waiting. Puzzled, she stepped behind a tree to watch. No one greeted Adam when he approached, although a few glanced at him silently. All were dressed simply in Quaker garb. Lucy recognized the tall, thin man who had approached her earlier. Soon, eight people had gathered. One of the women held a sleeping child in her arms. Nervously, Lucy realized that this was indeed one of the secret conventicles banned by the king and the Church. For a long time no one spoke, although Lucy thought she heard a woman weeping. A moment later, someone spoke quietly. Adam kept his head bowed, as if in prayer.
Finally, another man spoke. Lucy had to strain to hear him. “The king has seen fit to cast another dozen of our brethren into jail. Mistress White is alone with three young babes. How can we help her?”
The woman shifted the sleeping baby in her arms and spoke quietly. “I can spare some victuals.”
Another man declared, “Myself and Garret here shall visit our brethren in Newgate and seek to sustain their spirits.”
One by one, each Quaker promised ways to help their imprisoned brethren. None looked very wealthy, so Lucy thought they could scarce afford it.
Throughout it all, Adam had remained silent. Finally, he spoke. “I shall draft a petition to the king and deliver it to Whitehall.”
The tall man nodded gravely. The group began to disperse, everyone sidling off in different directions, the meeting apparently over. The baby still slept sweetly in his mother’s arms. Adam said something else to the Quaker who had spoken to her, and she saw him nod.
Lucy pressed herself against the tree, hoping Adam would pass her by without noticing. As she shifted her weight, though, a twig cracked beneath her foot. Adam stiffened and stared into the copse where she stood hidden in the shadows. Lucy was glad that clouds were passing before the moon, offering some cover.
“Who’s there?” Adam called. “Show yourself!”
A long moment passed. Lucy longed to peek out from behind the tree trunk, but she was afraid he would see her. The chill of the night began to seep into her bones, and she desperately longed to move her legs and arms and to get some life back in them. Warily, she slid from her hiding spot, trying to avoid the great pools of light that spilled through the branches. Looking around, she heaved a great sigh. Adam had left. She started down the path.
The next instant, a man’s hand clamped tightly over her mouth, and an arm about her waist immobilized her. In her panic, she began to thrash about, remembering how Richard had attacked her.
Adam’s voice came angrily into her ear. “Lucy. It’s me! Stop it!”
She stopped squirming, and he let her go, standing a few feet from her. His clothes were rumpled as if he had not sat comfortably in a while, but his stance was watchful. He looked like he could knock her down without a second thought.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded. “Spying? Certainly a foolhardy thing, to spy on a man who you believe to be a killer. I guess this is my chance, then. We’re alone. No one around.” Lucy gaped at him, at a loss for words. Adam went on, ignoring her distress. “Unfortunately, the opportunity will have to pass. I seem to have no knife, or rope, or even a bit of cloth. I suppose I could smother you with your cloak, but that seems a lot of trouble. Plus, I prefer to keep you alive.”
Adam ran his fingers through his dark hair. “Oh, come on, Lucy! Where is the intelligence my father alleges you to have? Or is it you are blessed with too keen an imagination? Please understand, I’ve no wish to kill you! Not now or ever!” In a different tone, he asked, “Now, will you please tell me what you are doing here, in the middle of the night? I trusted you enough to think the message could be relayed to you, but clearly I underestimated your distrust of me.” He shook his head. “What did you think you were going to find out? That we were meeting tonight to murder someone? There must be so many easier ways to go about it! Yet I did manage to lure you here, it would seem. So perhaps my plan was not so far-fetched.”
Although Lucy bristled at his mocking tone, she thought about how he had silently prayed with the Quakers. Something about the