Page 86 of Exile's Return

‘What’s the garrison strength?’ Jonathan addressed Daniel.

‘I’ve counted twenty-four troopers. They have a token guard on the main entrance but the kitchen entrance is unguarded.’

‘What’s the best way to get inside?’

‘Leave the horses in the trees beside the gate to the kitchen garden,’ Agnes said. ‘Daniel can let you in through the kitchens and I can meet you at the top of the servant stairs and guide you from there.’

‘What about your guard?’ Daniel asked.

‘Guard? He’s got you under guard?’ Kit stopped his pacing.

‘If you call a large, burly soldier who appears to be in residence outside my bedchamber a guard, then yes, I am,’ Agnes said. ‘I think he is intended more to prevent me accessing the children than to prevent any other kind of mischief on my part.’

‘That’s a problem,’ Jonathan said. ‘We need you. Any chance of slipping past him?’

Agnes shook her head. ‘Only if he’s asleep…but he’s not the only difficulty. There are the children and their maid. They all sleep in the nursery.’

‘I’ve an answer to that.’ Peg Truscott rose to her feet and crossed to a cupboard beside the fireplace. Inside, the shelves were packed with clay pots and mysterious packages. She pulled one out, shook her head, and put it back again.

‘Ah, here it is. Tincture of poppy.’ She held up a flask. ‘‘Tis a sleeping draught of my own recipe. Will knock out a horse.’

Kit put his arm around the woman’s shoulders and kissed the top of her head. ‘You are a marvel, Mistress Truscott. So all you have to do, Agnes, is get two children and two adults to drink some of this. Any ideas?’

Agnes caught the scepticism in his tone. ‘If I take supper with the children…I am loath to drug them though.’

Jonathan looked at her, his eyes narrowed in thought. ‘Do what you think is right, Agnes. Will there be much to carry?’

Agnes shook her head. ‘I saw four satchels. I don’t imagine James upended the contents into one great chest. He would have wanted it portable.’

‘How heavy are they?’ Kit asked.

‘Four hundred coins means one hundred coins per bag.’ Jonathan looked around. ‘Does anyone have a Unite?’

Kit undid his purse and tossed the gold coin to him. Jonathan picked it up, weighing it in his hand.

‘Four satchels is manageable. Excuse us, Mistress Truscott, I need your table.’

With a heavy sigh, Peg moved the peas and took her seat by the fire as Jonathan cleared a space on the table and gestured for them all to sit down. He produced a crumpled sheet of paper and a stick of charcoal from his travelling bag.

‘Draw us a plan of the castle, Agnes, and the best route to get there and away undetected.’

Agnes complied and the men leaned in closer, asking questions, confirming plans.

Setting the charcoal down, Agnes looked around the table at the grim faces of the men.

‘It’s not just the gold. I am bringing the children.’

Kit glanced at Daniel. ‘The children? When did they become part of the plan?’

Jonathan straightened, running his hand through his hair. ‘Agnes, I…we understand your concern, but we have limited resources. I just don’t see how we can carry out two children as well as the gold.’

Agnes stiffened. ‘The children come or this is the end of my cooperation.’

‘This is madness,’ Kit said. ‘The children are not your responsibility, Agnes. They are safe enough where they are.’

‘No, they’re not,’ Agnes said, her voice rising in distress. ‘Leah Turner beats them and I fear for Henry’s life. Tobias covets the title. They are only little…children die…’ She broke off, fighting back tears.

Peg rose to her feet and put her arms around Agnes. ‘They’re right, dearest, you can’t just make off with ‘em. You know that. You’d have the whole wrath of Ashby and his soldiers on your heels.’