Read Online Make-Believe Wife by Anne Herries - Free Book Online

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    The fair had spread out over much of the Heath. There were stalls of all kinds and the smells of hot pies and toffee apples were mouth watering. A man on stilts was walking through the crowds, telling people to visit the bearded lady and the dog with two heads, as well as to watch the wrestling match and the bowling for a pig. Luke paid to try his hand at the shooting range, but his shots went astray and he made a sound of annoyance.
    â€˜I am sure the barrel is not straight. I will have one more attempt. Walk a little further and I shall catch you up in a moment.’
    Roxanne smiled and left him, feeling amused thathe was so determined to win her a fairing. She would not go too far, but wander around the stalls, which sold all manner of pretty trifles. She would have liked to buy a small gift for Luke, but her few pennies would not stretch far and she was afraid to spend them in case she needed them.
    She stood for a moment watching a man swallowing a sword and juggling with fire. Then, feeling a tingling at the nape of her neck, she glanced to her left where a group of men were standing haggling over horses and a shiver went down her spine. A man with black hair and a swarthy complexion was looking at her. She knew him at once and felt the fear sweep through her. How unfortunate that he should be at the fair! If he came to her and demanded she return with him, he might force her to go.
    She had to return to Luke! Yet if she did so, she might bring trouble on him; his leg was better than when he fell, but she knew it still pained him. Perhaps she could lose Black Bob in the crowd. Turning away, she began to walk hastily back the way she had come, but almost immediately collided with a man. He put out his hands to steady her.
    â€˜Whoa,’ he said and laughed as she gave a cry of alarm. ‘Where are you going in such a hurry, Roxanne? Were you running away from me?’
    â€˜Not from you.’ Roxanne breathed a sigh of relief as she looked up at Luke’s teasing smile. ‘I saw someone I did not wish to meet.’
    â€˜The man you ran away from after Sofia died?’
    â€˜Yes.’ Roxanne drew a deep breath. She glancedback and saw that Black Bob had followed her but now he was hesitating, looking uncertain. ‘Please give me your arm. He is watching us. I was afraid he might try to grab me; but he did not expect to see you. If you seem to be a friend, he may think he was mistaken.’
    Luke offered his arm and she took it, her hand trembling slightly. He glanced down, a frown on his face. ‘You are afraid of him, aren’t you?’ She nodded. ‘Damn the fellow. Shall I thrash him for you?’
    â€˜No, please do not try. He was stronger than all the other men—and you are injured.’ She glanced down at his tight-fitting breeches and long, highly polished boots. ‘Is your leg better?’
    â€˜Much. My doctor bound it and instructed me to rest, which I have as much as I could bear. I have an ache now, but the sharp pain has gone. It was a dislocation after all and not the break I feared—so it seems our rustic physician knew his trade. My own doctor had nothing but praise for his work.’
    â€˜I did not doubt it, but you were in such pain afterwards that I feared he might have done some damage.’
    â€˜My physician told me I was lucky. Had the fellow not acted as he did, I might have had an infection in the leg and been far worse. I might even have lost the use of it. However, I fear I made too much fuss of a slight thing.’
    â€˜I am sure you did not. Do you think Black Bob is following us?’
    Luke glanced back. ‘I believe he has gone. He will have realised he was mistaken or given up, I dare say.’
    â€˜Yes, perhaps.’ Roxanne caught her bottom lipbetween her teeth. Luke’s timely appearance might have put him off for the moment, but it would not stop him if their paths crossed again. ‘I do not