Page 50 of Rogue of the Greenwood
“Most certainly I would,” he confirmed.
“Then our only course is obvious, Mr. Locksley,” she said. “We must help you rise from the dead and retake your rightful place as quickly as possible. Mr. Gisborn will be gone, Uncle Prinley will have to behave, the sheriff will have a new master, and Meg will be free to marry Mr. Muchleigh without any fear of reprisal. Don’t you see? Finding those mortgage documents is the key to everything.”
Robert couldn’t deny that her logic was sound. But certainly he couldn’t allow Miss Maidland to put herself in danger for him. Spying on her uncle could cost her dearly! That was not a burden Robert wished to carry. He could, however, allow her to assist in a somewhat less risky task… if she would be willing.
“If anyone is to be prowling around homes, hunting for secret documents, it will be me, Miss Maidland. I cannot allow you to put yourself in jeopardy. However, there is a way you could help me, I believe.”
“Oh? And how is that?”
“You’ll be having dinner at Greenwood Manor the day after tomorrow, won’t you?” he asked.
“We will,” she confirmed. “Do you want us to hunt though his office then?”
“No! I most certainly donotwant you to do that.”
“Then how can we help you?”
“By providing adistraction,” he replied. “Nothing drastic, nothing risky, just a simple matter of entertainment. If I can count on you to keep Gisborn and his staff busy during your dinner, then I will be able to get in undetected. I will search his rooms and hopefully find the relevant documents.”
It seemed a perfectly good plan as far as he was concerned. Miss Maidland, however, wrinkled her nose at the idea.
“That’sall? You merely want us to go to dinner and make conversation?”
“You can suggest music, or dancing, if conversation is too dull for you,” he said. “I have a lovely pianoforte at Greenwood Manor—at least I did when I left. I’m assuming Gisborn hasn’t done away with it. Do either of you ladies play?”
“Meg can play beautifully. I can hit the keys,” Miss Maidland said. “Are you certain there isn’t something more we could do to further the cause? Poison his food, perhaps?”
“Sounds like she’s as rogue as we are, Rob!” John laughed at the woman’s eagerness.
Robert shushed him and gave Miss Maidland a stern warning.
“No rogue activities are required—or requested. An hour of musical entertainment will be more than enough. Convince your host that he must beg you to play for him. And keep the servants occupied, too. I’m told he keeps a small staff. If they are busy serving demanding guests, they will be unlikely to wander to other parts of the.”
It seemed little enough to ask of her. He’d certainly known other ladies who kept household staff dancing to their whims at all hours. With Miss Maidland’scooperation, Robert felt certain he and his men could get into the house and find what they needed without being discovered.
She shrugged. “Of course Meg and I can do that, but will it be enough?”
“It will, and I thank you,” he said, beyond grateful for her willingness. “Now we must focus on our next challenge; getting you ladies to your home! It will be no good at all if you are found here with this lot of outlaws.”
“Speak for yourself, Rob!” Alan laughed.
“I believe that he was,” Will said. “But at this point, is there anywhere they can be found that won’t cause them damage? Surely St. John would never believe they’ve simply gone for a walk.”
“I can hide them in the wagon and drive them back into town,” Much suggested.
“It worked perfectly well the first time,” Miss St. John noted. “If Papa thinks I’ve run off, then surely he won’t be searching wagons coming back into Nottingham, only those going out.”
Robert shook his head. “No matter which direction Much is going, your father no doubt gave careful instruction to search any wagon driven by your special sweetheart.”
Miss St. John blushed furiously, but the others nodded. Much was no doubt on the top of St. John’s list of suspicious people by now. It was highly unlikely he could even return home alone without being dragged in by the sheriff and questioned.
“I don’t think Much should be out on the road at all until after the ladies are safe,” Robert said. “We’ll just have to think of another idea.”
“Then I am the obvious choice,” Mr. Fraytuckannounced. “I have my dog cart with me. I hate to suggest it, but if the ladies will agree, they can hide themselves in the back. Surely no one would think to search me, especially as I will be going into the village, not out of it.”
“That might work,” Robert said. “Yes, no one would suspect the good vicar of smuggling women into the town. If you ladies are inclined, this could be our solution.”
Miss St. John was trying to comprehend exactly what this meant. “So we will crawl into his dog cart and simply climb out when we reach the parsonage, as if nothing has happened? I suppose I’m agreeable to that.”
