Besides, she is a friend who would never betray me. Would you like some breakfast before I leave, or would you prefer to wait for Sadie?”
“You aren’t going anywhere without giving me your direction. Honor demands mar—”
“No,” she interrupted, glaring at him. “Honor demands nothing. I have no intention of wedding anyone, and certainly not for such a ridiculous reason. Byron said it best – Wedlock’s the devil. ”
“I would hardly recommend him as an authority on anything.”
“All right. If you prefer someone less controversial, how about Shakespeare? What is wedlock forced but a hell? I’ll not be locked in a cage, sir. I have done nothing of which I need be ashamed, nor have you. We will drop the subject.”
“But—”
Again she ignored his protest. “Good-bye, sir. If you wish to remain here, Sadie will look after you. You needn’t fear her, for she is a widow long past fifty and quite content with her life. If you choose to leave, the center path will take you to the village.”
Without another word, she walked out, closing the door decisively behind her. By the time he finished dressing, she was out of sight. He had not even seen which of the three paths she had followed.
Who was this girl anyway? He had never met anyone with even remote claims to gentility who did not cast a covetous eye on his tit—
She was unaware of his title, he realized abruptly. He must still be half-asleep. Only now did he realize that she had been calling him Mister Randolph . So he must not have introduced himself very coherently.
But that did not explain her adamant refusal. If she had been married or betrothed, she would have said so. So why had a single young lady of good family refused to take advantage of him? An educated young lady, he added as he returned to the cottage to clean up before heading for the village. Familiarity with Byron and Shakespeare was common enough, but her quote had come from Byron’s first collection of poems, published in 1806 to so cold a reception that few people had even heard of it. And Henry VI was not usually taught to females.
His cravat was a mess, so he knotted it loosely the way John Coachman wore his, then headed for the village.
Where was Sedge?
He had removed the bandage from his head. Most of the scrapes were hidden by his hair, and he did not wish to draw more attention than his muddy clothes already claimed. Until he could honorably deal with Anne, it served no purpose to advertise that he had met anyone. He would hardly have bandaged himself with clean linen if he were dressed like this.
He had left both hat and greatcoat in the carriage, so the crisp morning air bit through his jacket. His boots had dried into hard creases that rubbed against his feet and legs. Within a quarter mile, he was limping.
How was he to discover Anne’s direction? Perhaps she had been truthful. Or perhaps she had her eye on someone else. If she cared for another, he would wish her well and turn his attention to Lady Elizabeth. But first he must make sure that no harm befell her over this escapade. If the truth came out, they would have to marry. He had never ruined a reputation, and he wasn’t about to start now.
What had happened to Sedge? The cottage was well downstream from the bridge, but surely searchers would have reached it long since. It was in clear sight of the river.
He shivered, then shivered again as the village came into view. The inn looked even worse than the last one he had stayed in.
CHAPTER FOUR
Sedge’s shout died as Randolph disappeared into the raging water. He had never known his friend to be so reckless. Since childhood, Randolph had been quiet, responsible, and studious, preferring country to city, eschewing the frivolity most of his friends enjoyed, locking himself away with his books and manuscripts. What maggot had eaten into his brain that made
“You aren’t going anywhere without giving me your direction. Honor demands mar—”
“No,” she interrupted, glaring at him. “Honor demands nothing. I have no intention of wedding anyone, and certainly not for such a ridiculous reason. Byron said it best – Wedlock’s the devil. ”
“I would hardly recommend him as an authority on anything.”
“All right. If you prefer someone less controversial, how about Shakespeare? What is wedlock forced but a hell? I’ll not be locked in a cage, sir. I have done nothing of which I need be ashamed, nor have you. We will drop the subject.”
“But—”
Again she ignored his protest. “Good-bye, sir. If you wish to remain here, Sadie will look after you. You needn’t fear her, for she is a widow long past fifty and quite content with her life. If you choose to leave, the center path will take you to the village.”
Without another word, she walked out, closing the door decisively behind her. By the time he finished dressing, she was out of sight. He had not even seen which of the three paths she had followed.
Who was this girl anyway? He had never met anyone with even remote claims to gentility who did not cast a covetous eye on his tit—
She was unaware of his title, he realized abruptly. He must still be half-asleep. Only now did he realize that she had been calling him Mister Randolph . So he must not have introduced himself very coherently.
But that did not explain her adamant refusal. If she had been married or betrothed, she would have said so. So why had a single young lady of good family refused to take advantage of him? An educated young lady, he added as he returned to the cottage to clean up before heading for the village. Familiarity with Byron and Shakespeare was common enough, but her quote had come from Byron’s first collection of poems, published in 1806 to so cold a reception that few people had even heard of it. And Henry VI was not usually taught to females.
His cravat was a mess, so he knotted it loosely the way John Coachman wore his, then headed for the village.
Where was Sedge?
He had removed the bandage from his head. Most of the scrapes were hidden by his hair, and he did not wish to draw more attention than his muddy clothes already claimed. Until he could honorably deal with Anne, it served no purpose to advertise that he had met anyone. He would hardly have bandaged himself with clean linen if he were dressed like this.
He had left both hat and greatcoat in the carriage, so the crisp morning air bit through his jacket. His boots had dried into hard creases that rubbed against his feet and legs. Within a quarter mile, he was limping.
How was he to discover Anne’s direction? Perhaps she had been truthful. Or perhaps she had her eye on someone else. If she cared for another, he would wish her well and turn his attention to Lady Elizabeth. But first he must make sure that no harm befell her over this escapade. If the truth came out, they would have to marry. He had never ruined a reputation, and he wasn’t about to start now.
What had happened to Sedge? The cottage was well downstream from the bridge, but surely searchers would have reached it long since. It was in clear sight of the river.
He shivered, then shivered again as the village came into view. The inn looked even worse than the last one he had stayed in.
CHAPTER FOUR
Sedge’s shout died as Randolph disappeared into the raging water. He had never known his friend to be so reckless. Since childhood, Randolph had been quiet, responsible, and studious, preferring country to city, eschewing the frivolity most of his friends enjoyed, locking himself away with his books and manuscripts. What maggot had eaten into his brain that made
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