Anne Ashley Lord Hawkr

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father last night. I suppose he must have mentioned it then.
He spoke highly of Finn, as I remember. Said that he went
everywhere with you.
Having by this time regained control over her temper,
Emily could only wonder at herself for losing it so easily in
the first place. It simply wasn t like her to take a pet over mere
trifles, and behave like some overindulged child who had
been thwarted. Unfortunately she had never experienced the
least reluctance in giving full rein to her feelings when in Se-
bastian s company, and old habits, it seemed, were hard to
break.
Yes, he does, she confirmed, striving to concentrate on
her horses, and ignore the warmth exuding from that powerful
frame too closely positioned beside her in the seat. Grand-
father engaged him shortly after I came to live in his house.
50 Lord Hawkridge s Secret
I must confess I resented it at first, not being allowed to go
out on my own, but I ve grown accustomed, she admitted.
Not that I think his presence is necessary. Nothing ever
happens down here.
That isn t what I ve heard, he countered, swift as a flash.
I understood you came upon a body, lying in the road, not
so very long ago.
Emily didn t attempt to hide her surprise. How on earth
did you discover that? I don t believe Grandfather told you.
I doubt he even recalls the incident.
No, it was Sir George Maynard, as it happens. I believe I
mentioned I called to see him yesterday. When he discovered
I was acquainted with you, it er came up in the conversa-
tion. Sebastian paused to study the delicate profile once more.
It must have been very distressing for you, Em.
It certainly wasn t a pleasant experience, she admitted.
He came stumbling out of Kempton Wood, just a little further
along this road. I thought I d hit him at first, but then I dis-
covered he d been shot.
He wasn t dead, then, when you found him?
No, but he died shortly afterwards. At first Finn thought
it might be a trap, but we didn t see anyone else about. The
man appeared to have sustained a beating before he was shot.
The attack must have occurred sometime before we came
along. None of us heard a firearm being discharged. Emily
drew the curricle to a halt as they arrived at the spot where
the incident occurred. Somehow, though, the poor devil
managed to summon up sufficient strength to get himself as
far as the road. It was just about here.
His lordship took a moment to gaze about him, before
asking, And he didn t give a clue as to his own identity, or
the identity of his assailants?
It was at that moment, as she watched those shrewd grey
eyes continue to scan the woodland off to the left, that it
occurred to Emily that he was betraying an uncommon
Anne Ashley 51
interest, and that perhaps far more lay behind the seemingly
innocent questions than mere idle curiosity. No, he didn t.
Why do you ask?
When finally he returned his attention to her, there was
something oddly disturbing in his gaze. Would it surprise you
to know that I still concern myself about you? If there is a
lawless gang in the area, preying on the occasional hapless
traveller, I shouldn t wish for you to become the next victim.
You are still very& precious to me, Em.
She swallowed in an attempt to rid herself of the painful
ache which had suddenly attacked her throat, and hurriedly
turned her head to stare at the road ahead, lest her expression
betray the depth of feeling she still retained for him. I thank
you for your concern, sir, she said at length, relieved to
discover that her voice at least remained steady, but I think
in this case your anxiety is misplaced. I have not heard of any
other such incidents in the locale in recent months. Besides
which, I do not personally believe that he was set upon by
scoundrels, bent on relieving him of any valuables he might
have been carrying. I strongly suspect that he was killed for
a completely different reason.
Suddenly aware that Charles s phaeton was some distance
ahead, Emily instructed her bays to move off, and they were soon
bowling along at a smart pace, proving to Sebastian that she
could handle the team well, her hands light but in full control.
What makes you suppose that? he enquired, when she
had successfully caught up with their friends and could con-
centrate once more on something other than her horses.
Oh, because of something he said to me before he died,
she answered, having little difficulty in picking up the threads
of their former conversation. It didn t make much sense at
the time, but I m beginning to think that it was some sort of
code.
Sounds mysterious, he declared, as they reached the out-
skirts of the thriving market town.
52 Lord Hawkridge s Secret
Yes, it is rather. He uttered three things before he died
kestrel, raven, 16th at midnight. Ravens Wood just happens
to be the old name for Kempton Wood. It s my belief he
wanted The Kestrel to be in the wood tonight at midnight.
But as I ve no idea who this Kestrel might be, he s destined,
I fear, to miss the assignation.
Yes, so it would seem, he agreed, sounding faintly bored
with the subject now. Ahh! It would appear that Charles has
decided to stop for refreshments at the inn. Shall we be hos-
pitable and join them? Then perhaps you d allow me to take
the ribbons on the return journey?
Nervous, Hawk? she teased, easily relapsing into that
wonderful camaraderie which had existed between them.
I have never been less so, he assured her, smiling in a way
which made her foolish heart lurch painfully. Finn has taught
you well. However, at the risk of sounding pompous, I believe
there are one or two small pointers I can teach you that you
might find of value.
It was some time later, after she had arrived back at her
grandfather s house, and Charles and Sebastian had taken
their leave, that Emily began to dwell upon what had been a
surprisingly enjoyable impromptu visit to Kempton, and once
again began to feel a little suspicious about Sebastian s
interest in what had taken place by the wood two weeks
before. It might, of course, have been nothing more than idle
curiosity, and she didn t doubt that he had been genuinely
sincere when he had voiced concerns for her safety, but even
so she couldn t rid herself of the niggling suspicion that there
had been more to his interrogation than mere inquisitiveness.
Leaving Sarah to pore over the latest fashion journals in the
front parlour, Emily invaded the privacy of her grandfather s
sanctum. She had never made a habit of doing so during the
years she had resided in his house, but it was not totally
unknown for her to sit with him from time to time, quietly
Anne Ashley 53 [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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