Talisman Ring Part II

Tristram tells her that she can't remain at Lavenham court, without a chaperone now that Sylvester is dead, so she must go to his mother's. He and Basil tell her the story of Ludovic since Sylvester would never talk of his grandson. Ludovic was a bit of a wild young man, and liked to drink and gamble, and he got into a quarrel with a man living locally, SIr Matthew Plunkett...Ludovic had pledged a talisman ring, in a game of cards, with the understanding that he would get it back when he paid for it. Plunkett refused to return the ring, and Ludovic pestered him to try and get it back. He rode out to try and talk to him, and Plunkett's body was found dead but the ring was missing. Basil says that he does not believe that Ludovic was capable of murder, but Tristram is more sceptical. Eustacie is intrigued by the story of her cousin, but she is determined to get away from Lavenham before she can be taken off to Bath. She becomes wary of Tristram, that he seems to be hostile to Ludovic. Basil tells her that Tristram collects antiques and she wonders if he stole the ring. That night, she rides out of the court, planning to go to London and find a job as a governess. On the way, she comes across a few men who take her captive, and one of them turns out to be Ludovic. He has gotten in with a band of smugglers and is leading an exciting life with them. He puts Eustacie on his horse but gets shot as they ride away. They head for a local inn where the innkeeper, a Mr Bundy, is sympathetic and he takes in the injured man. Eustacie manages to bind up his wound but they send for a doctor. As the weather is very bad, there are only 2 guests at the Inn, Sir Hugh Thane, a landed gentleman who likes to travel, and his sister Sarah.. who usually goes with him. Thane likes the brandy in the inn, and he decides to stay there to nurse a cold. Sarah is in her late 20s and a spinster. She meets Eustacie who is upset about Ludovic's injury, and hears the whole tale, and is delighted to feel that she has fallen into an adventure.