Simon's Brides

by Allison Knight

  “That’s Dandy, Ellie’s mount,” Caro shouted, rushing forward.

  Amy followed, picking up her skirt and racing behind Caro. It looked like Ellie’s horse to her.

  “Where did he come from?” Caro asked as she stroked the animal’s nose.

  “He trotted home a few minutes ago,” one of the stable boys responded.

  Caro nodded and ran her hands over the animal, talking to the gelding in a soft, crooning voice.

  Amy shook her head as she listened to her sister. Caro was asking the animal where it had been, but the horse couldn’t tell them anything. Amy frowned and gazed at the men surrounding them. But, all she saw were faces reflecting respect.

  After examining the hooves Caro stood and brushed her hands together.

  “I think I know where they took Ellie.”

  “Where?” Amy asked before Simon could say a word. “And, how can you know?”

  “Well,” Caro hesitated and then stooped to lift the front left leg, “See this mud. It hasn’t rained around here for a week. The only place Dandy could have picked up this mud was around the water wheel, north of the village.”

  She turned to Amy, “You know the one, the wheel for the old mill. And, look here, see the chaff here in his mane and tail. I’d wager that Ellie and Dandy were taken to that mill.”

  “Old mill?” Simon asked.

  Amy cleared her throat. “Before the village expanded Mr. Foley and his father operated the old mill. After his father died, Mr. Foley moved away, and after their sons were born he moved back to Kirkley Estate and built a home and a new, larger mill closer to the village.”

  Simon nodded and signaled his sailors. He turned to Caro, “Can you give us directions?”

  “Just follow the stream north,” Caro shouted over her shoulder as she started toward the stable.

  “Okay, let’s go,” Simon directed his words to the crowd gathered in the stable yard.

  “Not you, Caro,” he commanded.

  “I’m going,” she announced without breaking her stride.

  He rushed forward and grabbed her arm. “No. I want you to stay here. We have no idea if she is even there.”

  Amy started toward the stable as well. “I’ll go. Ellie might need me.”

  “No,” Simon stated. “Neither one of you are going. You both stay. If Ellie is there, I’ll see that she receives the gentlest of care. Now, I’m wasting time talking. I’m going, and you both are staying.”

  He glared at them and Caro placed an hand on Amy’s arm, “He’s right. There’s no way to know what’s at the old mill. We’d best wait.”

  Amy wanted to disagree but she gritted her teeth and watched as the men mounted and rode away. She said a quiet prayer. She wanted Ellie back, safe and sound. Even if it meant she and Simon would have to marry immediately.

  She turned and together she and Caro started back toward the house.

  “It will be at least two hours before they return. Can you believe Agatha thinks we’ll stand for more dress fittings at a time like this?” Caro brushed the dirt and chaff from her skirt.

  “I, for one, couldn’t stand still for the dressmaker.”

  Caro nodded her head and led the way through the back door.

  They had gained the back parlor when Dora rushed toward them.

  “Cits,” she uttered, her voice breathless.

  “What?” Amy asked.

  “Two men who want to talk to Harold and they look awfully unsavory. Where’s Simon?”

  “He believes he knows where Ellie might be. Her horse has returned,” Caro answered.

  “I’ll see the visitors,” Amy said. “Harold is not here and hasn’t been here for weeks. That’s all they need to know.”

  “Amy,” Dora frowned, “I think you better wait for Simon.”

  Caro grimaced. “I don’t think Simon will be back for a couple of hours. I’ll stay with Amy.”

  “I don’t think anyone should talk to those two but Simon. They look disreputable and unfriendly,” Dora added.

  Amy frowned, “If they want Harold I doubt they are nice men. I wonder if they came because of us. After all, Harold did threaten to sell one of you if I didn’t agree to marry him.”

  “Which is why you must wait for Simon,” Dora stated.

  “Is Aunt Agatha awake?” Amy inquired.

  Dora nodded.

  “Then ask her to come with me. You and Caro slip out the back door. Ben and one of the Foleys stayed behind. Signal them to come to the house. Aunt Agatha and I will find out what these gentlemen want.”

  “They aren’t gentlemen,” Dora grumbled, as she followed Caro back to the rear door.

  Once Ben and Chester were in the house, and Agatha had descended to the hall, Amy told her, “We must at least see what they want. Then we can send them on their way. If they want to talk to Simon they can come back later.”

  Agatha nodded, her eyes wide.

  “Perhaps, Amelia, dear, we should wait. Then again...”

  “At least we will know what they want. Ben and Chester can stand here in the hall. We’ll be safe enough.”

  For a second, Amy wondered if these men knew anything about Ellie’s disappearance, then she bit her bottom lip. Simon would not return for some time and if they did have information...

  “Come, Aunt Agatha, let’s go see what they want.” Amy strode toward the front parlor, glancing back at the disapproving expression on Ben’s face.

  Bolton stood waiting for her before the closed door.

  “Miss Amy, they appear to be disreputable men. Shouldn’t you wait for Lord Kirkley?”

  Amy shook her head and drew back her shoulders. Should she wait? No! These men just might know something about who took Ellie.

  She swept into the room and surveyed the two men standing close, their heads together as they engaged in a quiet but animated conversation.

  “What may I do for you gentlemen?” Amy asked, allowing Agatha to step to her side.

  One of the men bowed to them and took a step closer. Amy moved back a step.

  “We want to talk to Mr. Bottomsworth. He gave us this address.”

  “I’m sorry,” Amy tried to look sincere and knew she failed when they scowled at her, “Mr. Bottomsworth no longer lives here at the Manor.”

  “Well, bloody hell,” the older of the two muttered then glanced at Agatha. “Sorry ma’am.”

  Amy watched as Agatha straightened.

  “I don’t approve of that sort of language. What business do you have with this Mr. Bottomsworth?”

  The older nodded at the younger. They seemed to come to some kind of agreement.

  “He owes us money.”

  “Well, as my charge told you, he doesn’t live here anymore. In fact, he never belonged here. He stole from us and--”

  Amy laid her hand on Agatha’s arm. She didn’t want the woman saying more.

  “You have the information for which you came. Harold is not here. We have no idea where he is. Now, Bolton will see you out. Aunt Agatha,” Amy turned and waited for Agatha to precede her.

  “Bolton, see the men out,” Amy directed, amused that Bolton stood poised at the opening.

  From the parlor Amy heard the older fellow say, “Damn it. I had a feelin’ that bum would renege on his vouchers. Well, if he don’t want to pay his gambling debts, maybe we’ll have to break a leg or two.”

  The other man responded, “I’ll wager he don’t own any property either. With the kind of money he owes we ought to snuff `im out.”

  “Shut up, you fool,” the first man responded. The men strode from the house.

  Amy shivered, as she and Agatha started up the stairs. Now they knew why Harold had stolen from them and sold the horses. He had gambling debts to pay. And, from the sounds of it, Harold’s debt was large enough to threaten his life.

  Thirteen

  Amy watched from her upstairs window as the two men strode toward a hack, and a cheap one at that. They seemed to be in some disagreement as
they climbed into the conveyance. Amy shook her head wondering if they were planning some mischief. She would have to tell Simon about them as soon as he returned.

  After the vehicle moved off, all the women assembled in the back parlor. Tea arrived but no one had any appetite.

  “I hate waiting,” Dora muttered.

  “None of us likes this,” Amy assured her.

  “I can hardly wait for Simon to return.” Caro stood, smoothed her skirts and sat beside Amy.

  “I’m positive about that small mill,” Caro added. “And, to my way of thinking, it makes a perfect hiding place.”

  “Oh, Carolyn, don’t say things like that,” Agatha scolded.

  “But, it’s true, Aunt Agatha,” Beth offered. “I doubt anyone from the village has gone to that building for years. There’s nothing there, but it is shelter, there’s water, and a person could come and go without being detected.”

  “Well, let us hope that Simon finds Eleanor. We need to get Amelia married before word of her imprudence becomes common knowledge.”

  Amy glared at her. She was not going to spare a thought to a wedding she didn’t want. The most important thing now was to find Ellie. She opened her mouth to voice her feelings but she spun around at the loud noises coming from kitchen.

  “What the...” Caro began.

  “What is going on?” Agatha stood, putting everyone’s thoughts into words.

  Ellie dashed into the room.

  Amy shouted with delight, “Where--”

  “How on earth--” Caro shouted, drowning out Amy’s softer word.

  “Ellie,” Dora yelled.

  “Oh my, dear me,” Agatha crooned and sank into her chair.

  “I’m home,” Ellie exclaimed.

  “What happened?” Beth asked.

  “Well,” Ellie grinned as they gathered around her. “When Caro was thrown, I rode for help. I didn’t get far when this stranger grabbed my horse’s reins.” She glanced at Caro. “You weren’t hurt, were you?”

  “Nothing of consequence,” Caro answered, “now, go on.”

  “He mounted behind me even though I tried to fight him off. He was much stronger than I thought. He twisted the reins about my hands then guided Dandy away from the path. All of a sudden, another fellow jumped out of the brush, but the man who tied the leather around my wrists didn’t seem to know him, so I figured it must be one of Simon’s men. Besides, he looked like a sailor.”

  She took a deep breath.

  “I yelled that I was being kidnapped, but the man holding me in front of him, kicked Dandy and then the sailor tried to pull him off the horse. Before I could do anything, the sailor dropped to the ground and the man behind me clamped a hand over my mouth.”

  “I bit him,” she said glancing around.

  “So,” Caro snapped.

  “Well, it didn’t do any good. He took me to the old mill and tied me up.”

  Ellie brushed at her filthy riding habit. “I escaped,” she declared proudly.

  “How?” Beth whispered.

  “This morning Uncle Harold came to the mill. He and the man who captured me went into the woods and I could hear Uncle Harold screaming about money and why wasn’t some letter delivered. You know, I think there is something wrong with Uncle Harold, something with his mind.”

  “Eleanor,” Agatha scolded, “will you please continue?”

  Ellie nodded.

  “Before Uncle Harold and his man returned, I worked the ropes loose. You see, the man guarding me didn’t pay any attention to me after that first day. I noticed that when he untied me so I could eat he didn’t bother making certain the knots were tight.”

  “Are you all right? He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Amy asked.

  “I think he was afraid of me. That first day, I called him all sorts of foul names, and I told him Simon would draw and quarter him when he found him. Do you believe, I had to explain to him what draw and quarter meant!” Ellie placed her hands on her hips, “I scared him to death. It was almost as if he didn’t want to be there and he didn’t want to have anything to do with me.”

  “So, what happened after you got the ropes loose?” Dora asked, leaning toward Ellie.

  “Before Uncle Harold came, I heard the horse snorting every time that man took me into the woods to take care of--well, you know.” She paused for a moment. “I tried to escape the first day, but I didn’t get far. After he caught me, that’s when I told him all about being drawn and quartered. After Uncle Harold came today, I unknotted the rope and then--” Ellie stopped and glanced at her sisters.

  Amy could have strangled her. Ellie was enjoying this attention too much.

  “Ellie!” Amy snarled.

  Ellie grinned and took another breath. “When they were outside arguing, I snuck out the door, mounted the horse and walked him out of the pen. When we were a good distance from the mill I coaxed him into a gallop and rode for home. I’m surprised you didn’t hear Uncle Harold yelling at me. He and the other man gave chase, but they were on foot.” She giggled. “Uncle Harold didn’t even get on his horse, he just took off running. I would have ridden all the way home, but I fell off. I don’t ride as well as Caro without a saddle.”

  “And Simon?” Agatha had gained her voice.

  “I was walking along when Simon and his sailors came toward me. You know, Simon’s men don’t ride well either,” she gestured toward the back of the house. “I rode home with Simon.”

  “Ellie, what did you mean when you said you thought there was something wrong with Harold?” Amy asked.

  “Well, for one thing, he was cursing everyone, Mother, Father, Simon, you Amy. I don’t think I ever heard him swear like that before. When I first saw him, he was foaming at the mouth as he sputtered at my captor. And, he yelled. Much of what he said didn’t make a whole lot of sense, at least not to me. At the time, I thought it was because he was so excited. I’m not so certain now.”

  “We had some excitement here as well,” Dora said.

  “Oh?” Ellie glanced from the door to Dora. “What happened here?”

  “Amy and Simon are getting married,” Beth informed her.

  “When?”

  “Amy’s marrying Simon right away,” Dora explained.

  “And, we must send someone for the Reverend Mr. Sudsberry immediately,” Agatha commented.

  “Today?” Ellie asked, glancing at Amy. “Well congratulations. I knew as soon as I saw you and Simon together you would make a marvelous couple. But, wait a minute. I thought you said you didn’t ever want to marry.”

  She didn’t wait for Amy’s comment. “Well, if we’re having a wedding today, I want a bath. I feel filthy.”

  Agatha stood and brushed her hands together, “Now girls, Eleanor must have her bath, and we must get Amelia dressed. You will all want to look nice for your sister’s wedding.”

  Amy gritted her teeth and glared at Agatha. “We should wait until tomorrow. Ellie needs to recover from her experience.”

  “No, my dear, today is the day. I’ll send for the vicar and inform the household. The rest of you take Amelia and Eleanor upstairs. I’ll have the maids start heating water.” She clapped her hands in dismissal.

  Amy wanted to scream.

  ~ * ~

  An hour later, Amy stared at herself in the mirror then gazed at her sisters behind her.

  “I don’t want to do this. I told Simon’s aunt we should wait until tomorrow, that we should wait until Ellie has had a chance to recuperate. I mentioned that Simon needed time to sort out what Ellie had to say and then there were those two men who came here today. Agatha overruled every recommendation I made.”

  “She didn’t overrule you, she out-talked you,” Caro chuckled.

  “She does like to talk,” Dora offered.

  “No, I think it’s rather that she likes to hear herself,” Amy commented. “But, no matter. She insisted the wedding be today. I don’t want to marry, not Simon, not anyone,” she confessed.

  “And, I�
��ve already told you, you don’t have a choice,” Caro muttered. “Amy, I know you like things your own way and you are stubborn, but you must marry. You know it, I know it, and the others know it. Even Simon knows it. Come, let’s finish getting you dressed.”