The Scoundrel of Drury Lane (The Scandals and Scoundrels of Drury Lane Book 7) by Lauren Smith & Drury Lane

Author:Lauren Smith & Drury Lane [Smith, Lauren & Lane, Drury]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781960374509
Publisher: Lauren Smith Books
Published: 2023-10-16T18:30:00+00:00

Kit crouched by Mr. Samuels, who was stroking the neck of one of his beloved horses, weeping softly. The powerful storm had softened into a thick, misting rain. Kit was freezing and soaked clear through to the bone, but he wouldn’t leave the driver or the dead man on the street. Nor could he leave behind the rush of fear that he’d felt when he’d seen Suzannah’s bedraggled form as she’d stumbled into his home, crying for help. His mind had leapt to the worst conclusion, that his enemies had struck out at her to get to him. Yet the truth made him feel no better.

His skin felt tight and his bones vibrated with the echoes of his fear and panic, but he’d done all he could for the moment, and the sooner he handled this situation with the driver and the other man’s body, the sooner he could get back home. And when he did, he would take his green-ribbon girl into his arms and not let go for hours until his panic and fear receded.

A wagon rolled up and a constable hopped down, his boots splashing in the muddy water that was still thick upon the streets. Kit explained what he had learned from Suzannah and the driver about the incident.

The constable, a middle-aged man named John Rivers, called for a group of men sitting in the back of the wagon to help load the deceased man’s body into the back. The constable promised another wagon would be sent to collect the dead horses. The third horse, the one belonging to the dead man, swayed a little, still making sounds of distress. Its front foreleg was lifted a little off the ground, but it didn’t appear to be broken.

“Poor beast,” Rivers sighed. “Best put him out of his misery.” He pulled out a pistol and started toward the horse.

Kit stood there, the rain drowning out all other thoughts as he stared at Mr. Samuels mourning his horses, then gazed at the third horse, who in mere seconds would also be dead. Suzannah’s face filled his mind in a blinding flash.

“Rivers! Hold on a minute.” He rushed toward the constable and caught the man by the shoulder. “Wait,” he said. “Please.” Then he nodded back to Mr. Samuels. “Just a minute,” he said again.

The constable lowered his pistol, and Kit approached the grieving driver.

“Mr. Samuels.”

The man turned to Kit, his brown eyes wide with pain. “They’re gone. I raised them since they were foals, and now they’re just gone.”

Kit swallowed, trying not to lose his composure. “I know, but that horse . . .” He nodded at the one still alive. “That one might yet survive if a man who knows his horses took him under his care.”

Mr. Samuels wiped rain and tears from his eyes. “I can’t afford it, my lord. My coach is broken, and my horses are . . . I have no way to feed my family now, let alone take care of that one.”

Kit was quiet for a moment before inspiration struck him.

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