“He will not,” she lied, “and the money in here should make up for any difficulties that should arise.”
“I have only a cart to take you.”
“That will suffice,” Claire said, shooting a worried look at the door behind her that led upstairs. If Simon walked through it now, she would be in large amounts of trouble.
“And where are you wanting to be taken?”
“I wish to either hire a carriage to take me all the way to Liverpool, or one that will take me to where I can catch the stage.”
The man nodded. “Very well. I’ll have you taken to the next village where you can catch the stage, but it will cost you.”
Claire opened the purse and began to count out the money until the man said stop. Looking at what she had left, her heart sank. How was she to pay for a carriage to Liverpool and back to London with this? And what if whoever held the child demanded money before handing it to her? Tucking the considerably lighter purse back into her bodice, she realized she would have to catch the stage to Liverpool and then think about her next move. Looking at the door, which led back upstairs once more, she thought about returning to the safety of Simon’s side, but instead she drew back her shoulders and followed the proprietor out into the night. This was her problem not his. Not once did she look behind her again, although the urge to do so did not leave her until she was seated beside the proprietor’s son on the small, hard seat of his cart.
His name was Henry and he was sixteen. She apologized for his lack of sleep, and he shrugged. “Taint no mind to me, my lady. I enjoys getting away from there, and I won’t be back until tomorrow, so someone else has to do me chores now.”
He didn’t say much of anything else. However she discovered during the long night they spent together that he did like to sing. Often when Claire was nervous or unsettled, she hummed, and as she did, Henry had started to sing. He had the voice of an angel, and as the little cart rumbled slowly along the rutted roads, they sang every song they knew and many Claire didn’t.
Simon remained steady in her thoughts, and every now and again she would turn to look behind her into the dark, but the road stayed empty.
The moon was low, but Henry seemed to know where he was going, so she tucked the blanket he had given her around her body and sang along with him until, just as dawn had started to break, they rolled into a village.
“If you go over there,” Henry said, pointing to a tall white building that had a large black sign with a goat on it, “you can book for the next stage at The Goat.”
Claire felt a bit weepy to be leaving Henry. She had just spent hours in his company singing, and now he and his angelic voice would be leaving her alone to fend for herself. Which, of course, was what she had wanted.
“Well, thank you, Henry, for the ride and for the singing. I’m sure I will remember this night and your lovely voice for many years to come.”
He blushed to his ears when she kissed his cheek, then he handed her the bags he’d pulled out of the back of his cart. Bobbing his head, he led his cart back up the road and disappeared. Claire hoped he and his pony would have a rest and something to eat before attempting the return journey.
Squaring her shoulders, she fought the sudden urge to call him back and turned, making her way toward The Goat. As it was still early, there were only a few people on the streets, and none were bothering to look at her, she was pleased to see. The stench of ale hit her as she entered the inn minutes later, and visions of last night filled her head. Simon would wake sore and bruised today, and when he found her missing, he would also be furious. Claire had seen him angry last night, but she knew his anger towards her today would be far worse.
“Can I help you?”
“I wish to purchase a seat on the stage to Liverpool, please.” Claire smiled at the woman. “When are you expecting it to arrive?” Her heart sank when the woman said not until late afternoon.
“May I stay here and wait for it?” Claire asked.
“You can take a chair, but you have to buy a meal.”
The woman took Claire’s money and then pointed her to a room that, surprisingly, had people sleeping on the floor. Clutching her bags, she walked over slumbering bodies to a chair that was beside a window facing the street. The air was thick with body odors–none of them pleasant. She could only imagine the noise when these people woke up. Placing her bags at her feet, she clutched her hands together. At least if she sat there, she could see if Simon appeared and have time to hide. Looking around the room, Claire suddenly realized that, should something go wrong, there would be no one to turn to. Her brother would not come to her aid, nor her friends, because they had no idea where she was. Suddenly, her flight from Simon did not seem such a wise idea, and the folly of her impulsive actions now weighed heavily on her shoulders. Shivering, Claire knew the next few hours would be the longest and most challenging of her life.