A Scorching Dilemma by Shereen Vedam

Author:Shereen Vedam
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BelleBooks, Inc.
Published: 2015-04-16T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

MISS WOOD MUST have realized that once Daniel found Faith, she would need to have a female companion on her way home. Because when he offered to arrange a ride home for her with a next stagecoach, she firmly refused. Daniel had not pressed the matter. He worried about any time taken away from following Faith and her abductor.

At each stop at a turnpike or posting house, he asked about a carriage bearing the Morton crest. He also inquired about anyone matching Granger’s description or if someone had caught sight of Faith. No one had seen her. Or Granger.

There was news, however, of a lone driver of a carriage with curtains drawn. Since the driver said he traveled alone, and no one else had disembarked demanding drinks or food, people took him at his word.

Miss Wood was certain that this carriage, which was an hour ahead of them, was most likely the one transporting Faith to the border. Daniel agreed it was their best lead. However, after two hours on that trail, there was no sign of the other carriage. Hoping he had not lost them, he stopped a foot traveler.

The farmer said he had seen that shrouded carriage, but it had two men riding outside, not one. The second hefty man he described sounded a great deal like Granger. Daniel cracked his whip, anxious to catch up with his quarry.

At their fourth stop since leaving London, a young postboy said he had been on a second closed carriage. This one bore the Morton crest and was a half hour behind the first vehicle. His description of the passengers fit the Duke of Morton and his mother.

“I do not like it,” Miss Wood said once they traveled on. “Is the entire family behind this mad caper, or is the Duke of Morton attempting to stop his brother from running away with his bride-to-be?”

“I pray it is the latter,” Daniel said in a tight voice. “But I fear Morton is easily cowed by his mother, who seemed to me much in favor of her elder son’s wishes.”

She clasped her hands together, the knuckles looking white in the late afternoon light.

Even with a fresh horse, Daniel was unable to gain on either vehicle, since both were drawn by two horses and his was pulled by only one.

“At least we can be fairly certain that we are on the right trail, sir,” Miss Wood said.

The possibility that Granger had forced himself on Faith was the unspoken fear in both of their minds.

Hours passed. After two more changes of horses, sunset was painting the road ahead in vibrant hues.

“Mr. Trenton,” Miss Wood said, “is there any hope we will catch them before daybreak?”

How could he respond to that? In choosing to stay with him, Miss Wood now faced the same dilemma Faith did. She would not be able to return to Lady Roselyn’s townhouse until the morrow. Did she worry for her reputation as much as he did Faith’s? If so, it was the librarian’s kindness and his thoughtlessness that had put her in this situation.

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