MAIDEN OF DARKNESS (Castle Redmond Book 1) by Paulette Jacobs

Author:Paulette Jacobs [Jacobs, Paulette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-06-14T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Just as Thomas got up from the breakfast table, Lily reappeared. "Ah! Good," he said. "Time to go. I've just been told that our vehicle is here and waits for us at the end of the bridge."

"Yes, my lord." Obediently Lily followed him out of the Hall, though she hesitated in the gatehouse. There she pulled the hood of her cloak as far forward as she could, until it hung down well over her face, and tucked her arms and hands beneath it. Then she followed Thomas out onto the bridge, into the morning light.

That was when he noticed that she seemed to have some kind of mud and earth streaked all over her black cloak. It was as though she'd fallen into a puddle and come up entirely covered in mud.

Thomas was quite baffled by this, and did not know if he should say something to her or not. He was not entirely sure as to what the etiquette was regarding a lady having what looked to be filth all over her clothes.

He decided to simply ignore it. She certainly knew. Perhaps she had no other cloak to wear and was simply embarrassed.

He continued walking across the high stone bridge. "Such a fine spring day," Thomas said, breathing deep. "Rather grey, and a little damp, but that's to be expected in our part of the world. It will be lovely to have a little summer sun in the months to come, won't it?"

He glanced back, since she stayed a pace behind him at his elbow, and thought her saw her shiver. "I am sure it will be very lovely, my lord," she said, in what sounded like a hoarse whisper. Thomas turned away in some confusion, but continued on his way across the bridge.

"Good. There is the jaunting car I ordered," Thomas said, as they reached the far side. He stopped for a moment, looking closely at the waiting horse and vehicle.

It was a typical Irish jaunting car, a high, two-wheeled vehicle with a driver's box across the front and two long, narrow seats running along each side so that the passengers faced sideways instead of forward.

But this particular jaunting car had certainly seen better days. Its wooden frame looked worn and cracked, and the faded green paint was badly chipped and flaking.

The horse, too, seemed to have had little care. He looked to be a draught animal of some type, with a heavy head and thick bone, but those same bones showed all too plainly through his very dirty cream-colored coat. The harness leather was stiff and musty-looking and had obviously never known the touch of saddlesoap or neatsfoot oil.

"Once things are in better order here in the castle, I will bring in a proper phaeton for us to travel in. Perhaps I will even get a Landau carriage. We can have a pretty pair of Connemara ponies for the phaeton, and some good Irish draughts for the carriage. Would you like that, Lily?"

"Oh, yes, sir, of course," she said, her voice muffled by the hood of the cloak.

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