“I can run by myself,” I said through the crack of rifles and screams of men.

And so we did. The four of us crashing through the forest, dodging branches, forcing our way through undergrowth, until the sounds and sights of the battlefield were at a safe distance.

“Stop!” I finally yelled as we wove our way through a stand of ash and gorse. “Stop!”

Kent, ahead by a few feet, grabbed hold of a tree trunk to stop his momentum. “What? What is it?”

Evan stopped beside me, panting. Weatherly spun around, checking for pursuit behind us.

“We cannot run willy-nilly like this,” I said, realizing I was lisping through my throbbing mouth and jaw. I cupped my cheek in my palm, the light touch sending spikes of pain into my head. “You and Mr. Kent must get as far away as possible. As fast as possible.”

Evan stepped up to me. “Let me look. Please.”

I dropped my hand. “Is it broken?”

Tenderly, he pressed his fingertips along the bone, his face registering his apology as I hissed. “No. Thank God, and I think your teeth are intact, but you are going to have a hell of a bruise. Cold compresses and arnica balm.”

“Yes, Doctor,” I said, and touched his cheek, bringing his smile back. “But now you must go. Weatherly and I will return to the road and Julia will drive us back to Davenport Hall. The longer we can confuse Morland, the better. He said he left soldiers with my sister for protection. You cannot be seen by them.”

“It was you who got Morland and his men to come?” Kent asked.

“We all did,” I said, glancing across at Weatherly. “A group effort. Julia went back for the army.”

“It was her ladyship’s idea, though,” Weatherly said.

“Astonishing,” Kent muttered.

“She is always astonishing,” Evan said. He took my hand and turned it, kissing the palm. “I wish I could kiss you properly, but I think you would probably faint from pain.”

I tried to smile, but it hurt too much.

Kent looked across at me, his intensity reaching me even through the dim light. “You will give her my love? All of it.”

“I will,” I promised. “Get word to us if you can.”

“My lord, take this,” Weatherly said, handing Evan the pistol. “It is loaded.”

“Good man,” Evan said, checking the cock. He looked at me, his imminent departure upon his face. “Thank you.”

“Just stay alive,” I said.

“I do not know what or where we will—”

“I know,” I whispered. “Have faith.”

An odd thing for me to say, but I did have faith. In him and in me.

Mr. Kent looked up at the sky, clearly reading the stars. “We should go this way,” he said, pointing deeper into the forest. He pointed in the opposite direction. “The road will be that way.”