He stiffened, his carriage becoming rigid. “He committed suicide,” he said after a long pause.
Isabella’s eyes widened. “But why?”
His mouth twisted derisively. “I wish I knew. He was everything the future Earl of Merrick should be. Everyone liked him, he had no enemies. Had a keen voice for politics. Traveled well in society circles. He was…” Merrick broke off, seemingly at a loss as to what to say.
“He was everything I’m not,” he finally said.
Anger radiated from him in volumes. His hands curled tightly around the reins as he stared unseeingly in front of him.
“I’m sorry,” she said around the catch in her throat.
In many ways she and Merrick were alike. They had both lost the only family they had.
He shook his head as if to ward off the painful memories. “Such a waste. He had everything.”
Everything I didn’t.
She heard it as surely as if he had spoken the words aloud. How must it have felt to have been a non-entity in his own family?
She stared ahead as they continued forward. She had no idea what to say, so she remained silent. After a few moments of awkward silence, she turned once more to him.
“How are your feet?” she asked, abruptly changing the subject.
“They are growing numb,” he admitted. “I am keeping them against the horse for warmth, but I am beginning to lose feeling in them.”
“We must be coming upon a village soon,” she said.
“Yes, a few more miles at most. Tynedale isn’t far.”
“We’ll stop there so I may get supplies and boots.”
“What will you use for money?” he asked.
“I have my signet ring.”
Regret filled his face, but she cut him off before he could protest.
“These things will mean nothing if I do not make it back to Leaudor. And it may be our only means of making it.”
He nodded and they continued on.
An hour later, they saw plumes of smoke rising over the treetops. “The town is just over that next hill,” Merrick said, pointing slightly to the north.
“Wait for me on the outskirts,” she directed. “We don’t want to attract any attention by you riding in barefooted. I’ll go in and secure our supplies and meet you back here.”
“I don’t like you going alone,” he said resolutely.
“Give me the pistol. I will be fine.”
He dug the pistol out of his breeches and handed it to her. “Be careful,” he warned. “If you aren’t back in an hour, I am coming after you.”
Chapter Ten
Isabella’s horse picked its way carefully through the edge of the wood and down the hill into the village. As she dismounted and tied her horse in front of a local tavern, she kept careful watch.
Down the dirt street, she saw a few shops, and she made her way to the first. It didn’t appear to have anything in the way of boots, so she continued to the next one.
When she entered the small store, a smiling woman greeted her.
