His Lady to Protect by Justine Covington

Author:Justine Covington
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2020-02-13T22:00:00+00:00

MINUTES later and mounted on his gelding, Pernicious, Nate threaded his way through the frustratingly crowded streets until he reached Hyde Park. Several times he had to bite his tongue not to lash out at a sap-skulled rider or jarvey. Despite the chill in the air, Nate could feel his shirt sticking to his back, but he suspected that was from anxiety over finding Susannah. Because he had to find her.

The real special license, tucked safely in the breast pocket of his waistcoat, seemed to burn a hole into his chest. The archbishop’s clerks hadn’t said anything when Nate arrived to request the document, which signaled to Nate that Cressingham hadn’t yet sought the legitimate license. But if he did, and found out it had already been issued to Nate, there was no doubt he’d be after Nate post haste.

Nate entered through Cumberland Gate, the same one John Coachman used each time he brought the girls or Mama to the park for the fashionable hour, and veered south, setting Perny off at a gallop. He scanned ahead at the carriages, ignoring the calls from other riders and pedestrians to slow down and mind his speed, but Nate’s carriage was nowhere to be seen. His heart kept time with Perny’s hoofbeats, vibrating loudly in his chest and pushing into his throat. Nate could scarce draw a breath. He switched the reins to one hand and with the other, pulled at his too-tight neckcloth, briefly wondering if that’s what men at the gallows felt before the floor dropped out.

He passed another carriage, and another, and still no sign of Susannah. There was a handful of pedestrians near this stretch of the bridle path, but none of them bore any resemblance to his fiancée. His heart was pounding now, his breath coming in loud, gasping pants. Nate had to find her before her uncle did.

Nearing the Corner, he turned his horse north and followed the path along Park Lane, his eyes scanning the trees on his right for Susannah. Ahead of him, Nate’s eyes were drawn to a lone female figure walking along the bridle path, with a footman following at a respectful distance. The hair on Nate’s neck stood up as he recognized his sister. But where was Susannah? Spurring his horse faster, he called out to her, his voice as hard as flint. “Minerva Georgina Kinlan.”

She turned back, eyes squinting against the sun, her mouth curved into a know-it-all grin. “Is that you, brother?”

He raced past Thomas and drew up hard, Perny’s hooves skidding on the gravel and causing a cloud of dust. Nate jumped off the gelding before he’d come to a full stop. Throwing the reins at the footman, who’d ran to catch up to them, Nate ordered, “See he gets home.”

“Yes, my lord.” Thomas quickly drew Perny away and off the path.

“Where’s Susannah?” he asked as he marched towards his sister. He wasn’t going to waste time on a proper greeting.

“How has your morning been?” She clasped her hands behind her back and rocked on her heels, that damned smile still present.

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