Read Online Dark Angel by Tracy Grant - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tracy Grant
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Romance, romantic suspense, Women's Fiction, Regency Romance, adult fiction, Historical Mystery, historical romantic suspense, Dark Angel, tasha alexander, lauren willig, vienna waltz, rightfully his, loretta chase, imperial scandal, beneath a silent moon, deanna raybourn, the mask of night, malcom and suzanne rannoch historical mysteries, josephine, cheryl bolen, his spanish bride, liz carlyle, melanie and charles fraiser, m. louisa locke, elizabeth bailey, shadows of the heart, anna wylde, robyn carr, daughter of the game, shores of desire, carol r. carr, teresa grant, the paris affair
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there, with a pond and ducks."
"Is Lisbon very far off?" asked the younger of Adela's two daughters who Adam had heard called Beatriz.
"Very," Emily said.
"Farther even than Palencia?" the boy asked.
"Lots farther," his eldest sister told him. "It's in Portugal." She paused, then added, "There aren't any French there."
Beatriz reached for some more bread, but hesitated and glanced at her mother. Adela nodded and the child broke off a small piece. "Perhaps sometime we can come and visit you," Beatriz said.
"Maybe." Emily appeared pleased at this prospect. "But we won't be in Lisbon. We'll be in England." Her brow furrowed. "I don't remember England."
Adam looked down at her, wondering how old she had been when Caroline took her to Lisbon and why Caroline had gone to Lisbon at all instead of staying comfortably with her husband's family. Five years ago, she had not seemed a woman who would follow her husband to the ends of the earth. And yet, Adam reminded himself, five years ago she had gone to great lengths to protect Jared Rawley.
"Mr. Durward?" Emily plucked at his sleeve. "Are we going to leave soon?"
"As soon as your mother is ready." Adam pushed his chair back and got to his feet, pleased to find that his head did not start spinning. Perhaps hunger really had been responsible for his light-headedness. "I'll see if she needs help carrying her things. Hawkins, when you're finished here, go and see to the horses. Mrs. Rawley and Emily and I will meet you."
"Right you are," said Hawkins. "But if I were you, I'd put your boots on first."
Adam, who had prided himself on having recovered his self-command, realized that he was in his stocking feet. He had a vague memory of asking Hawkins to remove his boots last night. They stood, well brushed, against the wall and his coat was laid out neatly on a nearby chest. His shirt and waistcoat, at least, were buttoned, though they were torn and stained, and his shirt was open at the neck, for his neckcloth was unusable. Adam managed to put the boots on by himself—which ought to go a long way toward convincing Hawkins he was on the mend—shrugged on his coat, and stepped into the street. He doubted Caroline would welcome his help, but the fresh air and exercise would do him good. Besides, he wanted to avoid arguing with Hawkins about whether or not he was fit to travel. And he wanted to see Caroline. She had agreed to come with him and she had told Emily they were leaving, but an irrational part of him still feared she would slip away.
Though the air was cold, the sky was clear. They would at least begin their journey in dry weather. Judging by the position of the sun, Adam thought it was not much past seven, but the village had come to life long since. Children hurried to and from the well with buckets of water, women carried freshly-baked loaves from the village oven, men and older boys headed for the countryside to gather kindling. Shouts and laughter and greetings split the air. Save for the lingering smell of spilled wine and the sight of villagers repairing broken doors and windows, yesterday's raid might never have been. The villagers had learned to put the past behind them and get on with life. Adam wished he could do the same.
He knocked at the door of Caroline's cottage, then stepped inside when there was no answer. It looked exactly as it had yesterday, save that the light was brighter and a neatly tied bundle stood on the table along with a small garment that appeared to be a child's cloak. Caroline must be in the second room. But when Adam knocked at the door there was again no answer. He hesitated, then pushed the door open.
The second room was smaller than the outer chamber, but was equally empty. It was furnished only with two pallets and a three-legged stool with a chipped bowl on top that must have served as a washstand. Whatever personal items it had once contained would be in the bundle. Caroline had finished her packing and then gone—where? Perhaps
"Is Lisbon very far off?" asked the younger of Adela's two daughters who Adam had heard called Beatriz.
"Very," Emily said.
"Farther even than Palencia?" the boy asked.
"Lots farther," his eldest sister told him. "It's in Portugal." She paused, then added, "There aren't any French there."
Beatriz reached for some more bread, but hesitated and glanced at her mother. Adela nodded and the child broke off a small piece. "Perhaps sometime we can come and visit you," Beatriz said.
"Maybe." Emily appeared pleased at this prospect. "But we won't be in Lisbon. We'll be in England." Her brow furrowed. "I don't remember England."
Adam looked down at her, wondering how old she had been when Caroline took her to Lisbon and why Caroline had gone to Lisbon at all instead of staying comfortably with her husband's family. Five years ago, she had not seemed a woman who would follow her husband to the ends of the earth. And yet, Adam reminded himself, five years ago she had gone to great lengths to protect Jared Rawley.
"Mr. Durward?" Emily plucked at his sleeve. "Are we going to leave soon?"
"As soon as your mother is ready." Adam pushed his chair back and got to his feet, pleased to find that his head did not start spinning. Perhaps hunger really had been responsible for his light-headedness. "I'll see if she needs help carrying her things. Hawkins, when you're finished here, go and see to the horses. Mrs. Rawley and Emily and I will meet you."
"Right you are," said Hawkins. "But if I were you, I'd put your boots on first."
Adam, who had prided himself on having recovered his self-command, realized that he was in his stocking feet. He had a vague memory of asking Hawkins to remove his boots last night. They stood, well brushed, against the wall and his coat was laid out neatly on a nearby chest. His shirt and waistcoat, at least, were buttoned, though they were torn and stained, and his shirt was open at the neck, for his neckcloth was unusable. Adam managed to put the boots on by himself—which ought to go a long way toward convincing Hawkins he was on the mend—shrugged on his coat, and stepped into the street. He doubted Caroline would welcome his help, but the fresh air and exercise would do him good. Besides, he wanted to avoid arguing with Hawkins about whether or not he was fit to travel. And he wanted to see Caroline. She had agreed to come with him and she had told Emily they were leaving, but an irrational part of him still feared she would slip away.
Though the air was cold, the sky was clear. They would at least begin their journey in dry weather. Judging by the position of the sun, Adam thought it was not much past seven, but the village had come to life long since. Children hurried to and from the well with buckets of water, women carried freshly-baked loaves from the village oven, men and older boys headed for the countryside to gather kindling. Shouts and laughter and greetings split the air. Save for the lingering smell of spilled wine and the sight of villagers repairing broken doors and windows, yesterday's raid might never have been. The villagers had learned to put the past behind them and get on with life. Adam wished he could do the same.
He knocked at the door of Caroline's cottage, then stepped inside when there was no answer. It looked exactly as it had yesterday, save that the light was brighter and a neatly tied bundle stood on the table along with a small garment that appeared to be a child's cloak. Caroline must be in the second room. But when Adam knocked at the door there was again no answer. He hesitated, then pushed the door open.
The second room was smaller than the outer chamber, but was equally empty. It was furnished only with two pallets and a three-legged stool with a chipped bowl on top that must have served as a washstand. Whatever personal items it had once contained would be in the bundle. Caroline had finished her packing and then gone—where? Perhaps
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