“How long ago was this?”
The milkmaid yanked her finger free of the curl.“Not much more than forty-five minutes.”
“Did he tell you where he was going?”
The milkmaid shook her head.“No, Your Grace.But I saw him heading toward Timsbury with a shepherd and his flock.I told him it was safer to travel in company than by himself.”
Shaking her head, Mantheria seemed bewildered.She mused aloud, “What could Andrew want in a small village like Timsbury?”
“How far away is the village, Mr.Martin?”Sunny asked.
“Four miles, Your Grace.”
Mantheria got to her feet.She placed a coin in the milkmaid’s hand and thanked her for her help.The girl bobbed another curtsy and then left the fancy parlor.“Timsbury is where we will go next.Mr.Martin, could I trouble you for the hire of two swift horses?And I am embarrassed to say that I am rather short on funds at the moment.But if you send your bill to my steward, I will ensure that you are paid twice your usual fee.”
The proprietor bowed.“Of course.Your Grace is one of my best customers.I will have the ostlers saddle up a pair of fresh horses to take you to Timsbury.You should arrive there within the hour.Hopefully before the rain starts again.”
Sunny didn’t think that the rain had ever stopped.
The innkeeper bowed once more before leaving the private parlor.Mantheria’s eyes met Sunny again, and she said, “No man.”She huffed, but her lips smiled.“Matthew has much to answer for.”
“I believe the original offender is Homer.”
Mantheria waved one hand.“He’s long dead, and I can’t hold him accountable for filling up my son’s head with stories of classical heroes.”
“But when Andrew finally goes to Eton, he will be the cleverest boy there.”
She gritted her teeth.“If we can discover where he is going and find him safe.”
Sunny took both of her hands in his.There were no gloves between them this time.He felt her skin and wondered at its softness.Would all the skin on her body be this same silken texture?With difficulty, he forced his thoughts back to their current situation.“Your son has shown that he is capable and clever.I do not doubt that we will find him whole and safe.”
Sniffing, Mantheria nodded.The end of her nose was a little red.Then she tugged her hands away and put on her wet gloves and rather demented bonnet.Sunny picked up his cup and drained the last bit of the hot tea before putting on his hat, coat, and gloves.Rubbing his sore shoulder, he hoped that they would find Andrew soon.
He offered Mantheria his arm as if they looked like a duke and duchess, instead of a dirty, damp, and badly dressed pair.Sunny led her to the front of the inn, where Mr.Martin was standing next to two lads holding the reins of a pair of mares.
“The finest in my stables as promised, Your Grace.”
Mantheria thanked Mr.Martin a second time before turning to Sunny.“Will you help me mount?”
Sunny was only too happy to perform such a small service for her.His hands rested briefly on her waist before he lifted her into the sidesaddle.Then he put his boot into the stirrup of his horse and swung onto its back.He tossed a coin to each ostler.His horse whinnied, and Sunny tightened his hold on the bridle.The beast must have heard the roll of thunder in the distance.Looking up at the dark sky, he expected the rain to grow heavier at any moment.The wind had already picked up.
He tipped his hat to Mr.Martin and followed Mantheria out of Tunley and to the road sign that led toward Timsbury.Once they left the village, the wind seemed to double in speed and ferocity.The rain fell in endless sheets.Sunny’s horse whinnied again, but this time, Sunny hadn’t heard any thunder.He prayed that they would reach Timsbury quickly and find Andrew safe and warm there.
“I think we’d better make a run for it,” Mantheria yelled over the sound of the rain.“We might be able to beat the storm.”
Holding on to his hat so that it didn’t blow away, Sunny nodded.He urged his skittish horse to a gallop and then to a run.After a mile, the rain even grew heavier, and great drops splashed against his face.He and Mantheria had not outrun the storm but entered the heart of it.The road grew muddier, and Sunny was forced to slow down his pace for both his and his hired horse’s safety.Mantheria rode beside him, never once complaining about the wind or the rain.Sunny couldn’t help but be impressed by her fortitude.She was more like her little sisters than she realized.
It was raining so hard that they almost missed the right turn to Timsbury.Sunny had to squint to read the sign in the rain; there was one mile to the village.They would be soaked to the skin by the time they reached it.Wiping his eyes with a wet hand, Sunny yelled to Mantheria, who was in front of him, and pointed toward the opposite road.She spun her horse around and followed him for the longest mile of his entire life to the village of Timsbury.
13
Mantheria prayed that Andrew was dry and snug in a home or a barn and not out in this incessant rain and howling wind.It took all her strength and stubbornness to stay on top of the horse and to keep it moving in the direction of Timsbury.She did not see the town until she reached the first building.It was growing dark, and the rain was falling so hard that it was difficult to see more than a few yards in front of her horse.Or what building was the public inn and which ones were private homes.
She paused for a moment in the middle of the road.Sunny took the bridle of her horse and led them both down the road until presumably they’d reached the inn.He swung off his mount and then lifted Mantheria.Her feet were numb from the cold, so when they reached the ground, they would not bear her weight.She staggered and she held on to Sunny for support.Without a word, he wrapped one arm around her waist and half-carried her into the taproom of the public house.
They were met by a small woman with a heart-shaped face and button nose.“How may we be of assistance to you fine folk this evening?”
“We require the stabling of our horses, two rooms, and a private parlor,” Sunny said.“Two warm baths would also be much appreciated.”