The Whispering Rocks by Sandra Heath

Author:Sandra Heath [Heath, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 2005-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Sarah could not face going downstairs again that night, but she had not eaten all day and felt sick with hunger. At last Janie suggested bringing a tray up to her room, and this she did. Sarah ate her solitary meal and then Janie drew the blue velvet curtains around her in the bed.

She lay there, sheltered and warm. But sleep was elusive and she watched the small movement of the curtains as a draft stole through them, tinkling the Buddha’s head on its way. The dying fire glowed amber as it settled lower and lower in the grate, and the old house creaked occasionally, as if shifting in its own peculiar sleep.

Across the moorland the owls hooted, flying silently through the night with large, bright, all-seeing eyes. The wind whispered over the bracken and heather, murmuring its mournful little song as it eddied around the peaks. Mannerby slept, a lonely lantern swinging on the wall of the big house, casting its light over the shivering ivy leaves. The yew trees in the churchyard loomed black against the silvery light of the moon which rose now and sent a cool grayness over everything. Far away a dog barked, and Sarah lay there listening, wide awake.

The sound which disturbed the night was distant at first. Down in the gatehouse Kitty sat up, her ears pricked, a growl deep in her throat. The noise grew louder; it was a rattling, creaking, rumbling sound, and Kitty’s growl of warning became more intense. A whip cracked through the darkness and Kitty began to bark.

Martin sat up sleepily, rubbing his eyes and cursing as he fumbled to light a lamp. What was Kitty making all that noise for? Then his sharp ears heard the noise and he got quickly out of his narrow bed.

Upstairs, Sarah pulled aside the bed curtains and peered toward the window. What was happening? Kitty was barking her heart out! Janie crept into the room. “Oh, you’re awake, miss. I came to see if the noise had disturbed you.”

“I wasn’t asleep, Janie. What is all the din? Do you know?”

“No, miss, but listen to it now! Just about every dog for miles is barking!”

They listened, and then suddenly Sarah recognized the sound which disturbed the slumber of the village. “It’s a carriage, Janie, and driven at some speed too!” She climbed out of the bed and hurried to the window, pulling aside the curtains to look out.

Lights were flickering in several of the cottages now and down by the gatehouse Martin was pulling on his leather jerkin as he moved toward the gates to look out. Up the village street came the carriage drawn by four sweating horses.

It was Paul’s carriage, the one Melissa had left in earlier. The coachman reined in by the gates, shouting to Martin to open up. The coach swayed on its springs as the horses danced about, foaming and wide-eyed. The gates creaked in the dampness of the night air and the whip cracked as the coachman urged his tired horses into the courtyard.

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