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Authors: Second Chances
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together in puzzlement as he noticed the heavy bag tied to the back of one of the saddles. They came close enough to where he was standing hidden in the shadows that he could catch their whispered words.
"I think it better that we lead the horses some distance down towards the lake before mounting," said Max. "That way, we won't risk waking the grooms."
The other figure merely nodded an assent.
With his curiosity as well as his anger piqued, the earl slid into the stable as soon as they had moved away. It would take him only a few minutes to have Ulysses ready, and he knew in which direction they were going.
So much for a simple stroll in his gardens.
* * *
Allegra and Max tethered their mounts in a copse of trees they had picked out the previous week. She took the small lantern out of the bag while he slung the thick coil of rope over his shoulder. In his youthful eagerness, he was nearly sprinting towards their destination, and Allegra had to place a hand on his shoulder to temper his energy.
"Have a care," she cautioned. "We cannot afford a mistake."
He nodded and immediately slowed his steps. As they approached the garden wall, he gently tested the iron gate. As they suspected, it was locked. Allegra removed a thin oilskin packet from the pocket of her jacket and drew out a thin length of metal. She inserted it into the rusted lock and after a few jiggles, the deadbolt slid loose with a satisfying snick.
"How did you learn to do that?" whispered Max in amazement.
She grinned. "I shall explain it to you later." She pushed at the gate very slowly and it opened with little noise. "We could have used the rope here as well, but we may welcome a faster means of exit."
After surveying the gardens for any sign of activity, she motioned for Max to follow her inside. They reached the wall below the library window without incident. Allegra gazed up at the smooth expanse of stone while Max shook out the length of coils. From their observations, they knew there was no vines or tree to provide an aid to their ascent. There was, however, ridge of slate tiles set above one of the upper bay windows that could provide an anchor for the iron prong at the end of their rope.
Max weighed the heft of his line for a moment, then made the first toss. The prong failed to catch and clattered back to earth with what seemed like an inordinate amount of noise.
Allegra winced.
"Sorry," muttered Max as he gathered the rope for the next try.
They waited a moment to make sure no outcry was forthcoming, then she signaled for him to go ahead. "I doubt we shall get many trys," she whispered aloud, though she knew from his grim expression he was as aware of that fact as she was.
This time, the claws lodged in between the pieces of slate. With an audible sigh of relief, Max tested its hold. The prong didn't budge, even under the full pull of his weight. He yielded the rope to Allegra with obvious reluctance.
"I still say I could help you search faster," he said in a low voice.
"We agreed that you would stay here and keep watch."
"I know, but think on it. Even if I do see someone, precious little good that will do. You would never have time to get out. I could be of much more assistance if I come with you."
Allegra hesitated. She forbore to reply that he, at least, would have ample time to make his escape if he stayed on the ground. But what he said made good sense. "You promise to do exactly as I say?"
He nodded vigorously.
"Very well. But I go up first, and when I say we must leave, you will do so without argument."
"I promise."
With one last tug on the rope, Allegra started up the wall.
* * *
An incredulous expression spread over Wrexham's face as he watched his son scale the wall of his neighbor's manor and disappear into the second story window. He had left his horse near the others and followed their steps through the unlocked gate into the formal gardens behind Westwood Manor.
Who the devil was she, to add housebreaking to his
"I think it better that we lead the horses some distance down towards the lake before mounting," said Max. "That way, we won't risk waking the grooms."
The other figure merely nodded an assent.
With his curiosity as well as his anger piqued, the earl slid into the stable as soon as they had moved away. It would take him only a few minutes to have Ulysses ready, and he knew in which direction they were going.
So much for a simple stroll in his gardens.
* * *
Allegra and Max tethered their mounts in a copse of trees they had picked out the previous week. She took the small lantern out of the bag while he slung the thick coil of rope over his shoulder. In his youthful eagerness, he was nearly sprinting towards their destination, and Allegra had to place a hand on his shoulder to temper his energy.
"Have a care," she cautioned. "We cannot afford a mistake."
He nodded and immediately slowed his steps. As they approached the garden wall, he gently tested the iron gate. As they suspected, it was locked. Allegra removed a thin oilskin packet from the pocket of her jacket and drew out a thin length of metal. She inserted it into the rusted lock and after a few jiggles, the deadbolt slid loose with a satisfying snick.
"How did you learn to do that?" whispered Max in amazement.
She grinned. "I shall explain it to you later." She pushed at the gate very slowly and it opened with little noise. "We could have used the rope here as well, but we may welcome a faster means of exit."
After surveying the gardens for any sign of activity, she motioned for Max to follow her inside. They reached the wall below the library window without incident. Allegra gazed up at the smooth expanse of stone while Max shook out the length of coils. From their observations, they knew there was no vines or tree to provide an aid to their ascent. There was, however, ridge of slate tiles set above one of the upper bay windows that could provide an anchor for the iron prong at the end of their rope.
Max weighed the heft of his line for a moment, then made the first toss. The prong failed to catch and clattered back to earth with what seemed like an inordinate amount of noise.
Allegra winced.
"Sorry," muttered Max as he gathered the rope for the next try.
They waited a moment to make sure no outcry was forthcoming, then she signaled for him to go ahead. "I doubt we shall get many trys," she whispered aloud, though she knew from his grim expression he was as aware of that fact as she was.
This time, the claws lodged in between the pieces of slate. With an audible sigh of relief, Max tested its hold. The prong didn't budge, even under the full pull of his weight. He yielded the rope to Allegra with obvious reluctance.
"I still say I could help you search faster," he said in a low voice.
"We agreed that you would stay here and keep watch."
"I know, but think on it. Even if I do see someone, precious little good that will do. You would never have time to get out. I could be of much more assistance if I come with you."
Allegra hesitated. She forbore to reply that he, at least, would have ample time to make his escape if he stayed on the ground. But what he said made good sense. "You promise to do exactly as I say?"
He nodded vigorously.
"Very well. But I go up first, and when I say we must leave, you will do so without argument."
"I promise."
With one last tug on the rope, Allegra started up the wall.
* * *
An incredulous expression spread over Wrexham's face as he watched his son scale the wall of his neighbor's manor and disappear into the second story window. He had left his horse near the others and followed their steps through the unlocked gate into the formal gardens behind Westwood Manor.
Who the devil was she, to add housebreaking to his
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