To Have A Heart (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 7)

“We are going to have to move out of here sooner rather than later. I must get to Harriett because some of these wounds go deep. She has the right kind of poultices that will stop any infection,” Sir Hugo announced with certainty. “When we do leave, we are all going to go in separate directions and go in disguise. Before we do that, Melrose and Mann are going to have a visit from the men. I am going to get out of here but will do my best not to hobble or give any indication that I have been injured. I will need to wear a beard to hide the bruises.”

Sir Hugo then turned to Phillip and sent him off to fetch everything they would need to disguise themselves. When he had gone, Sir Hugo then turned to Callum and Mallory.

“You two will have to go separately as well, I am afraid. Mallory, you will have to leave with Will, or Phillip, and will have to be hidden. Callum, you need to ride out with the men. When you are sure you have not been followed, double back. Don’t take any chances.”

Callum nodded, but inwardly raged against being parted from Mallory. When he looked up his gaze clashed with Sir Hugo’s. He knew instantly that Sir Hugo understood his worry.

“She is with the Star Elite.”

“But that didn’t stop them from trying to snatch her yesterday,” Callum countered.

Sir Hugo sighed. “What you have to understand is that Melrose is now aware of the number of men he lost yesterday and that they were cut down in a brutal firefight. He won’t allow his men to be caught out again. They are going to be fiercer to fight than ever before and will stop at nothing. Surprise is our best weapon.”

“You were taken before the firefight, weren’t you?” It wasn’t a question.

“I was caught by the bastard before you even entered the wood. I watched you go into the trees but was bound and gagged and couldn’t call out to you. I had to wait to see if you could get out alive. At that time, I had no idea that the rest of the men were in those trees waiting for you.”

Callum and Mallory shared a look. They both knew that they had only survived because the men had been so quick to intercept them.

Even though they were sitting next to Sir Hugo, Callum reached out and placed a warm palm over Mallory’s clasped hands. She looked at him and smiled gently. He winked.

“It will be all right. If we disguise you as a man, you should be able to get out of here without being noticed.”

“Do you ride astride?” Sir Hugo asked.

Mallory shook her head. “I have no idea what to do.”

Sir Hugo nodded. “I have asked Niall to arrange for a farmer friend of mine to deliver a cart of wood to us. We can smuggle you out of here under some rags. When he returns to the farm, he is going to take you with him. You can then make your escape. If Melrose follows, you will have plenty of fields and barns to hide in until he is out of the area.”

“If the men know about this then they can intercept Melrose’s men should they appear,” Callum added. “But I don’t think she should face this alone.”

“It is going to look odd for her to be with someone,” Sir Hugo argued. “Melrose and his men will be looking for the both of you. They won’t expect her to be on her own. That is the key here.”

At any other time, Callum would have just accepted Sir Hugo’s orders and let her go, but after what had happened to Sir Hugo, Callum wasn’t prepared to take the risk.

Mallory felt her stomach churn as she fretted over the chances of survival if she came face to face with Melrose while she was alone.

“As soon as those disguises arrive, we are going to leave. Callum, you go and get the horses saddled and close the house up. Mallory, can you gather all the food together? We must make sure everything is taken with us when we leave because we won’t be back. The men aren’t safe here.”

Sir Hugo heaved out of his seat and shuffled across the room where he plopped down into a high-backed chair before the fire. He leaned back and stared absently into the flames, seemingly forgetting all about Mallory and Callum, who watched him with growing concern.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Later that day, Mallory scratched her itchy chin and tried not to look down at her clothing. It was odd to wear breeches and a pretend beard. The rest of the men seemed to think so too because the second she appeared in the kitchen in her new disguise they broke out into laughter that wouldn’t stop. Even Sir Hugo huffed a laugh.

“You look like a little boy in his daddy’s clothes,” he teased.

“I didn’t ask to look like this,” Mallory mumbled through her beard.

She squinted malevolently at Callum, who was openly grinning.

“Don’t you dare laugh,” she warned.

“Give me those,” Phillip suggested, holding his hand out for her clothing.

Mallory reluctantly handed her dress over. She watched it disappear into a saddle bag which Callum then tossed casually over his shoulder. He swept her with a look before pursing his lips to hide his smile.

“Well, I know who you are, but I don’t think Melrose’s men will be able to recognise you given how much that beard swamps your face. However, what we do know is that they will be curious about who this stranger is.”