The Riddle of Alabaster Royal by Patricia Veryan

Author:Patricia Veryan
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781466884311
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

11

A light wind came up during the night and by morning the sky was cloudy and the temperature had dropped. Undaunted by the weather, Broderick was eager to look over the property, and Vespa was only too willing to take him on a tour of the estate. They rode out shortly after breakfast. When they dismounted at the quarry site an hour later, the smell of rain was on the air and the wind was blowing in fitful gusts.

Broderick tethered his mount and started towards the pit. “Is this where Miss Consuela’s sire met his end?”

“A little farther to the west, I think. Beyond the steps where the rope is tied across—” Vespa paused. The rope was no longer tied across the break in the railing and the gate at the top of the steps was wide open. “What the devil…?” he muttered, limping to investigate.

Corporal caught up with them, tongue lolling, and started to report to Vespa, but then wandered to a nearby clump of shrubs. Glancing after the dog, Broderick called, “I think you have company, old boy. Jolly neat little hack tied over there. Side-saddle.”

Vespa had no doubt as to whom the “jolly neat little hack” belonged. His suspicions were soon confirmed. Far below, Consuela hoisted the skirts of her riding habit so as to climb over a pile of rubble by the tunnel entrance.

“She’s a spirited chit,” said Broderick admiringly. “That’s no easy path for a lady.”

Vespa’s only response was a series of French and Spanish oaths. He started down, but Broderick pulled him back.

“Do try not to be so silly. I’m aware you were—are—a dashed fine climber, but just at the moment you’ve only one reliable hoof. I’ll go. No, Jack! If you mean to persist, I’ll deck you, I swear it!”

His usually mild countenance was stern, and one fist was clenched and ready. It was just like Toby to be loyal enough to knock him down. Vespa swallowed his pride and watched in fuming anxiety as his friend scrambled down the steep and crumbling steps. “Hey!” he shouted.

Consuela spun around and stared up at him, obviously dismayed.

“If Toby falls,” called Vespa furiously, “it’ll be your fault, Miss Bird-wit! Get up here at once!”

What she did was to back away and hold up her hand warningly as Broderick approached. There was a brief and obviously acrimonious discussion, then Broderick grasped her wrist and growled something, and although she wrenched free, she marched to the steps. Broderick followed, ready to catch her if she stumbled.

She reached the top with a swirl of wind-driven skirts, and one glance at Vespa silenced the angry words she’d prepared to utter.

“Are you gone quite out of your senses?” he raged, taking her by the shoulders and shaking her hard. “I told you not to come here again! Bad enough you must be so pig-headed as to defy me, but to risk your life by going down those steps was the height of folly!”

Incensed, she fought and struggled, jerking out demands that he remove his “filthy hands” from her person and promising to shoot him dead.

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