Authors: Gloria Harchar
The pair glanced at each other with a frown, then smiled politely at
Nicola
. Clearly, they weren
'
t convinced.
Nicola
shook her head.
"
Malcolm
was horrified by the accident. He was definitely in mourning—and still is, for that matter.
"
The
roosterless
woman patted
Nicola
'
s arm.
"
If you say so, dear.
"
"
I do say so,
"
she responded.
"
How could you cast stones so easily at him?
"
Mrs. Spiked-Hair knitted her brows
.
"
But I was present when the old Earl questioned the boys. The Black Falcon said he did it.
"
"
He was forever protecting his brother,
"
Nicola
explained. She watched the two women mull that over.
Doubt still clouded the women
'
s e
ye
s, but
Nicola
could tell that they were wavering. She decided to add more color to the mixture.
"
And now
Malcolm
defends the stockingers.
"
The woman with the rooster stared at her.
"
What do you mean?
"
"
My cousin can be quite reckless. Let me just say that
Malcolm
saved him from deportation by risking his own life.
"
"
He did?
"
"
Ye
s. Several weeks ago, shortly after the Earl
'
s return to Windmere, Ramsey was attempting to smash a loom, and the militia was closing in.
"
It was a fib, but not
too
far from the truth.
"
Don
'
t ask me how
Malcolm
knew Ramsey was there, but he arrived like a dark savior.
Malcolm
warned Ramsey, and together they jumped through the window and onto their horses.
"
Her imagination just kept getting better and better, Nicola decided.
"
What happened next?
"
the thinner woman whispered, her e
ye
s wide.
Nicola
didn
'
t know from where the urge came, but she realized that each t
ime she fibbed, she added some
thing more outrageously heroic to the tale.
"
Well, the militia spotted them and the chase was on. The night was a misty one and the woods dangerous.
"
She paused for effect.
"
Malcolm
knew the
militia was
closing in. He told Ramsey to grab a branch and hide in the tree.
Malcolm
planned to lead them away.
"
"
Very clever of him,
"
the fat woman said approvingly.
"
But what about poor Falcon?
"
the other asked.
"
It was bad, dangerous work indeed.
"
Why
Nicola
continued to elaborate more and more on that disastrous meeting in the workhouse, she didn
'
t know. But she couldn
'
t stop herself.
"
The militia began shooting their guns.
"
"
Oh, my,
"
came the reply, breathlessly.
"
This legend is becoming better and better.
"
"
As good as any of the legends of
Lumiè
re
,
"
the fat one agreed.
"
Go on, tell us more.
"
"
Well,
"
Nicola
said,
"
he managed to cross the creek and lose them there. The water threw the scent of the hounds. Oh, did I forget to mention the militia had hounds with them?
"
"
What a heroic man!
"
The thinner woman clutched the collar of her bodice.
The rooster owner gazed at
Nicola
with wide
eyes
.
"
Imagine the courage it took for the Black Falcon to do that for practically a stranger. He must be totally committed to helping the stockingers.
"
Nicola was already nodding even as she marveled at her own storytelling.
"
He certainly is. He plans to talk to Parliament on their behalf.
"
"
Oh, my,
"
the second woman said again.
Its owner fiddled nervously with the comb on the rooster
'
s head.
"
I feel quit
e guilty for misjudging the Black Falcon
like that. But how were we to know?
"
"
Yes
, he is like a chivalrous knight of old.
"
Nicola
laid the guilt on thick as Yorkshire cream.
"
He never defends himself because it
'
s his belief that deeds speak louder than words.
"
The woman sniffed,
eyes
a little teary.
"
Well, he must let his deeds be known.
"
Hands on hips, Nicola raised her brows.
"
And how is possible that when people don
'
t recognize good deeds when they see them?
"
The rooster and its corpulent owner frowned.
"
What are you talking about?
"
Nicola
fingered the edge of the small box she held.
"
You said he overheard you maligning my business. What did he do?
"
Dawning realization smoothed the wrinkles in the fat woman
'
s face. She straightened her shoulders.
"
We have grossly misjudged the Earl, Bea.
"
"
Yes
, I believe we have indeed, Pru. He is a model among men. If only more of his gender could strive to be the same.
"
Pru turned to
Nicola
.
"
You are delightfully enlightening, my dear. Thank you for straightening out two old fools.
"
"
Misconceptions happen to the best of us,
"
Nicola
replied airily.
"
They do indeed,
"
Pru said. With a twinkle in her
eyes
, she winked at her friend.
"
You have given us a lot of ideas as to how to change the Black Falcon
'
s... er, I mean, Falcon
'
s reputation.
"
"
Yes
, I would be glad to see it.
"
The manner in which Bea
'
s lips curled at the comers reminded
Nicola
of someone, but she couldn
'
t put her finger on
whom
.
"
Pru and I would be delighted to enlighten the other villagers.
"
"
Good.
"
She glanced at her box, full of paraphernalia for hats.
"
Do either one of you
have a use for a box full of hats and frippery?"
The afternoon shadows lengthened as
Malcolm
approached the stables where he
'
d left his mount. He would spend one more night at Windmere,
and then
leave early the next morning for two weeks. Anywhere but there would do.
Two days had passed since that glorious afternoon in
Nicola
'
s millinery where he
'
d lost all control, but he hadn
'
t been able to get her out of his mind. He wanted his wife in a primal way. And damned if he couldn
'
t resist riding past her shop. He knew she would be there. Plenty of daylight was still left.