“Oh dear,” she said. “Your Grace, you must forgive us, we had no idea.”
Elise patted Andrea’s arm. “You’ve done nothing that requires my forgiveness.” She cast a sidelong glance at Phoebe, then leaned close and murmured, “Perhaps this will teach you to call me by name."
Phoebe's eyes widened in surprise, but she managed to stifle the mirth.
“Lord Douglas Ingersol at your service, Your Grace,” Douglas said and again attempted to gain his feet.
Donald returned and Elise nodded to him.
“Help Lord Ingersol to his feet, please.” She looked at Douglas. “Let’s get you two into our carriage. It's nearly dark. We have no idea how long the repairs will take and there's no need for us to sit on the wet ground.”
A few minutes later, Lord and Lady Ingersol, along with Elise, were tucked safely into the carriage. Phoebe went to the fallen carriage to see how the repairs fared.
“It doesn’t look as though we’ll be able to make repairs on the wheel here,” Calders informed her.
“The night is clear and the moon full,” Phoebe said. “There isn't enough light?”
“The wheel is cracked. It'll have to be repaired, or perhaps even replaced."
She nodded. "I'll tell the duchess." Phoebe hurried to the carriage. She opened the door and surveyed the occupants. “Niall and Calders inform me the wheel is cracked. The repairs can't be done here.”
Elise looked at Lord Ingersol. “It seems we must leave your carriage here. We'll have the wheel repaired and send Niall back with your men to bring it onward. The Orwell Inn is forty-five minutes ahead. We will stop there for the night.”
“Your Grace,” Lady Ingersol said, “we can't impose upon you.”
“Our men can deal with the repairs,” Lord Ingersol said. “You needn’t bother yourself any further.”
“Nonsense,” Elise said, “we'll make sure the carriage is brought safely to the inn this evening.” She addressed Phoebe. “Do you know how much longer we'll be?”
“Not long, I think. The horses are rounded up and Niall is loading the wheel. It looks as if your wheeler isn't seriously injured.”
Lord Ingersol looked relieved. “A good horse,” he said. “I would have hated losing him.”
“I'll have your trunks loaded onto our carriage and check on how much longer we'll be,” Phoebe said.
“If they can hurry?” Elise said, and Phoebe nodded, then turned away and started for the other carriage where the men were already retrieving the trunks.
The company rode at a trot, Phoebe on horseback with the men. She regretted the little time they would lose by stopping at the inn, but after the time spent rescuing Lord and Lady Ingersol there was no question of pressing on. Perhaps they might leave early enough in the morning to recover some of the lost time. Phoebe jarred from her thoughts when she realized that Niall had pulled his pistol from his waistband, even as she registered a rustle of leaves somewhere beyond the road. She wheeled around in unison with Niall to face the approaching rider.
“Halt,” growled Niall, his weapon aimed at the rider as he broke from the forest.
A cry went up from Calders, who had clearly spotted the newcomer, and Donald rounded the carriage.
The duchess’ carriage door swung open. “Phoebe,” Elise’s called. “Niall, what's happening?”
“By heavens.” Phoebe stared at the newcomer as he cleared the forest and moonlight illuminated his face. “What is he doing here?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Don’t shoot,” Phoebe cried. “I know this man.”
Niall didn't move a muscle. “Come forward ye bloody fool,” he said. “I’m not inclined to heed the lady until I see your weapon on the ground.”
Phoebe groaned. This is what an Englishman got for stepping onto Scottish soil. “Adam,” she called, “what in God’s name are you doing here?”
Adam reached into his coat.
“Careful,” Niall warned, and Adam opened his coat, revealing the pistol stuffed into his waistcoat. He lifted the weapon with forefinger and thumb and tossed it to the ground.
Calders came to a halt next to Niall. “What's he doing here?”
“You’ve no other pistol?” demanded Niall.
"No," Adam replied.
Phoebe whipped her head around at hearing someone alight from the carriage and saw it was the duchess. Lord Ingersol stepped from the carriage behind her, leaving his wife and Sue crowded in the doorway peering out.
“What's going on here?” Ingersoll asked as if he were in charge. “Do you know this man?”
Phoebe ignored him and turned back to the duchess' men. “Niall, put away your weapon. I’ve known this man since the schoolroom. Satisfy yourself that you've taught him not to sneak up on a carriage traveling at night. And you, Adam, thank God for a full moon or I might have shot you myself. Why are you skulking about in the forest?”
“I didn't care for this bend in the road,” he replied. “If I encounter a highwayman, I prefer being the one to catch him off guard.”