Page 143 of His Duchess in Disguise
“Gone. Taken. She and Mary both. There are signs of a struggle, but it was brief. My guess is they trussed up the ladies while they were still dazed.”
“A hopeful sign that they took the maid, as well?”
“Perhaps. Or else they were looking for comely wenches, and we were just in the way.”
“This has Percy’s fine hand all over it. But we’ve got to get you to help. You are still bleeding.”
“It looks worse than it is. The shot glanced off an ornamental buckle on my vest and angled upward instead of going in. The knee is the worst of it. I could not even get to you or to the horses to free them. I don’t have any idea what condition they are in.”
Just then Rags came dashing up ahead of their rescuer, who deposited another person on the grass beside Hamilton. “Robbie?” Leo asked.
“The same. And I’m that glad to see you, Your Grace. I am. I got thrown off the carriage, and when I came to, I was half in the brook with the fishes nibbling at my boots.”
There was a small commotion toward the front of the coach and a single shot. The man came back leading two of the team of four horses. “I’m sorry, Your Grace,” he said. “One of the near wheelers drowned because he was tangled in the traces. The other had two broken legs. The off wheeler and leader were tangled, but not as badly.”
Rags had been snuffling through the grass, weeds, and brush near the coach, and he set up a yapping. The man went to investigate and came back carrying the other coach boy. The youngster’s face was white and tears of pain rolled down his cheeks, even though he was silent.
“Now I’m in a quandary,” their rescuer said. “Captain Arnault sent me to warn you that the Earl’s searchers have reached Menhiransten. Likely, it was someone from him who set upon you. With your condition, I hardly know whether to ride for help or to stay with you and do what I can.”
“You are one of Arnie’s men,” Leo stated. “I should have known.”
“Private Garster, at your service, Your Grace. No reason you should know me. I’m just another face on the parade ground. But Captain Arnault sent me right enough. Good thing he did, by the look of it.”
Just then, there came the sound of another horse’s hooves. “Saints and sinners!” the man who came riding up exclaimed, “What happened here?”
“Highwaymen,” Private Garster replied. “And who might you be?”
“That livery!” Leo burst out. “You are from Cleweme. Are you here to finish your handiwork?”
“What? You think I had something to do with this?” the gentleman looked about him. “I can assure you that I did not.”
“Identify and explain yourself, then,” Leo said, clambering shakily to his feet. Private Garster hastened to his side. “Do you need help, Your Grace?”
The man dressed in Cleweme livery swung down from his horse and swept a respectful bow to Leo. “I’m John Goodkind, footman to the Earl of Cleweme’s household. The Earle sent me out to look for Miss Emma Hoskins, his fiancée.”
“Oh? And is the young woman aware of his intent?”
“Much as it pains me to say so, Your Grace, it would appear that when she heard the news of the proposed nuptials, the young woman fled. Her father made the arrangements, as is his due as a parent.”
“Mr. Goodkind, does this strike you as the actions of a willing bride? Are we in the dark ages that a woman should be forced into marriage?”
The footman swallowed hard. “Your Grace, it could go hard with me if I refuse orders. I was sent to look for her, that is all. I don’t know of any other men from the Earl who were sent out this way.”
Leo considered the statement. “If you would prove your goodwill, ride back to Sheriff’s Town and fetch help. The tavern keeper there should be able to locate some able-bodied assistance. He will need to send a wagon or something similar. Most of my party are too badly injured to ride. Someone will also need to send for a doctor.”
“I’d be glad to,” Goodkind responded. With that, he turned his horse around and hastened back the way he had come.
“Do you think he will bring help?” Private Garster asked.
“I think that either he will bring help or I will feel well enough to go fetch some myself,” Leo replied. “But we need to get field dressings on our injured and see what can be done for these two horses. If one of them is sufficiently sound, perhaps it would be a better choice to send you after that fellow to see that my bidding is done.”
The private gave a quick bow. Going to his horse, he opened a saddlebag and withdrew a first-aid kit. Within a short while, he and Leo had bandaged Robbie’s few hurts, splinted the other coach boy’s arm, and had done what they could for Mr. Hamilton.
Leo sponged off as much of the blood from his person as he could manage and determined that he mostly had a scalp wound that had been delivered in just such a way as to render him unconscious. “You are very fortunate, Your Grace,” the private commented, as he wound a bandage around Leo’s head and fastened it with sticking plaster.”
“I would count it as being more fortunate had this not occurred at all,” Leo grumbled, “but this is a better scenario than might have been. If Hamilton does not develop a fever, I will be thankful, indeed. Then Leo looked bleak. “I fear for Emma. I’m not even sure how to find a direction in which to search.”
“What about her dog?” Robbie asked, pointing toward Rags.
