that tied their luggage to the rear of the coach. Overhead came shouts and thunderous clubbing as the drovers rushed to their defense.
Sounds of rage and struggle came from every side. Hoofbeats drummed alongside, a pistol shot from behind, the driver yelled and cracked his whip and urged the horses to greater speed.
The road’s turning caught them all unawares. The horses wheeled the carriage about so sharply, they could feel two of the mud-clad wheels lift off the earth. A roar of surprise sounded from directly above Anne’s head as a body was flung off the roof into the rain and the mud.
Two great booming crashes, then a clatter and rumble. Charles cried, “The luggage! They’ve chopped the catch ropes!”
In response, the carriage instantly caught speed as the weight of their baggage was released. A second figure leapt past the side window, tumbling in a practiced manner as he hit the mud. The men overhead shouted words lost in the rain and the thunder of boots. The driver cracked his whip once more, urging the steeds to fly down the long straightaway.
After some moments of silence, Anne was able to draw in a deep breath. It was over. The rain lessened a notch just as the coach wheeled through another broad turn, finally slowing to a halt.
The driver shouted down, “We must give the horses a breather, sir.”
“Of course.” Charles was already working at the door latch. “Who’s hurt up top?”
“Young Harry caught a bullet through his greatcoat, milord. Barely missed his heart.”
“Felt the tug on me like a claw reachin’ out of the sky!” The young man’s voice broke with the excitement of danger now passed. “Look here, sir! Went clean through.”
“Good thing it didn’t stray an inch to your right,” Charles said grimly. “I’d not want the duty of taking such news back to your dear mother.”
Thomas helped Anne straighten in her seat. “Tell me you are all right, my love.”
“I’m … I’m not injured,” she stammered. But her limbs felt like water and her heart pounded with both fear of what they had lived through and relief that it was over.
“Highwaymen attacking on the Great Trunk Road. And in broad daylight.” Charles walked around front to inspect the horses. “What a sorry state of affairs.”
The elder of the two guards said, “Sorry about the baggage, milord. There were too many for us to guard the coach and the gear both.”
“Never you mind. We’re safe and that’s what matters most.” But Charles continued to stomp around the carriage, outrage in his demeanor and voice. “With every able-bodied man off fighting the conflict, it’s no surprise the brigands feel free to attack at will.”
Anne leaned back in her seat, weakened by the realization that the decision had been granted to her. Strange that she would think of her son when she had barely escaped with her life. But there was no question to her mind now. She could not risk putting her young child in harm’s way. This was not merely a matter of the sea voyage and the danger. She would risk her life for her father’s sake, and go for the sake of offering help to her mother. But she could not risk young John.
She leaned out the door to share the news with her husband and Charles. But the two men stood alongside the lathered flanks of the nearside horse, deep in somber discussion. Anne settled herself back into the seat. She would wait. Let them put this latest crisis behind them. Then she would tell them of her decision.
Chapter 6
Anne had assumed that once the decision was made, her calm would be restored. But she was shocked and dismayed to find herself even more distraught than before.
The eight days they spent in London proved agonizingly long. Charles sent word twice, first to say no berths were yet available for the voyage, then that news might be arriving from France and he felt it necessary to delay his return until he heard what had been discovered. Thomas was busy with a multitude of
Sounds of rage and struggle came from every side. Hoofbeats drummed alongside, a pistol shot from behind, the driver yelled and cracked his whip and urged the horses to greater speed.
The road’s turning caught them all unawares. The horses wheeled the carriage about so sharply, they could feel two of the mud-clad wheels lift off the earth. A roar of surprise sounded from directly above Anne’s head as a body was flung off the roof into the rain and the mud.
Two great booming crashes, then a clatter and rumble. Charles cried, “The luggage! They’ve chopped the catch ropes!”
In response, the carriage instantly caught speed as the weight of their baggage was released. A second figure leapt past the side window, tumbling in a practiced manner as he hit the mud. The men overhead shouted words lost in the rain and the thunder of boots. The driver cracked his whip once more, urging the steeds to fly down the long straightaway.
After some moments of silence, Anne was able to draw in a deep breath. It was over. The rain lessened a notch just as the coach wheeled through another broad turn, finally slowing to a halt.
The driver shouted down, “We must give the horses a breather, sir.”
“Of course.” Charles was already working at the door latch. “Who’s hurt up top?”
“Young Harry caught a bullet through his greatcoat, milord. Barely missed his heart.”
“Felt the tug on me like a claw reachin’ out of the sky!” The young man’s voice broke with the excitement of danger now passed. “Look here, sir! Went clean through.”
“Good thing it didn’t stray an inch to your right,” Charles said grimly. “I’d not want the duty of taking such news back to your dear mother.”
Thomas helped Anne straighten in her seat. “Tell me you are all right, my love.”
“I’m … I’m not injured,” she stammered. But her limbs felt like water and her heart pounded with both fear of what they had lived through and relief that it was over.
“Highwaymen attacking on the Great Trunk Road. And in broad daylight.” Charles walked around front to inspect the horses. “What a sorry state of affairs.”
The elder of the two guards said, “Sorry about the baggage, milord. There were too many for us to guard the coach and the gear both.”
“Never you mind. We’re safe and that’s what matters most.” But Charles continued to stomp around the carriage, outrage in his demeanor and voice. “With every able-bodied man off fighting the conflict, it’s no surprise the brigands feel free to attack at will.”
Anne leaned back in her seat, weakened by the realization that the decision had been granted to her. Strange that she would think of her son when she had barely escaped with her life. But there was no question to her mind now. She could not risk putting her young child in harm’s way. This was not merely a matter of the sea voyage and the danger. She would risk her life for her father’s sake, and go for the sake of offering help to her mother. But she could not risk young John.
She leaned out the door to share the news with her husband and Charles. But the two men stood alongside the lathered flanks of the nearside horse, deep in somber discussion. Anne settled herself back into the seat. She would wait. Let them put this latest crisis behind them. Then she would tell them of her decision.
Chapter 6
Anne had assumed that once the decision was made, her calm would be restored. But she was shocked and dismayed to find herself even more distraught than before.
The eight days they spent in London proved agonizingly long. Charles sent word twice, first to say no berths were yet available for the voyage, then that news might be arriving from France and he felt it necessary to delay his return until he heard what had been discovered. Thomas was busy with a multitude of
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