Page 34 of Temptation and the Artist

Stephen ducked beneath his blocking arm and entered the sitting room. Nearly all her servants were there—her maid, Ellen the nursery maid, and Dennis the footman. Even a burly coachman that he had never seen before. They all looked beside themselves with fear and anxiety, which brought Stephen to a sudden halt.

“What?” he demanded ominously. “Where is the princess?”

“Funnily enough,” Flowers said, with enough threat in his voice to scare an army, “we hoped you might be able to tell us.”

“I?” Stephen frowned.

“You appeared in her life from nowhere, all but took it over, and now she is abducted by people who were clearly aware of her habits and protection.”

“Abducted? Dear God! And Basil?”

“With her.”

Stephen dragged the note from his pocket and slapped it on the arm of the nearest chair. “Is that her handwriting?” he demanded of Flowers.

The tutor snatched it up. “Not remotely. So, you were being kept out of the way, too.”

“Tell me what happened,” Stephen ordered.

He listened carefully to every detail, his heart aching and his pride in her swelling, forcing himself to think beyond his fear for them both.

“So, the carriage traveled away from London?” he said at last.

“We don’t know which direction it took at the crossroads,” Dennis said. “William’s gone to see if he can discover. And John here had the horses put to the princess’s carriage, so we’re ready to go after them.”

“But they have a coach and four and they’ve planned this…” Stephen was interrupted by William the footman all but falling through the door.

“They’ve gone north,” he gasped, collapsing into the nearest chair.

“Then we’d better get after them,” Flowers said grimly, striding for the door.

“Wait,” Stephen said, his mind racing. “They’re traveling in a coach and four, so there will be faster ways to catch them up, to pre-empt…” He began to pace because it was the only way to think and not let himself be rushed into action. “From what you say, whoever took them was really after Basil. Who would do such a thing to a child and why?”

“The ruffian I sat on said a Frenchman hired him,” Flowers said. “I didn’t believe him.”

“Monteigne,” Stephen said softly. “This is what she feared, that the Monteignes would take Basil. In which case, they’re headed for France.”

“Then why go north?” Flowers demanded.

Stephen paused in his pacing. “North and east. Harwich. Or some other, smaller port on the Essex coast.”

“Likely,” Flowers agreed, “but we cannot be sure.”

“No…” His voice hardened. “Nor can we be sure they won’t harm her because she’s superfluous to them. It’s Basil they want.” He drew in his breath and regarded the coachman. “Take the carriage and follow the road to Harwich, keeping an eye out for her on the road and at the coaching inns. Dennis and William will go with you. While Mr. Flowers and I…”

“Walk?” Flowers asked, impatiently sardonic.

“No, ride. Friends of mine keep good riding horses not far from here, and at most of the posting inns. I’m sure one of them will have something up to your weight.”

“Will they give the horses over to you?” Flowers asked dubiously.

“Oh yes,” Stephen said. “If you’ve pistols or other weapons, bring them. Now, let’s go and fetch the princess.”

*

Despite Aline’s plans, the carriage made good time. Neither she nor Basil were allowed to leave the carriage when the horses were changed. Gaston even held a pistol beneath his cloak, pointed directly at her to discourage her from shouting about abduction. She thought seriously about screaming anyway, just to hold things up and embroil them in a mess with the authorities. But it struck her that Gaston might just shoot her anyway and bolt for a ship to France. She would be no use to Basil then. In fact, seeing his mother shot would damage him horribly…

So, she bided her time, until darkness began to fall some distance beyond Brentwood. It had appalled her to guess they were making for Harwich, for Stephen and the others, if they discovered the Monteignes’ involvement, would surely look for her in the southern ports. Dover or Southampton…

---