The Secret Hamlet - Book 2

“Timo, your warning to us cannot be measured. You have protected all my family.” As he looked around, he could see that there had been no disruption to the family.

Timo nodded. “Of course.” He and John gathered the reins and led the horse pulling the cart and Robert’s horse to the cottage.

The family collected the food and other essentials that Dinah had sent and went inside. The tools were left in the cart. The small cottage was now bursting as they crowded in. Observing this, Nichol said, “When spring comes, we will be outside with plenty of room.”

Everyone was eager to hear what Robert had to say as they gathered around the kitchen table.

Helene burst out, “Is there any word about Ezra? Do you know if he is safe?”

Nodding, Robert said, “Yes, Ezra is safe. I have much to tell you. Let me start at the beginning.”

Unpacking the food Dinah had sent, Helene started to arrange some for eating, using the small table to unwrap the packages as the generous display unfolded.

Nichol lay Lucette down in the cradle to help, and John and Timo settled on the floor with the foodstuffs they took from the table. Robert sat on one of the four stools. They waited for his words.

And the words tumbled out—first telling them how he had gotten there and discovered an unknown man inside the home and how he saw how ransacked it was before the door was slammed on him. Then he told them about the woman across from the house who waved him over to tell him what happened. Several men took things from inside the house and loaded them in a cart. She could hear shouting and laughter after Ezra had fled.