Lady Bess

“Is there no one he favored over the years that may have found themselves suddenly cut out by this boy if your uncle changed his will? For I tell you frankly, the idea of his being abducted for ransom, in view of the fact that no letter for said ransom has been submitted, seems odd,” Bess said, her mind racing over her conversation last night with Fleet. Someone wanted the young boy out of the way. Was Fleet right? Would Holland inherit if this child wasn’t around to? And she knew. In her heart she knew that the boy she saw in the Gypsy wagon could be this missing boy. She had to maintain her quiet façade. She couldn’t let on that she knew anything. Holland was not to be trusted!

“As to that, he always liked his one remaining sister, Augusta, but she is older and well off.” Mary shook her head. “No, I just don’t know.” At this point, Mary dug into the deep pocket of her riding skirt and pulled out a miniature to hand to Bess, saying, “This is a very good likeness of Thomas. I had it done when they visited at Christmas.”

Bess held the miniature up, and when she looked at the face of the boy, she nearly choked. She controlled herself and managed to swallow the words that came to her mouth. It wasn’t the time. She had to think about this. She knew just where she had seen that face before. She looked up and found Bernard staring at her.

Bess hurriedly said, “I am shocked. He looks no more than a babe. Thank you. I will keep my eyes and ears open and advise the earl of this awful circumstance as soon as he returns.” She handed the miniature to Donna, who clucked her tongue and murmured words of concern.

Donna returned the miniature to Mary and said, “I am certain you must have things to do. We won’t keep you, and as Bess said, we will advise the earl, who is very knowing and might be able to help.”

Mary thanked them profusely and turned her horse about, taking a path that would lead to the open road. Her cousin tipped his hat and silently followed.

Donna and Bess watched them for a time before Donna rounded on her friend and shrieked, “Don’t fib to me, Bess. Something is towards. I saw it on your face the moment you looked at that boy’s picture!”

“Donna, that was the face of the little boy in the Gypsy wagon that I saw, that first time, after Stonehenge. Remember, when we stopped at the Red Lion? Donna, I never before believed in fate, but it was more than a simple coincidence that I was there that day and saw his little frightened face, and then I saw that same wagon at the carnival. Donna, it must have been Thomas that I saw that first time in the Gypsy wagon. He is being held by that awful Gypsy man and the old Gypsy woman. I am certain of it. Donna, ’tis fate that I saw him. It can only mean one thing.”

“Oh, no, what one thing?”

“We must go and find him,” Bess said with conviction.

~ Fourteen ~

“FAITH! OH, FAITH, you are certain the boy in the Gypsy wagon was the same as the face in the miniature, aren’t you? Yes, I know you—of course you are. What are we going to do? Why would a Gypsy abduct the child?”

Bess bit her lip as she often did when distressed and nibbled there a moment before she looked Donna in the eye and said on a sigh, “I don’t know. Why would a Gypsy abduct a boy? It doesn’t make sense. A Gypsy’s life on the road is hard, and many of them usually do what they can for remuneration. Therefore, we must conclude and assume there was money in it, and if so, we are back to two theories. Ransom or …” She hesitated.

“Or what?”

“Someone doesn’t wish the squire to leave his fortune to his illegitimate son. Someone who expected to inherit and needs to inherit must want the boy out of the way,” Bess said portentously.

Donna sucked in a long drag of air. “Oh, no, that is quite a leap, but, Bess, it wouldn’t be the first time foul play was used for financial gain.”

“My thought exactly. It has to be Holland. I don’t know who else stands in such a position. One must assume that it can’t be Mary Russell, as she seems to be making an attempt to find the boy, and she doesn’t appear to be in poor financial straits.”

“Yes, but Bess, Landau has a sister, and I believe she has a son. We can’t put the blame squarely on Holland’s shoulders yet, can we?”

“Yes, we can. He is the only one that was anywhere near the Gypsy—right?” Bess answered thoughtfully. “However, that doesn’t matter right now. What we have to do first is rescue the boy at once.”

“We? What do you mean we?” Donna yelped.

“There is no time to lose, so it is left to us,” Bess said, regarding her friend with one brow up. “Donna, since when have you been faint-hearted?”

“Bess, you wretch, I am not, but we should wait for the men,” Donna put forth reasonably.

“Indeed, and so we shall. I meant only that we must track the wagon I saw from its last place, the carnival. Then you will ride home and fetch Robby and the earl, and then we can rescue the boy before they finish the job. For, Donna, I do believe they are supposed to finish the job, and that can only mean one thing.” She lowered her voice and with fear edging her tone said, “They are in the end, I have no doubt, meant to do away with the poor boy. Scoundrels. I think they are supposed to murder the child and can’t imagine why they haven’t.” She shook her head. “Donna, time is of the essence. We must find where the boy is and rescue him.”

“Bess, this is seriously dangerous. You must promise me that we shall track the caravan—only track it—and then fetch help,” Donna said and clucked with concern. “Promise!”

“Done. Now, off to the carnival grounds. We shall start from there.”

Donna sighed and followed.

* * *

They had traveled for nearly an hour at a reasonable pace, as they did not want to overstrain their horses, when Donna pulled up her animal and put up her hand to say, “Bess, I have been thinking that no one even knows where we have gone off to. I don’t think going off half-cocked like this is very brilliant, do you?”

“We will be in no danger whatsoever, as I don’t mean to confront anyone. As soon as we find the Gypsy wagon in question, you will go back, get the men and a fresh horse for yourself, and return with them while I will keep watch.”

“No, you will return with me,” Donna said with a wag of her finger. “If I have to drag you off, you will return with me.”