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Authors: Susan Gee Heino
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with Mrs. Ashton and pretended to be busy inspecting the horses. It was laughable, really. How had he for one minute thought her to be male? She moved with that supple grace she’d always had, a feminine, feline quality that seduced him right from the start.
He’d not be seduced now, however. He knew her for what she was. His heart was safe from her this time. He suspected, though, that was because he no longer had a heart.
Chapter Five
They accompanied the ladies back to the posting house. Julia wasn’t entirely sure it was wise to return, but most likely their assailant from earlier had gone. If anyone had seen them leave, they certainly would not have expected them to return. She supposed they’d be as safe here as anywhere else, considering she had no idea who was after them.
But what of Sophie? How safe was she? The longer they waited, the farther out of their reach Lindley could carry her. She hoped once Rastmoor had their prisoner turned over to the magistrate and the ladies settled in for the night, they could be off again, unpleasant as it seemed to go riding off into the darkness. Unfortunately, that was not to be the plan.
It was well after eight o’clock now, fully night. The magistrate was not able to attend them yet. They’d been asked to spend the night and meet with him in the morning. Julia had nothing to do but pen up her impatience and be glad for the fact that she and Rastmoor were sitting in a crowded common room. At least here he had little opportunity to confront her about, well, everything.
He would, no doubt, have questions. And they would not be pleasant, she could be sure. Though, she couldn’t blame him for hating her, not really. Heaven knew she’d hated herself plenty over these last years. She’d been foolish and irresponsible, and it cost a man his good name. Moreover, it had cost a good friend her life.
Julia sipped at her warm ale, staring aimlessly at the floor. Rastmoor sat nearby, but neither of them cared to talk. Other patrons in the room laughed and enjoyed themselves around them. Their merriment sounded foreign to Julia’s ears. Then again, she doubted any of these others had just killed a man. Or seen the cold reality of hatred on a lover’s face.
No, she wasn’t much up for conversation.
Their prisoner was being kept safely in the stable, and the two ladies they had rescued were settled upstairs in their room. They were a Mrs. Smith and her young friend, Mrs. Ashton with baby Sam. Julia forgot where they said they were traveling, and really, it didn’t matter much. She and Rastmoor would see the magistrate and then she’d be gone in search of Sophie long before the ladies were up and about tomorrow. Fortunately, though, they would be up and about come tomorrow morning, rather than the alternative that damned highwayman had planned for them.
Julia supposed she looked as morose and depressed as she felt, so naturally she was surprised when a jovial older man came into the room and moved to sit at the table near her. His ruddy face seemed to indicate he’d not necessarily waited until arriving here to refresh himself with spirits of some sort.
“Sorry lot we’ve got in here this evening, isn’t it?” he said.
Julia realized he was speaking to her, so she nodded in polite agreement. He seemed to take that as encouragement for small talk. Indeed, his breath proved her earlier speculation had been accurate.
“I ’spose you’re traveling somewhere?” he asked.
Julia nodded again, wondering why of all the others in the room this man had descended upon her. Probably because everyone else was already engaged in conversation or flirting with the four or five women who appeared to be here for no other reason than to provide friendly conversation—and perhaps a little bit more.
“Coming from something or going to it?” the man asked.
“Pardon me?” she responded.
“Traveling to,” Rastmoor said from his position two chairs away.
“Ah, traveling
He’d not be seduced now, however. He knew her for what she was. His heart was safe from her this time. He suspected, though, that was because he no longer had a heart.
Chapter Five
They accompanied the ladies back to the posting house. Julia wasn’t entirely sure it was wise to return, but most likely their assailant from earlier had gone. If anyone had seen them leave, they certainly would not have expected them to return. She supposed they’d be as safe here as anywhere else, considering she had no idea who was after them.
But what of Sophie? How safe was she? The longer they waited, the farther out of their reach Lindley could carry her. She hoped once Rastmoor had their prisoner turned over to the magistrate and the ladies settled in for the night, they could be off again, unpleasant as it seemed to go riding off into the darkness. Unfortunately, that was not to be the plan.
It was well after eight o’clock now, fully night. The magistrate was not able to attend them yet. They’d been asked to spend the night and meet with him in the morning. Julia had nothing to do but pen up her impatience and be glad for the fact that she and Rastmoor were sitting in a crowded common room. At least here he had little opportunity to confront her about, well, everything.
He would, no doubt, have questions. And they would not be pleasant, she could be sure. Though, she couldn’t blame him for hating her, not really. Heaven knew she’d hated herself plenty over these last years. She’d been foolish and irresponsible, and it cost a man his good name. Moreover, it had cost a good friend her life.
Julia sipped at her warm ale, staring aimlessly at the floor. Rastmoor sat nearby, but neither of them cared to talk. Other patrons in the room laughed and enjoyed themselves around them. Their merriment sounded foreign to Julia’s ears. Then again, she doubted any of these others had just killed a man. Or seen the cold reality of hatred on a lover’s face.
No, she wasn’t much up for conversation.
Their prisoner was being kept safely in the stable, and the two ladies they had rescued were settled upstairs in their room. They were a Mrs. Smith and her young friend, Mrs. Ashton with baby Sam. Julia forgot where they said they were traveling, and really, it didn’t matter much. She and Rastmoor would see the magistrate and then she’d be gone in search of Sophie long before the ladies were up and about tomorrow. Fortunately, though, they would be up and about come tomorrow morning, rather than the alternative that damned highwayman had planned for them.
Julia supposed she looked as morose and depressed as she felt, so naturally she was surprised when a jovial older man came into the room and moved to sit at the table near her. His ruddy face seemed to indicate he’d not necessarily waited until arriving here to refresh himself with spirits of some sort.
“Sorry lot we’ve got in here this evening, isn’t it?” he said.
Julia realized he was speaking to her, so she nodded in polite agreement. He seemed to take that as encouragement for small talk. Indeed, his breath proved her earlier speculation had been accurate.
“I ’spose you’re traveling somewhere?” he asked.
Julia nodded again, wondering why of all the others in the room this man had descended upon her. Probably because everyone else was already engaged in conversation or flirting with the four or five women who appeared to be here for no other reason than to provide friendly conversation—and perhaps a little bit more.
“Coming from something or going to it?” the man asked.
“Pardon me?” she responded.
“Traveling to,” Rastmoor said from his position two chairs away.
“Ah, traveling
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