Page 53 of Lord of Loyalty

Chapter Thirty

Will fought the urge to laugh—this was the most ridiculous thing he’d heard in weeks. But he couldn’t have Mathieson disrupting his household. Nor, more particularly, could he allow the man to spread such scurrilous lies. Was it all a sham? Was he being accused of abducting Paulina in order to force him to marry her? The only way to find out was to abandon his outing and race homeward.

Maybury, who appeared to take Hal’s news most seriously, insisted on returning with him. Their mounts had had little time to rest, and the highway was filled with country wagons, carts, barrows, riders and pedestrians, all of whom seemed eager to get in the way. Will’s progress was infuriatingly slow, giving him plenty of time to brood on the ill hand Fate had dealt him.

What great sin had he unwittingly committed? Not only did he risk losing Isobel, he now looked as if he were going to lose his reputation as well. Rumor spread fast in the narrow streets of London, and if Mathieson were casting accusations about, they would quickly be picked up and embellished.

Will shook his head in disbelief. Had he not been loyal and honorable all his life? Yet he’d lost his younger brother, Simpkin, and his friend, Edward Marston. Had he not looked after Isobel according to his promise to Edward? Yet he’d lost her, too. He’d thought he was being patriotic and brave, suffering considerable hardship to promote England’s cause in the wars of the Low Countries. All he’d earned from that was a wound that was slow to heal, a stain on his reputation, and a small quantity of coin.

He dug his heels into Jennet’s flanks, gritted his teeth, and forged a way through the throng, Maybury following in his wake. This resentment would not do. He’d always been a man of action and had never run from a fight. Somehow, he would vanquish Mathieson. Somehow, he would win Isobel.

The very thought of her sent a wave of despair through him. The longer he was away from her, the more he missed her. At least she was safe at Marston House, and he need only go to war on one front today, not two.

Maybury caught up and came alongside him. “Do you think it true Paulina Mathieson has run off? She’s evidently not done so with you. Might this be a misunderstanding?”

Will steered carefully around the loaded ox wagon in front of him, then urged Jennet to another spurt of speed.

“Either that or another devious scheme. I know not why both he and his daughter are so dead set on leg-shackling me. I have every intention of living quietly in the country if I can’t get preferment at court. There’s a farm in Suffolk up for sale.”

“Wool country? I can’t imagine a bright flame like Paulina wanting to stagnate in the country.”

Will snorted. He didn’t care what Paulina wanted. Although he was curious to know where she’d gone.

As if echoing his earlier thoughts, Maybury came alongside him again and said, “You always were an honorable man, Cavendish. But rather an unfortunate one, it seems. Trouble seeks you out. It even did so at Oxford, despite your best efforts to study hard and make your family proud, God rest their souls. You certainly didn’t deserve to lose Simpkin so soon after your parents.”

Will tightened his fingers on Jennet’s reins. “I may decide to cease being honorable. I’m tempted to forget gentlemanly behavior and give Mathieson the thrashing he deserves. And I’ll gladly do the same for Hubert Pike and his cronies rather than wait for the authorities. I don’t think any of them will be missed, do you?”

Ah, good. Giles Street was now in view. He dismounted, ignoring the twinge from his thigh, waited for his servant, Hal, to catch up, then bade him wait outside with the horses while he and Maybury went within to deal with Mathieson.

Mayhem met them the moment they stepped through the door. Mathieson was there, red-faced and waving his fists. Manners was there, too, trying to keep Mathieson restrained. Goodwife Cooper was bobbing up and down in the background, her face pale, signaling that she needed to speak with him urgently. Why weren’t they at Marston House with Isobel?

Everyone tried to speak at once.

“Silence!” He used the roar he’d perfected on the battlefield. To good effect. Even Maybury took a step away from him.

“I’ll listen to you one at a time, or I’ll listen to no one. Manners, may I suggest you let go of Master Mathieson’s coat? You’re only making him angry. He’s not going to draw his sword on me. Are you, sir?”

He cocked his head on one side and glared at his neighbor. After the briefest of pauses, Manners released his captive and stepped forward.

“Sir. Isobel Marston has been taken.”

Will couldn’t breathe. He felt the blood leave his face.

“Never mind that. My daughter’s been taken. By you, you cur.” Mathieson surged forward, but Will’s sword was out before he could get within arm’s length.

“Don’t try my patience any further. As you can see, I don’t have your daughter with me. You may search my house if you wish. If you won’t take my word for it, take Maybury’s here.”

He gazed over Mathieson’s head at Manners. “What do you mean, Isobel’s been taken?”

Mathieson opened his mouth, but Will pressed the tip of his sword more firmly against the man’s throat. “You’ll have your chance. But I have a more pressing matter. Speak, Manners, damn your hide.”

Goody Cooper spoke up. “Please don’t blame Manners, Sir William. He was set upon by some people in the guise of Searchers. You know, the kind that seek out houses wherein the plague is thought to be, and shut the people away. He staggered over here to find you, his poor head still bleeding.”

Will’s gaze switched to Manners. “What?”

“They thought they’d knocked me insensible, I think, sir. I’d left Mistress Marston in the garden, but when I returned to it, she wasn’t there. The young lady knows not to go out on her own, so I thought the worst. I found the back gate was open—it had a broken catch that hadn’t been mended. When I looked without, I saw a lady’s shoe lying in the road. And the ungodly scum had nailed a sign to the other side of the gate, claiming it was a plague house. They must have thought it would stop anyone following them, but I tore it down afore any could see.”

“Did you look for her? Did no one go after her?”