The Heiress - Lynsay Sands [118]
“I fear we didn’t think to bring extra horses, Lord Madison,” Lady Woodrow announced, slipping her knife back up her sleeve. She then slipped her arm through Cedrick Madison’s and started him toward her horse as if she were strolling through the gardens, and added, “I fear you shall have to ride back with me.”
“I’m sure it will be my pleasure, Lady Woodrow,” her father said solemnly.
Suzette frowned as she noted that his limp was even more pronounced now than earlier. The hopping probably hadn’t done it any good. He would need to rest it and perhaps apply a warm compress to ease the ache.
“I was telling the truth, Suzette,” Daniel said quietly, drawing her attention to him as he started to carry her toward his own horse. “I promise you I didn’t write that letter.”
“I know,” she said on a sigh. “I’m sorry I believed it, but he knew about the stables and—”
“You don’t need to explain,” he assured her as he reached his horse. Daniel then paused and admitted, “I was angry at first that you would believe I would break it off so coldly in a letter, but when I read what he’d written about the stables—” He shook his head. “Of course you would believe it was me. We thought we were alone.”
She nodded, but didn’t comment. Suzette really didn’t want to discuss the fact that Danvers had been watching them in the stables. She just didn’t want to think about it. Between that and the cruel comments in the letter, Danvers had managed to tarnish the experience for her somewhat.
Daniel kissed her on the top of her head, careful to avoid her injury, and then asked, “Can you stand for a moment while I mount?”
“Yes,” she murmured.
“Hold on to the horse,” he instructed as he set her down.
Suzette leaned against the beast and watched as he mounted. He then helped her climb on to the animal’s back as well.
“Just relax,” Daniel suggested as he settled her before him. “You are safe and we will have you back at the inn and comfortable in no time.”
Suzette nestled against his chest, trying to keep her head still to stave off the worst of the pain as he urged his mount to a canter.
The ride back to the inn probably didn’t take long, though it seemed interminable to Suzette. All the jostling about had her head aching so badly she felt sure that if she’d had anything in her stomach she probably would have tossed it up by the time they arrived at the inn. Fortunately, they hadn’t eaten since first setting out with Danvers, and that was long gone.
As they broke out of the woods and entered the courtyard Robert and Richard came rushing from the stables.
“Did you get him?” Daniel asked, drawing his horse to a halt.
“Danvers?” Richard asked with surprise, moving to take Lady Woodrow’s mount by the bit as she reined in beside them with Lord Madison in the saddle behind her. “No. Was he not with Suzette and Lord Madison?”
Daniel shook his head. “He left them tied in the woods and was supposed to be headed here in search of a hack to carry them on to Gretna Green.”
“We’ve seen no sign of him,” Robert assured him, moving up to take the bit of his horse.
Daniel scowled, but then said, “Here, take Suzette.”
He passed her down like a child and Robert released the horse and caught her to his chest at once. He then frowned as he looked her over and noted her head wound. “What happened to your head, Suzie? Did Danvers do this?”
“No, I hit it on a rock,” she said wearily.
“It’s my fault,” her father said with disgust as he dismounted. He turned to help Lady Woodrow down, explaining, “I meant to knock Danvers off her, but they both went down and there was a boulder behind her. A damned big one too. I should have taken a look about before I rammed the man.”
“What was Danvers doing ‘on’ her?” Daniel asked, taking her from Robert.
Suzette glanced to him with surprise. He sounded strange, his voice cold, angry and afraid all at once.
“He was choking her,” her father answered in oddly reassuring tones and Suzette couldn’t help noticing that all the men were suddenly