Invitation to Scandal by Evans Bronwen

Author:Evans, Bronwen [Evans, Bronwen]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp
Published: 2012-04-23T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

It was close to midnight when Rufus decided to pay an unannounced and secret visit to Tumsbury Cliff Manor. The baron could not afford a full complement of staff, and that, in all likelihood, would allow him to poke around the estate and outbuildings at his leisure. If he could only find illegal contraband, he’d have the proof he needed to arrest Daniel.

Part of him welcomed the chance to be caught snooping. He could do with a good fight to burn off his frustration—frustration at their limited progress in uncovering a simple smuggling network, and frustration at knowing the most beautiful woman he’d met in a long time was sleeping in the house he was about to visit. He’d love to instigate a personal search of her room, of her bed, of her person. He gave a silent curse.

He tethered Caesar a mile from the house—with mares in heat he couldn’t afford to let Caesar come any closer—and began the walk to the manor pondering what he was going to do about Rheda. Stephen had suggested he talk with her about his mission. Explain to her why it was so important they find Dark Shadow. But he’d trusted a woman once before, and it had cost him his mission and his friend’s life.

No. Until he found evidence of Rheda’s innocence he could not afford to trust her.

He sidled into the stable and came to an abrupt halt, freezing in the shadows. From somewhere within came the sounds of whimpering. He stood frozen against the wall. Who was up at this hour and why? He continued forward until he reached the first empty stall and stopped at the sight of a shape—a small shape. It couldn’t be the baron. One of Meg’s boys perhaps? The eldest helped with the horses. But surely they would be tucked up in bed by now.

He crept farther into the dimly lit stable, and as his eyes grew accustomed to the lack of light he recognized the shape—Rheda. She was leaning against the stable wall, her head buried within her arms—sobbing. He tried to stop his heart from lurching in his chest; he was helpless when it came to women’s tears.

“What’s happened?” he asked with barely concealed panic.

At the sound of his voice she swung round. “Rufus! Oh, Rufus!” She flew at him, grabbed his hand, and dragged him toward the stall at the rear of the building. “It’s White Lily—please—you have to help me.”

As they drew nearer Rufus could hear the mare’s snorts of distress.

Rheda’s tears continued to flow although her sobs had quieted. The sticky trails of tears on her cheeks testified to her anguish.

“Daniel is still not home, and Jamieson and Penny have been called into Seaton. Penny daughter’s gone into labor.” She gestured to White Lily who lay groaning on her side, legs thrashing, stomach heaving, froth covering her nose and mouth. “I can’t get her to stand up. She’s been lying down and standing up all day, but now she simply lies there panting and groaning.

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