The Wicked Lady by Mary Lancaster

Author:Mary Lancaster [Lancaster, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: regency, Historical, Romance, Fiction
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2017-08-28T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Kate rose somewhat later than normal the following day. Having instructed Little to arrange a late breakfast for her return, she paused by the door.

“How was your evening?” she asked.

The question was unusual enough to drop Little’s jaw, though she recovered quickly. “Very pleasant, my lady. Drake is a good man and makes me laugh. Though he’s younger than me.”

“Does that matter?” Kate asked lightly. “Especially if he makes you laugh.”

“Lord Vernon don’t make you laugh anymore,” Little blurted.

Kate wasn’t sure he ever had. She couldn’t remember any more why she’d picked him above the others clamoring for her attention. Perhaps she’d seen something of his brother in him.

“He came again last night,” Little added. “I told him you were out and sent him away.”

“He talked one of the staff into letting him back in when we were both out,” Kate said grimly. “But I don’t believe he’ll repeat the offence. You might make it known that I’ll see to the dismissal of anyone who misuses a key to these rooms again.”

“I know just who to speak to,” Little said with relish.

Kate left her to it, and set off for her planned morning ride.

As soon as she stepped out of the hotel, she saw one of the men who’d attacked her. He lurked in the doorway across the road, watching her between the people and carts and horses who passed along the road. A quick glance showed another burly man emerging from the coffee house. She’d seen him before, imagined he was following her, though he didn’t look like one of the original four attackers.

She was glad she’d instructed Peter to bring Snow to the hotel. The groom rode Gladiator. Between him and her pistol, she imagined she was safe. In any case, it wasn’t in her nature to give in. Peter boosted her into the saddle and she gathered in the reins, turning the horse, and setting off up the street so that she walked right by her attacker. She made sure she caught his eye, which fell almost immediately, although he didn’t move away. With luck, it would frighten him off, knowing she could report him to the authorities. Perhaps she should, and to the devil with everyone gossiping here, too.

Although she kept her eyes peeled, and might have seen one of the other attackers in a side street, she refused to look behind her.

“Peter, is anyone following us?” she asked the groom instead.

“Couple of leery looking coves. But we’ll lose ’em soon enough. They’re only on foot.”

Breaking into open country and giving the horses their heads felt like a massive relief. She rode up beyond Braithwaite Castle to admire the fine view over the rolling hills and the sea. She wondered if Lady Braithwaite would have received her now, were she in residence. Probably not, since she’d crossed the invisible line from discrete misbehavior to getting caught.

Refusing to feel sorry for herself, Kate thought she might like to paint the scene before her. She’d bring her easel up here one day.

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