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precocious eyes in the shadows.” And then he’d tilted her chin up and winked at her. “Word of advice, moppet. Grow up a few years before you steal off for an innocent kiss or two at parties.”
“With you?”
He’d laughed. “Doubt I can wait that long to settle down, but you never know.” And then he’d strolled off, never realizing the profound effect he’d had on her.
He was no longer the heir to Edgewood. He was certainly no longer the charmer. And she didn’t doubt that decency was now far beyond his capabilities. But he obviously knew how to get things done, or he wouldn’t have such a glowing reputation as The Raven.
He finally came out—already mounted on his stallion! What a sinister picture the two of them made, black stallion, Sebastian in a black greatcoat, man and horse on the steps of those ruins, crumbling stones all around them, a cloud-laden dawn sky behind them. A shiver passed down Margaret’s back.
She must be mad to associate with him at all. He simply wasn’t the man he used to be, wasn’t the man she’d pictured when she set out to find him. What the devil was she getting herself into?
Sebastian walked his horse slowly to the coach, drew abreast of the window, which she opened.
He had no luggage attached to his mount either. Maybe he was still going to order her to leave.
She held her breath, waiting for all her doubts to be abruptly realized. He raised a brow at her.
Was her face turning blue? she wondered. She let her breath out in a whoosh, which he surely heard.
She even detected a smirk in his tone when he said, “Afraid I wouldn’t meet you in town?” There was no point in denying it. “Actually—that did occur to me.” He stared at her for a long moment before he sighed and said, “Given our brief conversation, I will allow that you had no way to know that once I accept a job I will see it through to the end.”
“So you were about to head into town?”
“Yes.”
“Well, then, be glad I’ve saved you the trouble,” she said pertly, and then she recollected her manners and introduced Edna to him, who was quite wide-eyed with her first sight of him. “And my driver, Oliver, is Edna’s husband. If you have any luggage you want to put on the coach, Oliver can help you.”
He shook his head. “My caretaker transported what we’re taking with us to Le Havre yesterday.” She was surprised. So he’d had no second thoughts?
Before he could change his mind, she suggested, “Shall we be off? If we hurry, we can possibly catch ship by this afternoon.”
“Highly doubtful,” he replied, the smirk back in his tone. “But as you wish.” He turned his horse about and took off down the road, with John and Timothy close behind him.
Margaret took a moment to deal with her maid’s amazement.
“You can close your mouth now, Edna.”
The older woman humphed to cover her blush. “Goodness, I never would have recognized him.
And I hope I was just imagining that dangerous air about him.” Margaret sighed. “It wasn’t your imagination, but his intimidating manner is to be expected, considering the profession he took up. Just keep in mind he’s still Sebastian Townshend.”
“Yes, there is his impeccable lineage, and he’s quite handsome, too. Or didn’t you notice that?” Margaret would have to be blind to not notice that, but she pretended not to hear Edna’s question and focused on the view out the window. Oliver had to crack his whip a few times to keep up with the trio as the morning wore on.
It was a bumpy ride for the most part. The roads, which had been exceptionally good throughout most of France, weren’t well maintained in this area, at least not until they reached the main road to Le Havre.
But they were in luck when they arrived at the docks of the old harbor on the northern coast of France. One ship was late departing because its crew had had a bit too much fun carousing the night before. They’d lost their passenger list, too,
“With you?”
He’d laughed. “Doubt I can wait that long to settle down, but you never know.” And then he’d strolled off, never realizing the profound effect he’d had on her.
He was no longer the heir to Edgewood. He was certainly no longer the charmer. And she didn’t doubt that decency was now far beyond his capabilities. But he obviously knew how to get things done, or he wouldn’t have such a glowing reputation as The Raven.
He finally came out—already mounted on his stallion! What a sinister picture the two of them made, black stallion, Sebastian in a black greatcoat, man and horse on the steps of those ruins, crumbling stones all around them, a cloud-laden dawn sky behind them. A shiver passed down Margaret’s back.
She must be mad to associate with him at all. He simply wasn’t the man he used to be, wasn’t the man she’d pictured when she set out to find him. What the devil was she getting herself into?
Sebastian walked his horse slowly to the coach, drew abreast of the window, which she opened.
He had no luggage attached to his mount either. Maybe he was still going to order her to leave.
She held her breath, waiting for all her doubts to be abruptly realized. He raised a brow at her.
Was her face turning blue? she wondered. She let her breath out in a whoosh, which he surely heard.
She even detected a smirk in his tone when he said, “Afraid I wouldn’t meet you in town?” There was no point in denying it. “Actually—that did occur to me.” He stared at her for a long moment before he sighed and said, “Given our brief conversation, I will allow that you had no way to know that once I accept a job I will see it through to the end.”
“So you were about to head into town?”
“Yes.”
“Well, then, be glad I’ve saved you the trouble,” she said pertly, and then she recollected her manners and introduced Edna to him, who was quite wide-eyed with her first sight of him. “And my driver, Oliver, is Edna’s husband. If you have any luggage you want to put on the coach, Oliver can help you.”
He shook his head. “My caretaker transported what we’re taking with us to Le Havre yesterday.” She was surprised. So he’d had no second thoughts?
Before he could change his mind, she suggested, “Shall we be off? If we hurry, we can possibly catch ship by this afternoon.”
“Highly doubtful,” he replied, the smirk back in his tone. “But as you wish.” He turned his horse about and took off down the road, with John and Timothy close behind him.
Margaret took a moment to deal with her maid’s amazement.
“You can close your mouth now, Edna.”
The older woman humphed to cover her blush. “Goodness, I never would have recognized him.
And I hope I was just imagining that dangerous air about him.” Margaret sighed. “It wasn’t your imagination, but his intimidating manner is to be expected, considering the profession he took up. Just keep in mind he’s still Sebastian Townshend.”
“Yes, there is his impeccable lineage, and he’s quite handsome, too. Or didn’t you notice that?” Margaret would have to be blind to not notice that, but she pretended not to hear Edna’s question and focused on the view out the window. Oliver had to crack his whip a few times to keep up with the trio as the morning wore on.
It was a bumpy ride for the most part. The roads, which had been exceptionally good throughout most of France, weren’t well maintained in this area, at least not until they reached the main road to Le Havre.
But they were in luck when they arrived at the docks of the old harbor on the northern coast of France. One ship was late departing because its crew had had a bit too much fun carousing the night before. They’d lost their passenger list, too,
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