Chapter Thirty-Five
BROOKE LOOKED AROUND THE clearing in the woods where the criminals apparently lived. With only four decent-size huts it certainly wasn’t a village. A fifth appeared to be under construction; a wagon filled with lumber was parked next to it. She didn’t see any gardens or shops, not even a road leading here. A large campfire burned in front of one of the huts. A big pot hung over the fire and benches surrounded it.
A dozen or so people were there, though half of them were women holding young children. Most of them eyed Brooke and Dominic warily, but one young woman smiled shyly at Brooke, as did a few of the children.
They were led to the campfire. Rory picked up a flask on the ground and took a swig from it, then offered it to Dominic, who shook his head. Dominic removed his arm from around Brooke’s shoulders when Rory gave her a long look. She realized Dominic was preparing to fight.
Rory took a step back before asking, “D’you need some time to cool off, then? Before we talk? We usually do our robbing on the highways, but we don’t turn away donations that come our way.”
“You can take what little I have on me, or you can loan me two of your horses and I will return them with a purse containing a hundred pounds.”
“Or I can hold you for ransom, gov’nor. A hundred, eh? I’m thinking you’re worth a lot more’n that.”
“The Prince Regent is already holding me for ransom,” Dominic snarled.
The men laughed, obviously not believing him.
“And what’s his holiness asking of you?” Rory asked.
“A ring on her finger.”
The uproarious laughter when Dominic pointed his thumb at her got Brooke quite indignant.
But Rory stepped closer to her and grinned. “I’d pay that ransom.”
It might have been the remark, or because the man was about to touch her cheek, but Dominic suddenly lunged at him. They fell to the ground, and despite there being a half dozen weapons trained on him, Dominic still landed a fist to Rory’s cheek before three men dragged him off their leader.
“You might be a lord, but you’re not too smart,” Rory said angrily as he got back to his feet. “A cooling-off time it is, then. Tie his lordship up and make bleedin’ sure the ropes are tight. As for her—”
“I’ll be seeing to her,” a female voice interrupted.
Brooke turned to see an older woman approaching. Gray haired and gray eyed, she was a little beyond middle years with a weathered face. Her eyes swept over Brooke in a calculating manner before she gave Rory a stern look.
Dominic was struggling so fiercely with the three men holding him that two of them were already on the ground. But four others jumped in to help restrain him. He might still have won that battle, but he stopped trying when he heard the woman add, “D’you not recognize a gently reared lady? She’s coming with me, boy.”
Brooke held her breath, waiting to hear Rory laugh and tell the old woman to go away. He didn’t. Instead he turned to help his men tie up Dominic, and the woman led Brooke to the hut at the far end of the clearing. It was much nicer inside than she had expected. She even found the strong smell of fresh wood pleasant. A double bed had a brightly colored quilt on it. There was a table with four chairs, even a rug on the wooden floorboards. The furniture all looked old and heavily used.
“Make yourself comfy, dearie. I’m Matty.”
Brooke swung around when the old woman followed her into the room. “Please, what are they going to do to my fiancé?”
She shook her head. “My boy is mercurial, especially when he sees an opportunity to make us rich. He’s sunk his teeth into that idea, now that he knows your man is a lord. So there’s no telling what he’ll do if it don’t happen.”
Brooke paled a little more. Had she really hoped to hear a less terrifying outcome? But if this woman was Rory’s mother, could she help them? Rory had listened to her and let Brooke go with her. If Brooke could somehow gain her sympathy, maybe . . .
“Rory is your son?”
“Indeed. Rory’s a good boy who abides by his own code of honor—usually.”
Brooke wondered what that meant but decided not to ask. The woman sat down at the table and indicated Brooke should join her. “You have a nice home. How long have you lived in these woods?”
“Less than a month. We pick a new highway to work every year. With prices on our men’s heads, we can’t stay in one area too long, so we build anew each year far from the roads, but not so far that a well-traveled new highway can’t be reached in a few hours. How long have you and your man been affianced?”
“I’ve only known him a week.” It seemed so much longer!
The woman looked surprised. “And you’re so concerned about him already?”
“He’s a good man, a concerned son. His mother has taken ill. We were on our way to London in a tearing hurry because he’s so worried about her.”
“But you want the marriage?”
“I do, but he doesn’t.” Brooke sighed.
Matty pointed at her emphatically. “I always tell a girl who believes she’s found herself a fine fellow, seduce him if you want him to love you. And you’re dealing with a proper lord who wouldn’t fail to marry you after he’s bedded you.”
Brooke had started blushing at the word seduce. Alfreda had had the same idea, which is why she’d given Brooke the potion that she had in her valise. But even if she wanted to, how could she now when they might not even be alive come morning?
The woman tsked. “Rory is too unpredictable. It would be a shame if you was to die without knowing what it’s like to lie in the arms of such a handsome, virile man as your fiancé. Maybe I can get Rory to agree to let you talk some sense into the lord, convince him to pay Rory his due. Don’t worry, dearie. At least, I can arrange for you to spend your last night with him.” Matty turned to leave.
“I’ll need my valise!” Brooke called out, in case the woman really could do as she’d just said.
But as hours passed, Brooke began to suspect Matty had only given her false hope. Dusk came. She’d been standing at one of the two windows that faced the campfire, and she hadn’t caught a glimpse of either Rory or Dominic the entire time. But she could see two guards keeping their eyes on her hut. Was Dominic coming to terms with Rory in one of the other huts? Or was he being beaten now that he was restrained? She was terrified by what might be happening to him and what might happen to her soon. But what if the mother did have enough sway to bring Dominic to her during the night?
Hungry, tired, she still stood vigil at the window, too afraid not to.