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ridden down to the village.’
‘Thank you, Foster.’ He took a piece of paper and scanned its contents. Good God! This was excellent news, the missing Miss Roberts had arrived in Martlesham and was staying at The Black Sheep; this meant he wouldn’t have to travel to Kent after all. It also meant that the young woman who was masquerading as a governess could reveal her true self and he could reveal his true feelings. Smiling he turned to Foster.
‘I shall be going out again directly, hand me back my outer garments.’
Pushing the paper into his waistcoat pocket he shrugged back in to his riding coat and jamming his beaver on his head he ran back outside, taking the steps in one bound. Ten minutes later he was astride his horse, Bruno, and cantering through the wood, he didn’t bother to open the five barred gate, he jumped it.
He clattered into the inn and dismounting, tossed his reins to a waiting ostler. He strode into the inn, be met by the landlord.
‘Good morning, sir, this is an unexpected pleasure. Can I be of assistance?’
‘I have come to escort Miss Roberts home, she’s visiting a friend who’s staying on your premises.’
The man scratched his head. ‘I fear you’re mistaken, sir, we have no one staying with us at present, and I’ve not seen Miss Roberts at all today.’
Jonathan felt a cold dread to sweep over him. Something had happened to Cassie, she had left Home Wood just over thirty minutes ago, he had not passed her, had seen no sign of her, so where the hell was she?
He forced a smile to his face, no need to worry the innkeeper or start rumours flashing around the village. ‘I must’ve been mistaken, landlord, thank you for your time.’
He leapt down the steps and into the stable yard, snatching the reins from the ostler, he vaulted back into the saddle and pushed the stallion into a gallop, scattering unwary pedestrians in all directions.
He thundered down the High Street, his dramatic passage sending villagers scurrying for safety. So much for wishing to keep matters quiet, he thought ruefully as he jumped back on to the path. He reined in, looking carefully at the way ahead. There was only one place Cassie could have been waylaid, he decided, at the coppice.
Pushing his horse back into a gallop he raced to the wood. He reined back so sharply the animal was forced back on his hind quarters and almost fell. He jumped down and pulling the reins over the animal’s head shouted, ‘Stay where you are, Bruno.’
He looked around for signs of a recent disturbance. As he had just galloped through, in both directions, it was hard at first tell how many other horses had been this way. Bruno’s large feet were easily recognized, and then he spotted the small and more dainty shape of the mare. He drooped to his knees and next to them were the definite imprint of men’s boots and of another horse. Then he saw something that made his blood run cold.
There was a large stone at the side of the path and as he knelt in the mud he could see quite clearly see the stain of blood, next to it was a dent that could only have been made by a falling body.
Cassie had been abducted, and on the evidence he had before him, she was sorely injured. His eyes narrowed in fury. Whoever had perpetrated this evil deed would not live to speak about it, not if he had his way.
Chapter Seven
Cassie regained consciousness to find herself inside a moving carriage. Her hands were tied behind her back but her feet were still free beneath her skirt. She had lost her hat and her hair was escaping from the bun she’d worn at the nape of her neck. She lay with eyes closed, trying to organise her thoughts. If only her head did not hurt so abominably
She recalled being accosted on the path to the village and then a rough man tipping her out of the saddle, after that a searing pain on her temple and then nothing. The vehicle she was travelling in was moving faster than was wise in the weather conditions.
‘Thank you, Foster.’ He took a piece of paper and scanned its contents. Good God! This was excellent news, the missing Miss Roberts had arrived in Martlesham and was staying at The Black Sheep; this meant he wouldn’t have to travel to Kent after all. It also meant that the young woman who was masquerading as a governess could reveal her true self and he could reveal his true feelings. Smiling he turned to Foster.
‘I shall be going out again directly, hand me back my outer garments.’
Pushing the paper into his waistcoat pocket he shrugged back in to his riding coat and jamming his beaver on his head he ran back outside, taking the steps in one bound. Ten minutes later he was astride his horse, Bruno, and cantering through the wood, he didn’t bother to open the five barred gate, he jumped it.
He clattered into the inn and dismounting, tossed his reins to a waiting ostler. He strode into the inn, be met by the landlord.
‘Good morning, sir, this is an unexpected pleasure. Can I be of assistance?’
‘I have come to escort Miss Roberts home, she’s visiting a friend who’s staying on your premises.’
The man scratched his head. ‘I fear you’re mistaken, sir, we have no one staying with us at present, and I’ve not seen Miss Roberts at all today.’
Jonathan felt a cold dread to sweep over him. Something had happened to Cassie, she had left Home Wood just over thirty minutes ago, he had not passed her, had seen no sign of her, so where the hell was she?
He forced a smile to his face, no need to worry the innkeeper or start rumours flashing around the village. ‘I must’ve been mistaken, landlord, thank you for your time.’
He leapt down the steps and into the stable yard, snatching the reins from the ostler, he vaulted back into the saddle and pushed the stallion into a gallop, scattering unwary pedestrians in all directions.
He thundered down the High Street, his dramatic passage sending villagers scurrying for safety. So much for wishing to keep matters quiet, he thought ruefully as he jumped back on to the path. He reined in, looking carefully at the way ahead. There was only one place Cassie could have been waylaid, he decided, at the coppice.
Pushing his horse back into a gallop he raced to the wood. He reined back so sharply the animal was forced back on his hind quarters and almost fell. He jumped down and pulling the reins over the animal’s head shouted, ‘Stay where you are, Bruno.’
He looked around for signs of a recent disturbance. As he had just galloped through, in both directions, it was hard at first tell how many other horses had been this way. Bruno’s large feet were easily recognized, and then he spotted the small and more dainty shape of the mare. He drooped to his knees and next to them were the definite imprint of men’s boots and of another horse. Then he saw something that made his blood run cold.
There was a large stone at the side of the path and as he knelt in the mud he could see quite clearly see the stain of blood, next to it was a dent that could only have been made by a falling body.
Cassie had been abducted, and on the evidence he had before him, she was sorely injured. His eyes narrowed in fury. Whoever had perpetrated this evil deed would not live to speak about it, not if he had his way.
Chapter Seven
Cassie regained consciousness to find herself inside a moving carriage. Her hands were tied behind her back but her feet were still free beneath her skirt. She had lost her hat and her hair was escaping from the bun she’d worn at the nape of her neck. She lay with eyes closed, trying to organise her thoughts. If only her head did not hurt so abominably
She recalled being accosted on the path to the village and then a rough man tipping her out of the saddle, after that a searing pain on her temple and then nothing. The vehicle she was travelling in was moving faster than was wise in the weather conditions.
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