Page 17 of A Countess Captured for the Captain
“He looks very convincing,” she said, and Nox shook his head.
“You have done me a remarkable kindness,” he said, and Samantha waved her hand dismissively.
“You returned me home, and risked your life to do so, besides… well, that means something,” she said, blushing under his gaze.
“Time is up,” the guard called out, as the key turned in the lock.
“Thank you, guard,” Samantha said, and Nox was astonished to see her slip him a purse full of coins, which he snatched from her eagerly.
“A pleasure doing business with you,” he said, eyeing Nox with a glare.
“And not a word to anyone, or I shall let it be known that it was you who let the prisoner escape, and then you may find yourself the one behind bars,” Samantha replied, beckoning Nox to follow her.
“Bless me, Father, bless me,” the syphilitic man called out, and Nox raised his hand awkwardly in a blessing, as they hurried past.
The prison was a maze of dimly lit passageways and narrow staircases. It had been built during the English Civil War to house those still loyal to the Royalist cause, and conditions had improved little since those dark days of the past. Twice they got lost, before emerging into the prison yard, where a low wall ran along all four sides, and a gate stood at the far corner, guarded by two guards.
Nox gazed in terror at the sight of the gallows in the center, a noose hanging from the gibbet which seemed to call his name, waiting for his neck. He shuddered and followed Samantha and Catherine toward the gate. His heart was beating fast, and he wondered what would become of him once they left the prison. He would be a wanted man and all of London would be looking for him, how could he ever hope to hide from the fate which had been pronounced upon him.
“You will have to speak with them,” Samantha whispered, as they approached the guards.
“But what do I say?” he hissed.
“That you have given blessing to the prisoners, and that we have provided comfort,” she replied.
“Stop there a moment, Father,” the guard said, stepping forward and raising his hand.
Nox had the hood pulled up over his face, and given his new clerical demeanor, he prayed that they would not recognize him.
“It is only I, the priest. Our ministrations are over,” he said, and the guard nodded.
“I thought you arrived with only one woman,” he said, and Catherine and Samantha glanced at one another.
“Ah… I was… here already. I came to give alms to those poor souls who will soon face the rope. It is too terrible. The very thought of those men losing their lives brings a faint to my heart,” Samantha said.
“Those men have committed some terrible crimes; they deserve everything they get. Especially that Nox fellow. I have heard of things he has done, murder, violation, wickedness, killing in cold blood, why I wish–” the guard began, but Nox interrupted.
“He has done none of those things,” he cried, quite forgetting himself for a moment.
“And how do you know that, Father?” the guard asked, and Nox faltered.
“Ah, well, you see… I just know that he is innocent. It is a feeling. You would not understand,” he said, and the guard muttered something to his companion about “do-gooding priests.”
The gates were opened, and Nox, Samantha, and Catherine were ushered out onto the street. Each of them breathed a sigh of relief, and Samantha turned to Nox and flung her arms around him. He was quite unprepared for this display of affection, though Catherine pulled her away, chastising her for her foolishness.
“Samantha, it is not the done thing for a cleric to be seen embracing a lady in the street,” she hissed, and Samantha leaped back.
“Goodness me, no, quickly, we must get you to safety,” she exclaimed.
Nox had rather enjoyed the sensation of her arms around him, but already they had received several curious looks from passersby and he knew that their luck surely could not hold out much longer.
“Is it far to the home of… remind me of their names? Rebecca and–” he began.
“Rebecca and Nicholas, The Marquess of Somerset, one of the oldest families in England. It is not far, no, but we shall take a circuitous route, for it will surely not be long before your disappearance is discovered,” Samantha said.
“And I shall go by a different way. They will look for a cleric and two women, at least this way it will be only one,” Catherine said, and she kissed Samantha upon the cheek, smiled at Nox with a blush, and hurried off into the crowd.
“This way,” Samantha said, beckoning him to follow her.
