“Indeed.” Finlay’s gaze shot past the trembling maid and settled on the scrawny man wearing provincial attire and a shabby felt cap. “Who the hell are you?”
The young fellow looked equally startled. Beating a dog was vastly different from beating a man. The panic in the lad’s eyes said he lacked the courage to do both.
“T-Tom Davies, sir. Anne’s brother. Mr Blent paid me to feed the hounds.”
“Why?” Finlay snapped. “Where’s Blent?”
Terrified, Anne glanced beyond Finlay’s shoulder. “Perhaps Mrs Friswell can explain, sir. She’s gone to Bisley but will be back in the morning.”
“You explain.”
“I—I’m not sure I know all the f-facts, sir.”
Sophia approached, holding the lantern aloft. “Anne? What on earth are you doing out here? And where is Blent?”
“Blent paid Anne’s brother to care for the hounds, and Mrs Friswell is in Bisley,” Finlay said. “Anne is about to tell us why.”
Anne nodded, her teeth chattering as if she had spent an hour in the icehouse. “Mrs Friswell went to collect supplies from her sister.” Anne heaved a breath. “She said the devil would soon reveal himself and we must be prepared.”
Sophia gripped his arm. “What on earth can Mrs Friswell mean?”
Finlay wanted to know about Blent, not the damn housekeeper, but Anne’s words chilled him to the bone. “Does Mrs Friswell practise the dark arts?”
Anne appeared confused. “The dark arts?”
“Witchcraft.”
Anne jumped in shock. “Sir, no! No. Mrs Friswell studies herbs and helps people with her medicines.”
That’s the excuse she used to appease the maid. But Mrs Friswell’s medicine was likely to blame for Jessica’s irrational thoughts.
“And her brother-in-law mends traps,” Anne added.
“Where’s Blent?” he demanded, for they would get little sense out of Anne.
“B-Blent?”
“Yes, Blent. The man you have worked alongside for five damn years.”
“He’s gone, sir, gone to London. Left in a right old panic.”
“London?” Sophia gasped. “Why in heaven’s name has he gone there?”
Hellfire!
There were only two reasons why Blent would dare leave his post. Had he accompanied the doctor in the search for his patient? Had he genuine concerns for Jessica’s welfare? Thank the Lord neither man had any hope of finding her in town.
“Did he leave with Dr Goodwin?”
Anne frowned. “No, sir. He took a horse and left before the doctor woke. Made me swear not to say where he’d gone if the gentleman asked. Blent is desperate to find Miss Draper, sir.”
“Why?”
Anne shrugged. “He said it’s a matter of life and death.”
Chapter 16
The cold coil of fear tightened in Sophia’s stomach. Was Jessica safe with Mr Sloane? Finlay assured her the man was as skilled with a pistol as he was a sword. Violence was in the blood. Moreover, D’Angelo had nine lives and refused to die before punishing the rogue who murdered his parents.