Evan handed over Bruno’s reins and I returned to the phaeton, reporting our finding—and lack of finding—to Julia and Weatherly and retrieving the reins and whip from my sister.

From the seat behind, Weatherly bent close to my ear. “You think there is serious trouble ahead, my lady?” he asked.

“Always,” I said, flashing a wry smile back at him.

He settled Hades more firmly across his thighs.

“Walk on,” I called to the bays, and we jolted once more into motion behind Evan and Mr. Kent. We did not travel as fast this time, more trot than gallop, for the sake of caution and to save the horses. We did not know how far Bruno had wandered alone.

The answer was not long in coming.

“Look!” Julia said, pointing ahead.

Evan and Mr. Kent suddenly accelerated, pulling Bruno with them into a gallop. Beyond them I saw the reason why: a dark, huddled form upon the road.

I flicked my whip over the heads of my pair.

“Dear God,” Julia said, leaning forward as we lurched into a slow gallop. “Who is it? Are they dead?”

Evan, unencumbered by the extra horse, dismounted in one swinging move and ran over to the hump of dark cloth as I pulled up the bays. His horse stood where he had left it: thank God Charlotte always trained her horses well. I thrust the reins into Julia’s hands again and climbed down the step, almost tripping upon my hems as I found the ground.

“Hold them,” I said.

“Wait—” Julia started.

But I had already launched myself across the stony ground, skirts hauled up above my ankles. At the corner of my eye, I saw Weatherly climb out behind me, scouring the shadowy woods on either side of the road, blunderbuss ready.

“It is Miss Grant,” Evan called, crouching at her side.

She had uncurled a little by the time I reached them, one hand clutching the capes upon Evan’s greatcoat, the other held awkwardly against her chest.

“He has her,” she said. Tear tracks striped her pale face. “Lord Deele has her.”

“Are you hurt?” Evan asked.

“My arm,” she said. “I couldn’t catch the horse.”

“May I see?” Evan gestured to her cradled arm. “Gus, can you help her sit up, please?”

“Do not worry about me. We must find Hester,” she said. “We must go after them.”

“First your arm,” Evan said, although I knew he, too, wanted to be on a horse and after Hester.

“What on earth were you thinking, taking Hester out on a horse at night?” I said, a little too sharply. I crouched behind her and settled stiffly onto my knees. “Where did you think you were going?”