band.’
‘They must be hiding somewhere.’
‘That’s the problem. In this terrain, there are far too many excellent hiding places. Whenever they see one of our patrols, the villains simply go to ground. At least,’ he added, ‘there have been no more incidents.’
‘That proves nothing, sir.’
‘No, I suppose that it doesn’t.’
They were standing outside Lieutenant Ainley’s quarters and Welbeck was showing impatience. Having seen the way that the marauding redcoats had destroyed a farm, he was desperate to hear of their arrest and annoyed that he could take no part in it. He found it frustrating that the patrols sent out after the men had made no apparent progress.
‘In a sense,’ said Ainley, ‘it’s really not our problem. Most of them deserted from the same cavalry regiment.’
‘You’re forgetting Private Lock, sir. He’s from the 24^th.’
‘We can’t be absolutely certain that he’s involved.’
‘I can,’ said Welbeck. ‘I feel it in my bones. It’s just the kind of thing that would attract a man like Edwin Lock. He has no respect for authority or for other people’s property. When I caught him stealing from the other men, I beat him to a pulp.’
‘You should have had him flogged, Sergeant Welbeck.’
‘I didn’t want to let him off so lightly.’
Welbeck gave a grim chuckle. Though he was no admirer of Ainley, he found him the most approachable of the officers and, as such, a useful source of information.
‘Is there any news of Captain Rawson?’ he asked.
‘I fancy that I should be asking that question of you,’ said Ainley with a smile. ‘You always seem to know far more about his movements than I do. All that I can tell you is that he left camp on his own.’
‘That much I already know. What he didn’t tell me is why.’
‘I can’t help you on that score, Sergeant. If he’s been given another assignment, then he could be anywhere. As you know, His Grace places the greatest trust in the captain.’
‘He sometimes asks too much of him.’
‘I’m not sure that that’s possible,’ said the other, admiringly. ‘Captain Rawson has nine lives. He’s gathered intelligence in the most dangerous places and always returned unharmed. And I don’t need to tell you how utterly fearless he is in battle.’
‘No, sir, I’ve served under him for a long time.’
‘He relies heavily on people like you.’
‘He does, sir,’ said Welbeck, meaningfully. ‘He knows that I can always tell if a man is lying or telling the truth. At first glance, I had my suspicions of Ralph Higgins.’
Ainley was contrite. ‘I’m still embarrassed about that little lapse on my behalf,’ he said. ‘I’ll be more careful in the future.’
‘I’m sure that you will, Lieutenant.’
Behind the deferential comment, Welbeck kept his scorn for the officer well concealed. He was on the point of taking his leave when he heard shouts and laughter. They were prompted by the arrival of two horses. One was ridden by an attractive young woman while the other carried a man and a woman. Ainley couldn’t understand why they were given such a noisy welcome but Welbeck recognised Daniel immediately, even though he was still in disguise.
Seeing his two friends, Daniel came across to them and whisked off his hat. Ainley was amazed to see who it was. Dismounting swiftly, Daniel helped Amalia down from the same horse then lifted Sophie down from the other animal. He introduced the two women to Ainley.
‘Lieutenant,’ he said, ‘would you be so kind as to escort the two ladies to His Grace? They have useful intelligence to impart. I’ll join them in His Grace’s quarters directly.’
‘Yes, Captain,’ said Ainley, pleased to be given the task. ‘I’ll pass on that message.’ He smiled at the women. ‘Follow me, ladies.’
‘I might have known there’d be a woman in the case,’ said Welbeck as he watched the others walk away. ‘You had two of them this time, Dan.’
‘That was unintentional,’ said Daniel. ‘Mademoiselle Prunier was being held captive with Amalia in the French camp. I had to rescue both of them.’
‘I see that you only brought two horses so that you had an excuse to put your arms around Amalia.’
‘That’s not true at all, Henry. I’d hoped to bring all three of us back in Ralph Higgins’ wagon but it went astray. I had to leave the French camp without it.’
‘Is that how you got there — in Higgins’ wagon?’
‘Yes…but I’ll have to find another way next time.’
‘You’re surely not going back.’
‘When I’ve given my report to His Grace, I have to return.’
Welbeck grinned. ‘How many more women need to be rescued?’
‘I’m not trying to release a hostage this time. I’m going back for my sword. It was hidden in the wagon that was stolen.’
‘Spare yourself the trouble and buy yourself another sword.’
‘I can’t do that. This one is very special to me. I’ve told you the story of how I came to acquire it.’
‘Yes,’ recalled Welbeck. ‘You were given it after the battle of Sedgemoor by His Grace — except that he was Lord Churchill in those days, and your father had fought against him.’
‘It’s because of what happened then that I’m certain His Grace will give me permission to go back, especially when I tell him that I have an inkling of where those renegades might be hiding.’
‘You do — where are they, Dan?’
‘You’ll be able to see for yourself,’ Daniel told him. ‘There’s something I forgot to mention — you’ll be coming with me.’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The raid was a disappointment. After their setback at the preceding farm, they’d chosen a smallholding on this occasion so that they ran no risk of losing any of their number. In fact, there were only three people inside the little cottage and — to their disgust — they were all male. Deprived of their ritual assault on any available women, they killed the men with particular savagery, stole what little money there was and took some of the livestock. As they rode away, the night sky was lit by flames from the bonfire and the loud crackle pursued them for half a mile. It was almost dawn by the time they reached their refuge. Lurching into their farmhouse, the first thing they did was to assuage their fury with beer or wine.
‘That was a waste of time, Matt,’ said Edwin Lock, bitterly. ‘We rode all that way just to warm our hands at a fire.’
‘I’m sorry about that,’ said Searle. ‘I expected more.’
‘We all did. At the very least, we hoped for a tumble with a farmer’s wife or with a milkmaid.’
‘I definitely saw women there when I rode past a few days ago, Edwin. They must have been visitors.’
‘This life is starting to get me down,’ moaned Hugh Davey, undoing the buttons on his jacket. ‘I’ve had enough.’
‘Nobody walks out on me,’ warned Searle. ‘When you agreed to join us, Hugh, you swore to accept my leadership.’
‘Things have changed, Matt.’
‘We’ve had a little upset, that’s all.’
‘It’s not all,’ corrected Lock before taking another swig from the flagon of wine. ‘We’ve been let down twice in a row now. Last time, we had to leave Gregory behind.’
‘That was his own bleeding fault,’ snapped Searle.
