Journey to Love: A Journeys of the Heart Romance by Rebecca Ward

Author:Rebecca Ward [Ward, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: White Glove
Published: 2014-02-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

MOVING RAPIDLY, NEILL SNATCHED UP HIS knife, but Gabrielle said, “It’s Delcie, the little servant girl. She hates the woman who keeps me prisoner and will not betray us.”

“She may not be alone.”

He strode soundlessly to the door as Gabrielle called, “A moment, Delcie, please.”

“Quickly, lady.” The bound girl’s voice was urgent, and Gabrielle’s hands trembled with hurry as she pulled on her clothes. She was still in her shift when Delcie unlocked the door and shut it behind her, “Lady,” she hissed, “your friend in the warehouse—he may have escaped and be somewhere near here. I went outside to lock up, and I found both the dogs . . .”

Neill stepped noiselessly up behind her, one big hand covering her mouth to muffle her involuntary cry of alarm. “Who else knows?” he demanded, softly.

“No one.” Then as Neill’s hand fell free, she whispered, “But there’s soldiers posted in the street, and while I was outside, I heard them talking. They said they were going to wait for reinforcements before coming to search the house again.”

From the window Neill saw the reality of what Delcie had said. Several soldiers stood guard in the narrow roadway. He could not hope to take them all by surprise, and even though he mastered them in fight, some would escape to give the alarm. “Is there another way out of here?” he asked.

The bound girl’s reply was prompt. “The back door. It leads through the yard and away from the house. Nobody is guarding the back, because everyone thinks the dogs are still out there.”

“Then we’ll go that way.” Neill went to the wardrobe and drew out a sturdy travel dress. “Try this. It will be more suitable to wear,” he told Gabrielle.

The dress fit almost perfectly and with Delcie’s help Gabrielle was soon ready. “Quickly, now,” Neill said. “Lead the way, Delcie.”

The bound girl slipped from the room like a scared shadow, followed by the others. The dark staircase creaked under their weight, but though Gabrielle held her breath, the Hook woman did not appear. They were led through a narrow kitchen and outside into the yard.

“I daren’t come further,” Delcie whispered.

Whispering her thanks, Gabrielle kissed the young girl’s cheek and Neill pressed a gold piece into her hand. Then he took Gabrielle’s arm and they swiftly left the yard.

With surprise she realized that his touch was totally impersonal as they silently hurried through a tangle of willows that led to a narrow, little-used pathway. When they had gone some distance, he finally spoke.

“Our horses are stabled at the White Swan, and we dare not risk being seen. Have you ever stolen a horse?”

“Of course not. I have never in my life taken what belonged to another.” She spoke indignantly and saw his sudden, white grin. “Have you?”

His amusement faded abruptly. “Not yet, but there’s a first time for everything. Before dawn we need to put distance between ourselves and the Colonel’s men.”

They were lucky. On the outskirts of the town they found horses standing unwatched, while their soldier owners threw dice.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.