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cloak wrapped tight about her in
comforting manner. He then turned, a concerned look upon his face. “Pray God we
make it through.”
      “Indeed.” The hounds seemed very close, and
they heard a pistol fired. Momentary silence befell the forest then the baying
continued in earnest as though their quarry was again on the run. She accepted
Richard’s hand in assisting her to her seat. “I pray Francois safe delivered,
too.”
      “Is he not coming with us?”
      “No, he has gone to lead the hounds astray,”
said Angelica, from up top.
      Richard clambered aboard and closed the
door. Hardly before his rump was seated the coche lurched and rolled forward.
“I did wonder why the change of plan.” He drew breath, exhaled deeply. “Brave
man, and God speed,” he said, glancing into the black void that was the forest.

Chapter Four
    ~
     
    On approach to Vernon the
coachman slowed the horses from walk to a standstill, and it was Angelica who
clambered down and came to the door. Richard opened it, her voice somewhat
shaky. “You must alight here, Anna Marie, for Pierre must go on and into the
town with Diamonta and the viscount. We cannot be seen, not here. People might
recognise you.”
      “And what if they do?” demanded Anna Marie.
“My mother and aunt are here.”
      “Precisely,” said Angelica, frustrated air
about her. “Why must you always be so blind to reality? We are fugitives from
justice, a price on our heads no doubt, and Pierre cannot avoid the town. He
has to change the horses, or we shall not make many miles tonight. The moon
still gives light, and he says he will need at least a full hour to exchange
the horses. And we a little less time to walk the river path, for we will have
to wait for him on the highway the other side of Vernon.”
      Richard stepped down from the coche, and
offered a hand to Anna Marie. “Fear not dear girl, it is, perhaps for the best.
I had forgotten we would need to change livery, and while Pierre sees to all
that, Diamonta and I shall attempt to obtain sustenance of some sort or other
for the journey.
      Angelica laughed. “Oh, I thought of that. I
have a little bread, cheese, and apples,” she said, brandishing aloft her
tied-cloth bundle.
      “Clever girl,” declared Richard.
      “I had thought to bring grapes and other
fruits, but thought it better we appear less privileged if stopped and
searched.”
      “Searched?” snapped Anna Marie. “Not if we
are wandering river paths by moonlight.”
      “The sooner we set off the sooner we will
all be together again.” Angelica turned to Anna Marie, caught up her hand.
“Come on. Hurry .”
      There was no time to stay and watch them
disappear. Richard fair leaped into the coche and Pierre set the horses once
again on course. “At a rough guess I estimate we still have eighty miles to
cover, and will not make the coast before tomorrow evening,” he said, “not at
the speed we’re travelling.”
      “Is it any wonder, for the horses have done
remarkably well in consideration of a very brief rest at the hunting lodge.
Since then they have kept at a steady trot for the greater part of the
journey.”
      “Could not agree more,” returned Richard,
“though I must say my thoughts have dwelled with Angelica’s brother. I do hope
the fellow escaped capture. I didn’t much like the sound of that gun shot we
heard.”
      “Nor I, but I live in hope Francois is
safe.”
      “I rather gained the impression you hold a
lighted candle to Francois. Am I right?”
      She sensed a guilt-laden flush to her
cheeks, and rather glad Richard could not see the rosy glow. “I like him well
enough, and he is Angelica’s brother, so I suppose it’s fair to say I love him
because of that.”
      “Diamonta Whitaker ,” said Richard, a
chuckle, “it is no odds to me if you have a fanciful admiration for the young
count.”
      “But I   . . . No. What I mean is . . .”
      “We’re good friends, you