Melissa and Belle were both dressed, with sturdy boots on, and perhaps an extra layer of clothing that wasn't really necessary for a fine autumn day, but not so much as to be obvious.
Melissa fussed over Manon, clearly already taking her job as lady's maid seriously, even if she really didn't know what that entailed. Not, Manon had to admit to herself, that she did either.
Belle was carefully helping Janine dress. She already had got her into a pair of black stockings, and then had cut the legs short on a pair of her own trousers, so that they came loosely to Janine's knees She secured them with a belt, so that they didn't look too bad at all. The belt had the small holster on it, for the small calibre Webley. There was no underwear for Janine though, nothing they had would fit, but Manon made her blush prettily by suggesting she liked her that way.
Belle had found a white blouse, and ripped the left sleeve open so that that it didn't chafe on Janine's arm and hand, and a waist coat that also went on easily without causing Janine more than a minimum of extra pain. A jacket, draped loosely over her shoulders gave her a top layer with more warmth in it, and with the same scruffy shoes as she had arrived in during the night, she was done.
Manon handed Janine the revolver, noting that she immediately broke it open and checked the chambers, that the cylinder spun properly, and that the barrel was clean, and then she holstered it. Doing it all one handed with no difficulty.
"Sorry miss, old habits," she said when she looked up to find Manon smiling at her. "Good old habits Janine, never apologise for that," Manon told her. "Slaves aren't usually armed my lady?" Janine ventured.
"No, but mine are when I tell them to be," Manon answered. "Now, I know it's horrible to look at for you as well as suffer, but I want to leave your arm uncovered. The antiseptic will protect it from infection for a while."
Janine just nodded, and tucked her arm carefully inside her jacket, so that it was mostly out of sight.
Manon led them out of the hotel then, Melissa and Janine in the middle, with Belle bringing up the rear as they walked across the lobby. There were constables everywhere, several of whom immediately started to follow as they left, heading for the market district. Another constable ran off, no doubt to report in to someone Manon thought.
Manon led them at a steady pace, so as not to tax Janine more than she had to, which unfortunately meant they all got plenty of time to look at the now complete scaffold and the three metal stakes in front of it.
Shandinski was standing on the scaffold, sadly without a noose around his neck Manon thought. The constable that had run out of the hotel was standing next to him, and the Count stared fixedly at Manon and her little party as they walked past.
By the time they left the square, Manon saw they had 8 constables following them, and there were another two groups of four in front, who occasionally peeled off in pairs into side roads or alleys, presumably so that if Manon were to turn off the road to the market, they would still have eyes on her.
"They aren't being careless," Janine muttered beside her. "No, sadly not," Manon said, "how are you doing?"
"Ah, the best I can say miss is I haven't fallen over yet," she said a brief grin lighting up her face, which was pale and sweaty. From the look on her face Manon thought she didn't have much stamina left."
When they got to the market, Granny Foster was at her stall, watching as they approached, and their unwelcome escort fanned out around the market, taking post at all the exit points.
Manon was taken aback when the angry faced Gran started to shout and wave a fist at her as they got close. Her confusion dissolved quickly when Gran said, "you have a talent for trouble my lady. Forgive the theatricals, it's for those buffoons stalking you."
Manon kept Janine close by her side, as Belle took station up behind her, keeping Melissa between them as she deliberately surveyed the knots of constables watching them.
"You know what is happening?" Manon asked thrown off guard.
"Some, not all. Your girl there was spotted getting into the hotel last night, and I got word this morning saying that Polish inquisitor had arrested you all."
"Seems that word wasn't quite right. I'd best start selling you something, reluctantly of course, so you'll have to pay over the odds to make me overcome my reluctance at dealing with you," Gran said, straight faced.
"I'd expect no less. I need clothes for Janine here. Decent, that will stand some travelling without being too obvious that's what they are for. What I need most though, is to get her a doctor." Gran hissed angrily when Janine showed her hand briefly.
More arm waving and gesticulation from Gran was followed by her selecting a woollen skirt, in a nondescript brown colour, and a blouse and a thicker hip length jacket than the one Janine had on. She also made another big pile of clothes, of all sorts, and whistled loudly as she tied it into a bundle with string.
Her smaller grandson appeared again, "Get your brother and his cart, you've another delivery for my lady's hotel, and don't dawdle fetching him."
"They'll be a mite less twitchy if they see you having stuff delivered. I take it you aren't in fact going back there."
"Just who are you?" Manon asked, as she couldn't contain her surprise any longer. "Never you mind that my lady, just say I have a long business arrangement with Eric, and I owe him a few favours." That didn't answer Manon's question at all, but it was clearly all she was going to get.
The older grandson appeared, and Belle tipped him again, as the larger bundle of clothes was put on his hand cart. "You can go a bit slow with that boy, circular like, see if that gives those fools something to think about. You be careful boy, they give you trouble, you bolt for it," Gran told him.
He gave her a perfect eye roll, muttered "Yes Gran," and set off in completely the wrong direction for the hotel. After a short delay several of the Constables set off after him, following him from a little way back. Gran was in the meanwhile whispering a set of instructions to the younger brother, who ran off quickly with a clip around his ear to send him on his way, which just made him laugh as he went.
"Now time for you to pay me," Gran said, and named an absolutely enormous price for the clothes. Manon settled in for a good haggle, and in between shouting at each other and dramatic arm waving, Gran explained what was going on.