Page 8 of No Ordinary Lady

Marian hid her old clothing under a pile of fallen leaves and donned her dark cloak over the better-quality gown she was currently wearing.

She had to move quickly, and alone. Keep far away from familiar territory where she might cross the troupe’s path again.

She felt a momentary pang for leaving Billy behind because she didn’t believe he’d wanted to betray her trust. Tommy could be very persuasive when he wanted to be. The lad would have been given no choice but to obey.

He’d do well enough without her. Tommy said he needed him, and Crossman would ensure he was fed and earned his keep.

As much as she wanted to, Marian did not dare go back to ask Billy about the matter. She either had to bury the ring here and now or run with it.

Marian slipped the ring onto her finger, discovering it was a perfect fit for her hand as she admired it for a moment.

But the pretty bauble was not meant for a thief to keep, and she knew she must take it back. Crossman would never have let her keep it. He would sell it for the money the first chance he got.

Marian would return it to the gentleman at the inn somehow. Had he intended to give the ring to his lover? He would surely want it back. Marian might even be rewarded. Money or a fast carriage away from here would do.

Marian glanced over her shoulder, realizing she was wasting precious time debating. She couldn’t remain in the woods to let Tommy or Beatrice find her, given their intentions.

Marian crept out from her hiding place and then hiked up her skirts to keep them clean as she followed the river bed deeper into the woods. Once she judged she’d traveled far enough, she changed direction to head directly toward the inn. The stream meandered around the village and close to the inn.

It would be the perfect hiding place for her tonight. It was the last place they would expect her to go.

Crossman, Tommy and Beatrice, and Billy would spend tonight thinking Marian was lost somewhere in the woods, and never imagine she’d run away from them until it was too late to catch her.

Chapter Three

Daniel was drowsing by the fire when the door creaked open. “I’m done,” he called. “You can take the tray away.”

“I’m not here for your tray,” a woman said behind him. “May I come in?”

Daniel swiveled in his chair, gaping as he saw the young woman from the inn yard standing in his doorway. The firebrand in his chamber, but she was alone. Her hair was half falling down and in need of a good tidying, and it appeared she had been crying. He burst to his feet. “What has happened?”

“Nothing that I could have anticipated. I had to see you,” she said, slipping inside and shutting the door behind her.

“I don’t understand,” he said, moving toward her, drawn by the tremble in her voice. “Is he dead already?”

“No. At least I don’t think so. I have left him. You were so kind to me earlier, and I thought,” she said, lowering her chin and watching him from under her lashes, “that you might be again.”

“To you or your husband,” he said, drawing closer to her. “Where is he, by the way?”

“He’s not my husband,” she blurted.

Daniel blinked several times. “B-but I thought, given his talk of your future, that he was…”

“He deceived you. Deliberately,” she admitted. “He does that.”

Daniel frowned. “Why?”

The woman wet her lips. “So he can decide if he can empty your pockets later,” she admitted.

Daniel blinked again. Had he been duped into sympathizing with their situation and giving over his money for no good reason? “And I suppose the man was probably not dying, either?” He cursed when she nodded. “So, what are you doing here now? Looking for more charity from me?”

“I’ve nowhere else to go.” She lifted her face, and he saw her cheeks were streaked with tears. “They will kill me for coming to you tonight,” she whispered.

He frowned at her. “Why? Because you are talking to a stranger?”

She rushed toward him, pressing her hands against his chest. “I came to warn you. Tomorrow, on the road, make sure your men ride fully armed.”

Daniel rocked back from her in shock. “Are you saying they’re highwaymen, too?”