Mr.Edwards bowed again and left the room.
Sunny watched Mantheria twist her long, beautiful blonde hair into a low knot at the back of her neck.Then she put on a shawl and picked up her hat, only to set it back down.“I am afraid that my bonnet is unredeemable.”
“Lady Glastonbury without a hat,” he said in a mocking voice.“How very shocking.”
Mantheria gave him a small, secretive smile that stole another piece of his heart.“She’s on an adventure.Perhaps headgear is optional.”
He put on his top hat.“I hope you don’t mind if I do wear one.”
“I’ll let it go just this once.”
Sunny held out his arm, and Mantheria put her hand on it.Together, they went down to the hired carriage.He helped her inside and was surprised when she took his hand and held it.Sunny truly felt like he was her protector.Pride made his chest swell.He was so relieved that he had not stayed in Southall.That he had continued even when the circumstances were hard, even if he wasn’t sure what she wanted or needed.He felt taller, bigger, and stronger.Capable of achieving any goal.
The carriage ride felt short, or perhaps it was because he was touching Mantheria.When the vehicle stopped, Sunny alighted and helped Mantheria step down behind him.They entered the inn hand in hand and spoke to the proprietor.A bald man with a most impressive black beard bowed to them.“Welcome to the Pelican.I am Mr.Lynch.”
Sunny straightened to his full height and tried to appear as peer-like as possible.“Thank you, sir.We are looking for Mr.and Mrs.Norton.We believe they had a young boy with them wearing all black.He is the son of the Duchess of Glastonbury, and she is anxious to recover him.”
“I will take you to their rooms at once.”
He felt Mantheria’s hand tighten in his until it almost hurt.But he hoped to provide her with some modicum of comfort.The room Mr.Lynch led them to was on the third floor and up a narrow flight of stairs to a door at the end of the hall.Whoever the Nortons were, they did not appear to be in comfortable circumstances.
Mr.Lynch raised his fist and knocked twice.
There was no answer.
Mantheria’s hold on his fingers tightened until he feared that he would lose his circulation.Then, just as suddenly, she let go of him and pushed back the proprietor to turn the doorknob—it was locked.
Sunny instinctively knew that something was not right.“Unlock the door, sir.”
Gulping, Mr.Lynch pulled out a key from a chain on his belt, put it in the small lock, and turned it.When they entered the dim parlor, there was no one inside, merely one small table with two chairs and a narrow window.He jumped when he heard a muffled sound coming from the adjoining door.Wedged underneath the doorknob was a chair that was locking the person or people inside it.
With two quick strides, he yanked the chair out of its place and swung open the door.A woman, not more than twenty, fell into his arms, followed by a man closer to his own age.He set the woman back onto her feet and stepped around her, looking for Andrew in the small adjacent room with only a bed and a hearth inside it.
His heart sank.Andrew was not there.
“Where is my son?”Mantheria asked.“What have you done with him?”
“Done with him?Done with him?”the man said, his pale face turning red.“That bugger Andy String locked us in and took our money after we tried to help him.Ungrateful little?—”
Sunny was relieved that Andrew had not used his own name and that the one the boy had chosen was close enough that they could be certain they were on the correct trail.Andy for Andrew.String for Stringham, his mother’s maiden name.
“Now, Mr.Norton, let us not speak so freely before our betters,” Mrs.Norton said with a voice that was high and rather too sugary for Sunny’s taste.“I am certain that this fine lady and this handsome gentleman will be more than happy to pay us what we are owed rather than have us go to the nearest magistrate.”
Sunny’s heart sank, and his stomach clenched.He hadn’t successfully helped Mantheria locate her son.
“If you were so kind and helpful, why would my son run away from you?”Mantheria asked coldly.
Mrs.Norton’s face paled a shade, and her eyes darted to her husband.
“See here, madam.We noticed that the lad was unattended and offered to help him find his way back home.”
Sunny let out a low whistle.
Mantheria raised her eyebrows.“Did you also offer to hold his purse for safekeeping?”
Mrs.Norton’s mouth fell agape.“How did she?—?”
“Quiet, woman!”Mr.Norton yelled, and his much younger wife flinched.It appeared that the man had a temper.