Finn flew down the stairs as though the hounds of hell were after him. Young Benny Ross met him at the bottom of the stairs. “We’ll need fresh horses, Benny.”
The boy just looked at him. “Now!” he bellowed.
“Yes, my lord,” the boy said, ducking his head as he ran around the house and toward the stables.
Mrs. Ross pressed a wrapped bundle of meat and cheese into Finn’s hand and said, “You need to eat.”
“I can’t.” He could probably run all the way back to London and not stop, he was so scared.
“My Benny will be a few minutes with the horses, what with changing over the saddles and everything.” She pressed the bundle into his hands again and gave him a cup of water. He drank the water and split the food up between the men. She pressed water into their hands too. “None of you will be good for anything if you fall over from hunger. Now eat.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Finn mumbled. What was taking so long?
“I’m sure Ramsdale didn’t let Claire leave the hall. And he’s going to stay with Sophie.” Robin paced back and forth across the floor. He probably had visions of his last wife and what had happened to her with Mayden. But she hadn’t been a faerie, for Christ’s sake. The Thornes could take care of themselves, even without their father’s protection, couldn’t they?
“Everything will be just fine,” Mrs. Ross said, bustling around to be sure they were all taken care of. “Miss Thorne is such a lovely lady.”
“Mrs. Trimble,” he corrected.
“Beg your pardon?” She looked confused.
“Claire Thorne is now Claire Trimble. We were married today.”
“You don’t say?” Mr. Ross said, stomping into the room. His gray hair was askew, and he had a severe limp. It was a good thing Mayden hadn’t come here. With only Mr. Ross, Benny, and Richard to protect her, Katherine had been fully exposed. “Congratulations,” he said, clapping Finn on the back.
Benny rushed back into the house. “Your horses are ready, Your Grace,” he said. He looked at Finn. “My lord.”
Finn ran out the door and leaped onto one of the horses. He had to get back to London. He had to get back to Cla
ire. He had to be certain she was all right. He felt sure she was with her family, anxiously waiting for his return. She had better be with her family.
***
Claire covered a yawn and moved her chess piece. “Checkmate,” she said.
Sophia knocked the remaining pieces to the tabletop. “That’s two out of three. Do you want to go for three out of five?”
“I want to go to bed.” Claire yawned again. She wouldn’t go to bed. She’d never be able to sleep. “Set the board up again,” she said, instead.
Wilkins stepped into the room and held a missive out to Sophia on a silver salver. She took it and opened it, and then her face broke into a smile. She laid a hand over her heart. “They’re fine.” She held the note out to her father and he read it, the faint lines around his mouth softening as he smiled.
“Thank heavens,” he breathed.
Claire took it from him and read.
Dearest Sophia,
Mayden has been apprehended, and we will return as soon as possible. We’ve need of food and a brief rest.
Always,
Ashley
Robinsworth must have sent a runner to inform them. That was very thoughtful of him. Claire would never have been able to sleep if she hadn’t known what fate had befallen them.
“I wonder what happened when they caught him,” she said. Where would they keep Mayden through the night? Surely Robinsworth would have mentioned if they were injured or not.
“We’ll find out soon enough,” her father said, laying a comfortable hand on the top of her head. “It’s late. Your mother and I will take you to Lord Phineas’s house on the way to Ramsdale House.”