Chapter 25 Window of Opportunity

                                    

                                          


                          
Relly and Edith rode together in the front coach accompanied by the two men who had tried to abduct her weeks ago. No one spoke but Relly clutched her fan and remained alert while Edith dozed off. The following coach held Charles and three more henchmen. DeVoissier was not traveling with them. Relly did not like the count but she felt safer with him then with Charles and his gang of associates. The bald man stared at Relly with a look so angry that he frightened her so she kept her eyes demurely looking at her hands or out the window. With the drivers Charles had nine men with him. Relly realized resistance against those odds was useless.
                          
Charles had pushed the coaches hard and they were close to the boarder and Gretna Green when they stopped for the night. It was pouring rain and it fell so hard that even the short run from coach was enough to soak Relly's cloak and dress. Charles got the ladies a room on the uppermost floor and sat by the fire to dry off. "You get out of you wet cloak Aurelija and come back down here." Charles was already on his second tankard of ale. 
                          
"I'm tired Charles, I simply wish to sleep," Relly said doing her best to appear tired.
                          
"You either eat with me of you go without," Charles said unkindly.
                          
"I'm just tired," Relly repeated. Then she retired to her room trying to formulate a plan of escape. She changed out of her wet dress and suddenly struck with an idea pulled the sheets off the bed. Edith had eaten and came to their room. Relly was busy tying the bed sheets together. She smiled at Edith and said, "Help me move those drawers in front of the door."
                          
"What are you doing?" Edith asked.
                          
"Escaping obviously. The sheets and blanket aren't long enough so tear up two of my petticoats." Working together they improvised a rope long enough to reach the ground.
                          
"I can't go with you Lady Relly, I'm to afraid of falling," Edith whispered.
                          
"I have to go," Relly said. She reached into her pocket and withdrew several notes and coins. "Take this and go back home, Edna will know what to do. The rain had stopped and Relly fastened her wet cape on her and pocketing her shoes and socks stepped carefully out the window and using her improvised rope worked her way to the ground. It was pitch dark but the moon had started to peek out between the dark storm clouds and Relly could see well enough to find the road. She directed Edith with a loud whisper to pull the rope up and wrapping herself in her cape started off following the road north. The rain puddles were deep and cold and Relly was unable to avoid many of them in the dark. But with her bare feet she could feel when she wandered from the road so she managed to stay on the road. The sun rose slowly and Relly was able to quicken her pace. There was little traffic on the road at this hour as she continued walking. By the time the sun had risen her cloak was beginning to dry but the dress underneath was wet from contact with the cloak. She increased to pace to bring her body some warmth as she was now shivering. She realized that it would get warmer as the sun rose higher and she planned to stop to allow everything to dry once she found some cover. Seeing a cops of trees she veered off the road to shelter in the trees and bushes. Once there she stripped down to her shift and lay her garments across some bushes in the sun to dry. She lay her nearly dry cape on the ground and lay on it now exhausted and fell asleep.
                          
Charles had been drinking all night and was in a foul mood because Relly had refused to eat supper with him. It was breakfast time now and she still had not made an appearance. He decided to eat and handle the reloading of the wagons before dealing harshly with his reluctant little bride-to-be.
                          
Ailleacht circled cloaked high above the inn. "She has been there," the dragon said, "but I do not smell her strongly enough to be sure she is still there. Edith is there as is Charles."
                          
"Well lets just drop by," Nick said as the dragon descended. Nick checked both his pistols and Jeremy unslung his eight barrel volley gun. They approached the carriages outside the inn. Immediately they were spotted by Charles men and three of them pulled out pistols and fired at them. Jeremy opened fire with the volley gun and cut all three of them down. The two drivers and their assistants simply surrendered. Charles heard the gunfire and ran out the back door and finding the two men who had ridden with Relly the previous day and directed then to take horses and follow him. They saddled up and rode off as Nick was entering the inn. Charles had no idea who was pursuing him.
                          
Nick kicked the door open and entered with a pistol and drawn sword. The inns staff and patrons had already been startled by the pistol fire and the very loud boom from the volley gun when Nick and Jeremy burst in. Nick put his gun away and sheathed his sword and tried to explain who they were and what they were after. Eventually they were directed to an upper room. Finding it locked the innkeeper returned with the key only to find the room barricaded from the inside. Jeremy then used his large size and bulk to push the door open to find Edith who cried nearly in hysterics to see him and Nick. She ran to Jeremy's arms and he held her tight as she sobbed.