Page 72 of The Untamed Heart

“Slow down,” Marcus muttered under his breath, aware the carriage was getting a little too far ahead of them. The hill was steep, which meant it was natural for a driver to take his time around the difficult bends.

“He’s slowing,” Sherry said.

Marcus nodded, relieved. His chest felt tight, a combination of tension and his wound causing his breathing to labour, and he fought to keep it even. Not now. Not today.

They had not far to go, at least. Just a little farther, before the next bend, and Hawkney would pull up and— Out of nowhere, a dog appeared. It exploded from the undergrowth and darted towards the horses, barking and nipping at their legs.

Marcus and Sherry stood stock still, frozen in horror as the offside horse reared and shrieked in alarm, and then the carriage took off.

“Shit!” Sheringham exclaimed.

They ran.

“Hold! Hold, you fools!”

Alex cursed low and viciously under his breath but concentrated on the horses. He could still hear the dog barking frantically, no doubt enjoying the chase. Planting his feet against the box, he held his nerve, allowing the horses to run for a short distance before gathering the reins again.

“Steady, steady now,” he said, holding his breath as a wheel struck a rut and the carriage jerked violently. Lucius would be getting shaken to pieces, but there was nothing he could do about that.

They had already travelled too far. He must get them to stop.

As the dog darted in again, the offside horse tossed its head and kicked out. The dog yelped and, deciding the game had lost its allure, ran off whimpering. The horses still fretted and danced but gradually calmed as Alex brought them back under control.

“Easy, easy there,” he said, bringing them to a halt, and willing his heart to return to normal.

Christ. They were well past the point they had agreed on, which had been entirely isolated. Now they were within sight of the bloody church and—

“Good heavens! Are you all right, sir? Is anyone harmed?”

Alex watched with mounting dismay as Reverend Honeywell ran through the lychgate and hurried towards them.

Staring around them, Alex shook his head and waved at the man.

“Go back—” he muttered under his breath, not daring to shout for fear he could not successfully mimic a lowly carriage driver and would give the game away.

“Is the lady unharmed?” the reverend persisted, hurrying closer, clearly able to see Lucius still wearing the veil, which was somewhat reassuring. Alex looked wildly around, praying Keller had either not taken the bait or had decided not to act.

“Let us find out, shall we?”

Alex froze as he heard the distinct sound of a pistol cocking and then the reverend’s swift intake of breath. He turned in his seat, horrified to see Major Keller—for it could be none but he—with his arm about the reverend’s throat and a pistol against his temple.

Leaping down from the carriage, Alex held out his hands in a peaceful gesture as Keller tightened his grip on the reverend. He looked rough, like he hadn’t slept for several days, let alone shaved. His clothes were rumpled but there was a glittering excitement blazing in his eyes that boded ill. He looked like a man who was enjoying himself.

“Don’t do anything rash now, there’s a good fellow,” he told Alex soothingly. “You don’t want to get mixed up in this business, and I wouldn’t want to put a bullet in you, nor a man of the cloth. I’ve other fish to fry, and if you just turn around and go on your way, no one need get hurt.”

Alex shook his head, praying Marcus and Sheringham weren’t too far behind them.

“Stay or go, I don’t care but interfere and I’ll kill you and the good reverend here,” Keller said, moving closer to the carriage. He wrenched the door open.

“Get out, Miss Foxworthy,” he ordered.

Alex held his breath, startled when a soft, breathy voice emerged from inside.

“I will not, you beast!”

“Now, now, my dear, there’s no point in playing coy. Come out at once. I’ve no intention of doing you any harm.”

“No! I shan’t I—”