“Charlie!” Bess took a small step forward, “what are you doing here?”
He smiled but didn’t lower the musket “We didn’t have much choice Bessie, someone let our hostage go.”
“How did you get here so quickly?”
“We rode,” He replied “What did you do? Stop for naps and picnics?”
Evelyn struggled to read Bess’ expression “Did you know they would be here?” she asked.
Bess turned to look at her “You still don’t trust me do you?”
Evelyn opened her mouth to reply, but couldn’t provide a response.
“Oi stop your natter and get inside!” Charlie waved the musket, Bess turned and walked up to the house. Evelyn reluctantly followed.
As they passed Charlie he giggled. “What have you two been up to?” They didn’t respond, “Billy is gonna be delighted to see you both.”
He walked them through the house, toward the study.
“Go on in” he said, Bess pushed open the door, Evelyn gasped as she saw her father, his hands bound, sitting on the chaise longue, he looked up in surprise as she entered, but he said nothing, and lowered his head once again, Johnny stood guard next to him, musket in hand. William had his back to them, and was rifling through papers, Jim leaned on the desk, and nudged William. He turned and was surprised, then delighted to see both Evelyn and Bess standing at the door. He laughed and strode forward.
“I knew you’d find your way here eventually.” He grabbed hold of Bess pulling her toward him in a hug. “How did you find her?” he asked, ignoring Evelyn completely.
“She was in the Raker’s barn.” She replied pulling out of the hug, she glanced briefly at Evelyn but turned back to her brother’s gaze.
“And how did you know we were here?”
“Well I didn’t really… I … took a chance.”
Evelyn wondered if Bess had faltered because she was lying, or because she was telling the truth. She wanted to scream at her in rage, but the musket held in the small of her back kept her in check.
“You’re like a homing pigeon,” He laughed “And did you find out how she escaped in the first place?” his tone had changed from inquisitive to interrogative, and Evelyn could see Bess squirming under his stare.
“She… she said she wasn’t bound tightly.”
“Hey!” said Charlie stepping forward, but the word was hardly out of his mouth before William had punched him in the head, Evelyn jumped, and Charlie fell to the floor, motionless.
“It was him that tied her up wasn’t it?” Bess nodded and William let out a frustrated roar, kicking the unconscious Charlie squarely in the stomach, while Bess kept her gaze firmly in the other direction. Relieved of his frustration, William straightened his waistcoat and turned to Bess “At least I can rely on you.” He said, before looking to Evelyn “I would very much appreciate it, if you would take a seat with your father Miss Thackeray.” Evelyn was stunned for a moment “NOW!”
She gasped. Startled and shaking she quickly crossed the room, and sat down next to her father. He was pale, and tired; she placed a hand over his, and mustered a smile.
“I’m so sorry Evelyn.” He whispered. “So sorry, so very sorry.” He mumbled for a few moments, and turned back to look at the floor. She was suddenly filled with guilt; he had only wanted the best for her, a husband, and someone to help run the estate when he was gone, he had not intended any of this, and yet she had been ready to throw all of his hard work away in favour of a double crossing highwaywoman. She closed her eyes, hoping that somehow it would all go away.
“Well,” started William, he stood proudly in the centre of the study as if he were a teacher addressing a row of schoolboys, “this makes everything much simpler doesn’t it? Now Mr Thackeray I don’t believe you’ve had the pleasure of meeting my sister” he signalled Bess to step forward “Miss Nancy Elizabeth Barrington, Bessie to her friends, isn’t that right Bessie.” She nodded slowly, her face passive and unreadable. “Now My Dear Mr Thackeray, I believe you owe a debt of gratitude to my sister here, on account of her bringing your daughter back safely to you, across hills and valleys, and no doubt through terrible danger, isn’t that right Bessie?” He smiled at her, and again she nodded. Evelyn’s father looked up.
“I’m sorry.” His whisper was barely audible.
“What did he say?” Asked William, striding toward the old man.
“He said ‘thank you’.” Said Evelyn quickly, she looked toward Bess, trying to gauge her reaction. “Thank you.” She repeated, but Bess looked away.
William stood over her, she held his gaze for a second, before he stepped away, seemingly unsatisfied at the result of his game. He walked toward Jim, still leaning on the desk, a look of mild amusement on his face. “Go and fetch the parson would you?” He nodded and stood to leave, but stopped when William clicked his fingers, he clicked again and held out his hand, Jim seemed to understand, and put a hand into his coat pulling out a pistol. Satisfied, William turned away, and began inspecting the gun, as Jim left the drawing room, stepping over Charlie as he went.
“Now” Said William, still inspecting the pistol “I do believe that you and I, Miss Thackeray, have an engagement to keep.”
“If you think that after everything—”
“If I think that after everything what? Miss Thackeray?” He clicked the flint into place and held the pistol towards her father.
She held his gaze, her stomach felt tight, and she was finding it difficult to breath normally, “If you think” She said in a voice as close to ‘steady’ as she could manage “that I will agree to marry you after everything that has happened, then you are mistaken, and if you kill my father, you will have nothing left to bargain with.” She pushed out her chin defiantly; still clasping her father’s bound hands, hoping that William would see the flaw in his own logic.
“If I kill your father, Miss Thackeray, then I will kill you, ransack this house, and take every farthing it contains.”
She glanced at Bess, searching for support, but she looked away, and Evelyn realised that she only had her father to fight for. “Well I suppose that’s settled then.” She said quietly.
“I’m glad we could come to an understanding.” He lowered his pistol, and tucked it into his belt “Johnny, give Bessie your spare would you, she seems to be without.” Johnny obliged, as William replaced his coat, and strode towards the window looking out “I do believe it is perfect weather for a garden wedding, don’t you agree?” He didn’t receive a response, and turned back to face to room, “Johnny, gather everyone on the lawn would you?”
***
The Parson seemed a little flustered, and although Evelyn had always thought him a genial young man, she had never known him to be particularly bright. She was sure that even though he most likely thought it a little strange to be to be standing on the lawn of Abberton Hall on a bright Wednesday morning, after suddenly being pulled away from Parish Business, she knew he would obligingly agree to William’s impromptu demands.
“But I happen to know for certain that the church will be free this Saturday; that should give you ample time to apply for a licence and perhaps for Miss Thackeray to obtain a dress for the occasion…”
William bowed to the parson, and showed a dazzling smile, the same one that had always seemed so warm, and the same one that she had seen spread across Bess’ face many times over the past few days. She glanced over at the highwaywoman; she faced forward, and held a look of deep concentration, she tried to gauge what she was thinking, to read her expression, but Evelyn was at a loss, she had wanted so badly for Bess to have been on her side, but now it felt as though she had lost everything.
“I would prefer a church wedding of course” William continued, “However I shall be leaving the country on business tomorrow, and shan’t be back for a month. I fear that leaving the wedding any longer will cause” William dropped his voice and leaned forward conspiratorially towards the parson “a scandal.”
The Parsons eyes widened “Oh I erm…” He glanced at Evelyn, she stood limply next to her father, and didn’t react to the suggestion of a scandal. What the parson, or anyone else, thought of her really didn’t matter anymore.
“I understand” replied the Parson “well since Miss Thackeray is a resident of this parish, then I have full dispensation to complete the wedding.”
The parson pulled a book from his coat and asked where they would like to marry. William seemed to consider for a moment, before pointing to the tree lined avenue.
They gathered under the elm trees, and Evelyn stood next to William, he even took her hand, although he held it far tighter than a loving husband-to-be would have done. As the parson began to drone out his speech from the bible Evelyn glanced back at Bess, her hands were out of sight, and Evelyn knew she was gripping the pistol she’d been given, for a fleeting moment their eyes met, and then Evelyn turned.
It was all over in a matter of minutes. William thanked the parson, and shook him by the hand as he promised to rush off and register the marriage immediately, William even opened an invitation for dinner as soon as he returned from his fictional month abroad, which the parson accepted with enthusiasm, before turning, and walking towards the gate.
As soon as he was out of earshot, William turned back to the gathered group, a smile on his face.
“Well you have what you wanted.” Said Evelyn.
“Not quite, Mrs Barrington, not quite.” Her stomach turned as she heard the name, but she didn’t want to let him have the satisfaction of seeing the affect it had. “Mr Thackeray, I think we have some papers to sign, now that you intend to retire and hand your estate to your daughter.”
“Oh, I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Said Evelyn’s father, she shot him a look, afraid that these last minute heroics would surely get him killed; she stepped forward, and took him by the hand.
“And why not?”
“Well the legal framework is already in place, Evie—erm Evelyn cannot take on the estate, my lawers simply wouldn’t have it… it’s unheard of.”
“And what happens if you die?” William said pulling his pistol from his coat.
“Ah…” Evelyn realised that her father had just unwittingly signed his own death warrant “The land” Mr Thackeray replied slowly, “the estate and all the finances… would be passed to the control… of her husband.” He looked to the ground.
“Well it looks as though you and I are going to have a hunting accident…”
“NO! William! Put the gun down!” Bess moved in front of Mr Thackeray, and pointed her pistol at William.
“Bess?”
“Put the gun down William.”
Evelyn could feel her father’s hand shaking, as Bess and William stared at one another, their pistols aimed squarely at each other’s chest, and she realised that perhaps Bess was on her side, perhaps she had been telling the truth, perhaps there was something to fight for after all.
“We agreed.” William said “We agreed from the very beginning, all of us agreed, that if one betrayed another, then we would seek our justice, and hang them. From where I’m standing Bessie, you’ve just about betrayed all of us, and a shooting’s just as good as a hanging.” Evelyn looked from one to the other, she knew she could lose or gain everything in just one shot, carefully she moved to stand in front of her father, but with dreaded certainty she knew she couldn’t just stand and wait for the outcome.
Bess seemed to flinch under William’s gaze, she steadied her jaw. “You’re not a murderer Bill, don’t change that. You’ve got what we came for, this needs to end now.”
“You knew what we were getting into. Now get out of the way, and let me finish this!” The anger was beginning to rise in his voice, and Evelyn could see his cheeks flaring red, suddenly she realised this was the best and only opportunity they had.
“We have to run.” She whispered as loud as she dare, trying to catch her father’s attention. He looked at her, startled. She glanced back to Johnny who stood holding his musket tightly, watching the argument unfold. On the other side was Jim, who actually seemed somewhat bored with proceedings. Keeping her eyes forward, she nudged her father back. “Through the trees,” she hissed “to the walled garden.”
“There must be another way.” Bess was saying, and Evelyn tentatively inched backwards.
“At this range I’ll kill you all with one shot!”
“You can’t shoot me Bill, not after everything we’ve been through together.”
Evelyn squeezed her father’s hand. The outcome of this duel would change her life forever, but she needed to move while all eyes were on the arguing siblings.
“Bessie, Goddammit! Get out the way!”
It was now or never, Evelyn turned, and ran for the trees at the edge of the path. She pulled her father along behind, and they slipped between two trunks. She could hear the shouting behind her, it had taken the gang a couple of seconds to realise what had happened, but it was all the time she had needed to get to the wall. She thanked God that all the gates were open, and pulled her father through the gate and into the walled garden.
“I don’t know if I can do this.” He whispered. She ignored him, and pulled him straight through the garden, and out the gate on the other side. She knew she had only gained seconds, but it was something. She pulled her father along the path leading up to the kitchen garden next to the house; she avoided crossing the lawn, and stayed on the far side of the hedge, it was further but safer.
She glanced behind her; her father was red faced, and frightened, and just at the end of the path she saw a flash of black, it was the long coat of a Highwayman, outspread as he chased them.
Her chest twisted in fear, but it pushed her forward, and she rushed past the hedgerow into the kitchen garden.
She let go of her father, and scanned the area, desperate for something to defend herself, there was a wheelbarrow, a bucket, the compost heap, and there next to the compost was a shovel.
She grabbed it, and turned back to the break in the hedge, just in time to see Jim, she swung the shovel. He didn’t have time to slow down before he ran into it face first, and fell backwards onto the ground.
“Evelyn!...I …” Her father was struggling to think of the appropriate response to the situation, and she knew he was stuck somewhere between praise and a reprimand.
“Just get to the house father, get Garret, and tell him what’s happening.” Mr Thackeray hesitated “Go!” Still confused, he turned and ran towards the house. Evelyn knew he wouldn’t be safe while Johnny was still about. Her heart was pounding in her chest at the thought of what she was about to do, but she took a deep breath, grabbed Jim’s pistol, and ran back on to the lawn.
Johnny was there.
He was making his way to head them off before they reached the house, it was a matter of seconds before he would run into her father coming out the other end of the kitchen garden.
She screamed.
Immediately Johnny turned and saw her. He smiled, and Evelyn froze, her hand was on the pistol, but she couldn’t move, she couldn’t lift it; she was rooted to the spot.
A sudden shot brought her back. Johnny stopped and looked over to the tree lined path to where the shot had come from, and Evelyn ran. She ran back down that path along the hedge, towards the walled garden, and then she veered off the path, and into the woods.
She didn’t know where she was going, she just knew she had to buy her father enough time to find Garret, and she had to get Johnny away from the house, at all costs.
She swerved in and out of trees, ignoring the path, and just hoping Johnny would blindly follow.
She heard another shot. She dropped the pistol as she stumbled, and found herself sprawled on the forest floor. Desperately Evelyn searched in the leaves for the gun. She noticed blood on her dress, and as the realisation crept in, so did the pain. Grape shot had torn into the flesh on her left arm, the small pellets had scattered into the forest when Johnny had taken a wild pot shot into the woods, they had so nearly missed her, but not quite.
She turned, and there he was, his musket raised like an axe, his face manic, she gasped, and threw her handful of dirt and leaves in his eyes, he roared out in pain and his musket flailed blindly.
Evelyn scrabbled to her feet, she saw the pistol, and grabbed it as she started to run again. But Johnny caught her across the back with his musket, she yelped in pain, staggering to the floor, but she didn’t let herself fall, she was on her feet again and started forward.
She caught a glimpse of the gardener’s shed, and wondered if there was another shovel she could use. She veered towards it, but as she did so the musket was whacked against her shoulder, and she fell to her knees.
The shed was still in her sights, and she tried to stand again, Johnny grabbed hold her right leg, and pulled. She lost her balance, and fell, face first into the ground.
Evelyn twisted in the Highwayman’s grasp; she pulled and kicked, catching him in the jaw. He lost his grip on her leg, and she ran.
The forest veered downhill, she nearly lost her footing as she headed towards the hut. She didn’t have a plan, and as she ran towards the shed, she saw a padlock. She slammed into the door, hoping that would be enough to break it, it stood fast.
The thunderous footsteps of Johnny were behind her, she turned to see him; a mad giant, just yards away. She pulled back the flintlock on her pistol, but his musket came down and struck against the side of her head.
She fell to the ground, stunned. Her vision was blurred, but looking up she saw he was poised and ready to strike again.
She pointed and fired.
***
She didn’t know how long she had lain there, as she came to she realised she was bleeding, her chest was heavy, and the dead weight of the Highwayman had knocked the wind out of her when he fell. Exhausted and in pain, she struggled to wriggle free. Panic started to rise, and she cried out, before her arm, then her leg, then her head slid out from underneath the heavy Highwayman. She lay for a moment, staring at the sky, her breathing heavy and laboured.
Then she thought of Bess. She remembered that she’d heard a shot. William might be out there now, looking for her, while Bess could be lying dead or dying on the path between the elms.
Evelyn rolled onto her front, her left arm was numb, and she was struggling to use it, she clambered to her feet, and turned to look at Johnny lying face down in the dirt. Her stomach felt cold as she realised he was dead. She stared at him for a moment before picking up his musket with her good arm, and heading towards the elms.
Warily, Evelyn crept through the woods, listening for the sound of footsteps brushing through the leaves. As she came closer to the elms, she saw a figure, sitting on the footpath, and with relief she saw it was Bess, her long hair blowing softly in the breeze. Evelyn rushed forward, but realised that Bess was holding her brother; he lay in her lap, his arm held out to his side, and the pistol on the ground next to him.
“I’m so sorry Bill” she was saying. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to. I just had to, I couldn’t let you Bill, I couldn’t.”
Evelyn wanted to reach forward, and grab hold of Bess; she took a few steps closer, and noticed that William was trying to speak.
“Why?” He whispered, it was all he could manage.
Bess started to cry, she held him tighter, and through tears she managed to answer, “Because I love her.”
But it was too late for him to hear.
Evelyn threw her musket aside, and placed her hand on Bess’s shoulder. Bess turned and looked up at her.
“Oh God you’re safe!” She whispered “I couldn’t let him hurt you” She turned back and looked at William: gently she reached forward and closed his eyes, “At least it wasn’t for nothing.”
Evelyn crouched down and put her arms around Bess ‘It’s over’ she thought.
“Evie! You’re bleeding!”
“I’m alright,” She said, but she realised that she was unable to stand. Bess carefully placed William’s body on the ground, and, wiping her tears away, she lifted Evelyn, putting her good arm round her neck, and they started towards the house.
“Release the hostage!”
Bess stopped, and Evelyn looked up startled, it took her a moment to realise they were surrounded. At least a dozen soldiers were closing in on them.
“I said ‘release the hostage’!” The command had come from a tall soldier; he stood a little back from the others, and wore a different coat.
“I think they mean me.” She looked at Bess, who was staring at them; her jaw set and her eyes wide. “Bess, let me go.”
She turned to Evelyn “Are you alright to stand?”
“I think so.” Bess gently took Evelyn’s arm off her shoulder, and stepped away from her. As soon as they were two paces apart, the soldiers pounced, grabbing Bess and searching her for weapons.
“She’s not one of them!” Evelyn shouted, they ignored her and pulled Bess off down the path, Evelyn did her best to chase them “Let her go!” She yelled. They led her towards the tall soldier. He looked from Bess to Evelyn, as she staggered forward.
“On behalf of his Majesty King George The Second, I thank you for aiding us in the apprehension of a most dangerous felon.”
“She isn’t one of them.”
“I beg your pardon.”
“There is one in the study, one in the kitchen garden, one on the woodland walk, and one between the elms” she said, pointing vaguely in the direction of each one “but she isn’t one of them.”
The soldier seemed taken aback; he quickly dispatched soldiers to find the felons, then turned to Evelyn.
“We have a witness that would testify to this young woman here being a kidnapper. Now only a court of law can decide her innocence.” He turned to go.
“No!” Evelyn rushed forward, and pulled him around “You can’t take her! She saved my life! She saved my fathers life! Ask him, ask my father!”
The soldier took hold of Evelyn, loosening her grip on his jacket. “You have been through an ordeal, miss. Now I suggest you come up to the house with me. Someone will call for a Doctor, I’m sure.”
Evelyn started to feel weak, and tired, she didn’t know if she had the energy to argue. She looked around and saw Bess being led away, and just beyond her, talking to one of the soldiers, was her father. She called out to him, he looked up, his face went from relief, to alarm on seeing her, and he started forward.
“Evelyn!” he called, “Evelyn what’s happened? What did they do to you?”
“They’re taking her away?”
“The girl? I know. They’ve found the others, aswell—”
“You can’t let them take her!” Evelyn was fighting to stay awake, the soldier was holding her up as she struggled to explain.
“But she’s one of them!”
“That’s what I was trying to tell her sir, but I’m afraid she was getting rather distressed.” Evelyn started to feel as though she was falling down a well; the voices around her were getting further and further away.
“Father, listen to me; Bess saved my life, she brought me here, she isn’t one of them, you can’t let them take her.” Her father looked at her intently, he trusted his daughter, but he knew what he’d seen, and he’d seen that girl with a pistol.
“Do you trust her? Do you trust her beyond a shadow of a doubt?”
Evelyn felt cold, she knew that the soldier was taking her full weight, and that she was drifting away from them with every breath. “Yes” She said, and finally, she meant it. Her father nodded, and then he was gone, and so was everything else.
***
“Evie?”
Evelyn felt a cold sensation on her forehead. She was warm, a little too warm, and the cool cloth felt good against her skin.
Her eyelids were heavy, but slowly she lifted them, the blurred room gradually came into focus.
The cool cloth was back, and she turned her head to see Bess, sitting beside her.
“Evie?” She whispered again.
“I’m here.” She said. She tried to move, but pain shot across her arm and her back.
“No, no, no, don’t move. You’re badly hurt. Just lay back. Would you like some water?”
“What happened?”
“What do you remember?”
“I… I remember the soldiers; they tried to take you away… then … nothing…”
“Your father stopped them, he said he’d made a mistake, and I was nothing to do with any of it. They were reluctant, but they let me go. And then he said I could stay until you were well.”
“How long have I …?”
“Oh not long, a day or so, and the doctor said that you should be up and about in a week,”
Evelyn reached forward and took Bess’ hand “I want you to stay.”
“I will—”
“No, I don’t mean just while I’m like this, I mean for good.”
“Evie… I … I mean your father, he …”
“I need you to stay.”
“I can’t…”
“I love you.”
Bess looked at her, a little surprised, “I love you too.” She said.
“Then stay.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
Bess smiled at her “all right” she said “I’ll stay.”
THE END