“Tell me again what our contact told us,” James instructed as he continued to watch his target.
The captain nodded. “Mr. Silva was taken to a local workhouse, where he has been recovering from his injuries. However, there is some talk as to whether he will live or not, due to some internal injuries. If that is the case, Big B could be charged with murder.”
James couldn’t keep from laughing. “I couldn’t have planned it better myself. That bastard will rue the day he ran from me, and I’ll be there to cheer from the gallows when he hangs.” He nodded toward Eversleigh House. “And now that Lord Eversleigh’s mother and sister have returned, the rest will move along quite nicely. If all goes well, we shall be heading back to Brazil within the week a bit heftier in the purse.” His eyes glittered evilly. “As you well know, I don’t suffer fools easily.”
Suddenly, James sat up and narrowed his eyes, before he started to bark orders at Greeves. “That’s our signal. Get ready to follow them!”
The captain instantly scrambled out of the carriage and struggled to climb back into the driver’s seat.
As they jerked into motion, James scowled as his captive began to whimper. He pulled forth a familiar brown bottle and poured the laudanum down her throat. “Soon, my dear, you should be reunited with your loving family…”
* * *
Eversleigh Hall
An hour after Roarke had stormed out of the Grand Hall there was a brief knock at Mara’s chamber door. She walked across the room to admit a footman who held a silver salver in his hand with a folded letter on top. “I was told by his lordship to wait for a reply.”
Curious, Mara broke the seal and read.
I recall how much you used to enjoy riding and thought perhaps you might join me for a brief excursion down memory lane. If you are so inclined, I will make sure one of Margaret’s old habits is brought to you straightaway. While it might be a bit outdated and slightly dusty from being in a trunk in the attic, it should serve our purpose well enough.
—R
Mara hesitated only a moment, before she said, “You may tell Lord Eversleigh that I will join him shortly.”
The servant bowed and took his leave, only to admit one of the housemaids a brief time later with the promised dress, along with a straw bonnet. She had a feeling Roarke had ordered it to be collected long before now, in the hopes that she would agree to his offer. And while she knew it would be best to refuse anything that might endear herself to him any further, or cause additional turmoil, she found the excitement of being on a horse again too tempting to pass up.
The blue velvet habit was a bit long and a bit too large, but as he’d said, it would do well enough. After Mara set the bonnet on her head and tied a neat bow under her chin, she descended the stairs. She didn’t have any boots, forced to wear slippers, but she supposed one had to make allowances when forced to rely on the charity of others.
Roarke was waiting for her at the base of the stairs, leaning negligently against one of the newel posts. He wore a long, black greatcoat that reached his ankles, and when he turned at the sound of her approach, his sandy hair fell over his forehead, making his disheveled appearance quite literally steal her breath.
He was wearing a pair of polished Hessians that reached midcalf and combined with the buff breeches above, merely heightened the play of muscles in his thighs. His trim waist was covered with a simple, white cambric shirt, and since he’d eschewed a waistcoat and cravat, she could clearly see his exposed neck and throat, even the small curling hairs on his upper chest that teased her so. If she closed her eyes, she could almost smell the enticing combination of cologne and soap.
She considered running back to her room where it was safe and slamming the door shut behind her, but instead, she took a deep breath and continued on.
He stopped her when she was on the second step so that they were standing at nearly eye level.
“Hello, Miss Smith,” he whispered, then, in all boldness, he leaned forward and gently pressed his mouth to hers in a brief kiss. “In the hopes that you will forgive my boorish behavior from earlier.” He held out an arm. “Shall we be off?”
Mara could do nothing more than nod as he threaded her arm through his and led her outside. The wind was blowing hard enough that she had to hold on to her bonnet, lest it fly off her head. Her skirts whipped about her legs as she walked, and while the late afternoon sky was starting to grow full with heavy clouds, it didn’t appear that there would be a downpour anytime soon.
As they approached the stables, Mr. Edwards led out two horses. One was a gray mare, and he handed those reins to Mara. “This here is Cloudy, much like today,” he winked. “She’s a docile one, so you shouldn’t have any problems handling her if you haven’t ridden in awhile.” In turn, he handed a brown gelding to Roarke. “I know it’s not Aristides, my lord, but Abel is a good one, and he knows the lay of the land.”
“Thank you,” Roarke said with a smile. After giving Mara a helping hand into her sidesaddle, he threw a leg over Abel and urged him into a gentle trot.
Mara noticed that he made sure to keep them both at an even and steady pace until their mounts got used to them. Mr. Edwards had always told her that if you maintained a good accord with an animal, if you treated them with kindness, then they would repay the favor. It seemed Roarke had also taken those teachings to heart, for he didn’t even carry a riding crop, but spoke soothingly to the horse, his voice a deep calming rhythm.
It had always been one of the things Mara admired about Roarke. He never thought himself too grand to heed anyone’s advice, even if it was that of a lowly stable hand. Nor did he mind lending a helping hand if one was ever needed. More than once, she recalled him tossing aside his coat and rolling up his sleeves to help birth a foal or assist a nearby tenant in bringing in their autumn harvest, a fact she was sure his mother still wasn’t aware of.
But Mara knew because she’d rolled her sleeves up right alongside him.
Roarke had always had a special sort of kindness in his soul. It was what caused her to fall in love with him so many years ago—and what drew her to his side even now. He wasn’t like the usual nobility or gentry that she had encountered in her life before coming to Eversleigh Hall, those that felt it was all right to snub those in the lower classes with no consequence to their feelings. But Roarke had always treated her as a human being,and not just some invisible servant hired to wait on his family’s every need.
So if he wanted to offer up an olive branch, who was she to throw it back in his face? After what she’d put him through—putbothof them through—she ought to do her best to make amends. While she had to resist the stronger pull to his side, at least she could make sure they parted on friendly terms in the end. After everything he’d done for her to help find Bentley, and then being so sympathetic to Lily’s plight, she owed him nothing less.
“You’re rather quiet. I hope you’re not regretting coming with me.”
Mara gave him her first genuine and relaxed smile in years. “Not at all. In fact, I was just thinking how nice it is to be back here with you.”
