‘Where do you think you’re going?’

She wrapped her cape around her shoulders and pulled up the hood. ‘I’m going home. I can’t stay here. Don’t try to make me.’

‘But it’s madness to make the journey in this weather, and it’s pitch-dark. The roads will be treacherous.’

‘I don’t care,’ she cried passionately. ‘I’m not going back in there. You don’t understand.’ She wrenched the door open and ran out into the raging storm. Rob caught her up as she barged into the stable.

‘Will you tell me why you are in such a panic? Why won’t you stay here?’

She rounded on him furiously. ‘Did you go into the taproom? Did you see who was standing at the bar?’

‘No. The landlord was as surprised as I am by your reaction. I threw some money at him and chased after you. For God’s sake, tell me what’s wrong.’

Judy beckoned to the stable boy. ‘We’re leaving. Harness the horse to the chaise, please, and do it quickly.’ She glanced over her shoulder. ‘They might have seen me.’

Rob took her by the shoulders, holding her firmly so that she could not escape his iron grasp. ‘Who are they? I won’t ask again. If you don’t tell me I’m going to carry you back to the inn and set you down in the taproom. Then you can point out these monsters.’

‘You wouldn’t dare.’

‘Try me.’

Judy took a deep breath. ‘It was Jay and I couldn’t see his face but I’d swear that Jack was there also.’

‘You mean the Fox brothers? Or Tattersall, whatever Jay calls himself these days.’

‘Yes, it was definitely Jay and if it was Jack, he was cured. He was standing unaided and he must have walked into the bar.’

‘There’s nothing to be afraid of,’ Rob said gently. ‘I’m with you, and surely they were your friends.’

‘Once upon a time, yes. But I haven’t heard from Jack since they left for Australia. He obviously doesn’t want to know me, and I hadn’t the slightest notion that he was cured. I don’t want to meet him like this. Please, Rob, take me home or I’ll drive the chaise myself.’

He nodded to the boy, who was hovering a little way from them, gazing uncertainly as if waiting for his confirmation. ‘All right. Do what the lady says.’ He tossed a coin and the boy caught it with a grin and set about putting the harness on the horse.

‘Thank you,’ Judy said, sighing.

Rob went to help the stable boy and within minutes they were climbing into the chaise and setting off into the storm. Despite the fact that the hood was pulled up it gave very little protection from the rain and sleet. The horse plodded against the wind and even though Rob had wrapped the travel rug around her, Judy was cold and wet before they had gone even half a mile.

‘Just remember,’ he said through clenched teeth, ‘this was your idea, not mine.’