Page 49 of The Lyon Whisperer
Briggs turned to address the men. “We’re lucky to have Lord Culver as our viscount’s heir and our future lord, men. He cares.”
A chorus ofhear-hears sounded from the men.
Chase waved and nodded his thanks, not entirely comfortable with the praise. Any man worth his salt would have joined the fight.
Briggs continued, “Lord Culver’s got an idea for protecting the land from a runaway fire—by preclearing areas. Know there’ll be a lot of work for any man who’s interested.”
The men nodded, eyeing each other and murmuring their endorsement of the plan. Soon after they began disbursing.
Chase wanted nothing so much as to go back to the hotel and scour off the soot and stench coating him head to toe. But first, he would search the grounds for any clue as to who was behind this.
He started on foot toward the riverbank, where the horses had been corralled.
Nearing the clearing, he saw a rider approaching on a tall gray steed from the direction of the village. A woman. He squinted, noting the rider’s raven-dark hair, pale skin, and elegant form.
Bloody hell. Could the woman not mind one simple directive?
Amelia had notslept a wink all night. She had tried, but found herself repeatedly standing at the window looking out for any sign the fire had been extinguished, for any sign of her husband returning.
When no plume of smoke rose over the particular stretch of forest she’d stared at all night, she finally grew convinced Chase and the men helping him had the fire doused. Her relief dwindled when an hour passed with no sign of Chase.
She had to know he was all right. She could not pace the inn chamber one minute longer worrying the blasted, honorable, courageous man she’d married had been burned alive.
She dressed in her most practical gown, which was not saying much, and ordered her horse tacked up.
A quarter of an hour later, she set out along the river in the general direction of where she’d seen smoke from the fire.
She spotted the place they’d made their base—and, her husband. There was no doubt about it. He stood several heads taller than the few men in the vicinity, and then there was the way he moved. Even from this distance she recognized the power and elegance in the way he carried himself and his confident stride.
There was also no doubt he had noticed her. He would not be pleased by her arrival.
That was fine. She’d dealt with a man’s displeasure many times before.
She watched him mount up in one lithe move and started toward her.Racedwas more apt a description.
She drew to a halt, chin held high, preparing herself for a thorough set-down. She did not care what he said. The relief pouring through her, seeing him hale and hardy, more than made up for any discomfort a stern talking-to might cause.
He slowed to a trot when his lead was mere feet from hers. His face bore signs of his night’s work. Soot, fatigue.
He did not halt until his horse carried him directly beside her. His dark eyes flashed as they met hers. A muscle in his hard jaw ticked, and his voice, when he spoke, was a hoarse growl. “Amelia, what the devil are you doing here?”
Her pulse raced a little more than she anticipated at his roughly spoken words, but she kept her expression impassive. “I needed to see for myself you were all right. The fire’s been out for nearly two hours and I—” Her voice cracked. Hers, not his. The lapse of control testified like nothing else how trying the last few hours had been.
She silently berated herself. She hated being unable to mask the fear that had consumed her over his well-being.
He looked away—but not before she saw his expression soften.
Damn the man.Now she was on the verge of tears. She clenched her teeth against the inane impulse.
He reached for her gloved hands, still holding her horse’s reins, but stopped short of touching her. “I’m filthy. Every square inch of me has at least one layer of ash and soot.”
She swallowed. “I don’t mind.”
His mouth curved and he huffed out a laugh. “What am I going to do with you, Amelia?”
“Perhaps I can help in some way. Help…tidy up, or…”
He closed his eyes and appeared to be fighting another bout of amusement.
