Gervase glanced out, then gently moved her back. He stepped out of the carriage, then handed her down.
She looked up as Harry reached them. “What is it?”
Harry looked tortured, but entirely unharmed. He shot a helpless glance at Gervase, then met her eyes. “They’ve taken Edmond.”
What? She couldn’t even get the word out; panic strangled her.
Dalziel and Christian had come to join them. “Who’s Edmond?” Dalziel demanded.
Harry blinked, then replied, “My brother.”
“A year younger than Harry.” Madeline snapped out of her panic; Gervase’s fingers had closed around hers, hard, firm, reminding her she had no time to panic. “How? He was supposed to be here, safe at home.”
Charles grimaced; he looked unusually somber. “We’ve only just got the news ourselves. Come inside, and we can all hear the tale.”
He drew Harry back, collected Ben with a gesture. “You must be Ben.”
As ever curious, Ben fell in beside Harry, waiting to be introduced.
Madeline tried to draw in a breath past the vise clamped about her lungs. Her head was reeling.
Gervase wound her arm in his and leaned close. “It will be all right. We got Ben back—we’ll get Edmond back, too.”
Filling her lungs, she lifted her head. She glanced at Christian and Dalziel, both of whom stood waiting for her to precede them, sensed more than saw their nods of agreement, their commitment to that cause.
She was definitely not alone. Head rising a fraction more, she nodded. “Indeed. Let’s go in.”
In the front hall, they discovered a small crowd gathered about two men—Crimms, the boys’ groom, and Abel Griggs—both propped on straight backed chairs and being tended by a bevy of helpers; Milsom and Ada were there, with two maids and a footman.
Muriel, a shawl clutched about her thin shoulders, was overseeing. “Keep that compress on, Abel Griggs, or you won’t be able to see out of that eye come sundown.”
Abel grumbled, but did as he was bid. It was instantly apparent both men had been beaten; Abel had a huge knot on his forehead and a black eye, while Crimms looked faint, wan and bruised all over, his livery dusty and torn.
Appalled, Madeline stared. She couldn’t imagine how Abel Griggs came to be in her front hall, much less in such a state. She looked at Harry, then at Charles, who was looking decidedly grim. “What happened?”
Charles replied, his accents clipped, “They were set upon and beaten—both were coshed and left unconsious on the road. However…” Pausing, he drew a deep breath. “To start at the beginning…Harry and I remained keeping watch at the beach.” He looked at Gervase. “Penny’s at the castle with the dogs—she was to send word if she heard anything that might be part of this.”
Gervase nodded. Charles went on, “This morning Harry and Edmond pointed out that our position wasn’t strong if the villain came in by sea—he’d have the beach before we could reach him, and at night we might not even see him. We also couldn’t hold all our men permanently at the beach—we discussed reinforcements. The boys suggested—and I concurred—that it would be wise to notify t
he local smugglers, not only to ask if they’d be willing to swell our numbers, but also to make sure they didn’t get drawn into the villain’s game on the wrong side.”
“Sound reasoning,” Gervase said. “I assume that’s why Abel’s here?”
Charles nodded. “Edmond offered to ride to Helston and explain—he knew Griggs and where to find him. I sent Crimms with Edmond, of course.” Charles eyed Abel Griggs. “All I’ve gathered so far is that they were set upon while riding back, and their attackers took Edmond.”
Gervase glanced at Crimms; the groom was barely conscious. He transferred his gaze to Abel, who was squinting at him from under the compress. “So what happened, Abel? Edmond reached you?”
Abel nodded. “Aye—he did. He told me the story, that there might be some action around Lowland Point, and asked could we help. He told me you”—he nodded at Gervase—“and some friends of yours were in on it, and it weren’t nothing rum but could be a bit of liveliness.”
He shrugged. “Me and the boys have been quiet for some time—since the end of the war there ain’t been much cause for us to launch the boats. Seemed like this lark young Edmond spoke of might be an excuse to get our keels wet again. So I sent word to the boys, and was riding back with young Edmond and Crimms here, when we was set on.”
“Where?” Gervase asked.
“Just outside Helston.” Abel’s one good eye got a distant look. “A curricle went whizzing past—we pulled to the side to let it go through. A gentleman all muffled up and a lady in a cloak—didn’t reckernize either of ’em, but they was both quality, sure as eggs. Left us in their dust, they did, then we rode on. ’Bout ten minutes later we reached the junction of the road down to Lizard and the road coming this way, and a group of men leapt out from the ditch and from behind the hedge there. Some had cudgels. They pulled us from our horses. We fought, but there were at least six of ’em—too many. Left me and Crimms for dead, they did. But it was Edmond they wanted.”
Abel glanced at Madeline, standing between Muriel and Harry with Ben clutched before her. “Didn’t hurt him or nothing—just dragged him off.”
“Any idea where to?” Charles asked.