Chapter Thirty-Four #2
“Yes. I am sure.” Katie pulled the hood of her dark gray cloak over her hair and then tugged on her black gloves. “I should only be gone an hour. If I am gone longer than… let’s say two hours, then tell His Grace where I went.”
Becky pursed her lips but, to Katie’s relief, did not argue.
They tiptoed down to the sunroom, which had a door that was closer to the stables than the main entrance. When Becky began to follow her, Katie shook her head. “I don’t need help saddling a horse, but I do need the key to the tack room.”
Becky handed over the key she’d taken from somewhere—Katie hadn’t wanted to ask since her friend had looked so angry about it. “Here. Make sure you bring it back—along with yourself. Be careful, Katie.”
“I will.” Katie gave her a quick, hard hug, opened the door, and then hurried across the lawn toward the stables.
This would be the trickiest part, but Becky assured her that the stablemaster, Mr. Bickle, always went to bed not long after dark unless he knew that Dulverton would require him.
Once Mr. Bickle shut down the stables none of the other servants loitered in his domain.
Katie took the lantern from the hook in the brick-lined courtyard and carried it into the utter darkness of the building, stopping first at the tack room, where the key slid into the lock like a knife through butter.
She located Robin’s saddle and blanket and set it outside the room before slinging his bridle over her shoulder and re-locking the door.
It was far warmer in the bowels of the stable than it was outside, and the smell of horse was strong. The sound of hooves shifting uneasily in their boxes and a few low nickers greeted her as she counted stalls to the seventh one, which is where Becky said Robin was kept.
“Robin?” she whispered, amused when the horse gave what sounded like a puzzled but happy whicker.
She hung the lantern on the hook, quickly bridled him, and then hurried back to fetch his saddle and blanket.
Once she’d cinched his girth, she led him to the courtyard, quickly rehung the lantern, and then stepped up onto the heavy mounting block and lowered herself on his back.
It was much easier situating herself on the side-saddle without a heavy train getting in her way.
“Good boy,” she murmured, taking a moment to stroke the side of his neck. “Let’s go, shall we?” He sprang forward and Katie cringed at the sound of his hooves on the cobbles, expecting to hear shouts and raised voices any minute, but she reached the path in blessed silence.
The moonlight was bright enough until she reached Echo Forest, where it was almost pitch black beneath the heavy tree canopy. Katie sorely missed the lantern, and even though Robin knew the path well, he picked his way slowly, giving her far too much time to ponder what she was about to do.
She breathed a sigh of relief once they’d made their way out of the forest, but her relief was short-lived because she reached the path that led to the empty cottage a scant five minutes after that.
“Wish me luck, boy,” she said to Robin as they turned onto the narrow driveway that led to the cottage.
The tree canopy was thinner here than in Echo Forest, and the moonlight danced eerily.
She ruthlessly suppressed the nasty tendril of fear in her belly.
“There is nothing to be afraid of, is there, boy?” She stroked Robin’s neck as they came out of the tunnel of trees into the clearing that surrounded the cottage.
Katie reined in, frowning. There was no horse and no lights in the house. Was she too early, or—
A hand closed around her ankle, and she shrieked. Robin reared, but a huge man appeared at his head and caught the reins.
“Shhh, lad,” the man mumbled, easily holding the skittish horse.
“What’s this? Breeches?” Jasper asked, laughing raucously. “You are a spirited wench and will make a most invigorating traveling companion.”
“I am not going anywhere with you,” she said, pulling on her leg.
Jasper’s grip tightened. “Ah, I beg to differ, darling.”
“Why would you want a woman who hates you?”
“Because it’s not you I want, you fool; it’s your money.”
“I have no money—it all belongs to Dulverton.”
“Keep lying if it makes you happy.”
Katie wanted to scream. “Even if I did have a fortune, I would die before signing so much as a ha’penny over to you.”
He gave an ugly laugh. “That is what you say now.” He tugged on her ankle, almost pulling her to the ground. “Get down or I’ll drag you off.”
Katie heard the barely restrained violence in his voice and scrambled down. “There. Now what do you want?” she demanded, trying to sound brave but failing.
“Here is something I’ve wanted to do for weeks.” He struck her across the face so hard it knocked her back a step.
Katie cried out and clutched her cheek while Jasper grabbed her other arm and yanked her against him.
“I have put up with your nonsense for far too long, you little bitch.” His fingers ground her bones together. “If you give me any more trouble it won’t be a slap next time.” He turned to his huge companion. “You! Get over here and hold her.”
“I dunno ‘bout this, me lor. I din’t sign up for no rough and tumble. You said as ‘ow ‘Er Grace would go willing like.” The giant absently stroked Robin’s neck while the horse danced nervously.
“You idiot! What sort of business did you honestly think you were hired to do at this time of night? Now come here and hold her while I mount and then you can lift her up.” He turned to Katie and hissed, “Unless you are going to misbehave and I need to tie you up, my dear?”
“I do not think that will be happening,” a low voice said behind them.
It was Jasper’s turn to yelp as he spun them both around.
Dulverton rode out of the dark shadows into a beam of moonlight, his harsh features as hard as a cliff face. “Unhand my wife or I will tear your arm off your body, Staines.”