Echoes in Stone by Sheridan Kat

Author:Sheridan, Kat [Sheridan, Kat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Dark, Victorian, Gothic, Historical, Sexy
Published: 2013-11-19T18:30:00+00:00

27.

Someone planned for Lily to die that night…

THE CROFTER’S HUT was a total loss. Dash stood beside the charred stones of the foundation, surveying the damage. One of his staff, returning to his home in Treshire last night, had spotted the flames and reported it to Winston.

Too many odd things were happening. This hut had been abandoned for some time. There was no reason for it to have caught fire. Dash shook his head, kicking at the stones.

“Probably just a passing vagrant, careless with his fire.” Dash spoke to his horse, his only companion on this sunny morning. He poked through the ashes, but, thankfully, found no body among the ruins. Time, and the elements, would clean up the mess.

He climbed on his horse, heading back to Tremayne Hall. He kept to an easy walk, but his mind galloped. And every thought was of Jessa.

Jessa, so dangerously close to death for several days. Himself, likewise taken ill. The fire in Jessa’s room. He sucked in his breath. He’d come so close to losing her that night.

Jessa in the firelight, her gold hair tumbled about her shoulders, her petticoats at her feet. Last night should never have happened, but by God, he wouldn’t be sorry for it. He needed to talk to her tonight. To explain to her why he wouldn’t marry her. Couldn’t.

Dash glanced up. He’d come upon the entrance to the little copse where they’d picnicked that day. He guided his horse along the trail, then dismounted. He needed the tranquility of this quiet place, if only for a little while.

The peace of the glade surrounded him. The colors of the trees reminded him of the dress Jessa had worn last night, the way it had looked, tumbled into a cool, green heap around her feet.

Just as it had on the day he’d brought Jessa here, the sun shafted through the trees, into the heart of the clearing. Dash stepped into the shaft of light, closing his eyes, lifting his face as Jessa had done that day.

“Jessa, I can’t marry you”. He practiced the words. “I’m no good for any woman. I can’t give you what you need. What you deserve.” He let the warmth seep into his skin, relax his shoulders. “I can’t protect you. I failed to keep my mother safe. My fiancée. I failed Lily, though God only knows, I tried. She defied protection.”

Dash lowered his head, staring at the bluebells at his feet. They were the same shade as his daughter’s eyes. He shook his head, sighing. “I’m not even sure I can keep Holly safe anymore. But by God, I’m going to try, if it kills me. I won’t let her down. I won’t fail her, as I failed so many. But Jessa, oh Jessa…”

His conscience nagged at him. Dammit. He couldn’t protect anything, not even his heart. It did as it wished in spite of him. He’d lost control of his world. One little girl and one grown woman were able to sneak under all his defenses to steal the one thing he’d truly failed to protect: his heart.

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