The Artist's Healer - Regina Scott Page 0,62

it. There will be water, shelter. Once the French pass, we can fish.”

Linus nodded. “Take Ethan. Lead as many as you can in that direction. I’ll find the magistrate and Mr. Denby. We’ll get the rest.”

“Now, see here,” Mr. Greer started. “I cannot authorize the confiscation of private property.”

“Only if it’s to be burned, it seems,” Abigail returned. “You, sir, are overruled. Ethan, Mother, come with me. We must turn the tide.”

~~~

She was amazing. Linus only had a moment to watch Abigail wade into the stream of escaping villagers and visitors and begin to guide them toward the opposite headland. He left Greer sputtering and went to look for Howland and Denby. Surely they would know how to protect everyone.

He found the magistrate coming down the path from the castle with Eva, Mrs. Tully, and the Denbys. Linus met them and explained the change in plan.

“Excellent notion,” Mrs. Denby proclaimed. “I’ll gather our Regulars and enlist their aid.” She picked up her skirts and hurried for High Street.

“Some will run for the church,” Eva said. “We’ll send them to the Lodge. Come, Maudie.”

“The trolls will be here shortly,” she told Linus before following Eva down the lane. And he could not tell if she thought her trolls would be their salvation or their ruin.

“The earl and those with him have already left the castle on my orders,” Howland told Linus and Denby as they followed. “They will alert Upper Grace.”

A large group was headed in that direction, the remaining militiamen among them. Enough had reached the top of the hill that Linus and the others had to go up and order them around to the Lodge. They discovered another group heading up Church Street for the path to the headland. Eva and Mrs. Tully were directing them.

“Up you go,” Eva advised. “Best place to be at the moment.”

“Trolls behind you,” Mrs. Tully added. “Move right along.”

Howland pressed a kiss to his wife’s cheek. “Well done, Eva. We’ll sweep the village, make sure everyone is out.”

“And stop Greer from setting it ablaze,” Linus said.

“Be careful,” she said before returning to her task.

“The French won’t land,” Mrs. Tully told him. “The mermaids won’t allow it.”

Linus wasn’t about to rely on mermaids. He, Denby, and the magistrate returned to High Street, then headed down to the apothecary shop.

Greer stood outside, torch in one hand, staring at his building as if he simply couldn’t bear to see it go up in flames.

Denby stepped in front of him. “Put that out.”

Greer roused himself. “I take no orders from the Excise Office.”

“No,” Howland said, moving in next to him. “But as head of the militia for Grace-by-the-Sea and the magistrate for this village, I do have the authority to issue orders. Put that out.”

Greer hesitated, sweat beginning to pop out on his high brow. “You approved the plan, Magistrate. You helped compile it.”

Linus stared at him. Howland raised his chin. “I did, to my everlasting sorrow. Before my marriage, I had a tendency to follow the law to its last letter. Now I believe it more important to follow its spirit. No village should have to build itself back from the ashes because of our actions, Mr. Greer. Would you condemn Grace-by-the-Sea after one glimpse of a French flag?”

Greer drew in a breath. “No.” He set down the torch and rolled it in the dirt of the road to extinguish it.

Linus wanted to cheer, but there was too much more to be done. “The others are gathering at the Lodge. Perhaps you should join them.”

Greer nodded and headed in that direction. Howland, Denby, and Linus started back up High Street.

They met Mrs. Denby coming from the spa, along with Lord Featherstone, Mrs. Harding, Mr. Crabapple, the Admiral, and Doctor Owens.

“Mrs. Rand, Miss Turnpeth, the others?” Linus asked her.

“Most are on their way to the Lodge,” she reported. “I couldn’t find Mr. Donner or Mr. George. I hope they had the sense to follow.”

“How might we be of assistance, Magistrate?” Lord Featherstone asked.

“We’ll quarter the village,” Howland said. “Knock on every door.”

“And once this is over,” Linus added, “we must review the evacuation plan. Who decided we should fire the village?”

“Standard practice,” Howland said over the cries of protest from Mrs. Harding and the Admiral. “Fire the village, kill any livestock that might be of use. Destroy any food, supplies.”

“Draconian,” Lord Featherstone pronounced.

“Indeed,” Owens agreed, brows up. “Won’t the population have to return at some point?”

“My thoughts exactly,” Linus said.

“We should move,” Denby said. “They’ll come ashore