Page 66 of Hooked

“I need to stay with the horses. I’ll be riding right behind.”

But I didn’t want him riding behind. I wanted him riding inside with me where I could lean into his side and share in his calm. Yet all I could do was nod and let him go.

Sir James climbed into the carriage and shut the door as Marilee sat beside me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and leaning her head against mine. “Did Falstone get there in time?” Fear made her voice tremble. “Did Huckley hurt you?”

In so many ways…yes. But that wasn’t what she was asking. “Falstone has impeccable timing. And incredible skill with the sword.”

Marilee let out a shuddering sigh of relief. “I wanted to come after you right away, but the magistrate said we’d only make it worse. It was Falstone’s idea to go to Norsing and investigate the situation further. We set out as soon as we received word from him about what they had found.”

“Thank you for coming for me.” I let out a sigh, appreciating the gentle rolling movement beneath me and the lack of friction against the back of my legs. “I like your carriage.”

Marilee chuckled, which made me smile. It felt good to smile.

20

When we arrived at Sutton Manor, I straightened, preparing to walk my exhausted body into the house and up to my room.

But the moment the carriage door opened, Falstone’s broad shoulders crowded inside. He reached in, scooping me off the bench and pulling me from the carriage.

“I could walk,” I protested half-heartedly.

“Let me do this for you,” he begged. “Please.”

I relaxed. “If you insist,” I said, and let my head rest on his shoulder. “Thank you for coming to get me, Falstone.”

“I always will.”

My brow furrowed as he climbed the steps and entered the house. It was such a monumental thing to say, but he seemed sincere. “You will?” My question came out in a whisper.

“If you’ll let me.”

I raised my head so I could examine his profile while he climbed the stairs. I wanted to ask what he meant—if he was suggesting that perhaps we would be together always, but I was too worn down and unsure to broach that subject. So instead I settled my head back on his shoulder. “I would,” I said, and we left it at that—a promise of an undefined something between us.

As he ascended up to the servants’ wing, I wondered where Marilee had gone, but that question was answered when we neared my chamber and both Marilee and Emeline came hurrying around the corner from the opposite direction.

I was about to ask Falstone to set me down, but he did so without my prompting, leaving me free to catch Emeline as she fell into my arms, clinging to me with such desperation that I nearly started weeping again. This girl had the biggest, most tender heart.

“All is well, Em. I’m here and I’m safe.”

The tremble in her voice was obvious even though it was muffled by my clothing as she asked, “Will he return?”

No one had to ask whom she referred to.

I swallowed hard, but Falstone answered for me. “No, the magistrate will make sure of that.”

Emeline and I both exhaled in relief. It was good to hear those words and the conviction with which he spoke them. I let it shore up my belief that they were true.

“Come,” Marilee said. “You need to rest, Cecily.”

I allowed both women to flank me and escort me into my small chamber, glancing back to take another look at Falstone and whisper, “Thank you.”

He rested a hand over his heart and bowed his head in response.

***

Over the next few days, Beatrice, Emeline and Marilee all treated me like glass, waiting for me to break. Perhaps I was more fragile, and I was certainly on edge, but their careful handling of me was starting to feel as if it was making things worse, not better.

So it was with utter relief that I came upon Falstone standing in an alcove as I walked down a corridor. His hands were fisted on his hips, his chest puffed out, his chin high as he looked off into the distance. A hero’s pose if I ever saw one.