Anne Barbour by A Dedicated Scoundrel

Author:A Dedicated Scoundrel
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Catherine did not know how many times that night she paced the perimeter of the small rug that lay near her bed. For some hours she attempted sleep, but, giving up at last, she had taken up her peregrination, her steps marking the passing of the endless minutes. Finally, like a piece of driftwood tossed on a beach, she stood once more by the window. It was almost dawn, she noted abstractedly. Treetops could be seen silhouetted against the lightening sky, and the grass was losing its mantle of dappled silver to return to its customary color.

Wearily, she began to turn away toward her bed, but a flicker of something dark caught her eye. Yes, there—just beyond the copse of trees that marked the boundary between the parkland and the Home Farm, a horse and rider made their way slowly toward the house.

He was back!

She fought the urge to run from her bedchamber to intercept Lord Justin—to scream her rage and pain at him. She would do nothing of the kind, of course. As she had promised herself, she would remain silent. In the morning she would notify the magistrate of the traitor’s presence in her home and then—and then matters could take their course.

She turned away once more, and once more was brought up short. There was something odd about the way Lord Justin and Caliban progressed. The great horse was not precisely trotting, but he was moving at a speed too hasty to be called a walk. His rider seemed to be having difficulty maintaining his position on Caliban’s back. Why, he was not returning to the stables, but had turned toward the front of the house. Good God! He was hurt! She could see clearly now that his face was as white as the bit of shirt that could be seen under his tattered coat.

Unthinking, she whirled about and ran downstairs. Flinging open the front door, she raced down the shallow flight of steps just as Justin approached the house. Her feet scarcely touching the gravel she flew to Justin’s side as he slid from Caliban’s back. She realized immediately that he had not dismounted, but simply fallen from the horse. She could not hold him upright, but fell with him to the ground, her hands and the front of her dress covered with his blood. At her gasp of horror, he opened eyes that had fallen shut some miles ago.

“ ‘Lo, Catherine.” He smiled muzzily. “I seem to ... I seem to be in a ... a spot of trouble ... again.”

His gray eyes clouded like the sky on a dull day, and his lids drooped closed again as he slumped against her breast.

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