Her father was already mounted and ready to ride when Ellie reached the stables the next morning.
‘I want you to go and see Jim on Lower Farm, Eleanor. I believe repairs are needed to the roof of one of the farm cottages. Make arrangements for the work to be carried out, and while you’re there check to see if anything else needs doing.’
‘Yes, Father. What are you going to do?’
‘I’m off to the orchards first, then on to see the owner of some land. There is a chance we might be able to purchase the section either side of the orchards.’ His mouth turned up in amusement at his daughter’s expression of amazement.
Ellie’s eyes opened wide at this news. ‘But that would join our estate and Uncle Henry’s together. It will be enormous.’
‘That’s right. I think Henry had a sound idea when he suggested that you and Philip should marry. You could manage it together then.’
‘Oh, Father.’ She laughed. ‘We would never stop arguing.’
‘Maybe not, but he’s growing into a fine young man.’
‘I know, and I love him dearly, but as a cousin, not a prospective husband.’ She tipped her head to one side. ‘I do believe you are determined to marry me off.’
The corners of his mouth twitched. ‘Not for a couple of years yet.’
‘I’m very pleased to hear that,’ she huffed. Marriage wasn’t a high priority in her life at the moment.
Her father began to urge his horse forward. ‘When you’ve finished, come to Henry’s and we’ll lunch there.’
‘All right.’ They cantered out of the yard together and then went their separate ways.
It took Ellie two hours to see to her allotted task, and by that time she was ravenous. She was just about to leave the estate when a man stepped in front of her, blocking her way.
‘What are you doing jumping into my path like that?’ Ellie was angry. ‘I nearly ran you down.’
He reached out and caught the reins to stop her from going backwards or forwards.
‘Let go!’ she ordered, her heart pounding, but determined not to show fear. Since her father’s warning about kidnapping she was more aware of danger lurking for the unwary. She didn’t like the look of this man. He was stocky with brown hair, but it was his pale grey eyes that frightened her. They were so cold and calculating. This was not a man to be trusted.
‘My, my, we are the high and mighty lady, aren’t we? But just remember that you come from the dirt, just like the rest of us, Queenie.’
Ellie’s horse was stamping in agitation, and she was trying hard not to be unseated. There was a certain amount of safety if she were mounted. The use of her other name from this stranger had been a shock. ‘Who are you?’
‘I’m your brother,’ he sneered. ‘Don’t you recognise me? I knew you as soon as I saw you. The blonde hair and clear blue eyes haven’t changed over the years.’
Her brother? But that couldn’t be. The only one missing was Harry, and this nasty individual couldn’t be him. It just couldn’t! Her eyes narrowed in concentration as she studied him. ‘You’re lying.’
He shook his head in mock dismay. ‘I’m hurt you don’t remember your brother Tommy.’
She snorted in disgust. ‘Now I know you’re lying. Tommy’s in gaol.’
‘I pretended to be ill and escaped when they took me to see the doctor.’ He snarled when the horse tried to kick him. ‘Keep this damned animal under control, or I’ll belt it.’
‘She’ll keep still if you stop pulling on the bit like that. You’re hurting her.’
When he slackened his grip and the horse stilled Ellie breathed out a silent breath of relief, her mind was working frantically. She had to keep him talking in the hope that someone would come along. ‘How did you know where to find me?’
‘That was easy. The bloke who came to see me is well known an’ one of the guards recognised him. It didn’t take much to make the man talk.’
‘Well, you’re taking a risk coming here.’
‘Don’t you think I know that? I pinched a change of clothes from someone’s washing an’ scraped enough together for my train fare. I’ve had a bloody long walk to get here from the station.’
Ellie fought to remain calm. ‘Now you’re here, what do you want?’
‘Money, of course.’ He looked at her as if she ought to know that. ‘I tried to get on a boat first, but the crafty captain wanted too much money, knowing I was in trouble. You’re the only one I know who’s rich, so I came here looking for you. I want enough to get me a long way away from here, an’ you’re gonna give it to me.’
This was a chance to move back on to the estate and summon help. ‘I haven’t got any money on me. I’ll have to go back to the house to get it. How much do you want?’
‘Now, now, Queenie, don’t take me for a fool.’ He tugged at her foot. ‘Get down. I’ll bet you’re wearing jewels.’
‘No, I’m not.’ She tried to kick him away, but he was stronger than he looked. With one more tug from him, she was falling to the ground. She landed with a sickening thud, the breath was knocked out of her on impact.
Finding herself free, the horse raced through the gates into the open countryside, and Ellie watched her, praying that she would head for her father or Ted, or anyone who would come to her rescue. There was no doubt in her mind that Tommy was a dangerous man and wouldn’t hesitate to hurt anyone to get what he wanted. He was on the run and desperate.
‘Stand up.’ Tommy dragged her to her feet and began searching her for anything of value.
She struggled. How could this be one of her brothers? He was nothing like any of the others. ‘I’ve told you, I haven’t any money or jewellery with me.’
‘Then we’ll have to go back to the house.’ Holding her tightly, he made her walk forward. ‘There’ll be plenty of good pickings there. You’ll smile nicely and do nothing to give me away, because if you do you’ll be sorry, and so will anyone who tries to interfere.’ He slipped a knife out of his pocket to show her. ‘I’m real handy with this.’
She didn’t doubt it. Ellie wasn’t so eager to get back to the house now and put other people in danger so she walked slowly, pretending to be hurt after the fall from her horse.
‘What’s the matter with you?’
‘I’ve hurt my leg.’
‘Well, get a move on. I don’t want to be around here for too long, it’s bloody dangerous for me.’ He gave her a sharp push.
Ellie threw Tommy a furious look, anger now overriding the fear. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll be only too pleased to give you enough money to enable you to leave this country.’
‘That’s sensible of you.’ The crooked smile didn’t reach his eyes. ‘Where’s your old man?’
‘Pardon?’
‘Where’s that bloke you live with?’
‘My father, you mean?’
‘If that’s what you call him, yes. Where is he?’
‘He’s right behind you, Tommy.’
Ellie spun round with a cry of relief, which quickly turned to alarm. ‘He’s got a knife, Father!’
Tommy was also taken by surprise, and before he could do anything, he was being held firmly by her father and Ted.
‘Are you unharmed, Eleanor?’ Her father looked up from his task of binding Tommy’s hands with a length of rope while Ted removed the knife from his brother.
She nodded, so relieved to see them and know that Tommy was now powerless to hurt anyone. ‘He pulled me from the saddle, but I’m all right.’
‘That’s lucky for you, Tommy, because one thing I will not tolerate, is someone hurting my daughter.’ He turned to Ellie. ‘Your horse is by the gate. Get her and ride for the police. This young man’s going back to gaol where he belongs. We’ll be at the house.’
It took Ellie less than an hour to alert the constable and return home. There was no sign of them at the stables, so she rushed indoors. Her father and Ted were in the library on their own.
‘They are on their way,’ she gasped, out of breath from running. ‘Where is he?’
‘He’s in the kitchen being given something to eat,’ her father told her.
‘What? He’ll run away again.’
‘He’s being well guarded by the grooms.’ Albert made his daughter sit down, handing her a glass of water, and brushing his hand over her flushed forehead. ‘It’s all over, you were very brave and handled the situation well. Now, tell me the truth, are you hurt?’
‘I was only pretending.’ She sipped the cool water in the hope that her heart would stop pounding so erratically. ‘I fell heavily, but I’m only bruised, I think. What made you come looking for me?’
‘I was still at The Orchards talking to Ted when your horse came thundering up to us, clearly agitated.’
‘Our first thought was that you’d had an accident,’ Ted said, frowning. ‘We set out to find you, and I recognised Tommy at once. We dismounted and crept up behind you. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.’
‘Ah, the constables have arrived.’ Albert headed for the door.
When Ellie made to follow them out of the room, her father shook his head. ‘No, Eleanor, I want you to stay here. It would be better if you didn’t see Tommy again.’
She agreed without protest, for she was feeling quite shaken and not eager to see this brother again. However, she did watch from the window as the constables brought out Tommy in handcuffs. Tears of sadness welled up in her eyes. She was brushing them away when her father returned alone.
‘Ted’s gone back now.’ Albert noticed how disturbed she was and placed an arm around her shoulder. ‘Don’t upset yourself, my dear.’
She sniffed. ‘He’s only young and is going to spend years in gaol. It’s such a waste, Father.’
‘Yes, it is. But we are all faced with choices in this life. Tommy grew up in the same environment as the other Bonner children but, as far as we know, he’s the only one to go bad. Pearl is a good wife and mother; Jack and Maggie have worked hard to make decent lives for themselves; Ted struggled to get a good education. They made their choices, determined to improve their lives by their own efforts. Tommy thought he could get what he wanted by taking it from other people. He made his choice and now he has to live with the consequences of his violent actions.’
‘I know, but it’s still sad.’
‘I agree,’ Albert said. ‘I want you to know that I’m very proud of you, Eleanor. You handled a potentially dangerous situation with great courage. But you’ve had a nasty experience and it’s unsettled you, so I want you to go and rest for a while. I’ll ask cook to bring lunch up to you.’
‘I’m quite all right, Father,’ she protested.
‘Just for an hour to please me.’
She agreed, knowing that his concern was because he loved her very much. ‘Very well, just to please you.’
When she entered her room the bed seemed to draw her towards it, and it was at that moment she realised just how exhausted she was. And she was shaking badly. Pausing only to kick off her shoes, she fell on the bed and was instantly asleep.
An hour later, Albert quietly opened the door of his daughter’s room and saw her sprawled across the bed, fast asleep. Her shoes were on the floor, one at the side of the bed and the other at the foot. She had always hated wearing shoes, that hadn’t changed over the years.
Closing the door he stood outside deep in thought. He had been talking to her about the choices one was faced with in life. He had married Mary because he’d loved her and had stayed with her through many bitter disappointments. Their love for each other had kept them together, even though they couldn’t have the children they had both yearned for. Mary had sacrificed her health for that dream and had died far too young and he missed her – missed the feminine companionship – missed having a woman in his life. He had Eleanor, of course, and she was a great joy to him, but he missed his wife. He’d known that Mary’s passing would be painful, but he hadn’t realised what a great void it would leave in his life. She had been an intelligent woman, and the only irrational thing she had ever done had been to take a small child out of the slums to be brought up as their daughter. He had been angry at first – but only for a short time. Mary had acted out of desperation and he’d forgiven her shortly after setting eyes on the little girl.
He walked down the stairs, annoyed at the direction of his thoughts. He was getting maudlin, and he blamed the fright he’d had on seeing Tommy with Eleanor, his posture threatening. That was one member of the Bonner family he hoped they never saw again.
‘Ah, there you are.’ Henry caught up with him in the stables. ‘Ted’s told me what happened. Is Eleanor all right?’
‘She’s more shaken by the experience that she is willing to admit. I have managed to persuade her to have a rest and she is now fast asleep.’
‘That’s the best thing for her, and she’ll soon bounce back. Nothing’s ever kept her down for long.’
Albert nodded. ‘It was a nasty moment though. That boy wouldn’t have hesitated to use violence to get what he wanted, even against his own sister. He was desperate to get away before the police caught up with him again.’
‘Let’s hope the authorities take better care of him this time.’ Henry’s expression was as grim as his brother-in-law’s. ‘There was bound to be some unpleasant surprises in tracing this family. I did warn you, Albert.’
‘I know you did, but I didn’t expect to find one who was capable of murder.’
Henry sucked in a deep breath. ‘I know he’s a bad lot with a vicious streak, as his conviction shows, but do you believe he is capable of taking the life of one of his own family?’
‘Yes, I do.’ Albert checked the girth on his horse and then mounted. ‘I need a diversion. Let’s go and see if we can buy that land, shall we?’