A School for Unusual Girls by Kathleen Baldwin Page B

cat and leaned out of the window, letting the cool breeze ruffle her hair. “He’s healed from his injuries well enough. I saw him this morning, riding his horse at a bruising pace.”
    Sera’s elfin-like features widened with surprise. “You kept this news to yourself?” Moonlight illuminated her pale blue eyes and made her hair glimmer like spun silver. She pulled Tess back inside the window.
    â€œI’m telling you now.”
    â€œHow near to him did you get? How does he look?”
    We scarcely breathed waiting for Tess to tell us about the man in the golden window. She slumped against the window frame and fidgeted with the fabric of her nightdress. Clearly, she did not wish to tell about the encounter. Finally, she answered, “What do you wish to know? He looks very like his older brother did, except his hair is long and wild.” She shrugged. “One can assume his sole purpose for riding was to exercise the horse, because he wore neither coat nor hat. His shirt was damp with sweat, and he had worked his poor stallion into a lather. There, I have told you all about the infamous Lord Ravencross.”
    â€œWere his features twisted in pain?” Sera asked.
    Tess glanced toward Lord Ravencross’s manor. “Not with pain.”
    She peered sideways at Tess. “Is he badly scarred?”
    â€œNot as much as we’d expected.” Tess shook her head. “There’s a jagged mark across one cheek.”
    Jane lost all patience. “What aren’t you telling us?”
    Tess stiffened. “I meant to spare you. You won’t like it. But if you must insist on knowing…” The edge on her voice softened. “Sera, you ought not waste your pity on him. He’s nothing like the hero you imagine him to be. Lord Ravencross is an angry heartless scoundrel.”
    Sera drew back. “Don’t say such things.”
    â€œWhat’s more, he’s rude.” Tess slid out of the windowsill and paced. Her straight brown hair fell across her cheek as she counted out more of his sins. “He’s callous and unfeeling.” She stopped and looked into each of our amazed faces. “It’s the truth.” Chin in the air she pushed past us and flopped into one of the chairs.
    â€œUnfeeling? Why would you say such things? After everything he’s been through?” Sera tilted her head and squinted at Tess. “Something happened between you, didn’t it?”
    Maya sat beside Tess. “Whatever occurred, it seems to be troubling you. You must tell us.”
    Tess crossed her arms and sank deeper into the chair. “He nearly trampled me to death, that’s what happened.”
    â€œYou were running in the fields again, weren’t you?” Jane chided.
    â€œDon’t fuss at me. You know perfectly well, I have to run,” Tess snapped. “As long as I go early in the morning and no one sees me there’s no harm in it. There’s never anyone out at dawn.”
    â€œApparently, there is,” Jane scoffed.
    â€œI always have that hour to myself. How could I have known we’d cross his paths and I’d startle his horse.”
    â€œOf course not,” Maya soothed.
    â€œWhat about the wolves?” I asked. “How did you keep from being attacked?”
    â€œWolves?” Tess tilted her head quizzically. “Do you mean the dogs?”
    â€œThey don’t look like dogs,” I said, remembering their yellow eyes.
    She shrugged. “I suppose they might be wolves, but—”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. Either way, they would never hurt Tess. No animal would.” Jane returned to the matter at hand. “What happened when you startled his horse?”
    â€œIt reared, and I stumbled backward into the mud.” Tess smacked the torn armchair. Wadding and dust puffed out. “It was so stupid. I never fall. And I wouldn’t have today if he’d controlled his