Page 52

“Hmm, we shall see.”

“I mean it, my lord. I must insist.”

“Do you know your eyes turn almost indigo when you are peeved?”

“Nonsense.” What rubbish.

“If you say so.”

He glanced out the window and tensed. Alarm tightened his features. Grabbing the door, he leaned forward, swearing beneath his breath. He banged on the roof and shouted, “Simmons. To Briar Knoll. As fast as the team can go.”

The carriage lurched forward, the powerful team of four racing over the track, and she nearly toppled from the seat.

“What’s wrong?” Dread spinning her stomach, she scooted to the edge of the seat.

A dismayed cry ripped from her throat.

“No! No!”

Flames frolicked atop the cottage’s peaked roof as Simon and what looked to be Dockery stood by. Tethered in the orchard, a pair of horses, heads raised and tails swishing nervously, shifted as they too watched the spreading fire.

Time crept along, each second stretching on and on before the carriage careened to a stop. Eden didn’t wait for Chester to open the door or for the driver to lower the steps. She jumped to the ground, despair clogging her throat as she dashed to her brother.

She grabbed his arm, forcing him to face her.

“Simon. What have you done? We had a day left. Why would you do this?”

His glance held a modicum of pity. “You’d obviously vacated already. I told you’d I’d burn anything left.”

“But I’ve been ill, and I didn’t have a chance to make sure everything of importance was taken.”

Her whole life, every memory, every celebration and milestone had occurred in the quaint cottage. He’d callously torched the only home she’d ever known. It was like losing a dear friend.

She stumbled forward a few steps, shaking her head. “Why burn the cottage? You could’ve let it to someone else.”

Especially since she suspected he was short on funds

He cupped his nape. “I don’t want the expense of repairing it, nor do I want to have to pay the taxes on the crumbling heap.”

Or didn’t want to risk she and Mama finding a means to return?

Lord Sterling came up beside her, and grasping her elbow, gently urged her away.

“There’s naught we can do now, Eden. Come. Move away. It’s not safe.” The urgency in his gentle voice penetrated her shock, and as if drugged, she managed a slow nod.

“So, it’s Eden now is it?” Simon’s smirk implied all that he didn’t say. “Dockery mentioned he’d seen you at Perygrim.”

“Then he was trespassing, because I dismissed the cur for theft.” Vehemence replaced the gentleness in Chester’s voice.

Dockery quelled under the scorching glare Chester leveled him.

She gathered from his rapt regard, the churl suddenly found the contorting shadows on the ground fascinating.

Chester whirled to the driver. “Go to Perygrim for help.”

“Yes, sir.” In a flash, Simmons vaulted into the driver’s seat and set the team charging to the great house.

Not that it would do any good.