Abubble of laughter rose inLucy’sthroat and escaped.Marybegan to giggle, andAsheseemed confused as he observed the two of them laughing as though he thought them daft.
“Oh,Mary,I’mso glad for you.Thankyou for putting up with everything.Itgives me a most comforting way to look atMr.DirkTenet.”
“Milady,Iwill always be by your side, no matter what.”
Lucyblinked back tears and squeezed her maid’s hand.
Asthe carriage turned onto another road, the way became bumpy.Lucylooked out the window and could see the ruts up ahead.Shehad every faith inMr.Currant.Thiswas a well-traveled road, she reasoned.Butdeep inside, she began to worry she had made a rash decision.Mary’seyes rounded in fear as the carriage hit a large bump.Somehow, they managed it without breaking an axle.
Tenminutes later, as the carriage was gaining speed going down an incline, she felt the carriage drive over an especially deep rut.ThankGodshe’d had the presence of mind to placeAsheback into the warm satchel a few minutes earlier.Instinctively, she clutched the bag tightly to her chest.Acry escapedMaryat the same time as a loud crack echoed around them, followed by a series of metallic, clanking noises as the carriage tilted to one side and began to slide.Thehorses screamed in terror, and she heardMr.Currant’sloud curse before he screamed as well.Anotherloud snap sounded as the carriage broke away from the horses and smashed against a tree, tossing the three of them around in the carriage as it began to slide.Maryscreamed, andLucydid as well, still clutching the small fox against her chest.
OhGod!Thisis it, then.Thisis how it’s going to end.
Whyhad she insisted on leaving under such conditions?
Damn, and blast my silly, stupid pride.
Lucybegan to pray…and then cried out as a warming brick flew through the air and hit her in the head.Thecarriage skid and flipped, and snow, dirt, and debris flew as the carriage slammed into something hard and rolled before rocking back and landing on its side.Onlythe loud groaning of the carriage interrupted the fierce ringing in her ears.Herlast thought was ofRowan’stender eyes as he bent to kiss her before she felt herself slip into cold oblivion.
* * *
Connerspulled back the drapes,revealing a striking sunrise over the snowy grounds ofLathamManor. “Mylord, you asked me to make sure you awoke early.LordLathamhas plans to organize two groups to search for aYulelog this morning.”
“Conners, you interrupted my dream,” he moaned.Rowanwas enjoying the warmth of the bed and the imagined intimacy of his fiancée and didn’t want to leave any of it.Already, his dream ofLucywas beginning to fade.”
“Yes, my lord.Ihave a warm bath ready for you.Bythe way,Ifound this beneath the door.It’saddressed to you.IfIcan be somewhat presumptive, it looks like a lady’s handwriting,” the valet said.
“Howwould you know the difference between a man’s and a woman’s scrawl?”Rowanasked, his words muffled by the pillow he had thrown over his head.Butwhy would he have a missive from a woman?Unlessit wasLucy…Suddenly, he was wide awake, flinging the pillow aside and grabbing the note fromConnor.
DearestRowan,
Iknow you will be angry when you read this, butIfeel strongly about my reasons.Iam releasing you from your obligation.Youare what every woman—even me—wishes to find and be able to call her knight in shining armor.Adream come true.Youare an honorable man, butIcannot allow you to give up your life to marry me.
Bythe time you receive this,Iwill be halfway toLondon.Iknow you are a man of conviction, but please don’t come after me.Itmust be this way.Iwill be content to live the lifeI’vebeen destined to live all along.
Thankyou for helping me discover a part of myself thatIhad buried for so very long.Ishall cherish those two days with you—and they were wonderful.Thankyou for giving me my first kiss.Thekiss of a lifetime.Ishall never forget it.Neverregret it.Ishall keep the memory of our time together in my heart for the rest of my life.
Withaffection,
Lucy
PS.Pleasedon’t worry aboutAshe.Ihave taken him with me and will take good care of him.
Rowancursed.Whatin the blazes was she talking about?Hehad done nothing but think of his good fortune ever since they had decided to marry.Shewas exactly who he needed.Herwit, intelligence, and heart had won him over, not to mention her luscious dark curls, and those gorgeous brandy-colored eyes and that beautiful smile had driven him mad from the first moment he’d lain eyes on her.Evenmore so when she was wearing those damn spectacles.
Ihave to find her.Ihave to.
“Notime for a bath,Conners.Imust go,”Rowansaid, throwing back the covers and bolting out of bed.Hethrew on his breeches and grabbed a shirt.
“Whatabout a cravat?”Connorsasked, holding one up.
“Nodamn cravat!There’sno time, man.Imust findLucy.”
“Idon’t understand, my lord…”
“Sheleft me.”Hecouldn’t lose her.Hejust couldn’t!Justsaying it aloud cut like a knife.
Ashe flung open the door, he came face to face withKatieandSlice,LathamandFrankie, andPaulaandNelson.Theyshoved letters into his hand.
