poked through the opening, until a female voice spoke, with confidence exuding from her tone. “Children, please be still. Father will have us moving again in no time.”
This caused the man standing to the side to twist and squeeze his hat within a tight grasp. A grimace rested upon his face and a shrug lifted his shoulders.
Bryce whispered to avoid embarrassing the man in front of his wife and children. “I can help ye but yer family will have to come out.”
The stranger lifted his brows, and his eyes widened with fear. “Nay, they cannot.”
“But sir, there is no way to place yer wheel back in place with the extra load inside. I may be strong but that is beyond even my abilities.”
The man shuffled his feet back and forth and Bryce couldn’t understand his worry. A glance at his pocket watch let him know they would need to be at the park soon. Should they help the man and risk missing their connection at the park, or should they tell him to find other assistance and live with their guilt?
Lucy appeared. She whispered words to the husband that seemed to ease his worries. Wife and children were ushered inside and out of the street. While Bryce watched the retreating group, the young man walked to the carriage and struggled to right it himself. Bryce snapped from his thoughts and assisted. They completed the task without another word shared.
Once the wheel was back in place, the woman and six small children were ushered from the house. They climbed inside the carriage and left. The whole event left Bryce confused.
Lucy held out his cloak. “Are we ready?”
Words of argument came to his lips. No longer clean and dashing, he felt dirty and unkempt. She spoke of her need to have him by her side, and he acquiesced. He took the cloak from her arm and donned it. Before they left, he grabbed a basket and laid it over one arm.
They wound their arms together and set out at a brisk pace.
“Smile at me as we walk. Laugh occasionally,” she said.
The expression upon his face felt more like a frown but he did try to do as she suggested. Between clenched teeth, he asked, “What are we doing?”
“Why, we are headed to the park, my dear,” she said loudly before softening her tone to add, “We are being watched.”
Bryce’s head reared back and he roared with fake laughter. He patted her arm and said, “My dear, you do so tell the funniest stories.”
Lucy shared the imaginary joke as they found the path and headed to the nearby park. They walked beneath overhanging limbs. Bryce plucked a flower which Lucy took and placed to her nose. To anyone out and about, they appeared as a couple in love. They shared tender touches, and looks of caring passed between them. Bryce was almost able to forget the real reason they were here.
They spread a cover upon the grass and pulled out food stored in a basket. Lucy sprawled in a languid fashion. Bryce followed. He placed a cheese wedge to his lips.
A smile tugged the corners of Lucy’s mouth. She said, “The lady from the wagon warned me that someone watches us. Even if we spot a contact in the park today, to approach them would be too dangerous.”
Bryce used a napkin to wipe crumbs off his face and in the process covered his mouth as he spoke. “Why did the strange woman warn ye?”
“I’m not sure. Perhaps the queen has ordered everyone from the art show to be followed, so they might find a connection to Joshua.”
“Did ye let the woman know about ye?”
“Of course not. I looked at her like she was insane. Half of her words I pretended to ignore by fussing with the children.”
Bryce nodded in acknowledgment. But what if Lucy was wrong and the lady warned her she was being followed in order to protect her? What if the lady was on their side?
They lounged on the blanket, eating cheese wedges and biscuits. Time passed with no hint of anything out of the ordinary. The afternoon would be unsuccessful as far as Lucy’s objective was concerned, but maybe it didn’t have to be a total waste.
Bryce said, “Ye have some verra interesting neighbors.”
“Oh, the twins?”
“Aye.”
“Winifred and Winnie Townsend. They’ve lived there for as long as I can remember. I’ve never had aunts, but I’ve always imagined if I did, they would be like them.”
“Where is yer extended family?”
“Oh, here