“Lilly!” he hollered. “Lilly!”
At first, he thought the rider would try to elude him, but then the horse abruptly halted and the rider slid to the ground.
“Lilly!” he called out again and then nearly cried when she turned in his direction.
“Michael!”
It was her.His heart raced. With his eyes locked on the glint of her hair, he urged his horse forward until her shadow took shape.
The clouds moved in just that moment, and the moon lit the field. Beside the horse, on the ground and covered in mud, sat Lilly.
She lifted her arms toward him. “Michael.”
He dismounted his horse in one easy motion.
Not quite believing he’d found her, he forgot about the mud, lost his footing, and fell headlong in the darkness.
Breaking his fall with one arm, he caught hold of her with the other and together they lay in the mud. “Thank God! It is you! Are you hurt?”
She was covered in mud, laughing at him and crying at the same time. Michael ran his hands along her arms and waist, assuring himself she was all in one piece.
She touched his face in wonderment as though assuring herself that he was real. “I’m fine. Oh, Michael! You are here!”
With a surge of intense relief, Michael took her face in hishands and pressed his lips to hers almost violently. His tongue pushed through her lips hungrily as though she were an oasis to a dying man.
She was alive. She was safe!
Lilly grasped the back of his head in her muddied hands and pulled his face closer still. Their teeth gnashed, and she explored his mouth with equal longing.
Abruptly, Michael leaned back and looked into her eyes. “Did he hurt you, my love? I should have killed the bastard!” His eyes burned. He fought back tears of anger and relief.
Lilly, somewhat clumsily, sat up in the mud. “No, I am f-f-fine. When I saw you, I tr-tr-ied to get off my h-h-horse and fell instead!” She began trembling. And then a sob shook her.
Michael wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. Rising to one knee and planting one foot firmly on the ground, he put one arm under her knees and pushed himself to his feet. Careful not to slip again, he placed Lilly upon his horse, in front of the saddle, and then pulled himself up behind her. All the while murmuring soothing words.
The other horse didn’t have a halter, so it was impossible to pull along. Luckily, the mare followed of her own accord. Michael allowed his mount to carefully find his footing as they headed back to the road. Arty met them halfway.
“It is Lady Beauchamp?” he asked in surprise when he realized the duke wasn’t alone.
Michael nodded and indicated they head back toward Reading. “Ride ahead and reserve some rooms at the inn. Then hire a carriage for the trip back to London tomorrow morning.”
“Right,” Arty said, looking stunned that the baroness had managed to get away with no assistance from them whatsoever.
John jumped from his mount and placed a makeshift lead on Lilly’s mare so he could pull her safely behind. But then hiseyes lit up as if a thought occurred to him. “If we traveled back by carriage tonight, Your Grace, you could make it to Westminster Palace in time to vote.”
“No,” Michael said, “Lady Beauchamp needs rest. She’s in shock, I think.”
Michael kept tight hold of Lilly, aching each time he felt a tremor run through her body. “You’re safe now, love,” he murmured, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “We’ve a short ride ahead of us, but we’ll get you cleaned up and tucked into a soft bed as soon as we get to Reading.” He pressed his lips into her hair. “Lean into me, sweetheart. I’ve got you.” He couldn’t believe they had found her. Or that she had found them, rather.
Lilly stirred. “Your vote? Your vote is tomorrow?”
“It’s no matter.” Michael dismissed her concern. “You aren’t up to traveling tonight, and I’m not about to let you out of my sight.” He chuckled ruefully. “This day has taken ten years off my life.”
“Arty!” She sat up so quickly her head knocked him in the chin as she yelled after his driver. “Get the carriage for tonight. Let’s get the duke to London in time for the vote.”
Arty, having turned back when he’d heard her call, merely tipped his hat before resuming his errand.
Aware of the man’s propensity to carry out Lilly’s orders, Michael knew exactly what he’d find when they pulled into Reading. Arty would be awaiting them with a carriage and fresh horses. Night travel was difficult but not impossible. The moon was high and full. With some luck, it justmightbe possible to make the vote.
