The Poor Relation by Margaret Bennett

regular type.  They say he’s a bruiser.  Wouldn’t do to go a round with him.”
    “Already have,” answered Camden, unnettled. “ He’s big and mean, all right.  Fellow’s also plagued with a glass jaw.”
    “You’ve always been hand y with your fives,” Raikes chuckled appreciatively over this bit of information.  “Same time tomorrow night, Gov?”
    “Yes, if that blasted widow will quit pawing me long enough so I can get loose,” replied Camden.  They soon parted, each quietly blending into the mobile shadows of the forest.
    ~~~~~
    Meanwhile, Chloe had unfastened the leash from Lady Caro’s collar, and together, she and the terrier roamed around the edge of the gardens where the open park began.  This far from the huge house, the peacefulness of the setting and the quiet murmurs of the night were hypnotic, and Chloe drifted away from the gardens as her mind also meandered.  She was used to being snubbed by society matrons, but the Viscount’s cruel rebuff, coming after she’d trustingly exposed her history to him at the alfresco lunch, upset her more than she cared to admit.  Instead, she tried concentrating on the soothing night noises which acted like a balm to her frayed nerves.
    When a rabbit suddenly streaked across the lawn and dashed into the shelter of the woods, Lady Caro, who up until then had faithfully remained by Chloe, met the unexpected challenge.  Setting up a bark, the Yorky bounded after it with a determination that took Chloe by surprise.  The little dog was out of sight within seconds.  Fearing the terrier would get lost, she picked up her skirts to give chase.
    Once under the canopy of the trees, the moon’s brightness did not filter through very well.  As she waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, an eerie feeling overtook her, a sense of danger.  She shrugged it off, however, over her concern for the silly lap dog.
    Going farther along a narrow and winding path, Lady Caro’s barks became muffled, and Chloe had difficulty tracking the sounds.  She hadn’t realized how far she’d ventured into the woods until the barking ceased.  As the dense shadows closed in around her, she realized she had become completely turned around and had no idea in which direction to go to return to the house.
    Trying to retrace her steps, she came upon a small clearing covered by low , prickly bushes that she had passed once before. Finally, she admitted to herself that she was truly lost.  Backtracking again, she came across what appeared to be a bridle path and followed it for several yards before her attention was caught by a small round object sparkling iridescently in the moonlight where it laid in the middle of the trail.  Glancing all around, she neither saw nor heard any one or thing and so reached down do pick up the bright orb, then gasped.  In her hand lay an exquisite pin, a large sunburst of diamonds that doubtlessly was worth a small fortune.
    Suddenly, a twig snap ped behind her.  Instinctively, Chloe knew imminent danger was at hand.  Before she could react, a crushing blow to the back of her head paralyzed her with mind numbing pain, and an oppressive ebony haze swallowed her.
    ~~~~~
    Delaying his return to the drawing room and Judith Palmer, the Viscount deliberately dawdled about in the woods.  The widow’s possessive attitude was becoming tiresome, to say the least.  Good thing he’d left Gibbons, his valet, in London.  Otherwise, he’d have to listen to the meticulous worthy lament the number of coat sleeves the woman had mutilated.  
    Aside from Judith , he found himself too preoccupied with the attractive Miss Woodforde.  Tonight he’d found the low décolletage of her gown very distracting and had been irrationally annoyed when Guyot had singled her out and wondered at the Frenchman’s motive.  He decided to keep an eye on the insidious émigré, and should Guyot continue to show an interest in the young woman, he’d warn her off before