Page 12 of Exile's Return

He touched his fingers to the brim of his broad hat, around which a magnificent white feather curled.

‘My pleasure, mistress. Good day to you, and to you, Mistress…?’ He bowed to Lizzie.

Lizzie straightened and dropped a well-rehearsed curtsey. ‘Lady Elizabeth Ashby,’ she said.

The man raised an eyebrow. ‘It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lady.’

Lizzie continued. ‘And this is my brother, the Marquis of Chesterton, and my aunt, Mistress Fletcher.’

The man made suitable obeisance to all three distinguished personages.

‘I am plain Master Lucas,’ he responded, clapping a hand on the boy’s shoulder, ‘and this is Matt. If you will excuse us, Matt and I have errands to perform.’

Lizzie gave Matt a haughty glance and he responded with a rude gesture as he walked away.

Lizzie giggled and the three of them stood watching as the man, with his hand still on Matt’s shoulder, marched the boy into the crowd and out of sight.

‘Do you think he is a highwayman?’ Lizzie asked.

‘Good heavens, Lizzie. What makes you think that?’ Agnes enquired.

‘Or a pirate,’ put in Henry.

‘I am sure he is nothing more than a respectable merchant. It’s starting to rain. Inside now!’

‘Mistress Fletcher.’ The innkeeper’s wife waylaid her, handing over a folded and sealed letter. ‘Message for ye.’

Agnes turned the letter over, her fingers tracing the seal of the Commonwealth in the heavy wax. Gathering up her skirts and her charges, she hurried back to her room before breaking the seal and scanning the contents. For a moment the words danced before her eyes as she tried to take in the meaning of what she was reading.

She let out her breath, unaware she had been holding it. Far from being the consent to the custody of the children she had expected, she had been summoned to attend a hearing of the Committee set up to determine the custody of the children of the late Lord Elmhurst and matters pertaining to his estate. The time stated was for two hours hence.

Her heart sank. This could only mean one thing — the news would not be good.

She took several deep breaths and turned to study her limited wardrobe. It would all be fine, she told herself. She was the children’s aunt. There could be no question of the children remaining in her care. Tomorrow, they would be on the road back to Charvaley.

Chapter 6

‘Ididn’t need no rescuing,’ Matt protested as soon as they were out of earshot.

‘No, of course not,’ Daniel replied. ‘You were about to be set upon by a girl and you would have just stood there and taken it.’

Matt looked down at his feet, roughly shod in a pair of cracked and broken shoes through which his filthy toes poked. ‘Whatcha want me to do?’

Daniel considered the urchin. Someone who knew his way around the rabbit warren of streets could be useful.

‘You can start by taking me to the Ship Inn.’

The boy’s eyes widened. ‘The Ship Inn over by Old Bayly?’

‘I believe that’s where it is.’

‘Anywhere in London but there. That Nan Marsh has a tongue on her,’ the boy said. ‘Caught me stealing some pie one day. Told me never to show me face again.’

‘Well, I’m not asking you to show your face. Just take me there. What you do after that is up to you.’

Matt stood poised for a fleeting moment between flight and compliance. When Daniel produced a coin from his purse, Matt needed no further persuasion.

‘This way, Cap’n’, the boy said, falling into step beside Daniel. ‘So your name’s Lucas?’ he asked.