The Heiress - Lynsay Sands [106]
It was nearly dark now, but was darker still in the carriage, and at first she couldn’t make out much; but then Suzette began to be able to distinguish her father’s form crumpled against the door on the ground. Her breath caught in her throat as she noted how still he was, and for one moment, she feared he was dead.
“Father?” she breathed, not wanting to believe she’d killed him with her escape attempt. Much to her relief his dark shape shifted as if he were trying to turn and look at her and Suzette breathed a heartfelt, “Thank God.”
In the next moment she was grabbed from behind and dragged away from the opening. Danvers spoke, his breath brushing her cheek as he snapped, “Get the old man out of there, Thompson.”
Suzette glanced back to see the driver moving to kneel at the opening and survey the situation inside the cab of the carriage, and then Danvers was throwing her off the side of the overturned carriage . . . literally. He tossed her to the ground like she was a sack of waste. It wasn’t a far fall, perhaps six to eight feet, but even so it was painful. Suzette knew she no doubt had more new bruises on her body, which was already carrying several from her first hard landing. She was slower to rise this time and had to bite her tongue to keep from groaning as she became aware of her body’s complaints over its recent rough handling. It seemed to her it was worse now than the first time she’d got up, but supposed her worry for her father had raised her blood enough to keep her from noticing then.
“Get up,” Jeremy ordered grimly, but then grabbed her arm to jerk her up without waiting to see if she’d obey. He then gave her a shake with his grip on her arm and roared, “I ought to kill you right now.”
“My lord?”
Jeremy glared at her for another moment, and then turned to raise an eyebrow at his servant. “What?”
“He’s tied up,” the man said uncertainly with a nod toward the open carriage door.
Jeremy’s jaw tightened and he asked sharply, “Is that a problem?”
The man considered the question, and then tilted his head and said cagily, “Not if you were planning to give me a bonus or something . . . a permanent raise, say.”
Jeremy’s eyes narrowed grimly. “Very well. Now, get him out.”
The driver nodded and then lowered himself down through the open carriage door.
“Sit,” Jeremy snapped.
Suzette hesitated, but then sat on the grass at the side of the carriage. It seemed the smartest move at that point. Jeremy looked angry enough to throttle her, and she couldn’t run and just leave her father behind. Besides, her legs were a little shaky anyway. Sitting seemed like a good idea.
The moment she was down, Jeremy moved to the carriage and began poking around the driver’s seat area. A moment later, he headed back toward her with a second weapon in hand. She thought it was a blunderbuss, and supposed she shouldn’t be surprised the driver carried one. The roads were filled with highwaymen and bandits. No doubt the weapon came in handy.
Pausing beside her, Jeremy tucked the blunderbuss under his arm and proceeded to reload his pistol. The sight reminded Suzette of the horse he’d shot and she glanced toward the animals. The wounded one appeared to be dead, though she couldn’t tell for sure; however, it wasn’t moving. The other horse was still alive but tangled up in the reins and works and pinned to the ground by the dead horse. He was struggling to free himself, but wasn’t getting anywhere.
Suzette frowned and turned to Jeremy. “One of the horses is still alive, but it’s pinned. He can’t get up.”
Jeremy glanced toward the horses as he finished reloading, but then turned his attention to the carriage when the driver, Thompson, suddenly emerged from the cab. As they watched, he perched on the side of the carriage with his legs dangling into it through the opening. He then bent and