Holiday in Bath by Laura Matthews Page B

would like to help you,” Trelenny whispered. “Are you being abducted to Gretna Green? You may take refuge with us, you know. My mother is very tenderhearted, and Cranford would see that the man did not make off with you.”
    A cold hand clasped hers and the girl silently pulled her into the room and closed the door. “How... how did you know we were going to Gretna Green?”
    Trelenny shrugged. “This is the road everyone uses. It passed right by our home and, when I was younger, I used to wave to everyone who went past and tried to determine if they were on their way there. Will you let us help you?”
    "You…you don’t understand. I wish to go to Gretna Green with Robert, but everything has gone awry. All my jewelry and his money were stolen by a highwayman today— when it was hardly dark—and we haven’t enough between the two of us to pay for my room here tonight. I don’t know what to do!” The girl wrung her hands as two tears spilled over and ran unheeded down her cheeks. “We can’t apply to either of our families since they are nowhere nearby, and besides, my family has forbidden our marriage. And I am so afraid, so afraid.”
    Trelenny put her arm about the girl and wiped away the tears with a lawn handkerchief. “Come now, my dear. I can give you money to pay your shot; Cranford is holding some for me, more than enough to get you to Gretna Green if that is what you wish, and I know he won’t accept it in the end, so I might as well have it now. Shall I go and ask him for it?”
    Dumbfounded, the girl protested, “But you don’t even know me. I can’t take your money. Not that it would not be repaid! If we get out of this mess we shall manage very well and be able to repay you the very second we return to Hampshire.”
    “Then it’s settled, and I wish you will dry your tears, for you haven’t a thing to worry about.”
    “But I do.” A fresh spurt of tears coursed down her cheeks. “Robert was so desperate, I am afraid for him, afraid he will do something foolish.”
    “What?” Trelenny asked sharply.
    “He went away saying he would find some money... had to find some money. I am so afraid he will rob someone.”
    “Surely not!” Trelenny objected.
    “He could not bear me to suffer the mortification of being unable to pay for my room in the morning. I told him I didn’t need a room but he insisted. I would have slept in a barn or a meadow!”
    “Where has your Robert gone? We need only find him and tell him there is no need to do anything foolish.”
    “But I don’t know where he’s gone. And I don’t know what he may do. Oh, he will surely be killed!”
    “Come now, it is no such thing. We have only to find him before he does anything unwise. I know, we’ll ask Cranford to find him.” She tugged at the despondent girl’s hand. “Take heart, miss.” Gently she urged the girl out of her room and down the corridor to Cranford’s, where she tapped lightly. When there was no response she repeated her summons with more energy, but there was still no answer. “Now where can he have gotten to? We planned an early start in the morning. Well, never mind. I shall go down and ask after him. Tell me Robert’s name and what he looks like.”
    “Robert Laytham. He’s very tall and has curly blond hair.”
    “What’s he wearing?”
    “A blue coat and buff pantaloons, and Hessians with little gold tassels.”
    “Very well. Wait for me in your room.” Trelenny watched as the girl scurried away, and then she proceeded down the stairs. The door to the public room stood open and the sounds of male merriment assailed her ears, but she was loath to go close enough to see if Cranford was one of the occupants. Instead she turned toward the kitchen, where she was sure to find a servant to deliver a message to him if he were in the house.
    In the ill-lit passage she failed to notice a door open behind her until her arm was caught by someone who reeked of liquor. “Ho, what have we here?