Chasing the Heiress Read Free Page B

had seemed preoccupied, almost as if he wished not to be noticed, keeping to himself rather than joking with the other stablemen as he typically did. Had they given up on finding her? Certainly no one would expect her to be so close. After all this time, she had hoped that they would have moved the search to London by now. She watched, heart pounding, until he mounted a horse and rode away.
    Garrulous Mary noticed all the men in the stable yard, and it was easy to learn anything she noticed. Ox hadn’t spoken to any at the inn, save for calling for a new horse. He hadn’t even haggled over the price, Mary had added with surprise.
    Lucy placed the last dish in the drying rack. She let the water drain from the sink as she wiped her hands on a rag. Perhaps she should stay another week.
    From the hook beside the garden door, she lifted a long black knit shawl Nell had loaned her for her evening walks in the kitchen garden and wrapped it around her shoulders.
    Behind her, she could hear raised voices and shouts coming from the dining hall. Footsteps ran toward the kitchen. Alarmed, she stepped outside, pulling the door quietly shut behind her. She put her ear to the door, hearing muttered curses, and the kitchen being searched. She pulled the shawl over her head and slipped to the side a few feet—into a darkened corner where the garden wall met the house. There a trellis covered with roses climbed the face of the wall, creating a small declivity where she could step out of sight. She had found it weeks ago when she’d examined the house and yard, looking for places to hide should she need them.
    The door opened, the light from the kitchen creating a tall shadow on the ground. She remained very still.
    â€œLucy!” One of Nell’s sons called into the garden from inside the house. “Lucy! Alice!”
    She did not move or answer. She would not show herself until she knew why she was wanted and by whom.
    â€œWhat are you doing, boy?” Alice’s voice joined Ned’s. “Lucy’s done for the night. Leave her be.”
    â€œB-b-but there’s a duke in the yard. His carriage was attacked by highwaymen,” Ned stammered. “Ma said to find you and Lucy.”
    Not Ox or her cousin. She stepped out from beneath the roses and returned to the kitchen, as if responding to Ned’s call. If there were wounded, she might be of use.
    * * *
    â€œOh, my, oh my.” The innkeeper paled when he opened the door of the carriage to see Colin sitting on its floor, cradling the body of a woman covered in blood and in labor. “My wife, Your Grace, we need my wife.” Flustered, the innkeeper shut the door.
    The door opened again immediately. This time, a round-faced woman with kind eyes who was clearly used to taking control when others hesitated silently assessed Marietta and Colin for a moment.
    â€œI’m Mrs. Newford, Your Grace. Nell, you may call me. You needn’t worry. We can care for you and your lady.” Then she turned to issue instructions to her husband and the servants behind her.
    And Mrs. Newford was right. Within minutes, she had helped Colin out of the coach, wrapped Marietta in a cloak to keep her arm from moving too much, and transferred the wounded princess carefully to a litter.
    Colin had not interfered, admiring the skill with which Mrs. Newford marshaled her troops. Wellington would have done well to have had her as one of his adjutants.
    The boys—Nell’s sons—carried Marietta’s litter not into the inn itself, but into an adjoining two-story lodge sharing the rear courtyard. Unlocking the main door, Mr. Newford revealed a hall with six doors. “Three rooms en suite on each side. Two bedrooms joined in the middle by a sitting room. And the same upstairs.”
    His round-faced wife hurried in ahead, opening the door of the first room on the right and motioning her sons to place the litter on the bed. A maid with black hair