Page 70 of Witchbane

I was relieved by his reaction but not surprised. ‘Thank you. I’ll be sure to let you know how today goes, as soon as I have the opportunity. I might have to wait a little while before having to chance to come myself, but if I sent a written note to you I’d worry that it might be intercepted.’

‘Don’t worry about me, young man. I look forward to moving back to the manor and being a constant support to them, and I will do that as soon as I’ve made arrangements for my house and staff and gathered a few of my belongings for the time being. For now, though, I acknowledge that if there is any way of helping the women in my life then you will be the one to find it.’

He couldn’t have paid me a more welcome compliment. ‘Thank you, I appreciate your saying that.’

‘Not at all, Theo. You are a man of honour.’ There was a moment’s silence before he added. ‘Despite your chosen profession.’

I was taken aback by his words, but he smiled at me. ‘I’m teasing. I know full well you will have been brought up to follow in your father’s footsteps. If anything, I’m glad you have taken on this role, because with you at the helm when your father chooses to retire, I feel there will be someone with a far fairer outlook than we have been used to.’

I should probably have resented this description of my father, but he was only saying what I secretly thought – and probably what everyone else did too.

‘Good afternoon, sir,’ one of the militiamen called as we drew near them. He looked at Rue’s father. ‘Lord Thistlebury.’ The three men gave respectful nods, taking off their hats before replacing them and waiting for me to speak.

I decided to take charge immediately. ‘I have spoken to Lord Thistlebury and it has been agreed that one of you will continue with him to his home.’

‘But, sir,’ the most determined looking of the three began. I had met him before. He was a determined devil and I wanted him as far away from Rue as possible, for as long as I could manage. I tried to recall his name.

‘Le Gall, isn’t it?’

‘That’s correct.’

He didn’t seem pleased that I remembered him, which confused me. Often I’d found that men like him wanted to know they had made an impression on others. Maybe it was my relation to my father that concerned him. I noticed how keenly he was watching me and surmised that he had taken a dislike to me already. It didn’t worry me; people judging me without knowing me was something I was only too used to.

He leant slightly forward in his saddle. ‘Those were not your father’s instructions to me – you must be mistaken.’

His insinuation that I was upsetting their plans didn’t surprise me. This is a man used to being in charge, I thought, looking from one to the other of his companions.

‘Well, as I’m the only one who has been to the place, and am therefore familiar to Mistress Tredwell, her daughter and granddaughter, I believe it only right that I should lead us there.’

He looked away, his teeth clenched in anger before responding. ‘Of course, sir. As you wish.’

I turned to Rue’s father and removed my hat respectfully. ‘Lord Thistlebury, I’ll bid you good day and hope you haven’t been too inconvenienced by today’s events.’

He glowered at me, then at the men, playing his part to perfection. ‘I have been most inconvenienced. Now, if you have all finished discussing your plans, I want to return home.’

‘As you wish, sir.’ I inclined my head to Le Gall. ‘Please accompany Lord Thistlebury. You other two, come with me. My father will not want us to waste time discussing matters here,’ I said. ‘Le Gall, you will meet us at the manor as soon as you can get there.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Without giving His Lordship or Le Gall another look, I turned Warrior and began trotting back in the direction of the manor. I did not bother making eye contact with the other two men, hoping my arrogance would deter them from making small talk with me.

I kept Warrior at a slow trot, wanting to give the women as much time as possible to prepare for our visit.

Chapter Thirty-Four

RUE

‘Thank heavens he’s gone,’ my aunt said, as the door closed and Theo took up his reins.

I jumped, shocked to find her standing behind me. I dismissed Theo from my mind. ‘Not for long, though, Aunt Sorrel.’ I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. ‘We need to warn Grandmother and the others. Thankfully we cleared out most of the spell room, but you’ve both been working on the spell for today’s meeting since then.’

She sighed wearily. I felt her exhaustion and wished we could have time to rest before the next onslaught upon our home. ‘We have. And there’s the attic. What with the women leaving in such a hurry, I doubt all traces of our spell, or possibly my grimoire, have been cleared away.’

I guessed my grandmother had come downstairs by now. I didn’t want either of them to have to climb several flights of stairs yet again. ‘I’ll go up there now and check everything is as it should be. Hopefully I can make it look as if no one has been up there for a while.’

‘Good idea. We don’t know how much time we have, so we need to be practical. I’ll fetch Mama and go to the spell room.’ She touched her lips with her forefinger. ‘Anything they find in the kitchen can be explained away.’

I thought of the herbs steeping and the bunches of others hanging up to dry. ‘Don’t forget your own cottage.’