Page 75 of Courting the Country Miss

He met her gaze. A new intensity she’d never seen in him overtook his features. “I know you think I’m a wastrel, Tish, but I—”

She put a finger over his lips. “Shhh. I think you’re a good man who’s a little lost.”

His eyes shifted back and forth as if searching for something. “I don’t think I’m lost anymore. I know what I want; I want my life to count for something, to have meaning.”

She smiled. Perhaps he truly walked the path to finding himself, after all. “I know you do.”

“Have faith in me, Tish.”

“I always have.”

The color drained out of his face and he slumped over again.

She put a hand on his back. “Come. Let’s get you back home.”

He lifted his head. “I wanted to see the school now that it’s open.”

“Another day. Did you come in a hackney?”

“My horse is outside.”

With his pallid skin and wilting posture, he didn’t look strong enough to ride a horse. “Wait here.” She found the school caretaker and asked him to hail a hackney. When she returned to Tristan, he had nearly folded in half. “Come, there’s a hackney outside.”

He didn’t resist as she helped him stand and put an arm around her. She snatched up her pelisse and reticule on the way out. Outside, she instructed the boy tending his horse to tie it to the back of the hackney. Though she ought to put Tristan inside and send him off alone, Leticia climbed in with him. Surely no one would know if she had taken a short ride in a closed carriage with him. Besides, this was Tristan; he was like a brother to her.

Tristan gave his direction to the jarvey and then leaned back against the seat with his eyes closed and his mouth drawn in pain.

Leticia pursed her lips. “You overdid it. You need to pace yourself.”

“Don’t scold. I wanted to see the school. And you. Maybe I should move back in with Richard and Elizabeth so you can visit me again.” His gaze slid her way.

“You probably should have stayed with them until your recovery is complete.”

“Yes, I should have, for more than one reason. Will you visit me if I do?”

“Technically, a lady never calls on a gentleman, but yes, I’ll come visit Elizabeth if you wish while you’re there.”

Smiling, he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “I can live with that. I’ll call on you, too.”

What he meant by that, she refused to guess. After seeing him home, she returned to the school. The children had already gone. Upon completing her paperwork, she bade Mrs. Harper a good day and stepped outside.

A dark figure leaped out of the long shadows. He grabbed her arm and put a knife to her throat. Leticia’s cry of alarm choked her.

“No one wants yer school, ducks,” he hissed. “It ain’t righ’, teaching girls t’ read. Shut it down or I’ll do it myself, got it?” Eyes blazed underneath a hat drawn low over his face.

“Wh-who are you?” she managed through terrified gasps.

“Close the school, ya ’ear me?” The knife pressed against her neck.

Frantic, she nodded.

He removed the knife and slipped away. Leticia’s legs wobbled. She staggered back inside and shut the front door. Her knees buckled and she slid down to a seated position. With her hand over her eyes and her back against the door, she sat gasping while her heart thundered in her ears. She couldn’t think or move. Focusing on breathing, she sat until Mrs. Harper found her.

“Miss Wentworth!” Footsteps and rustling skirts hurried toward her. “Are you feeling poorly?” Mrs. Harper asked.

Did she dare tell her? It might have been an idle threat. If that were the case, Leticia would worry Mrs. Harper for no good reason.

Leticia moistened her lips. “I got set upon…by a thief.” Her fright crashed down on her, the reality of her peril and own vulnerability. A sob burst out of her.