Dashing Through the Snow by Amy Rose Bennett

Author:Amy Rose Bennett
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: 0
Published: 2017-10-27T18:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

Damn. Bloody damn.

Anthony sighed as he watched Kate bolt for the door, a flurry of snow swirling into the taproom in her wake. As much as her comments stung, she was right. He was a scoundrel. As he’d at last begun to acknowledge the futility of his quest to stop Violet wedding Freddie Woodville, and that Kate really could do little to help, as he’d grown to know her, his guilt about his shabby treatment of her had gradually intensified. And now that he’d witnessed first-hand how much he’d distressed her, his cavalier behavior bothered him all the more.

He vowed to himself then and there that regardless of how this escapade ended, he would make sure she did not suffer. Whilst he didn’t for a minute believe her brother, her well-connected friend Miss Penrose, or even Lord Rookhope, her uncle, would tolerate her living in penury if she lost her position at Mrs. Brooke’s Ladies’ Academy, he didn’t trust that his stepmother wouldn’t do her best to discredit Kate to whomever she knew within ton circles, thus preventing Kate from securing another teaching position either at a decent school or as a governess. Indeed, Phyllis had probably already begun to spread nasty rumors about Kate and her background to everyone attending the house party at Hollystone Hall, despite his warnings not to. His stepmother could be quite ruthless when she took a dislike to someone and the Woodville family was set firmly in her sights.

He glanced at his pocket-watch. It was well after three o’clock and high time they were on the road again. And he should really check on Kate. He didn’t think the vagabond would be back for second-helpings, but one never knew ...

When he’d seen that brute man-handling Kate, he’d seen red. The cur was indeed lucky he hadn’t throttled him to death. With the remnants of anxiety tightening his gut—and not wishing to examine why he felt such strong, protective feelings toward Kate—Anthony quit the taproom and went in search of her.

To his relief, he found her soon enough in the stables, watching The Cat’s Whisker’s ostler, a young stablehand, and his own driver, Wilmot, checking all of his carriage’s harnesses and the horses.

“All seems to be right now, milord,” remarked Wilmot.

“Excellent.” Anthony pulled on his gloves, issued orders to Graves and Peterson, his footmen that they were to acquire a basket of food, additional blankets, and warmed bricks for the journey, then turned to Kate. “I shall just settle the account and we shall be on our way again, Miss Woodville ... If that is all right with you?”

Kate frowned, clearly confused by his conciliatory manner. “Of course ...”

When he returned to the carriage, it was to find Kate already rugged up inside.

“Thank you for arranging the warmed bricks and extra blankets,” she said quietly.

“It was no trouble at all.” Anthony took his usual seat opposite her and placed his boots on the hot bricks at his feet before dragging a rough wool blanket that smelled suspiciously like horse, over his lap.

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