Lie by Moonlight Read Free Page B

felt for the brute into the words.
    She had disliked Rimpton on sight. There had been no mistaking the lecherous manner in which he had looked at the girls.
    â€œYou’re up to some trick,” Rimpton said.
    â€œHannah?” Concordia said, not taking her eyes off Rimpton.
    â€œY-yes, Miss Glade?”
    â€œKindly demonstrate Araminta’s response to Lockheart’s surprising revelation in Sherwood Crossing. ”
    Rimpton’s heavy face screwed into a confused knot. “What the bloody hell—?”
    But Hannah had already taken the invisible stage. She launched herself wholeheartedly into the role of Araminta, the heroine of the sensation novel she had finished reading the week before.
    Uttering a choked cry of anguish and despair, she crumpled to the ground in a perfectly executed swoon that would have done credit to the most talented actress.
    Startled, Rimpton swung his big head around to peer at the fallen girl. “What’s that silly little bitch think she’s about? I’ve had enough of this nonsense.”
    â€œNot quite,” Concordia muttered.
    She swung the unlit lantern with all her might. The heavy base crashed violently against the back of Rimpton’s skull. Glass crackled and splintered.
    Stunned, Rimpton sagged to his knees. Incredibly, he still gripped the revolver.
    He was only dazed, Concordia realized, not unconscious. She watched in horror as he tried to regain his feet.
    Frantic, she raised the lantern and brought it crashing down a second time, putting everything she had into the blow.
    Rimpton uttered a strange grunt and fell flat on his face. He did not move. The gun clattered on the stones. There was enough light to see the dark wetness seeping heavily from the wound and pooling around his head.
    There was an instant of shocked silence. Then Hannah scrambled awkwardly erect and picked up her bundle. She and the other girls stared at Rimpton, stricken with the effects of the sudden violence.
    â€œCome along,” Concordia said, fighting to sound cool and in control. Her fingers trembled in a very annoying fashion when she bent down to scoop up the gun that Rimpton had dropped. “We are close to the stables. Hannah, that was a very effective piece of acting.”
    â€œThank you, Miss Glade.” Hannah spoke automatically. She seemed unable to take her eyes off the fallen Rimpton. “Is he . . . is he dead?”
    â€œHe looks dead,” Phoebe whispered.
    â€œServes him right,” Edwina said with a surprising show of satisfaction. “He and his friend Mr. Bonner were the two who took Miss Bartlett away. We told you that they did something dreadful to her. Everyone said she’d gone back to London on the train, but she would never have left her new gloves behind the way she did.”
    â€œThis way, ladies,” Concordia said. She no longer doubted the girls’ theory concerning the disappearance of her predecessor at the castle. “Stay close.”
    Her crisp instructions had the effect of freeing the girls from themorbid spell cast by the too-quiet Rimpton. Hurriedly, they regrouped behind her.
    She guided them through the shadows, tensely aware that the most difficult part of The Plan lay ahead. The task of getting the horses tacked up in the dark was not going to be easy, although she had made everyone practice the maneuvers many times.
    Crocker, the man in charge of the stables, had shrugged and shown little interest when she told him that the girls must be allowed to ride regularly as part of their exercise program. There had been no proper sidesaddles available, but Crocker, after some prodding, managed to produce three worn farmers’ saddles and bridles to go with them.
    The only horses on the castle grounds were the sturdy, patient beasts used to provide transportation to the village and to haul supplies.
    Fortunately, Edwina and Theodora had been raised on a wealthy estate. They had learned to