Ann Lethbridge by Wicked Rake Defiant Mistress

Author:Wicked Rake, Defiant Mistress
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-05-04T21:00:00+00:00

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For a city lad he had given very precise directions and Garrick had no trouble finding his way to the one approach leading to the cottage, a narrow cart track winding through the woods. The smell of smoke gave away its location. Garrick tied Bess to a blackthorn bush and surveyed the thatched half-timbered hovel. A woodcutter's cottage. No sign of any guard. He crossed the clearing and strode up the flagstone path. No sound emanated from within. The door was ajar. He pushed it open.

A tub o' lard lay on his back on the stone floor, his face a bleeding pulp. What in hell's name had happened here?

Garrick crossed the room swiftly and knelt beside the injured man. He felt for a pulse. He swung around at a rustle behind him and stared from the barrel of a pistol to the rigid, white face of a very determined young woman.

He got to his feet and held out his hands, wariness and relief coursing through him. 'Ellie, you are here. Are you all right?' He hesitated and then bowed with a regretful smile. 'I mean, Lady Eleanor.'

'If I didn't know better, I might think you were pleased to see me.'

What the hell was she talking about? He stepped forwards. She waved her pistol. 'Stay back.'

'My lady, you seem to be in some danger. I think we should leave.'

Eleanor frowned. 'We? I think not. Where did you arrange to meet William?'

'Your brother? I made no such arrangement.'

She glared. 'Don't think to fool me again. Just tell me the meeting place.'

He recoiled, shocked by her obvious distrust. He kept his voice gentle. 'We have to leave before anyone comes, then we will talk.'

' We are not doing anything. Don't think me a fool. Your man here told me everything.' She levelled her pistol at his head. She backed towards the door. 'Don't make the mistake of thinking I don't know how to use this weapon, will you, Garrick? Make one move and you're a dead man.'

Clearly he was dealing with Lady Moonlight. 'As you wish. Go on your own. But go now.'

A shadow fell across the flagstones outside. He moved to get a better view. Her pistol followed him.

Damnation. Matthews. With a gun in his hand and a smile on his face.

'Stay where you are, my lord,' she warned in a low voice.

Matthews's gun was levelled at her back. If he warned her, she would look. And she might die.

Garrick dived to the floor, rolling, yanking free a pistol. She kept her weapon trained on him.

Garrick fired. Her shot came a second later. The burning, ripping pain of her bullet tore into his bicep. He reeled from the numbing force. Thank God she hadn't shot to kill.

She jerked around at a sound behind her. Face twisting in pain, Matthews shook his hand, blood trickling from his fingers, his pistol at his feet.

Garrick launched himself upright, staggered forwards, reversed his pistol and struck the steward behind the ear. He measured his length with a dull thud beside the first man.

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