The other’s grunt was barely audible. “Stow it! They might ’a seen summat.”
What in the world? Then were they not footpads? A whisper reached Delia’s ears.
“I am going to investigate.”
Alarmed, Delia started up, keeping her tone low. “Aunt, are you mad?”
The elder lady’s fingers came to her shoulder. Her grip was surprisingly strong. “Stay where you are, Delia. They must not see you.”
“But, Aunt, you can’t go out there!”
“Have no fear. I am armed.” Before Delia’s astonished eyes, Lady Matterson produced a pistol from the pocket set into the seat’s padded armrest.
“Good heavens, Aunt Gertrude!”
“Hush! Did you take me for a ninny? I never travel without protection, my dear.”
Appalled to see the old lady reach towards the door handle, Delia pushed forward and seized the wrist of her pistol hand. “I can’t let you go out there!”
“Pish and tush! In my day, we had backbone. I am not in the least afraid of a couple of ruffians.” Then, before Delia could act, she thrust the door open and leaned out, speaking in an imperious tone. “Ho, there! Vowles? Scoley? One of you come and let down these steps so I may descend.”
The rough voices that had continued to murmur abruptly ceased. No answer came from either groom or coachman.
Delia’s heart was racing. “Aunt, for heaven’s sake!”
Lady Matterson turned her head. “Be silent! If anything untoward happens, escape into the forest, Delia.”
“What? But —”
“A young girl is too much at risk. At all costs, stay safe!”
About to embark on vehement argument, Delia was forestalled by the shadow of a man looming up outside. Instinctively, she shrank down, although her great-aunt’s form in the doorway likely blocked her from view. Lady Matterson’s suddenly haughty tones assailed her ears.
“Who are you, my man? What do you want?”
For answer the fellow let out a rasping laugh. “Yer money or yer life, is it? Come on out of that, you old trot, and we’ll see.”
“If you will be good enough to let down the steps, I may do so.”
“Ooh, lah-di-dah! As yer please, missus.”
A creak and thump indicated the ruffian was complying with Lady Matterson’s demand. Delia was tempted to seize her aunt’s clothing to try to hold her from getting down. But she descended with dignity intact, somehow managing to keep her pistol hand hidden beneath her voluminous petticoats of sprigged lawn. The ruffian shifted out of sight as her aunt moved towards the front of the coach and out of Delia’s view.
“Now then, what is the meaning of this outrage?”
A different voice took this up. “Ain’t meaning no harm to you, leddy.”
“Then why are you holding my servants at gunpoint?”
“We was arsting them if they seen a feller on horseback is all.”
The deeper tones of the first man cut in. “Stow it, I said!”
An altercation seemed to go on between the two, but in lowered tones so that Delia could not make out the words. She heard her aunt again.
“Vowles? Scoley? Are you hurt?”
“No, my lady. Only the horses are resty.”