The Maid

Chapter Seven

A/N: Here's chapter seven! Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Seven

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, the brush's even movements through my hair stopped. Puzzled, I turned around. Bess was staring at me, her eyes wide and her face pale.

"Bess...?" I asked tentatively.

Without warning she took hold of my shoulders tightly. "Rose, listen to me. You must promise not to tell anyone what you saw last night, or even the night before. No one. Understand?"

"Why not?" I queried.

"Please, Rose! Just promise me!"

One side of me was screaming to ask more questions, but the other side would have done anything for Bess, and it was that side I listened to. After a moment's hesitation, I nodded. "I promise."

Bess let go of my shoulders and got to her feet. She put the brush down on the dressing-table. "Thank you, Rose," she said softly. "Goodnight."

She left the room, and I was more confused than ever. But I had given my promise, and I intended to keep it.

"You look awful," Dominic commented lightly the next morning, when I came downstairs. "Did you not sleep last night?"

I sighed, running a hand across my face. "I'm fine. Just had a bad dream." Truth to tell, my mind had been working furiously trying to figure out the pieces of the puzzle I had walked into, but so far none of them matched up.

"Well, I have news that should cheer you up," Uncle Henry said, smiling. "Dominic has to go into town today to fetch more cider and ale for the inn, and you can go with him. The mail coach will be there, and that way you can post your letter to your mother."

My face brightened instantly and he laughed. "There! I knew that would work! I hope you didn't make me out to be too much of an ogre, though."

I glanced at Dominic and we both hid a smile. Uncle Henry could never be an ogre, even if he'd wanted to be. His small size and always-cheery face put paid to that already.

Bess decided to come with us as well, and when we were finished eating we set off for Yardley.

When we arrived, Dominic headed for the tavern, while Bess and I examined the different wares being sold. We didn't say much to one another, as though afraid that the tension between us would grow if we said more than necessary.

"Miss Elizabeth! Miss Rose! This is a pleasure!" Major Warrington appeared, Walter following behind as usual. With them was a short, thin man with a round face that spoke of good food and a comfortable life, but there was steel behind his pale blue eyes. I felt sure I wouldn't want to cross him at any time.

Major Warrington began, "May I present--"

"Colonel Clive Norton, of His Majesty's Army, at your service," the thin man interrupted, bowing. He grasped my hand unexpectedly and kissed it, and then did the same to Bess. "You didn't tell me you had a fiancee here, Warrington."

"That's because I do not...as yet, Colonel," Major Warrington said, smiling at Bess. She smiled back politely but did not meet his eyes.

I glanced over at Walter, who was carrying a stack of papers in his arms. "What are those?" I asked.

Colonel Norton glanced at the papers and then back to me. "Ah, you have caught me! We came here on business this day, Miss Gilmartin. Posters for the arrest of a known criminal; 500 guineas to the man who captures him. It'll be a merry day at Tyburn when this one swings."

Major Warrington cleared his throat. "Sir, we really should be going if we're to post these."

"May I see one?" Bess asked suddenly. Walter handed it over, and she began to read.

The Colonel bowed and kissed my hand, and then Bess', again. "Good-day, ladies. Come, Warrington, Kent."

I flashed Walter a quick smile and he gave me a shy one in return before hurrying after the two officers.

I turned back to Bess. "Bess, do you think...?" The question died in my throat when I saw her face as she read the poster. Without asking, I snatched it out of her grasp.

The words I had seen commonly enough. But it was the eyes that caught me. The eyes I had seen looking up at Bess' bedroom window.

This was the man whom Bess was meeting. Arthur Langley...a highwayman.