Before he could investigate, a gust of wind struck them, and Madelyn’s deep-blue cloak fluttered in the wind, blocking his view. Another stronger one knocked her backward, and the ties of her bonnet came loose, sending the thing kiting into the air. She tried to grab it, dropping the reins to do so and twisting around. She missed it, and it struck Corporal Goodfellow before flying past.
“I’ll get it, Colonel,” Goodfellow said, turning his horse and cantering after the bit of female frippery.
In the blink of an eye in which Brynn glanced at Goodfellow and turned back to the gig, Madelyn screamed and Jessop leapt from the gig, rolling into the deep brush beside the road. Brynn’s heart stopped. Blood. Madelyn’s face bled, and it ran down her neck to stain her cloak. She slumped against the back of the seat. The horse pulling the gig ran off toward what the beast must know as the safety of home.
“Goodfellow!” Brynn roared, galloping after the gig. “Get Jessop.”Get him so I can kill him. The animal had a blade of some sort in his belt.
Brynn reached the frightened horse quickly and brought the gig to a stop before leaping to the ground and pulling Madelyn into his arms.
“I told you to stay with Kendrick, you fool woman, but you wouldn’t listen!” he shouted frantically, pulling her cloak aside to examine her for wounds.
She batted his hand away. “It’s my face. My face,” she wailed, leaning into his sheltering arm.
He pulled out his handkerchief with his free hand and wiped at her face, sick inside when she moaned in pain. A gash ran from her temple, halfway down her cheek.
Thanks be to providential grace. He missed her eye. Barely.The gash still bled and appeared deep enough to require stitches. It would leave a scar, he suspected, and grieved for her.
He pressed the cloth firmly against the wound and held it in place, glancing around for Goodfellow. “I need to get you to the hall.”
“Just take me home. Esther can—”
“Don’t be daft. We’re going to the hall. If you had listened to me, this wouldn’t have happened.” He pressed the handkerchief firmly against her wound and put her hand over it. “Hold that tight while I lift you.”
She slumped against the seat, and he climbed in next to her, slipping one arm around her. He briefly considered turning back toward the inn, but the hall was closer and turning the gig on a narrow lane would be difficult.
Goodfellow emerged from the woods, angry as Brynn had ever seen him. “Hides like a rabbit in those woods. Snapped a branch in my face, and I didn’t even see him. He’s gone, Colonel, and the undergrowth is too thick for me to pursue him on a horse. Do you want me to track him on foot?”
“Not alone. He has the advantage. Tie my horse to the gig and follow me to the hall, then ride back for Doctor Farley.”
*
“Where’s Brynn?” Maddyhad lost all patience with overly attentive brothers and punctilious physicians. She attempted to rise, but Farley, Ashmead’s able doctor, set her back in the chair with a gentle but firm hand, and David scowled at her from across the room. Maddy sat in a wing-backed chair in the room at Clarion Hall that had once been hers, a pleasant little refuge David insisted on keeping for her.
“Just a few minutes more, Your Grace,” the physician said, wiping honey along the row of stitches he had put in place along her cheek. “Wretchedly difficult things to bandage, cheeks. You’ll have this lovely band under your chin for a while. Shall I tie a bow on the top of your head?”
Maddy glared at him. “Where is Brynn?” she repeated. She needed him. He had carted her into the hall, setting off chaos and alarm, carried her to her old room led by David, and abandoned her there.
“Sit still and cooperate, Madelyn. You have no one to blame but yourself. Why on earth did you climb into that gig after Morgan had already removed a cache of weapons from that villain’s person?” David had quickly joined the chorus of those chastising her, as had Rob. And Phillip. The pestilential men. Brynn, as enraged as she had ever seen him, had said nothing at all after blaming her on the road. His silence was the worst of it.
She turned her frustration on her brother. “Why? Because he had already been disarmed and bound. But he had hidden another blade of some sort in his waist. He’d have done the same to Eli if I’d stayed with Gideon.”
Farley tied the bandages neatly and smiled down at her. “But Eli Benson’s face isn’t nearly as lovely as yours, Your Grace. No one wants to see perfection marred. I’m sorry I had to stitch it, but I was as delicate as I know how. Keep that covered until I can remove them.”
Maddy snorted at his nonsense. “I know you did, and I’m grateful. Am I likely to have a scar?”
“I fear yes, which has your brothers and admirers in a state.” His kind eyes danced. “I think it may just give you an air of distinction.”
“I’ll bet you tell that to all the victims of knife attacks.” The side of her mouth quirked up at her little joke, but it hurt, and she groaned.
David glowered at her still. “For heaven’s sake, stay still, Madelyn.”
“Where is Brynn?” She returned his scowl.I need to thank him, need to apologize, need…She realized with a jolt she needed to cling to him, her safe haven, until the shock wore off.
“Colonel Morgan took command of the search for Jessop. He sent Eli Benson to Willowbrook for Rob and reinforcements and to The Willow and the Rose for Rhys Morgan.”
Farley packed his valise, preparing to leave.
“Do we need to confine her to her room?” David asked.
