Page 20 of Weave me a Rope
The only other danger was some early riser walking the grounds, but they saw no one, and no one sounded an alarm.
In the safety of the oak, Cordelia unlaced the skirt she wore over a pair of trousers her maid had managed to purchase when John first told her his plan to climb to Spen’s level. Before yesterday, it had been more than six years since she climbed a tree, and she had never climbed so high.
She had been afraid, and perhaps John realized that, for he assured her he could do the climb and relay her messages. But there was no way she was missing her chance to see Spen again, so she gritted her teeth and made her way from branch to branch until she was high enough. Today was easier. She had already done it once. Once she removed her skirt, her footman made a stirrup of his hand and tossed her up to the first branch, and from there it was simple. Soon, she was edging her way out onto the branch she and John had chosen the day before.
Spen was waiting at the window. The barred window.
“I am scraping away stone a bit at a time,” he reported after they’d exchanged greetings. “The sill is hard rock, and I don’tknow how deeply the bars are set, so I don’t know how long it will take me. Not less than a week, but it might be much longer.”
“We can wait in Crossings,” Cordelia said, but she knew they could not even before Spen shook his head.
“He will use you and John against me,” he said, “and then I will have to wed as he bids. Go, both of you. For my sake and for the sake of our future. Your uncle will be able to protect you? Won’t he?” His tone made that a question.
Cordelia was certain of it. “Your father thinks his position allows him to bully anyone he pleases and trample on those who defy him. But my uncle has connections and influences of his own and is used to a far harsher world than your father could imagine. He will protect us.”
Spen nodded. “Then you will go? You will take John with you?”
“Yes, but I will leave two of my men behind to see you have enough food and anything else you need,” she insisted.
“Make sure they understand the danger,” Spen insisted.
“I already have,” she assured him. “The two men who helped us yesterday have volunteered. Their names are Charles and Andrew, and they will come every morning.”
Cordelia had spoken to all the men in her entourage, footmen, grooms, and outriders. “I need two of you to leave my service and find positions in this village,” she had told them. “Except, not really. In fact, you will still be employed by me, at double your usual wages.” She went on to explain that the earl—her betrothed—was locked in a tower and that his father the marquess was unstable and dangerous. They had a friendly set of eyes and ears in Deercroft, however. The stable boy was on Lord Spenhurst’s side and was willing to pass information on his visits to the village.
“Every second morning would be safer,” Spen suggested. “Can you ask them to bring me writing materials?”
“Of course, and will you write to me, Spen?”
Spen’s eyes widened. “What would your uncle say?”
Uncle Josh would ask Aunt Eliza, and Aunt Eliza would say young ladies did not receive letters from gentlemen. “We are betrothed,” Cordelia replied. “Besides, I need to know you are safe. Write to me, Spen.”
*
Cordelia sent theshortest of the grooms out to meet John on the road to London with a spare suit of livery for John to wear. They had decided not to appear in the village together. As it turned out, he had quite a wait, since Aunt Eliza insisted on intervening with the servants who had decided to stay behind.
“But you have a good position with Mr. Milton,” she insisted. “Why would you abandon it?”
Cordelia knew she had chosen well when neither of them indicated by word or look that they were not leaving their employment. Poor Aunt Eliza. Cordelia felt guilty for not taking her aunt into her confidence, but the lady had no gift for deceit and would let their secret out if she knew it.
The scene with her two spies had its uses, since the innkeeper, his wife, and several of his servants and customers witnessed Aunt Eliza’s distress. No one would doubt Andrew and Charles had left her service. That and the false name she had used at the inn should help to keep them safe from the marquess’s attention.
At last, her party left the inn yard—two coaches and a surrounding cluster of outriders. Cordelia and Aunt Eliza were in the lead vehicle with Gracie, Cordelia’s maid, who also looked after Aunt Eliza on journeys since Aunt Eliza’s maid was an even worse traveler than Aunt Eliza.
The second carriage, which carried their luggage, was under instructions to pause to pick up John and the groom at the spot just beyond—and out of sight of—the first tollgate. The carriage would pause for only a moment, and the road was dry. With luck, there would be nothing to show two people had joined the carriage.
The livery fitted well enough, Cordelia decided when she saw John at the first stop for a change of horses. He had dispensed with the sling as part of his disguise, and she went over to tell him to put it on again.
“Your brother will be upset if traveling with me impairs your healing,” she pointed out. “Please be careful, John. If the bone shifts before it is mended, it might not heal correctly.” On an inspiration, she added, “How will you be a cavalry officer with a damaged arm?” That did the trick. He fished the sling out of his pocket and put it back on.
At the next change, they paused long enough to take lunch, then took to the road again. Aunt Eliza complained about the speed. “You insisted on staying in the village, Cordelia,” she pointed out. “And now you cannot wait to get to London. Surely, we could stay somewhere overnight?”
Cordelia could not tell her she was anxious to have John under her uncle’s protection. She was pleased when Aunt Eliza ceased her complaining and dropped off to sleep.
She signaled to the driver to stop and left the maid to watch her aunt while she joined John in the luggage coach.
“I hope you don’t mind, John,” she said. “I thought we might take the opportunity to get to know one another better. How are you?”
