Richard returned to Blackwood House the following afternoon without removing his traveling coat.
He went straight to the study and summoned Silas.
Daniel was repairing a fence near the stable when he saw the overseer hurry across the courtyard.
An hour later Silas emerged with a written list and sent two riders toward the western road.
Daniel knew the escape had been discovered.
He worked until sunset without lifting his head.
When Silas finally approached, Daniel made sure several other carpenters remained within hearing.
“Where were you last night?” the overseer asked.
“At my quarters.”
“Can anyone confirm it?”
“Isaiah saw me before supper.”
“After supper?”
Daniel looked at the fence rail.
“I was asleep.”
Silas stepped closer.
“A woman disappeared from a house beyond the quarry.”
Daniel raised his eyes.
“Is that the work you want me to fix?”
Silas struck the rail with his walking stick.
“Don’t play clever.”
Daniel remained silent.
The overseer leaned in until his breath smelled of tobacco.
“Your father’s tricks won’t protect you forever.”
The reference startled Daniel more than the threat.
Silas knew his father had left something behind.
He might know about the mark at the mill.
Daniel held his expression steady.
“My father repaired the mill floor,” he said.
“He repaired many things.”
Silas stared at him.
Then he turned abruptly and walked away.
After dark Daniel met Isaiah behind the forge.
The blacksmith had seen two riders leave and one return.
The returning rider carried news that Briar House was empty and its keeper frightened.
Richard had promised money for information leading to the escapees.
The amount was large enough to tempt desperate people.
“We need to move the others from the mill,” Isaiah said.
“We need more than one wagon.”
“Hannah can speak to Sarah Price through Jonah.”
“Too many messages invite discovery.”
“Leaving them there invites death.”
Daniel could not disagree.
They began identifying places where small groups might travel without attracting attention.
The church had a wagon that delivered provisions to isolated families.
Sarah knew a route through orchard roads to the river.
Eliza could arrange forged transport papers that would be believable long enough to cross a county line.
Daniel was uneasy about relying on papers that resembled the lies he sought to expose.
Isaiah reminded him that documents had been used to harm them precisely because the authorities treated paper as more trustworthy than people.
They could not ignore that imbalance.
