I thrust the reins and whip into Julia’s hands and found the step with my toe, swinging to the ground. “Weatherly, help me turn the phaeton.”

Weatherly immediately climbed down. We ran to the offside horse’s head. I took hold of the bridle and Weatherly grabbed the collar and together we half led, half pushed the recalcitrant beast around, the other horse and the phaeton following slowly with it. The road was just wide enough to manage the turn without going into the ditch.

“Get out of the way, Duffy,” I said.

He walked his horse beyond the phaeton. “Augusta, what are you doing?”

I ignored him and looked up at Julia. “Drive back to Captain Morland and tell him Mr. Talbot and Mr. Kent have been taken by armed Luddites and need their assistance.”

“Luddites?” Julia echoed. “Why would Luddites take them?”

“It does not matter. The troop will come at just the whiff of the word. Bring them back here and point the way.” I hoped it was true. It had to be true. I wrenched my riding hat off. “I’ll leave this as a marker. Make sure they know that we are in the woods—”

I realized I had not actually asked Weatherly. “Will you come with me? You do not have to. It will be dangerous.”

“Of course I will, my lady.”

I touched his arm for a second in thanks and continued my instructions to Julia. “Make sure they know that Weatherly and I are in the woods too. We do not want to be accidentally shot. Do you have that?”

“I do,” Julia said.

The phaeton was finally pointing back toward the army we needed.

“I forbid this,” Duffy said, bringing his horse around. He raised his voice. “Julia, stop! Do as I say! Augusta, you cannot be seriously planning to go after those men!”

“As fast as you can, dearheart,” I said to Julia. “Keep an eye on that gray, it will try to take you to the right.”

She gave a tense nod and snapped the whip, the phaeton lurching into motion.

I turned to face our brother. “Give me your sword, Duffy.”

“No. I will certainly not,” he said.

“So you are going to let me go into the woods unarmed?” Not entirely true; I still had my little dagger, but a sword would be far more reassuring.

“I am not going to let you go into the woods at all.” He held out his hand. “Get up behind me. We will follow Julia. Stop her from reaching Captain Morland and making a fool of herself.”