“Give me a leg up, please,” she repeated, a hint of annoyance spreading through her airy voice.
Justin was not used to taking orders from ladies, but he was half sure this was a mirage or some kind of drawn-out dream, so he obliged her. Taking her delicate shin in his rough hand, he hoisted her up into the saddle. She landed gracefully, but winced again.
“Please, miss, let me escort you back—”
“Thank you for your help,” she said, interrupting him. Then, with a flick of the reins she’d spun the horse around and taken off back the way she came, her hair streaming behind her like a tangled banner.
Chapter Four
Every roll ofBrutus’s great stride was agony. Cordelia bit her lip, tasting the rusty tang of blood in her mouth. Fisting her hands into the horse’s thick mane she urged him on faster, though she feared it might choke the air right out of her lungs.
A few farm workers stopped their work to regard her, and she knew how strange she must have looked, riding the late duke’s hell creature on a placid April afternoon while dressed in tattered old clothing. Reaching up with one hand, she pushed the tricorne down harder on her head, but she could feel the snarled mass of curls thumping against her back. She’d not had time to braid her hair before she set off.
Cordelia wanted to cry out in relief when she saw Hollyhead revealing itself from behind green hills. A few sheep baa’d in protest and jumped out of the way as she kicked Brutus on to the last home stretch.
“Easy! Easy there, maid!” Sam shouted as she galloped into the stable yard. He held his gnarled hands up as she reined Brutus in.
“Help me down,” she breathed out, barely holding back the tears that were threatening.
“Of course, maid,” he said, holding out his hands for her to grip.
Cordelia felt a sob burst from her chest as she hit the ground.
“Hurry up, boy. Come and walk this horse!” Sam shouted to his small assistant. A pimply thirteen-year-old came to soothe the black charger, sliding the saddle off its steaming back and walking him around the yard.
“What ’appened to ye?” Sam asked, eyeing her up and down.
“Took a bad fall, Sam. The road was washed out around Beggar’s Hollow,” she said. “But Brutus wasn’t injured,” she tacked on hurriedly as Sam’s eyes widened.
“Bless ye, maid, it’s not that old demon I’m worried about,” he said. “I’ll get Mrs. Norris to fetch the doctor.”
“No!” she shouted, loudly enough for it to echo off the walls of the stable. Brutus neighed in response.
“Ye may have cracked some ribs,” Sam protested, folding his arms across his hulking chest.
Cordelia feigned a smile, though tears were now running freely down her cheeks. She brushed them away quickly, steadying herself. “Oh, Sam, do you think I’d be able to ride if my ribs were cracked?” she asked. She attempted a laugh but then sucked in a sharp breath at the pain. Pinpricks swam in her vision. “I must be going. Not a word to Mrs. Norris!”
Sam shook his white head, looking displeased, but not enough that he’d tattle on her. Cordelia kicked off her muddy boots before entering through a servants’ door. One of the staff cried out as she entered the door, but Cordelia held her index finger to her lips.
“Oh! I’m sorry, Lady Cordelia. I didn’t know it was you!” she said, holding a hand over her chest.
“Let me through the back entrance, Dolly?” Cordelia asked, depositing her hat on the kitchen table.
Dolly hesitated for a moment, regarding her with a curious expression. “Yes, my lady.”
Cordelia mopped her cheeks and brow, steeling herself for the last bit of walking before she could collapse intoher featherbed. She and Dolly skirted through the servants’ quarters, ducking around a pillar to dodge Mrs. Norris. Finally, they arrived in front of her door.
“Dolly, would you kindly prepare me a pitcher of warm water?”
Dolly bowed her head in assent.
“And please don’t tell anyone about what I’m wearing,” Cordelia added, knowing full well it would be the topic of conversation in the kitchen for the next while, until the duke arrived, at least.
“Of course, my lady, you can trust Dolly,” she said with a wink.
Cordelia opened the door to her room, slipping behind it and shutting it as softly as she could manage. As soon as the lock clicked shut, it was as though her legs turned to jelly. She slid down to the floor, closing her eyes and leaning her head against the smooth grain of the wood.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
