Page 53 of The Burning Passion of a Fiery Lady
Susannah didn’t reply. She did not want to give voice to her deepest fears, that Jasperwasin the stables somewhere, but was unable to reply because he was hurt. Her mind raced in a hundred directions but could settle on nothing. Panic was starting to make her mind fray, and she knew that wasn’t good.
She took a deep breath. She must focus. They needed to remain calm.
They kept walking towards the individual stalls, the lanterns casting light as they went. They walked past them all, greeting the horses in soft tones, but not lingering. Susannah looked closely into each one, holding her lantern over the gates, searching the areas. But there was still no sign of Jasper.
Eventually, they reached the last one, where Blitzen stood. The large black horse seemed to be waiting for them as they approached, leaning his head over the gate. He nickered softly in greeting.
“Hello, boy,” she whispered, stroking him gently. “Have you seen Jasper tonight? You know him. He came to find you when you were lost in the hills. Remember?”
The horse gazed at her, looking as if he was seriously contemplating the question.
Susannah sighed. Not for the first time, she wished that the horse could talk. That he could tell her everything that had happened.
She held the lantern high, peering into the stall. There was hay, and the horse’s saddle, resting against a wall. But there was no sign of the horse master.
Amy shuddered. “It is useless. He is not here.”
Susannah’s heart sank. Amy spoke the truth; it didn’t look like Jasper was anywhere near the stables. Had David had any more luck in finding him?
She knew that she should turn around, and they should leave. It was patently obvious that Jasper wasn’t here. But her feet felt rooted to the spot as she contemplated what to do next.
They couldn’t return to the house and just wait for David. She wouldn’t be able to sit still. No, they must keep looking, in the area surrounding the stables.
Her heart started beating faster. It was dark now, and once they left the stables, they would have no cover. If anyone was out there, watching, they would be vulnerable. They had the lanterns, but they only shed light a small distance. The blackness would surround them completely, and they wouldn’t be able to see if someone was approaching them until they were upon them.
She turned to Amy. She had no right to ask such a thing of her housekeeper; she knew how frightened Amy already was.
“You should go back to the house,” she said, in as steady a voice as she could muster. “I will stay on here, searching around the area. I will return as soon as I have found Jasper, or David has.”
Amy looked horrified. “Susannah, you cannot wander these grounds by yourself, with no protection!”
Susannah sighed deeply. “I have no choice, Amy.” She blinked back tears. “It is because of me that he is out here, possibly hurt … or worse.” She shuddered. “Iknewthat there was a threat to The Willows. Someone let the horses out last night, and I have a fair idea who that was. A man who is delusional, raving, saying things which deeply concern me …”
“It is not your fault,” interjected Amy, in a low voice. “You may have your suspicions about your former friend, but at the moment, that is all they are. And we do not even know if he is still in the district. He may have gone back to Lincolnshire, with his tail between his legs, after being rejected. Sometimes, men’s barks are worse than their bite.”
Susannah shook her head. “No, he has not gone home. I feel it, in my bones, that he is still here. That he is still waiting for me, justifying all that he has done, in the vain hope that I will capitulate …”
Amy gripped her arm tighter. “We do not know that any harm has come to Mr Stone, Susannah. He might be fine, having forgotten about the dinner … anything!”
Susannah paled. “You do not know what Leonard said to me,” she whispered, her face stricken. “I did not tell you all of it …”
“What did he say?”
“He was raving,” she continued quietly. “Saying that he had done terrible things for me. That he had endangered his immortal soul so that I would no longer be under the tyranny of my husband.”
“What?” Amy visibly paled in the wan lamplight.
“Yes.” Susannah felt sick but pressed on. “Now do you see why I am so fearful for Jasper’s safety, and why I feel responsible? If he did do something to Gilbert, then he is not only deranged but evil. A dangerous person.”
Amy was silent for a moment, digesting everything she said.
“We must go on,” continued Susannah, shuddering. “Come with me, if you like, or go, but Imustfind him.”
They walked back to the stable entrance.
And that was when Susannah saw it.
A pool of blood, on the ground, just near the gate.
