticed was that he was naked, wrist and ankles tied to a chair. Being naked did not trouble him much. Having been a soldier for a few years, he had lost all modesty a long time ago. Being naked and tied so firmly to a chair was something worth worrying about. He did not think a man could be much more vulnerable. There were a few reasons someone would keep a captive in such a condition and none of them were good ones.
Bened gritted his teeth and tested the strength of his bonds. He hissed at the sting when the rope cut into his flesh but now he could move a few fingers just enough to pluck at the knots. If he could just get one hand loose, he could untie himself quickly, perhaps even quickly enough to flee before his captors returned.
That small hope was crushed when the door opened and Augusta Wootten walked in. Behind her was a taller, thin man with a narrow face and a head full of silver hair. The man’s eyes widened as he stared in shock when he saw Bened.
“M’lady, this man is naked!”
“I am quite aware of that, Jenson,” said Augusta. “Please move that chair over here and set it in front of him.”