Page 72 of The Knight's Pledge
I know that.And so do you.
Rather than making her feel better, Winnie’s matter-of-fact statement only increased the guilt Effie felt. Winnie was probably right—even if the best possible outcome was reached in London: Caris Hargrave was charged and found guilty of her crimes, and Effie and her father were exonerated, they couldn’t very well continue to live unnoticed at the Warren. The wrongdoings would be exposed, everyone in Northumberland on alert to Effie and the band’s presence and mission. Should they remain in the wood, those in power wouldn’t stop until every last one ofthem was dead.
And where would Thomas Annesley’s place be? Darlyrede was destroyed, and Effie knew that if her father felt the same as she about that house of hell, he never wanted to dwell upon that tainted ground again, any matter. Would he return to Scotland with one of the two strangers who were herhalf-brothers?
What ofPadraig? Iris?
What of George Thomas, and Gorman?
What of Lucan?
“It’s my turn to take rearguard,” she said as an excuse for escape and turned her horse out of the caravan to circle behind Bob. He took the cue at once and moved into the spot next to Winnie while Effie pulled ahead nextto James Rose.
“Anything?”she asked him.
Heshook his head.
They rode along in stilted silence for several moments, and a feeling of dread began to form in Effie’s stomach. Winnie was right—they knew. They all knew, and she didn’t know how.
“James,” she began.
“Don’t,” he said.
Effie was taken aback. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t speak to me.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“How could you do that to Gorman?” he demanded between his teeth, keeping his voice low. “How could you do thatto all of us?”
“What are youtalking about?”
“Don’t insult me. Everyone save Tommy and Gorman saw it plainly as soon as Montague came bursting into the common room. It would never cross Gorman’s mind that you’d do such a thing, and Tommy doesn’t know you well enough, obviously. Still enamored with the idea of having a daughter, I suppose.”
Effie went quiet for a moment. She couldn’t really deny it, but she had to know. “What did youthink you saw?”
“Youlookedat him,” James said, biting off the words. “Before, it was a glare of contempt or irritation. But this morning, yousawhim. You lookedto him. And the way the pair of you were feeding off each other, crafting your little theory and you hare-brained ideas.” His voice grew in turns comically shrill and then deep and proper. “Don’t you agree? Oh, I say, indubitably. Certainly, Sir Lucan is right. No, no! It’s Effie who is right, without doubt.” He made a sound of disgust. “It was sickening. Likely whoever it was that stole the satchel stood around for the show without the pair of you even knowing. I’m sure you made it worth his while, the way you’re sitting your saddle.”
They rode along in silence for a quarter mile before Effie was in better control of herself to speak. “I’m going to pretend that you didn’t speak to me that way,” she said calmly. “Regardless of what you think, James, I’m still your—”
But the young man cut her off, adjusting in his saddle. “My turn for point.” He urged his mount out of the convoy and into a trot to the front of the party.
She didn’t expect to see Lucan Montague riding back toward her.
“What are you doing?” she demanded, James Rose’s attack putting her on the defensive and causing her to want to lash out. “Point falls back to second.”
“Forgive me,” he said crisply. “I’m new.”
Effie rolled her eyes. “What do you want?”
He lowered his voice. “Did you…tellanyone about…?”
She hoped the look on her face conveyed her horror. “Are you mad? That’s the last thing I’d wantto brag about.”
“You didn’t seem quite so appalled last night. In fact, I distinctly remember you beg—”
“Just shut up, Lucan,” she snapped. “No, I didn’t tell anyone anything. But apparently, everyone save Gorman and my father has already figured it out.”
