Charlotte frowned with disdain at Mrs Beaufort as she sat with her head on her chin, snoring loudly. The woman had been either snoring or yammering at her since they had met up on the boat in Calais a fortnight ago, she was contemplating what it would be like to gag the woman now. A smile crept onto her face as she imagined a silent journey. That she wasn't allowed to ride alongside the carriage irked her still, at least she had been allowed to bring Conky along though, her faithful black stallion was tied to the back of the carriage. She could hear his steps behind the carriage and a comforting whinny every now and then, he was as frustrated at their slow pace as she was. A sharp crack broke her out of her reverie as the carriage lurched to the side and she and mrs Beaufort were thrown against one side of the carriage as it fell to the ground, mrs Beaufort screamed as she landed heavily on top of her. She heard the men shouting and Henry neighing loudly behind her. She disentangled herself from Mrs Beaufort and climbed to the door above them, she pushed it open and climbed out into the ensuing chaos.
"Rob?" She called out to her man, he was standing behind the coach holding Henry by the harness and talking with the driver and his boy, she hopped down from the carriage door and walked round to them. The wheel had come off the axle, where it had broken was splintered and mean looking.
"I don't understand, I checked the axle last night before we went to bed sir. The axle shouldn't have broken." The coachman was telling rob, he looked up at Charlotte.
"Not to worry lass, I'll ride for help and we'll be on the way again soon. How's the lady B?" He asked nodding at the stricken carriage from where a cacophony of screeching could still be heard. Charlotte shook her head at him with a grimace, then looked up as a pistol shot sounded across the road, Rob turned quickly, pulling out the wicked looking sword he carried at his waist.
"I wouldn't be looking to use that if I were you." A cold voice told them in French. Charlotte and rob turned to the voice and saw a group of about ten mounted men looking at them, guns raised and pointed at them.
"Rob?" Charlotte questioned as rob moved to stand slightly in from of her.
"It's alright lass." He said gently handing her Henry's halter. He snorted and pawed at the ground, rob slowly lowered the sword.
"Good." The lead man said, he slid off his horse and sauntered towards them. The coachmen made as if to lift the heavy pistol at his waist but the man fired first and with a cry the coachmen fell back to the ground, his boy knelt by his side, clutching the bleeding man with a cry. "We'll have no more of that will we?" The man stated calmly, as if he hadn't just shot a man. He took the sword off rob and turned to Charlotte, assessing her. His eyes raked down her simply clad figure, then back up to her face, he smirked at her and she flinched. "We're here for Lady Charlotte Percy." He stated, Charlotte flinched and rob stared straight ahead at the man. There was a sudden clatter from the carriage and then Mrs. Beaufort's heavily powdered face and bright wig appeared from the carriage door, screeching as she pulled herself out of the carriage.
"What on earth is happening?" She demanded, "Girl, help me out of here now." The man winked quickly at Charlotte and then turning sauntered closer to the carriage, Mrs. Beaufort peered down at him imperiously and then held out a hand as if he was there to help her out of the carriage. He studied the heavy brocade and lace dress she wore, the string of pearls around her neck and the haughty look on her face, smirking again. Then Mrs. Beaufort must have realised he wasn't going to help her as he raised the gun, she cried out and tried to shield herself with her arms as he fired again, Charlotte flinched as she fell forwards and lay unmoving hung over the side of the carriage. Charlotte cringed into Henry's neck, in less than five minutes the carriage had crashed and now two people were dead, she looked at Rob who met her eyes briefly, and nodding at her as her hands tightened on the harness she was holding. "Now then," the man turned back to them. "Now that's taken care of, what shall we do with you?" He didn't move towards them, but the look he gave them spoke of menace.
"I'm Lady Percy's man." Rob said, offering himself first, "and this is Sarah, the lady's maid." Charlotte didn't turn to rob, not wanting to give away the subterfuge and ruin robs quick thinking. The man nodded, his eyes raked up and down Charlotte again and then he turned to his men.
"Search the carriage." The men dismounted and Charlotte and rob watched as they began disassembling the carriage and its contents, they roughly pushed aside the body of mrs Beaufort, and then in minutes her meagre possessions were pulled out and scattered to the wind. Their leader watched all this with casual disinterest before turning to them again. Rob turned to her with a wry smile and pushed her against Henry,
"Ride lass." He told her then drew the sword again. Holding back a sob for him she jumped astride the large black stallion, turning him away from where rob was engaging with the man. She heard a clatter of swords and a cry of "get her!" And then she was away, Henry thundering back up the road.