The Gentleman's Quest by Camille Elliot

Author:Camille Elliot [Elliot, Camille]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Heart Books

Chapter 7

Even with his vision impaired by his tearing eye, Christopher had initially intended to jump to his feet and run after the man, but he couldn't leave John bleeding on the road. Honoria had gone to his coachman, and the maid, Sally, was climbing down from the box of the coach.

After giving his cravat to Honoria to staunch the bleeding, he unhitched a horse and rode to Heathcliffe Manor, which was not far. He dispatched a servant to run for the doctor, then returned to the coach with a cart to transport John back to the manor.

His family was shocked, to say the least, although his father looked more affronted at the disorderliness of the event. Christopher explained about the accident and a man appearing to attempt to steal from them. Sally had been instructed not to mention the box, but simply that the man had demanded valuables from them.

When he returned with the grooms to collect his coach, his father's head coachmen mentioned that the wheel had been tampered with. "Wouldn't have lasted more'n a mile or two," he told Christopher. "The man pro'lly followed ye an' waited for the wheel to gi' way."

Which meant that the tampering would have happened at Merritton. The man must have followed them there after all, despite their night travelling. His coachman would have seen to the horses rather than remaining to guard an empty coach, and Christopher could well believe that Lord Merritt's grooms would be as lax about their duties as the house staff, which would have made it simple for the man to sneak into the stables to do whatever he wished to the coach wheel. Since the country lanes between Merritton and Heathcliffe Manor were not well-travelled, tampering with the wheel would enable the man to accost them when they were alone on a road rather than at an inn or at the manor house.

As he entered the house, Honoria was descending the main staircase wearing a white muslin gown with a bright red ribbon sash, which he recognized as his sister's. He was reminded of when Honoria was nineteen, ready to embark on her come-out after her year of mourning for her father's death.

She had met him and Stephen at the front door of Merritton wearing a muslin gown, embroidered with red and yellow silk threads. "What do you think?" she'd asked them both.

"Too grown up for you," Stephen had teased her.

Rather than answering him back tartly as she normally would have, she'd bit her lip and looked down at her hem.

"Now what has distressed you?" Stephen asked with the callousness expected of an older brother.

"I am too much of a country girl," she'd said. "I fear that the parties and gaiety will not suit me."

Christopher had been tongue-tied at the sight of her in the gown, looking lovely and so unlike the playmate of his childhood. He'd wanted to reassure her, but all he could say was, "Your debut will be a grand success."

"Christopher and I

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