Two horses emerged from the black shadows of the trees but the figure leading them was not Kennet, it was too tall. The pale moonlight fell on a youth, a stripling dressed in riding clothes and a neat jockey cap. Wolf frowned. There was something familiar about the slender shape, the dainty profile.
‘Grace! What the devil—!’
She cut him off. ‘There is no time to explain. I saw the riding officers approaching the inn. They will be searching here very soon. We must go. There is a horse ferry waiting for us at Woolwich.’
Something blazed through Wolf. He ignored the reins she was holding out to him and dragged her into his arms.
* * *
Grace’s nerves were at full stretch and she was defenceless against the onslaught of his kiss. It was fierce, ruthless and possessive. It promised everything she had dreamed of. Everything she knew she could not have. With a superhuman effort she kept her hands clenched on the reins and resisted the temptation to respond. It was over in an instant. Without a word he threw her up into the saddle and scrambled on to his own horse, wheeling the restive animal towards her.
‘Woolwich, you say?’
She dragged her thoughts back, forcing herself to think. Wolf’s life depended upon her now.
‘Yes. Follow me.’
She headed into the trees. The path was barely discernible, but they reached the other side without mishap and she set her horse at a gallop across the open fields. The trees at their back screened them from the inn and as they crested a ridge she risked a quick glance behind. There were no signs of pursuit so Grace steadied the pace to a canter, avoiding roads and skirting villages until at length they reached a crossroads.
‘You appear to know your way around here very well,’ commented Wolf, as she slowed to a walk.
‘Your brother supplied Kennet with very good directions, which I have committed to memory.’ She looked around, then pointed north. ‘That way, I think. You see the church tower over there? We head for that and it will bring us to a small dock, well away from the arsenal.’
‘There is anarsenalat Woolwich?’ Wolf cursed under his breath. ‘That means the military. It is madness to consider crossing the river at this point.’
‘And thus no one will expect it.’
As she gathered up the reins, ready to ride on, Wolf reached out and caught her arm.
‘Go back, Grace. It’s not too late. Let me go on alone, do not involve yourself with me.’
She shook her head. ‘Iaminvolved, Wolf. There is no going back for me now.’
Wolf’s head was buzzing with questions as she cantered off along the road, but they must wait. For now all he could do was follow. They took a circuitous route around the town and approached the river through a series of narrow lanes.
‘How the devil did my brother find this place?’ he murmured as they rode between two derelict warehouses.
‘I believe you are not the only Arrandale with dubious connections.’ Grace reached into her coat and pulled out a pistol, which she held out to him. ‘You should have this. It is loaded, but I am not familiar with firearms.’
‘You surprise me,’ said Wolf drily. He checked the weapon and carefully put it in his pocket. ‘There is a light ahead. Could it be our ferryman?’
‘It is certainly the signal,’ she said, peering into the darkness.
‘It could be a trap,’ he muttered. ‘Stay here in the shadows.’
She shook her head. ‘We stay together.’
There was a stubborn note in her voice and he decided not to waste time arguing.
‘Very well, but let me go first.’ Wolf touched his heels to the horse’s flanks and led the way towards the swinging light. His eyes darted about and he strained his ears for signs of danger, but there was no one save the ferryman, who silently beckoned them towards the waiting barge.
It took time and patience to persuade the horses to embark, but at last they were tethered securely and there was nothing for the passengers to do but to sit down out of the way while the crew plied their oars and rowed them across the wide expanse of the river. The night air was chill and they wrapped themselves in the thick cloaks that had been strapped to the saddles. They were far enough from the crew to talk without being overheard, and Grace braced herself for the questions she knew Wolf was burning to ask.
‘So why are you here rather than my valet?’
‘He can barely ride.’
‘What? Why the devil didn’t he say so?’
