I limped through the gate and passed a groundsman with his broad-brimmed hat pulled low over his face. If I'd been in a stronger frame of mind I would have checked to see if it was the one with the purple birthmark. That rat had told Captain Jasper where to find me, resulting in my recent abduction. He ought to know what had come of his actions so that next time he would be more careful. But I was in no mood for a confrontation of any kind. I limped home in the drizzling rain, careful not to put too much weight on my cut foot, even though it didn't feel sore anymore. A small mercy. At least my slow progress gave me more time to think of a way to inform Lincoln of what I'd done. I considered not telling him, but my absence from Lichfield as I searched for Estelle Pearson would be suspicious. Besides, he would need only to look at my face and know something was wrong. By the time I reached Lichfield's back door, however, I was still no closer to finding the right words.
