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الرئيسية If He's Daring
If He's DaringHowell Hannah
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IF HE'S DARING Suddenly she was aware that she was seated very close to Orion and he had his arm around her. It was nice, the warmth of his body keeping away the encroaching chill of the night. It was also highly improper but then she was already doing a lot that was improper such as riding around the countryside with an unmarried man who was not related to her. She looked up at him to find him looking down at her. His face was so close and so very handsome. She could see concern for her in his beautiful blue eyes. His mouth was almost as pretty, the bottom lip a little fuller than the top. Catryn could not recall the last time she had been kissed by a man and she suddenly craved a kiss. Orion knew it was a mistake as he lowered his mouth to hers but the way she had looked at him had been a temptation he could not resist. There had been the glint of want and curiosity in her sea-green eyes and every part of him strongly encouraged him to answer both. It took but one brush of his mouth over her full, soft lips to tell him that he could be risking a lot just to steal a little taste but he ignored that warning . . . Books by Hannah Howell THE MURRAYS Highland Destiny Highland Honor Highland Promise Highland Vow Highland Knight Highland Bride Highland Angel Highland Groom Highland Warrior Highland Conqueror Highland Champion Highland Lover Highland Barbarian Highland Savage Highland Wolf Highland Sinner Highland Protector Highland Avenger Highland Master THE WHERLOCKES If He's Wicked If He's Sinful If He's Wild If He's Dangerous If He's Tempted If He's Daring VAMPIRE ROMANCE Highland Vampire The Eternal Highlander My Immortal Highlander Highland Thirst Nature of the Beast Yours for Eternity Highland Hunger Born to Bite STAND-ALONE NOVELS Only for You My Valiant Knight Unconquered Wild Roses A Taste of Fire A Stockingful of Joy Highland Hearts Reckless Conqueror's Kiss Beauty and the Beast Highland Wedding Silver Flame Highland Fire Highland Captive My Lady Captor Wild Conquest Kentucky Bride Compromised Hearts Stolen Ecstasy Highland Hero His Bonnie Bride Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation IF HE'S DARING HANNAH HOWELL ZEBRA BOOKS KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP. http://www.kensingtonbooks.com All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected. Table of Contents IF HE'S DARING Books by Hannah Howell Title Page Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Copyright Page Chapter One England, Fall, 1790 The groan echoed through the small house, every note of it filled with pain and helpless fury. Catryn tossed her cloak on the hook near the front door and rushed toward the room she was certain the sound was coming from. Her heart pounded with fear for her family as she cursed herself for leaving them alone. She never should have given in to her friend Anne's pleas to join her at the morning salon on the servants' day off. She certainly should never have lingered there as long as she had. She found her father on his knees in the library, one hand on the settee as he struggled to get to his feet. Catryn ran to his side to help him stand and then urged him to sit down on the settee. Blood stained his pale cheek as it seeped from the side of his head, the red of it stark against the white of his hair. The knuckles on his right hand were scraped and his left eye was already swelling. A quick look around the room revealed a knocked-over table and a smashed vase. Who would attack her father? The man was just a quiet, somewhat reclusive scholar. A demand to know what had happened burned her tongue with the need to be uttered, but she bit it back. Her father needed tending to first, the dazed look in his gray eyes telling her that he was not ready to answer all her questions, not even the one now screaming in her mind. Where is my son? Catryn quickly dampened her handkerchief with a little of the spring water her father always brought to the city from their country home and kept in a decanter on his desk. Her heart still twisted with fear, she gently bathed the blood from his face. By the time she was finished, his wound did not look quite as bad as she had thought it was, and his eyes had cleared. The first words he spoke chilled her to the bone. "He took Alwyn." "Who took him, Papa?" she asked, although she already had a very good idea of who would commit such a crime against her. "Morris." He took the damp handkerchief from her hand and held it against the small wound on the side of his head. "He and some hired brute came into this house, marched right into this room whilst I was reading a story to Alwyn, and demanded that I give him the lad. Told the man he was a daft fool and to get out. Then we had us a tussle and I lost." She could see how that shamed him and patted his knee. "It was two men against one, Papa. I know, with all my heart, that you did all you could do to stop him. Now I will do what I can." Lewys Gryffin looked at his daughter, his only child, and wished he had shot Sir Morris de Warrenne a long time ago. Since her husband, Henry, had died nearly two years ago, life had become one vicious, unending battle with the man's younger brother over who should have control over the heir, her son, and all the riches the little boy now had claim to. The months of strife had left them all weary and angry. It was clear to see that the fight over Alwyn had now turned truly dangerous and it hurt him to be of so little help to her when she needed him so badly. "I should be the one to fight this," he muttered. "'Tis my place as the man in this family, as the head of this house." "Ah, Papa," she said as she sat down next to him and kissed him on the cheek. "You have been fighting and doing a fine job of it. Fighting since the moment Henry took his last breath. And as soon as I get Alwyn back home with us where he belongs, you will be fighting again. Now it is my turn to take up the fight. I will go after Morris and retrieve my child." "It will not be easy. Do not forget how they took him from us. This was an attack. He demanded, and when I said no, he attacked. He came prepared to fight us for the boy. I think Morris has lost his mind, most probably when he lost the last court battle to be named Alwyn's guardian. I ne'er considered Morris a very clever fellow, but I did not think he could ever be as lack-witted as this." "Neither did I. I had no warning at all, no sense that this could happen. This tastes of pure desperation, Papa." "It does. I thought the same when he showed up with the obvious intent of taking the boy no matter what or who stood in his way. I have heard that he is having some financial difficulties, but this was still a very drastic action to take." "That would depend on how deep his financial troubles run." She resisted the urge to tell him all she had discovered about the dire condition of Morris's finances, for the man needed no more weight added to his worry about Alwyn. "All this trouble with the courts and lawyers cannot have been cheap for him. It certainly pinched our purse hard. The why does not matter," she said as she stood up. "He had no right." "No, he did not, but now he does have the boy and he may well think that is enough to help him win his case." "Then he will be wrong. All he will get from this is a prison cell." Lewys cursed when she hurried out of the room. He placed the damp handkerchief she had left behind over his throbbing eye. He should be at her side in this fight, but he knew he would be useless, his sight still affected by the blow to his eyes, and the blow to his head made it throb so hard and constantly that it scattered his thoughts. Good sense did not stop him from being infuriated that his barely five-feet-tall, not quite eight-stone daughter was about to confront a man who had just revealed how violent he could become when he did not get his way. Catryn was unfastening her gown even as she strode into her bedchamber. She hastily changed into something far more serviceable and then began to stuff two more sturdy gowns into her saddlebags. It took her only minutes to pack a few other things she considered necessities and then she hurried down to the kitchen to gather some food. There was a good chance she could confront Morris right in his town house in the city, but she had been taught to always prepare for the worst. There was a chance she might have to chase him down. They had been prepared for Morris to try and take Alwyn almost from the moment her husband died, for they had known he would heartily dislike the fact that her father had been named Alwyn's guardian and, along with a few trustees, given control over Alwyn's inheritance. Yet, as the months dragged on and all Morris had done was drag them through probate and the courts time and time again, they had lost that cold fear. They had been foolish to drop their guard. Racing toward the front of the house, she paused when her father yelled out, "Take your pistol!" Peering into the library, she was relieved to see that his color was better than it had been. "I have it with me, Papa. I will be very careful. Do not worry. And have Eccles look at those wounds when he returns. I will return when I have Alwyn and not before," she vowed as she hurried away, confident that their clever butler would care well for her father. Lewys wanted to argue that but heard the front door slam. He made an attempt to stand up but swayed with the dizziness that assaulted him and quickly sat down again. As he took several breaths to recover from nearly swooning and sprawling in an undignified heap upon the carpet, he thought about Catryn going after Morris, armed for battle with no strong man to protect or aid her. She was a true redhead in all the ways people thought of the breed, although her temper rarely showed itself. She was also a mother about to fight for her child. Morris had no idea what he had just unleashed. Catryn checked her saddle and saddle pack to make certain both were secure before swinging up onto the back of her mare. She had packed enough to sustain her if she had to chase Morris down to the de Warrenne country house, but sincerely hoped she did not have to. Although she was a good rider, she had not ridden any great distances for a long time. Fury warmed her blood as she rode through the cool, misty streets of London toward Morris's town house. The man had been a thorn in her side from the moment her useless husband had breathed his last, but this act went far beyond being a nuisance. For a moment she considered setting the authorities on his trail, but she was not sure who to go to or if she could even afford such help. Legal help of any kind did not come cheaply and, after so many court battles with her brother-in-law, both her and her father's purses were painfully light. Just as she rode within sight of Morris's town house she saw him shoving a thrashing, screaming Alwyn into his carriage. Shouting at him to halt gained her only a hard glare before he joined her son in the carriage, which began to move. The heavy traffic upon the road made a swift escape impossible, but it also slowed down all her attempts to catch up with him. Cursing softly, she did her best to gain enough speed to overtake Morris's carriage, but the only thing she was able to do was to keep him in sight. Catryn knew he would soon reach a road that led out of the city. If she could not catch him before then she would quickly lose sight of him. Her mare was a fast, sturdy creature, but the animal could not outrun a carriage pulled by four strong horses. "Never expected him to actually leave the city, Sorley," she muttered to her horse. "Am certainly readied for a journey but truly did not expect, or wish, to make one." Ignoring the curse shouted at her by the man she splattered with muck as she wove her way through the crowded streets, she struggled not to lose sight of Morris's carriage. It troubled her when she realized they would soon leave the part of the city she knew well, might even pass through the more dangerous streets. Even as a child she had been sternly warned about the dark, filthy, and dangerous streets where the desperate poor and the criminals lived. Catryn prayed that Morris's carriage would soon turn away from that rapidly approaching peril. A moment later Morris's carriage took a left turn and she breathed a silent sigh of relief. She quickly moved to follow him, only to see several small boys rush into the street to pick up the coins Morris had tossed out of the carriage. In her frantic attempts to avoid trampling the children, Sorley reared and then stumbled as its hooves hit the cobblestones again. Once she was safely through the crowd, Catryn realized that the hasty prayer she had uttered that they would all survive the brief confrontation unharmed had not been answered. Sorley's gait was no longer smooth. Moving to the far edge of the street, Catryn dismounted and began to walk her horse, closely studying the way the animal moved. The injury was not a bad one, just soreness in the muscle or hoof, but there would be no chasing Morris on horseback now. Not only would continuing to ride Sorley worsen the mare's injury, but she would have no chance of catching the man while riding an injured horse. She would have to come up with another way to chase after the man. Fighting the strong urge to weep or scream, Catryn walked along trying to think of what she could do. Then she saw it. It was like a miraculous answer to her prayers. The carriage stood in front of a pleasant town house, ready to be driven away. It was being idly polished by a liveried servant as the man waited for the passenger to arrive. Catryn's heart pounded with excitement and terror as a desperate plan formed in her mind. Stealing a carriage was a hanging offense, she reminded herself as she approached the vehicle and the servant, but she might find some mercy for her actions since she was attempting to rescue her kidnapped son. "Can I be of help, ma'am?" asked the servant when she halted in front of him, and yanked her saddlebags off of her horse. "Why, yes, I believe you can." She pulled her pistol from a hidden pocket in her skirts and aimed it at the man. "I have need of this carriage." The man took a step back and blinked. "Ma'am?" "It is of the greatest urgency that I have this carriage. I must chase down a man. As you can see, my mount is no longer able to serve me in that endeavor. Her name is Sorley. She is a very good mare. I will leave her with you in trade for the carriage." "But, ma'am . . ." "I am very sorry," she said and moved toward the front of the carriage, keeping her pistol aimed steadily at the man. "Truly, truly sorry, but I really must do this. I will return the carriage, but if something goes awry and I cannot, you may keep the mare as payment." She tossed her bags up on the seat and scrambled up after them. "If it is not enough to cover the cost then go to Lord Lewys Gryffin, Baron of Gryffin Manor in Chester. He is residing now at Gryffin House here in London. Tell him Lady Catryn Gryffin de Warrenne sent you to get recompense for the loss of the carriage." She snapped the reins just as he lunged toward her. Catryn nearly screamed when the horses darted forward. The pull on her arms was far greater than she had anticipated. It hurt, a lot, and she had to brace herself just to stay on the seat. A quick look back showed her that the man was not chasing her, however, so she turned her full attention to making her way through the busy, narrow streets. A few shouted queries to people she passed were enough to keep her on Morris's trail, for the man's fancy blue-and-gold carriage caught the eye of nearly everyone it passed by. When she was finally free of the crowded streets of the city, Catryn breathed a hearty sigh of relief. That relief was short-lived, however, as she realized that Morris was headed southeast. If he was taking Alwyn to the coast, he could be planning to take her child out of England. It would make it all that much harder for her to find her son. A rush of fear left a sour taste in her mouth before she could push it back. Morris could just as easily be taking her son to his country home in Easebourne. Catlyn scolded herself, determined not to keep falling into a deep mire of panic. Such fear clouded the mind and she needed hers to be clear and sharp. Her thoughts needed to be fixed upon one thing only: getting Alwyn back, no matter where Morris went or what obstacles were put in her path. Catryn's arms ached and her back wept with pain, but she kept the carriage moving along the road at as fast a speed as she dared. She was not surprised by the occasional look of shock she saw on the faces of the people she passed. Driving a carriage was not something women were supposed to do. She had only learned the skill because she had had to. Everyone at Gryffin Manor had had to work hard in the two years before she had married Henry, learning as many skills as they could to try and save the estate after a hard loss in an investment scheme her grandfather had foolishly made. They had succeeded, but during those hard times she had lost both her grandfather and her mother. Grief had stolen her father from her in many ways, too, leaving her carrying far more weight than a girl her age ever should have had to. The pain of those losses still lingered, though the good memories came far more often than the sad ones now. Catryn did not regret all she had had to learn, either. She wished she had continued to use those skills from time to time, for now she was not sure how much longer she could continue without a rest. She had been racing along for nearly an hour and her whole body was protesting the exertion. Morris's carriage had long been out of sight, but she was certain she was on the right trail. It would help if she had some idea of how far behind him she actually was, however. Worry was a constant ache in her heart. She did not think Morris would hurt her son, but then she had never thought he would resort to kidnapping Alwyn either. Morris had never spent much time with her son and knew nothing about him. She doubted he had ever spent time with any child. Catryn feared what the man would do when he became aware of Alwyn's habit of talking to people who were not there, such as his dead father. She had worked hard to make Alwyn understand that he needed to hide that little quirk, for it bothered, even frightened, too many people, but he was only five years old. She could not be certain he truly understood the danger. The first of the obstacles she had worried about arrived an hour later, and she had to wonder if the Fates were working against her. The team was beginning to lag. Shaking free of her troubled thoughts, she briefly considered pushing them harder and then softly cursed. Catryn knew she now faced the same choice she had been forced to make with her mare Sorley. The only difference was that these horses simply needed a rest. She pushed aside all thought that she was doomed in her quest to catch Morris, as well as the unkind thoughts she nursed about the man whose carriage she had stolen and the lack of stamina in his horses. It would do her no good to run the animals until they could run no more. She might gain on Morris for a little while, but she would lose him again when she was forced to stop and hunt down a new team. Morris would also have to rest his horses at some point along the way. Catryn began to search for a safe place to allow the horses to rest, perhaps one with both water and some grazing space. An hour passed before she found the perfect spot. Catryn carefully drove the carriage off the road onto a grassy clearing near a brook. The moment she got down from the driver's perch, she knew it was not only the horses that needed a rest. She had to hang on to the side of the carriage for a moment until her legs stopped shaking. There was not one single place on her body that did not ache, but her arms and upper back pained her the most. She was going to pay very dearly for this adventure. Just as she was rubbing her aching bottom, a young voice said from behind her, "Arse hurting you, is it?" Catryn spun around so quickly she stumbled back several steps as she struggled to keep her balance. A young boy stood there, grinning at her, his blue eyes shining with laughter. With his thick black hair tumbling around his face in waves that came perilously close to being curls, he was an astonishingly pretty boy. She judged him to be several years older than her son and wondered where he had come from. It was late in the day for a boy his age to be wandering the countryside all alone. "Who are you and where did you come from?" she asked. "I am Giles Wherlocke and I was sitting in the carriage you nicked. Who are you?" "Lady Catryn Gryffin de Warrenne." By the time she finished telling him her name the full import of what he had said had seeped into her mind. Catryn stared at the boy in growing horror. There was no denying the truth that now blazed across her mind, however. In her blind desperation to get her son back, she had stolen away another person's son. "Sweet mercy," she muttered. "Your parents are going to see me hanged for this." "Only have the one parent, m'lady. Only have my father, Sir Orion Wherlocke. Truth be told, a fair number of people have taken to stealing his carriage of late, though those people were all his own kin. You are not kin, I am thinking. Not with that red hair. So why did you have such need for my father's carriage? And, I do say, you held off Cody right fine, you did. Did not know a proper lady could hold a pistol that steady." Even though she was a little bemused by the way he spoke with an odd mixture of proper and not so proper English, Catryn did notice that the boy did not assure her that she would face no punishment for what she had done. "I needed it." "Why? You be a proper lady and all. You must have one of your own." "My horse came up lame and I needed the carriage to continue my hunt for the man who stole my son. I could not afford to take the time to return home to get another horse or the carriage." "Why did some man take your son? He want money for the boy?" She dragged her hands through her hair, idly noting that it had fallen free from the neat style her maid had spent a great deal of time perfecting. "I need to see to the horses right now." Giles did not push her for an answer to his question but moved to lend her a hand. As they worked together to unhitch the team, rubbed the animals down with handfuls of grass, and then watered them, she told Giles all about Morris and his fight to gain control over Alwyn and his inheritance. Her openness with the boy surprised her, but she decided she just had a deep need to speak her thoughts aloud to someone and he was there, watching and listening, his pretty eyes sharp with intelligence. At times Catryn felt as if she spoke with an adult while at other times, especially when the boy asked why again and again, she could see the young boy beneath the air of toughness and maturity. Just speaking of all Morris had done stirred her anger. The moment the horses were tethered so they could graze, she began to pace as she talked. Spitting it all out, her father would call it, and that was just what she was doing. She cursed Morris for his greed, his inability to accept what was right by law and his brother's will, and even for his fanciful blue-and-gold carriage. Even telling herself that a young boy should not be subjected to her fury at Morris and her fear for her child, she could not stop talking. Or pacing. "Morris is headed to the coast," she said, abruptly changing from ranting about all of Morris's past crimes and thinking only of the one he had committed this time. "He may be trying to take Alwyn out of the country. He may even be thinking to just toss my baby overboard once he is out to sea." "No, he would ne'er do that," Giles said as he paced alongside her. "He wants what your boy has and that means he best be keeping that boy alive until he gets it. That is how the game is played." She paused to stare at him. "How old are you?" "I think I am eight." "You think?" "Well, no way to be certain since my mother left me in an alley in the city when I was a babe still swaddled and all." Catryn did not know what to say and stared at him in silent shock for a moment. "And your father?" "I told you; I just found him. Me and my mates were helping his cousin and then he came to help, too, and one of the older ladies said I was his. No one argued with her, said she knew what she was about, so he took me in. My mates are all staying with his cousin and are at their country house now. We are going to better ourselves and not have to live in the dark alleys, maybe thieving a bit, maybe going hungry. I begin to think the lady knew what she was talking about, too, because my father and I do well enough." "But how did you survive until you found your father?" "My mates. There was a woman or two along the way who helped, but it was mostly my mates who raised me. As I told you, they are all at Penelope's now and that was where my father was taking me. Lady Pen is my father's cousin and she used to have a house where all the other Wherlocke bastards stayed. My father named it the Wherlocke Warren. Now that Lady Pen is wed, she has kept the ones she has and deals with whatever new ones appear as she thinks best." It was impossible for Catryn to envision the life he spoke of. So hard, stark, and dangerous. That a mother would leave her babe in an alley as if the child were nothing but trash to be tossed away was also impossible for her to understand. Without his mates, Giles would have died and she had no doubt that he knew that well. It was no wonder he often seemed to be so much older than he was. She was not so certain he had improved his lot much by being taken up by his father. A cousin who had run a house for the bastard children of her family? Who still took in the occasional new one? It was very good of the woman to care for the children so many just tossed aside, but how good was such a scandal-filled life for a young, growing boy? Better than living in an alley, she told herself firmly, and shook aside her concern over his future. She could look into that later, when she had Alwyn safely back at home. "You were very lucky to find them." "I was. And you will find your boy soon and take him home." "If Morris has not hurt him." "Why do you keep thinking the man will hurt your son? There is no gain in it for him. You have to see that." "I do. But Alwyn is just a little boy, and Morris has no skill with children. He would not understand Alwyn's ways, his little quirks and the way he plays." Catryn had seen how people had reacted to her son carrying on full conversations with people who were not visible, even telling others what had been said to him, and knew Morris would have no patience, might even be afraid, which could prove very dangerous for her son. "What do you mean by his quirks and how he plays? Was this Morris ne'er a lad himself?" "Of course he was." "Then what does the boy do that you think will make Morris hurt him?" "Alwyn talks to people who are not there," she replied, surprised at her own candor. "It is but a child's game. He has few other children to play with and then only rarely, so he has made up a few of his own. That is all it is. But people find it alarming and I have taught him to be quiet about it. He is only five though." "So he has some boys he has thought up to play with." "Not all boys," she reluctantly admitted. "He claims he is talking to his father, who has been dead for nearly two years." She shook her head. "It is just a game." "I suspect it is. The lad is lonely, is all." There was something in the way the boy said the words that made Catryn think he did not really mean them, but she did not press him. "It would upset Morris, but you are right, there is still no gain in his hurting Alwyn." She realized that caring for the horses and talking to the boy had eased her fear for Alwyn. It was still there but was not as sharp. The boy was right. There was no gain in Morris doing any serious harm to Alwyn. That did not mean the man would not hurt him or frighten him. "It will be well, m'lady," said Giles, and he patted her on the arm. "It has to be. But for now, we shall let the horses rest and have ourselves something to eat. I fear I brought very little with me as I had thought Morris was taking Alwyn to his town house, not out of the city." "Not to worry." Giles went to the carriage, climbed in, and quickly returned with a basket. The way he carried it told her it was well stocked. It made sense that such a thing would be in there as the man had been taking his son on a trip to the country. She sat on the grass beside him and opened the basket to find a bounty of bread, cheese, cold meat, cider, and apple tarts. "At least I shall eat well before I am tossed into Newgate," she murmured. Giles chuckled. "You will not be tossed into a prison, m'lady. You had good reason to steal my father's carriage. He will understand." Catryn was not sure of that but just nodded. She hated that time was passing and all she could do was sit, eat, and hope the horses were ready to pull the carriage again before the sun went down completely. The sooner she got her son back from Morris the better. "It will be the man who took your son who will rot in prison," said Giles. "I truly hope so." She also prayed that Giles judged his father well and that the man did prove to be as understanding as the boy thought he would be. Chapter Two Sir Orion Wherlocke took a last look at his image in the mirror, adjusted his neckcloth a little, and then started out of the room. It was foolish to be so precise about his appearance when he was about to take a long journey to the Radmoor country home, but he had once promised himself that he would always look his best and could not seem to break free of that vow. It was a vow born of a humiliating experience in his childhood and he should have overcome that by now. Promising himself that he would work on freeing himself of that emotional chain, he stepped outside and stared at the place where his carriage should be waiting for him. Orion heard Cody shout and turned in that direction to see his carriage disappear into the heavy London traffic. That brief glimpse he had gotten of his rapidly retreating transport told him that the driver did not look anything like one of his many kinsmen and -women, who had lately taken to stealing his carriage with an irritating regularity to perform some act of daring that required immediate access to transport. Unfortunately, that had usually proven to be his carriage. As far as he was aware, there were no women in his family with such brilliantly red hair. He looked at Cody and the pale worry on the man's face reminded Orion that he had told his son to wait for him in the carriage, the carriage that had just vanished. "Giles?" he asked Cody. "Inside the carriage, sir," replied Cody, and then he looked briefly at the mare standing placidly at his side. "The carriage that has just been driven away, the one you do not appear to be chasing after." "The lady handed me these reins and aimed a pistol at me. I was that shocked, sir, that there was never a thought in my head about fighting her. Cannot chase her on this horse, either, as it is lame. I was just trying to think of a way to set after her." "I believe I can understand not fighting with her, although I do wish it had been otherwise. So, a woman has just stolen my carriage and my son." Cody frowned. "Well, aye, she took the carriage, gave me this mare in trade until, so she said, she returned the carriage. I do not know why I think it, sir, but I could swear on my mother's grave that the woman had no idea the boy was inside. Lad never made a sound, either." Orion sighed. No, Giles would not sound any alarm. The boy would think it all some grand adventure, confident in his ability to get free of any tangle. Giles still thought like a boy allowed to run free on the streets, one encouraged from time to time to steal or aid in some fraud, and one whose life had been charmed enough that he had never suffered much for that. It was going to take a while to teach the boy that the comforts of home and family he now enjoyed came with the responsibility of not leaping headlong into any trouble that was around. Orion decided he was going to have to remind Giles that he was no longer without family, and that his family possessed the kind of funds that many a criminal would covet. He could not be so free to risk himself. The boy also had to be made to understand that the family he was now claimed by would worry about him. "Fetch me a mount, Cody, while I go and gather a few things for a journey," he ordered the man. "I will leave a message for you to deliver to my hostess for this evening's event that will adequately explain my absence." As Orion returned to his bedchamber and quickly gathered what he would need for the hunt he was about to go on, he felt no regret over missing the ball he had planned to attend after leaving Giles with his cousins. He did, however, experience some annoyance over missing his chance to woo the fair Beatrice, a buxom widow well-known for her skills and appetite in the bedchamber despite all her efforts to be discrete about her affairs. He was very close to success there and missing the chance to meet with her could set his seduction back some. It had been a long time since he had enjoyed the pleasure to be found in a woman's arms and he had been looking forward to the chance to do so again. The woman had been out of reach for quite a while and only recently available. Beatrice had been involved with a rich, older man for months, and Orion never poached on another man's territory, no matter how great the temptation or need. When Beatrice had indicated her interest in him while still on the other man's arm, and in his bed, Orion had responded with nothing more than politeness. The chance to do more had come only last week, and he had wasted no time in acting on the opportunity after learning that Beatrice was free to be pursued. The delay in that game could not be helped, he told himself as he hurried back outside. Giles was his son. The boy was not legitimate and had only recently been discovered, but the bond was already there. Even if it had not been, Orion knew he would still go after the boy. Every Wherlocke and Vaughn was taught the importance of caring for one's progeny, even if that progeny was a half-wild street urchin. There were a few who tried to ignore that rule, ones who occasionally needed a harsh reminder of their responsibilities, but most followed it without hesitation. Too many of them had been victims of a parent's desertion and neglect themselves. His concern over Giles's fate was not as strong as he thought it should be, but he quickly shook off a sense of guilt about that. Giles was clever and had grown up on the dangerous streets of London. His son was no tenderly raised, overly protected child of the gentry. He had not even had a life as easy as Orion's other two sons, despite how those boys had been cast aside by their mothers. Even if this woman proved to be a threat, Giles had the cunning and strong self-preservation instincts of a London dock rat. The boy could easily keep himself safe until Orion could rescue him. The last shadow of the worry that had gripped him was eased by reminding himself of his own skills. His family and his colleagues in the government did not call him The Bloodhound as a jest. He could, and often did, find anyone with only the mere hint of a clue to lead him. No one who knew him would gamble with him or play chess or cards, even just for the sake of passing time. He could figure out a person's next move, his entire strategy, with ease. He would find this woman and retrieve his son. Orion swore to himself that he would also find out just what game she was playing. If someone had discovered who he was, what he did for the government, and then discovered how closely Giles was connected to him, it was possible they would try to use the boy to get information. Giles's connection to him had become a great deal more well-known than young Paul's or Hector's. Someone discovering it and using it against him was a distinct possibility. He hoped that was not it, for then it would mean he might have to get the blood of a woman on his hands. The note to his hostess took only a moment to write. There was no need to concoct any elaborate excuses. He simply spoke of some undefined family emergency. Most of society knew that the Wherlockes and Vaughns were an extraordinarily close family. It was one of the many things that had them all marked as odd. There were those amongst the two families who had deserted their husbands, wives, and children; some people wondered if the rumors of a close family were actually true, but only a few remained doubtful for long. Nor did it take a determined person long to discover just why there were so many desertions. What he had always considered sad was the vast number of people who believed it was perfectly acceptable for those women, and a few men, to walk away from such a strange family even when that included abandoning their own children. Orion shook his head free of such thoughts for they stirred too many unhappy memories, left the message on his desk for Cody to deliver, and walked outside. He was still caught in the shock of finding out he had another son. Paul had been less of a surprise, for he had been keeping the woman who had borne him. Hector had been the result of Orion's first few years of breaking free of the bonds of family duty and living the life of a wealthy young man in the city. The surprise had come when he had found himself responsible for this boy in ways far beyond visiting him now and then and giving his mother money. He still thanked the Fates for Penelope, who had taken Paul and Hector into her care without hesitation. Now there was Giles. Orion was becoming a family man and he did not think he was ready for such responsibility. He was still far too young for such a thing. He grunted in irritation as he stepped outside and tried not to curse when he saw a horse instead of his carriage. "Did the woman give her name?" he asked as he handed Cody his saddle packs and the man secured them to the horse. "Lady Catryn Gryffin de Warrenne," Cody replied. "She told me to take that mare in payment—" "That lame mare." Cody ignored the muttered interruption. "—but swore that she would return the carriage when she was done with it. Then said that if she could not, and more was due us, I was to go to her da, Lord Lewys Gryffin of Gryffin House, here in the city, and he would pay the rest." "I have never heard of the man." "Nor have I, but I could find out who he is if you wish it done. She told me he was the Baron of Gryffin Manor." "I do wish to know all you can find out about him, even though I mean to recover my carriage and my son very soon. I would also like to know all you can discover about the lady. What I do with Lady de Warrenne remains to be seen. Knowing more about her, her father, and her family could help me decide." "She was most polite." "You said she aimed a pistol at you." "Aye, she did that—" "Politely." "—but she did not shoot me, did she. Said she had do this, that she had to chase down a man." "What man?" Orion hoped all this trouble had not been caused by some lover's argument. "She did not say. I just cannot believe she would be any danger to the boy. I am still near certain she did not know young Giles was inside." "I do not intend to go and shoot the woman," Orion said as he mounted his horse. "I will leave the judging of her until I catch her." As he kicked the horse into a careful trot, Orion nearly grinned at the frown on Cody's square face. If it had been a man attempting to steal the carriage, pistol or not, Cody would have fought like a tiger. It was why he had hired the fellow. With the sudden tendency of his kinsmen to steal his carriage, he had decided a strong guard was needed so that they at least had to endure a solid beating before they robbed him. Cody had the brawn to stop someone and the skill to do so without inflicting too much damage. He did not, after all, wish to maim or kill his thieving cousins. But Cody had a weakness. It was women. He could be twisted around those soft little fingers far too easily. Orion was not hindered with such a weakness. If this woman was a threat to Giles, him, or anyone else in his family, he would make sure she never caused anyone any trouble again. It did not take him long to find the woman's trail. A small redheaded woman driving a carriage was a sight few missed. The fact that she was headed away from the city worried him. There were too many dark reasons to steal a boy and run with him. It was both sad and reassuring to know that Giles was aware of every one of them. One man he spoke to talked of seeing a grinning face in the window of the carriage and Orion was relieved at the news that Giles was still unharmed. He did not bother to correct the man's opinion that it was the face of a spirit, a grinning death's-head. The man was certain that she was fleeing from that spirit; that was why the woman was behaving so scandalously as to drive a carriage herself and travel with no man attending her. Nor did he intend to warn the little redheaded thief, as the man had suggested, that the demon she fled was sitting in the carriage she drove. Aside from the fact that it was an idiotic idea, he knew Giles would enjoy hearing that far too much. When he caught the woman, Orion also intended to make certain that if the woman thought of demons, she thought of him. A familiar voice hailed him when he reached the more open road outside the heart of the city. "Halloo, sir!" Orion looked at the young man who moved up to ride beside him when he slowed the pace of his horse. Trenton Cotter was a new man in the group Orion worked with in the government, a group so intent on remaining secret that even Orion and his fellows were not completely certain what it was called. The younger man was eager, patriotic, and still very green. There was not yet any blood on Trenton's hands. He rather hoped service to the Crown did not steal all of that away. It had certainly jaded Orion, but he had always told himself being jaded was far, far better than being dead. "Where do you ride off to, sir? Anything I could help you with?" It was tempting to ask Trenton to come along, but Orion resisted that lure. "'Tis but a personal matter. If you would be so kind, I would appreciate it if you would tell our captain that I may be unavailable for a while." "Will do. I was surprised to see you, but then it has been a day rife with strange sightings." "Has it now? What else have you seen?" "A redheaded woman driving a carriage all by her dainty little self. It had a grinning boy peering out the window as it raced by me, and he looked a lot like that lad you just claimed as yours. I believe he may have recognized me because he waved merrily as they passed me by. Truth to tell, that carriage and the team looked a great deal like yours, as well." "That is strange." Orion inwardly cursed his bad luck, for he had wanted to keep this matter a secret if only because it was embarrassing to have a woman steal his carriage from right in front of his home. "I would strongly suggest you do not mention this vision, for it is bound to cause you trouble. Why, sounds much akin to the tale told me in the city by a man who swears it was a demon with Death's head peering out of the carriage window." Trenton's gray eyes gleamed with laughter and his mouth twitched as he fought to suppress it. "No talk of demons and death's-heads shall pass my lips." "Thank you." "Nor of little redheaded ladies driving your carriage while your grinning child waved merrily at all the people they passed by." Orion stared up at the sky for a moment before narrowing his eyes and looking at Trenton again. "I have my pistol on me." "Good thing, too. I have heard that redheads can have quite the temper." "You are enjoying this far too much." "I fear I may be. It but begs to be thoroughly enjoyed. There was one other odd sight." "You appear to have had an interesting ride." "Very interesting. There was a carriage that rattled past me before I saw yours. It was a startling shade of blue with gold trim, pulled by four speckled gray mares. It, too, was going somewhat fast and it, too, had a face in the window. Another child, but this one was not smiling. Little lad with a head full of black curls, and he looked quite frightened. I almost turned about to follow them and see what was going on, but I need to get back to the city." "Could just be a child who does not like traveling." "It could be, but I thought I would make mention of it since you are headed in the same direction. If I am recalling it right, that garish carriage belongs to one Sir Morris de Warrenne, and I did not think he was wed or a father. He has been far too busy trying to gain guardianship of his brother's child." "And how have you come to learn that? Is this de Warrenne someone the Crown is interested in?" "No, but my brother is de Warrenne's solicitor, and he came by my place to sup with me a few nights ago. Complained a lot about the man, for he just would not give up and made a lot of unnecessary work for my brother and the others in the firm." He shrugged. "Just wondered if he had finally won his court case, or perhaps decided to go around the decisions of the court and take matters into his own hands." He shrugged again. "I will look into it when I can. May not be my business, but I have a strong distaste for men who try and take an inheritance away from a child and that appears to be what this is about." "I believe I will do the same." Orion wondered if the theft of his carriage had something to do with Sir Morris and that frightened boy Trenton had seen. He was not sure a custody battle was all that much better to deal with than a lovers' quarrel, however. Either one could be messy and fraught with the sort of emotional morass he always did his best to avoid. "Are you certain you do not need a hand?" "With one small redheaded lady?" he drawled, and Trenton laughed briefly before giving Orion a darkly serious look. "She should be no problem if she is on her own, but there is always the chance she is not acting alone. You have enemies, sir. It is not beyond possible that this is a trap." The younger man might not be as green as Orion had first thought. "I have considered that, but I have it on rather dependable authority that she does not realize there is a child in the carriage." "Ah, well, good luck then." His pleasant voice suddenly grew hard and cold. "If by chance you discover otherwise, be assured of my assistance. The people who work for the Crown need to believe their families are safe and protected. If this matter grows more serious, I would ask you to call on your compatriots for help. Good hunting!" He turned his mount and rode back toward the city. Definitely not so green after all, Orion thought as he urged his horse forward again. For just a moment he considered bringing the younger man back to ride with him but then dismissed the idea. He wanted to do his best to see this matter settled and put aside without too many people knowing about it. If nothing else, it would not do to have the world know all about Giles yet. Too many knew already. He also did not want his enemies to think that the boy could be easily grabbed and used as a weapon against his father. Orion never wanted to face the choice of his son or his country. It might be time to end his service to the Crown, Orion thought. He had a third child now and could not keep three children hidden away forever. Nor was it good to continue to go away on assignment as he had been doing, leaving behind no information on how to reach him or even what name he might be using. His work forced him to keep too many secrets. It was satisfying to work for the Crown, even exciting at times, but it certainly was not convenient nor was it conducive to raising three sons. Cursing softly, he turned his thoughts back to hunting down Giles and the little redheaded carriage thief. Now was not the time to make important decisions about his future. He would do that later. The fact that he was puzzling over such matters showed him that it would probably be wise to leave the service or at least curtail his missions. He now had a family to worry about, and to leave them behind, unprotected, could easily prove fatal. Several times he paused to speak to people he encountered, but it was not until he stopped to greet a young farmer leading a calf down the road that Orion heard anything more than an acknowledgment of having seen the carriage. He had a very good idea of where the woman was going, but confirmation never hurt. When he asked about his carriage, the farmer eyed him with suspicion and idly scratched at the thin, ragged beard on his sharp chin. That display of mistrust told Orion that he had a chance of getting some useful information. "Which carriage are ye asking about, milord?" "Sir, not m'lord. Just sir. I ask about the one being driven by a small redheaded lady." "Why?" "Because it happens to be my carriage the woman is driving. She took it without my permission." "That little woman stole a carriage from a man as big as you?" the famer asked, his skepticism clear to see. "I am reluctant to use the word stole. It is a private matter. I just need to find her and my carriage. I am quite certain that she has no idea that my son was sitting within the carriage when she took it." "The lad looked to be having a fine time when I saw him. Smiling and waving at me as the carriage passed me by. Not like the wee lad in the carriage that passed by before yours." "A blue one with gold trim and four speckled grays pulling it?" The farmer nodded. "Foolish to buy something so pretty, all blue and gold, only to drive it on roads like this one. It were not looking so fine when it went by me. Driver had to stop because old Jude was taking his sheep across the road. Man inside the carriage was hanging his head out the window and yelling at old Jude and them sheep as if that would be making them move faster." Orion smiled faintly when the young man laughed at the memory of the incident. "That must have been a fine sight." "Oh aye, it were that. But then I saw the boy. Little lad with a lot of black curly hair and big blue eyes. He was looking out the window at me and he was fair sad, he was. Poor wee fellow looked some scared, too. Odd and all, for I thought I saw some light behind him, but that must have been something else, for the fool shouting at Jude and his sheep would have been blocking the light from the other window. The boy looked to me like he was trying to get the door open and I do swear, I think he was saying help me. Thought to go a little closer, but then the fool yanked the lad away from the window and, from what I could see, slapped him fair hard." "So they moved on after that?" "Moved along just as I was thinking I would still go talk to the lad and see what was wrong. 'Bout two hours later that lady came by driving your carriage and your boy did not look sad at all. Nay, he did not. Was grinning like a fool, he was. As I done said, having himself a fine time." "Yes, that would be just like Giles." "You thinking she stole the boy, too? Took your son?" Orion hesitated only a moment before shaking his head. "No, I do not. As I said, she just did not know he was in there and he does not seem to be inclined to let her know." Honesty weighted his words for he was beginning to think Cody had been right. "I begin to believe that she is chasing the man in the blue-and-gold carriage because he took her son." "A sad business." "It is that." "Well, you will be getting him back soon enough. The team pulling your carriage was looking weary, it was. She will have to be stopping soon." Now he had to worry about his team, Orion thought, and silently cursed before asking the man when he had seen the second carriage. He left the young farmer and traveled on after discovering that his carriage was not all that far ahead of him. The more information he gathered the more he began to think Lady de Warrenne was doing just what she told Cody she was doing. She was chasing down a man. Orion had the sinking feeling that the sad boy in the first carriage was her son. It was not a mess he wanted to be dragged into, but he had to get his son and his carriage back. As he rode on he began to notice a difference in the trail he followed. The farmer had been right. His horses were tiring. The team was never intended to pull the carriage at a rapid pace for so long. He had intended to set an easy pace when taking Giles to Radmoor, and an easy pace back to the city after allowing the team a rest or perhaps even changing horses at Radmoor. Orion did not believe he could count on a woman to have the experience to judge when her team needed a rest, and the thought of how she could harm his team stirred his anger anew. When he caught sight of his carriage pulled off to the side of the road, he feared that she may have irreparably damaged one of his horses, but then he saw his team. The horses were placidly grazing beneath a tree. His son and the little redheaded woman he had been chasing were seated on the ground enjoying the food he had had packed for him and Giles. It was more than his barely leashed anger could tolerate. Orion reined in next to the carriage, dismounted, and marched toward the woman who had caused him so much trouble. The look of fear on her face as he approached her both satisfied and disturbed him. When she leapt to her feet and put herself between him and his son, he refused to allow admiration to dim his anger. He did not like frightening a woman, but she deserved it. Orion decided it might just teach her some much needed caution. He would make certain that next time she would think twice about what she took without permission. Chapter Three Catryn stared at the tall man striding toward her as she leapt to her feet and moved to put herself between the man and the boy in case this man was a threat. The way Giles moved to her side and grinned told her that this man was his father, or at least someone he knew, but her unease did not fade much. Her first clear thought was that no man had the right to look so handsome, especially when he also looked so furious. His clothing marked him as gentry as clearly as his fine horse did. At some point during his pursuit of her, his midnight-black hair had come undone and flowed back from his finely carved face in thick waves as he moved rapidly over the grass. Straight dark brows met in a vee over his perfect angle of a nose and, as he got near enough for her to see, his eyes were revealed to be a very stormy blue. "I believe you have something of mine," he said and placed a hand on Giles's shoulder. Then he glanced at his horses and carriage. "Two somethings." Those statements deserved a reply, but it took Catryn a moment to think of one. The man's voice was deep and a little rough. It stirred her in a way that made her heart beat faster. She wanted to think about why it did that, and how a man's voice could affect her so, but quickly shook aside her fascination and curiosity. Now was a bad time to succumb to some odd feminine fluttering over a very handsome man. "Yes, I do, and I can explain that," she said and watched one of his brows cock upward. "I borrowed your carriage but had no idea at all that the boy was inside. I would never have taken the carriage if I had." A little voice in her head whispered that that was probably a lie, that she would just have made sure the boy got out before taking the carriage. "So if you had known that my young son was within the carriage, you never would have stolen it." His tone left her in no doubt that he thoroughly disbelieved her claim. "Exactly." She frowned and fought down the guilt she was feeling over her actions, for that guilt could weaken her defense. "And I did not steal it. I borrowed it." "Taking a man's possessions without asking his permission is theft." "Only if one does not intend to return those possessions, and I left you my mare in trade." Orion realized his anger was rapidly waning. The woman stood there arguing earnestly with him, yet there was a hint of fear to be read in her wide, sea-green eyes. Her beauty had caught his eye from the moment he saw her, but he had refused to allow it to dim his righteous anger. The somewhat ridiculous defense she was making was doing just that, however, and his appreciation of her beauty was rising to the fore again. He had to struggle to cling to at least some scrap of his rapidly fading suspicions about her. She might, if she stood up very straight, reach his collarbone so that he could rest his chin upon the thick curls of her dark red hair. Short and slim though she was, he could see the womanly curves shaping her travel-stained gown. Considering the aids a woman could employ beneath her clothes to add to her shape, he knew he could be misjudging the true curve of her hips, but there was little doubt that she possessed a magnificent bosom, the curve of her breasts full and smooth above the neck of her soft gray gown. Being a man who unabashedly favored a magnificent bosom, Orion had to force himself to keep his gaze on the woman's face. There he saw a sweet innocence beneath the beauty, which made him quell the fleeting thoughts of seducing her. Orion divided women into two groups—those he could seduce if he chose to, the ones who knew how to play lovers' games, and those he would never try to seduce because they could not separate their hearts from the pleasures two bodies could share. This woman might be a thief, but instinct told him she was one of the latter sort. That was the type of woman a confirmed bachelor avoided at all costs, and he was a very confirmed bachelor. And that, he thought, was a damned shame. "You believed a maimed horse was an even trade for a team of horses, a carriage, and my son?" "Sorley was not maimed. She will heal with a little care," Catryn said. "And she did not know I was in the carriage," Giles said and shrugged when Orion frowned at him. "If you could have seen her face when I appeared, you would know the truth of that. Near scared her out of her skin when I stepped out and showed meself." "It still does not exonerate her from the charge of theft," said Orion. "She had a good reason for doing that. Someone kidnapped her son and she is chasing him. She could not do that on a lame horse, could she, and there was your carriage all set and ready to be driven off. I am thinking you need to stop leaving it there so ill-guarded and ready to go." "Are you now?" "Well, it does get borrowed a lot." "Which is why I hired Cody, but she pulled a pistol on him when she stole my carriage." "She just needed to stop him from stopping her from borrowing it." Orion decided he would not get into an argument with a boy over the distinction between borrowing and stealing, especially a boy who had done quite a bit of both in his meager eight years of life. "Who are you?" he asked her, wondering if she would give him the same name she had given Cody. "Lady Catryn Gryffin de Warrenne," she replied. "I told your man to speak to my father, Lord Lewys Gryffin at Gryffin House. He is the Baron of Gryffin on the Wold. He would willingly compensate you." "I doubt he could compensate me for the plans I had made for the evening, the ones I was forced to cancel to chase you down." He smiled faintly when, after a brief moment of frowning, she blushed, revealing that she had understood his implication. "Who took your son?" "His uncle, Sir Morris de Warrenne. The man has been fighting us over the inheritance left to Alwyn by my late husband and just lost yet another fight to gain control over my son, the de Warrenne lands, and the money. He did not take it well, but I never expected him to do this. By custom, I suspect he should have been named Alwyn's guardian, but my husband never trusted his brother Morris, so he named my father Alwyn's guardian in his will. My husband may not have been the best husband, and actually he was a terrible husband, but he was careful to do all that was needed to make sure Alwyn got all his birth gave him the right to. He knew Morris would never do that, or honor his wishes." "Do you fear for your son's life?" Catryn opened her mouth to reply with a resounding no, but the words would not come. It was something that had worried her briefly, but she had pushed that concern aside and then talked herself out of it, if only for the sake of her sanity. She could not do so this time. The thought of how Morris might react to Alwyn's childish game of speaking to his unseen friends had obviously brewed in her mind long enough to be a deep concern now. There was also the simple fact that Morris could gain a great deal of wealth in land and money if Alwyn was gone. The panic such thoughts stirred in her heart was difficult to subdue. "I believe I do, although I have never had such a fear before," she replied, tasting the truth of her own words. She could not thank this far-too-handsome man for putting that worry in her mind, either. "The man never took the boy from you before, either, did he? Or try to. Perhaps this latest defeat in the courts has made him see that he can never win his case there and must now take a more drastic action." "I need to talk to my father," Giles said as he grabbed Orion by the hand and started tugging him away from Catryn. "We will be but a moment." "I still have questions for the lady, Giles," Orion said. "Can this not wait?" "Nay, it cannot wait." It was not easy, but Catryn stood where she was as Sir Orion and young Giles walked away from her. For a moment she glanced between the boy and his father and the horse the man had ridden up on. The gelding was strong and made for speed. It could help her catch Morris and get Alwyn back. She shook her head, crossed her arms over her chest, and silently cursed. The horse had been used as hard as the team pulling the carriage had been. It needed to rest as much as the other beasts did. Her heart urged her to grab the horse and race after her son, but common sense told her that she would not get far. All she would accomplish was to run that horse into a state of dangerous exhaustion and end up stranded on the road as night fell, still without her son. Yet she could not be certain this man would allow her to use either the carriage or the horse once the animals were rested. It was an untenable situation and she had a strong urge to scream. As she waited for the boy to finish speaking with his father, Catryn struggled to recall anything she could about the man. He had not done her the courtesy of introducing himself, but Giles had told her all she needed to know. Sir Orion Wherlocke was not anyone she knew, however. She had heard some bits of gossip about the Wherlockes and their close relations, the Vaughns, but could recall very little of it and certainly nothing that inspired her to believe this man would help her. It appeared that she was going to have to go to whatever authorities she could to try and get her son back. She had hoped to keep all this trouble private and settle it herself. The few people in authority she had dealt with since her husband had been attacked and died of stab wounds had not been very helpful or capable. Catryn suddenly had an urge to sit down and cry, for she could foresee weeks, even months, of waiting to get her son back. "Look, you done made her all sad," said Giles, frowning toward Catryn. "She stole my carriage and you," said Orion. "She disrupted my very carefully made plans for the day. And night. She held a gun on Cody." "Pfft." Giles waved a hand in dismissal. "You can charm another skirt, and she would never have shot Cody." Although his son's confidence in his skill at charming women was rather flattering, Orion was a little discomforted that the boy knew exactly what he had been planning to do tonight. "How can you be so certain that she would not have actually shot Cody?" Giles shrugged. "I just am. I know these things. Always have. She is no danger to anyone. Not even the bastard who took her son. Well, unless the fool actually hurts the boy, and then I think she would show him a fury that would scare the biggest brute alive. Dockside rats would probably run from her." Orion did not have Giles's apparent skill at knowing how people felt but believed his son was right about how the woman would react if her child was harmed. "This is not our business, not our trouble to deal with." "I think it is, and not just because the man took her son and it would only be right and honorable to help her get her child back." "That was well said. A palpable hit." "Thank you." "What other reason could there be?" "I think her son may have some Wherlocke blood." Orion frowned and looked toward the little redhead pacing the ground over near the carriage. "I see none in her." "I could not say where it might come from, but I think he has a gift like Lady Pen has. He can see spirits." Giles nodded when his father looked at him in surprise. "She told you that?" Orion wondered if he was in danger of being taken in by a pretty face, a woman who knew all about the Wherlockes and thought to use some false connection to get to one of the family for her own gain. "Nay, not exactly. She was ranting about how she would never catch that Morris fellow now and worrying out loud about what he might do to her boy. Said the man never spent much time with little Alwyn and might not be kind when her son played his little game of talking to people no one else could see." "Children do that from time to time. It does not mean they talk to spirits. Just a make-believe friend. I believe it is common among children who have few playmates." "Nay. This is more than that, and not all of the ones he talks to are children, playmates, or friends he makes up in his head. He also has hair like mine." "How do you know that?" "I am fair sure I saw him. That blue-and-gold carriage went by and I saw a little boy peering out of the window. It was a real quick look but he had black hair. That is the carriage we are after." Orion softly cursed. His son was the third person to mention that the boy had black hair, something the child had certainly not gotten from his mother. Yet, if her son truly was speaking to the dead, and at such a young age, then his connection to the Wherlockes or the Vaughns was not in doubt. If the boy had a gift, it was definitely the mark of one of his kin; far more of a mark than his black hair. It was now not just a need to help a woman rescue her child that would motivate Orion to assist her, but the need to save one of his own. He looked at his newfound son and inwardly grimaced. Here was yet another one who was showing early signs of a strong gift. Most of his family showed hints of the gift they had been born with while still in their childhood, but it did not usually grow strong until puberty; although just lately there appeared to be a lot more children revealing a strong gift early in life. Giles revealed a true skill at knowing how people felt, what was in their hearts and minds. He might need to go to Elderwood, the family seat, and train with Aunt Dob, as Modred, the Duke of Elderwood and the head of their whole family, was. God help the boy, he thought, if he was to be cursed with Modred's gift. It would be difficult for him to find peace anywhere. His future could well be to live as reclusive a life as poor Modred did. Shaking aside his growing concern for his son, Orion thought about the woman who was trying to retrieve her own child. Inheritance battles were far too common and very messy. It also usually ended badly for the one who held what others in the family wanted or thought should be rightfully theirs. This time the heir was a small boy, one who could well carry Wherlocke or Vaughn blood, and every instinct he had told him to join her in getting the child safely home. He suspected he would have decided to do so anyway for it was a crime he could not, in all good conscience, ignore, but the possible connection to his family only increased his desire to help her. "She fears the man might hurt the boy?" The easiest way to get one's hands on an inheritance was to kill the true heir, he thought, and he knew it happened more often than people knew. "She does, but I cannot see any gain in that for him. Not yet." "Perhaps not, but there will be at some time during the next few years if he can gain control of all the boy holds. So, I suppose it behooves us to put a stop to this thievery." "Aye, since the one being stolen, and will be stolen from, is one of ours." "You do seem very sure of that." "I am." Giles smiled and shrugged. "No use asking why, either." He slapped his hand over his heart. "The knowledge rests here and that is enough for me." "Enough for me as well. Let us go and tell her of her great good fortune in gaining us as allies." He smiled when Giles laughed and they both walked over to Lady Catryn. Catryn watched the man and boy approach. They shared a look. No one who gazed upon the pair together for long could ever mistake just whose son Giles was. Although she found just a bit unsettling the way Giles too often seemed more adult than child, she had to admire the way Sir Orion treated the boy with respect, not like some errant child or one who had not yet faced all the hardships life had to offer. There was a sharp mind in that child's head and it was good to see that his father respected that. "I need to tend to my horse, have a little of that food you and Giles were enjoying, and then we shall be on our way," Sir Orion said. "I cannot return to London," Catryn said, trying desperately to keep the panic out of her voice. "That would allow Morris to succeed in getting away with Alwyn. I need to stay close on his trail or I may never find him." "You will not be returning to London. Giles and I have decided that we shall lend you our assistance in retrieving your child." Catryn opened her mouth to thank the man kindly but refuse the offered help and found herself staring at his back as he walked away to tend to his horse. She was not sure what to say anyway. The offer of help was extremely tempting. Caught up in chasing Morris, she had given little thought to the fact that she was a woman alone on the road. Any woman traveling alone faced a great many dangers. It was not a lack of ability to handle the matter of travel that had women dragging men with them everywhere they went, but a simple acknowledgement of the need for one to keep the many potential dangers at bay. Yet she did not know this man, and for all she knew, he could be one of those dangers. She looked at Giles, who just smiled that cocky little grin he so often did. He had won her trust quickly, for there were no shadows in him. Giles did not hide behind a pretty face and practiced words; she wondered if he had the wit to know if his father did. A boy who had just found a family, been claimed by his father, might be blind to the man's faults. Children did not wear masks but grown men did. Sir Orion had a very pretty mask, one that could easily beguile a woman, but there could be something ugly lurking behind it. Catryn wished she was better at seeing through such pretense. Her choice of husband had definitely revealed a weakness in that area. "I am not certain it is wise for you and your father to assist me," she said. "You cannot be traveling alone," Giles said in a tone that would have done a dictatorial father proud. "Women should never do that. I am no true protection, although I am very good at slipping away and hiding. My father can protect you as we look for your boy." "He must have other business to attend to." "I do," said Orion as he walked past her and Giles and sat down to help himself to some of the food. "It is nothing that cannot wait, however." Catryn moved to sit facing him. "This is my battle. You do not even know who I am or if my story is true." "As it happens, I do know that the story you told me is true. I met a colleague on my way here and his brother is a solicitor in the firm that your brother-in-law has hired. Seems your brother-in-law is considered a very troublesome client." "Society is an annoyingly small word full of gossip," she grumbled, hating the idea that everyone knew of her fight with Morris, even if he was the one considered the villain in the tale. "It certainly is. You, I do not know, and I believe I neglected to properly introduce myself when I arrived. I am Sir Orion Wherlocke, the father of this boy you ran off with." "I truly did not know he was in the carriage." She frowned at Giles. "And he made no sound, did not cry out at all." "I was curious about what you were about," said Giles when both adults looked at him. "Knew you were no threat to me." "How could you be so certain of that?" "I know things." Catryn wanted to ask what he meant by that but decided it was not what was important now. Her son had been with Morris for hours. She could only imagine how scared her little boy was. The only thing she needed to think about was how quickly she could get to him. "I really must be going," she said and began to stand up. "Sit," ordered Sir Orion. She sat and then scowled at him, blaming him for her immediate obedience. Catryn knew that if she did not leave soon she would be accepting his offer of help. She did not wish to weaken and do so. The problem she faced was hers; it concerned her family, and her son. She should deal with it herself, and she knew this man was about to skillfully show her all the reasons she could not do so. "There is very little daylight left," she protested. "If you are concerned about your carriage . . ." "Your father will compensate me," he finished for her. "I am not offering to help you because I am bored or have nothing else to do. I am offering because someone has stolen your child, because the theft has to do with a man wanting everything that child holds a rightful claim to. Those are crimes I cannot ignore. My family is very firm on the need to protect children—primarily our own, but I believe any one of my family would be ready and eager to assist you. As Giles said, it is only honorable and right to do so." There was such a wry tone to his last words that Catryn had to smile. "And you always do as your son says?" "Not at all. If I did, we would have an elephant in the back garden." "Oh dear." She glanced at a grinning Giles and then laughed. "Quite. No, in this he is utterly correct. A man has stolen your child, a man who covets all that belongs to the boy, and we both know how dangerous that is." He nodded when she paled. "There is no proof that he means the boy harm, but even if he does not, he could gain guardianship of the boy and bleed your son's inheritance dry." "He might try, but there are strict rules and . . ." Her words faded away when he and his son shook their heads. "Rules can be circumvented. My cousin Penelope, now the Viscountess of Radmoor, nearly lost every penny of her inheritance through the machinations of her stepfather and then her stepsiblings. Her half brothers did, too. If this Morris gains control, and he may be able to do so now that he actually holds the child, he will steal all he can. Do not doubt that." She could not. It had been a worry from the first moment Morris had taken them to court. She knew that if Morris gained complete control of Alwyn, he would leave the boy with nothing. What should have been a blessing, a tidy inheritance so that Alwyn did not have to worry about his future, had become a curse. "No, I do not doubt that," she admitted softly. "If Giles and I leave you to carry on by yourself, I foresee only disaster. Even if you caught up with Morris and could deal with him on your own, I sincerely doubt Morris is alone. Then there are all the other reasons women do not travel unattended by a male, family or servant. The least that could happen to you is that you would have my carriage taken from you and be left on foot." "I have a pistol." "Which means, if you know how to use it with any accuracy, you could take down one man. After that you must depend upon your own strength to fight off the others, and there would be others." He nodded when she scowled at him. "You could be well-versed in fisticuffs, but you are still a small woman who could be, if not easily, at least eventually overpowered." "This could take days, you realize," she said after a moment of silence that even she recognized as sulking. Sir Orion shrugged as he packed up the remainder of the food. "I have nothing planned and nowhere to go. I must simply send a note to Penelope to let her know that Giles will arrive later and not today. I can do that when we stop for the night. And we will be stopping for the night," he said firmly when she opened her mouth to argue that plan. "So will Morris. The chances of catching him today are very slim. As you said, this could take a few days." He held out his hand. With a sigh of resignation she took it and he helped her to her feet. "I should have come home earlier," she muttered. "Would that have made a difference?" She sighed. "In truth, I doubt it. Morris stormed into the house and had a hired brute, as my father called him, with him. They fought with my father, knocked him about, and took Alwyn. I suspect they would have just knocked me about as well. Morris must have known it was the servants' day off and that there would be no help from that quarter." "So you already knew he had hired ruffians with him when you set out after him all on your own." "He has my child." "Of course." Sir Orion moved to hitch the team to the carriage. Catryn was surprised that there was no note of condescension or mockery in his words. The man simply accepted that she had no choice, that the fact that Morris had her child was explanation enough for her risky behavior. It could be that he told the truth when he expressed his whole family's belief in the need to protect children. Her next thought was that she was about to ride around the countryside with a man who was not her kin, fiancé, or husband. Racing over the roads, driving a carriage, and traveling unattended had been bad enough. Traveling with a very handsome single gentleman would truly cause a lot of gossip. If anyone they knew saw them, her name would be blackened within society in mere days. She hastily pushed aside that thought as she watched him hitch his mount to the rear of the carriage. If it happened, it happened, and she would accept the consequences of her actions. Alwyn was in danger. Whatever it cost her to get him home and safe again was worth it. The fact that they were trying to save her son would be enough to keep her closest friends at her side, she hoped. When Sir Orion held out his hand to help her into the carriage, she took it and nearly yanked it back a heartbeat later. Neither of them was wearing gloves, having removed them to eat. The first time their skin had touched as he had helped her stand, her mind had been so preoccupied she had barely noticed the brief brush of his skin against hers. This time her whole body responded to it. That had never happened to her before and it unsettled her, but she forced her mind back to the problem of hunting for Morris and getting her son back. "Should I not ride up on the box?" she asked, hesitating to get into the carriage. "If you think the sight of you racing down the road driving a carriage with all that bright hair flying about your face was enough to cause talk, then just consider what talk will ensue if you are seen riding up there with me as we race down the road." Catryn got into the carriage. He was right. Again. It was very annoying. Giles sat across from her and smiled. At least someone is enjoying the adventure, she mused. The boy's insistence that he and his father help her save Alwyn did surprise her a little. "You truly believe this is what you and your father should do?" she asked as the carriage began to move. "I do," Giles replied. "Your son is just a wee lad and has not had the rough life I have had. I have skills. Had to learn them, aye? He has none. He is very scared, I am thinking, and it is only right that we men ride to help him." "It might not be so simple. We have to find Morris first." "Oh, my father can do that. Finding people and things is one thing he is very, very good at." There was no point in arguing about that, so Catryn looked out the window. Her whole body was weary and ached right down to the bone. It was nice to have someone else driving the carriage, but she swore she would not allow herself to depend upon Sir Orion too much. She had depended on her husband, only to find out within months that there was little in the man anyone could depend upon. She had depended on her grandfather and father, and that had not turned out well, either, although her father had had the excuse of being lost in his own grief for a while. For now, however, she would savor the rest from driving the carriage and pray that they found her son soon. Chapter Four The rapidly encroaching dark settled Orion's uncertainty about stopping or continuing on just a little farther. He comforted himself with the knowledge that the man he was pursuing could not continue for much longer, either. There was no doubt in his mind that he would find the man, no matter where Morris tried to hide, but he would rather not have to leave the country to accomplish it. Yet again he wondered what would be the right thing to do when he found Morris. The man would have guards, servants, or some hired brutes with him. Orion had just himself, a little redheaded lady, and a boy of eight. That did not make for good odds. As the carriage crested a small rise, he saw lights and knew they were drawing close to a village. It had been a long time since he had traveled this way, but he was confident that this village had a comfortable inn. A good meal and a clean bed would be welcome. Sharing that bed with a lush little redhead would be even more so, but Orion pushed aside that temptation. Lady Catryn Gryffin de Warrenne was not some adventurous widow. Not only was she trying to get her stolen child back but she reeked of innocence and was most certainly a complete romantic at heart. Giving in to the temptation to bed her, even for one glorious night, could get him entangled in something he had long avoided: a relationship that was not the simple, enjoyable giving and taking of pleasure. No, Lady Catryn was not a woman a man got sweaty with, kissed on the cheek in the morning, and then walked away from. Since that was the way he planned to live his life, Orion knew he had to keep his hands off her. He just wished his body agreed with his decision. It might be time to reach out to a few of his kin. Not only could they help him find Morris and save the boy, but they would act as a bulwark between him and the woman his body craved so badly. The innyard was busy but not so busy that Orion feared he would find there was no room available for them. It was a large inn, rooms added as the traffic to and from London had increased over the years. The man who had built it had chosen his spot well, halfway between London and Portsmouth. He leapt from the box as soon as a tall, strapping young man wearing the inn's colors grabbed control of the team. Orion quickly sent a small lad into the inn to make certain he could have two rooms for the night and a private place to enjoy a meal. He hoped he would not have to argue with Lady Catryn about stopping, and reached for the handle on the carriage door. Catryn blinked, slowly waking up when the carriage stopped. Giles grinned at her and then laughed softly when his stomach loudly protested its emptiness. She leaned toward the carriage door to open it, only to have it opened for her and find herself staring into Sir Orion's face. He looked like a man who had just spent many an hour on a horse and then more time driving a carriage. Dust coated his fine clothes and his black hair was badly windblown. A few trickles of sweat had left trails through the light coating of dust on his face. Despite all of that, he was still the most handsome man she had ever seen. It annoyed her, for she was certain she looked as if she had been dragged through a hedgerow backward. "Why have we stopped?" she asked as he helped her out of the carriage. "If you look about you might notice that night has arrived," he replied, easily catching Giles as the boy flung himself out of the carriage and then setting the boy on his feet. "But Morris . . ." "Cannot drive through the night any more than we can. I told you that before we left that clearing." That was a truth she could not deny, even though she desperately wished she could. Some would travel the road no matter what the conditions, changing horses as they needed them, but she could not see Morris doing that. He liked his comforts far too much. Long hours spent in a carriage were not what anyone would call comfort. He also lacked the coin for such a thing and he certainly would not trust his precious horses into the long-term care of some stable boy at an inn. From what little she had ferreted out concerning Morris's financial state, Catryn was not sure that he had the money needed to spend many nights at an inn, either. "I am also tired, hungry, and in need of a good wash," he said as he collected her bags, shoved them into her arms, and then got a small one of his own from beneath the carriage seat. "And it does not matter how the man travels or where he goes. I will find him." Before she could argue with that arrogant statement, he was striding toward the inn, Giles at his side. Catryn hurried to keep pace with him. Giles had told her that his father could find anyone and anything, but she had thought that was just a boy's bragging about his sire. It appeared that Sir Orion also believed it. It was an odd thing for a man to boast about. Once inside the inn, Catryn was impressed by Sir Orion's ability to get people to do his bidding. He gave orders in a way that made them sound more like requests. People obeyed without hesitation or argument, just as she had back at the clearing when he had told her to sit. They were all in their rooms with a hearty meal being readied for them before she even had time to consider what she might want to eat. She frowned as she quickly shed her travel-worn clothing, washed up, and donned a fresh gown. The man was obviously accustomed to being obeyed. Considering his excellent skills at command, that was no surprise, but Catryn was going to have to remind him that she was a grown woman, a widow, and a mother. She was more than capable of making up her own mind. The first thing she intended to do was request that a bath be readied for her so that she could have a long soak in hot water after her meal. The second was to make certain Sir Orion understood that she could pay her own way. She might have need of a man to rescue her son, an admission that still irked her, but she did not need one to lead her about like some helpless child. Her husband had tried that, she thought as she made her way down to the private parlor where she, Sir Orion, and Giles would dine. Old resentments she thought she had conquered rose up and she struggled against the anger they brought with them. Sir Orion did not deserve being stung by that bitterness. She paused to request her bath, asking that her travel clothes be cleaned as well, and paid for it, which further soothed her rising temper. When she entered the parlor she found Giles and Sir Orion seated at a table before a warm fire, slathering butter on large hunks of bread. They immediately rose and Sir Orion held a chair out for her. "My apologies," she said as she sat down and they retook their seats. "I tried to be quick." "You were remarkably quick," said Orion as he served her some bread and nudged a small crock of butter toward her. "I told the maid not to bring the rest of the food in until she saw you come downstairs. Did not wish it to sit there tempting us and getting cold until you arrived." She started to ask why he would think she would take so long that their meal would grow cold when the maid and two young boys brought in the food and drink. Catryn was tempted to have some of the wine but chose cider instead, for she wanted to be certain she woke in the morning with a clear head. As the scent of roasted chicken and a nice array of potatoes and vegetables hit her nose, it made her all too aware of just how hungry she was. Catryn knew she was about to break one of the rules ladies were all taught to follow. She was not going to eat sparingly. And was that not a silly thing to be concerned about, she thought and nearly laughed. She was at an inn and was traveling with a man who was no relation to her and not her husband. Even a widow would raise eyebrows by doing so. It did not matter that the man she was with had his son with him, either. Anyone who recognized her, unless they were the closest, dearest of friends, would be utterly scandalized. How much she ate was the least of her concerns. "I want you to tell me everything you can about your brother-in-law," Orion said. "What good will that do?" she asked. "You already know what he has done and why." "Everything can be useful. It will help me judge what route he may take, what decisions he might make along the way, and perhaps even what sort of place he would stop at." "Well, he is much like a spoiled child, to tell the truth. He wants what he wants when he wants it but has never had the character to even stick to the fight needed to get it. It is why I was so surprised that he would keep at us in the courts. That was very unlike him. It would have been much more like him to try and destroy something that had been left to Alwyn, such as trying to burn the manor house down or the like." "Despite the fact that he wants it?" "That would not occur to him until he calmed down. And even then, he would find satisfaction in the fact that, since he could not have it, now neither could Alwyn. As I said, much like a spoiled child." "Do you think that sort of behavior is why your husband did not name him your son's guardian?" Catryn grimaced and ate a piece of delicious herb-seasoned chicken as she thought over her answer. "Henry did not like Morris, did not trust him. Morris felt much the same about Henry. I often wondered if Morris disliked his brother just because he was born first, actually faulted him for that. In most other ways, they were very much alike in their habits and vices, so one would have thought they would have been close. Yet, though my husband did love to gamble, he most often won and never approached that cliff where just one more ill-advised bet will beggar you. Morris was never so careful." Orion nodded and sipped at his wine. "So your husband was certain that all he had clung to would be lost if Morris was in control." "Yes. Morris cannot seem to resist a bet, a chance to rake in huge winnings. He always thinks he has found the perfect way to fill his purse without working. He is prone to believing anyone who promises him a massive return on an investment. My husband was forever covering his losses, at least covering them enough so that Morris did not end up in prison or worse." "Did Morris stay with you very often?" "No. They could not abide each other's company much, and that suited me. I do not like or trust Morris and never have. The fact that Henry felt the same was a relief. I was sad that my son had no fond uncle to turn to from time to time, especially since my husband had so little to do with him, but it was just a brief, occasional sadness caused by watching other uncles with their nieces and nephews. Another man to teach Alwyn how to go on would have been nice. My father does what he can, but he should not be having to raise another child." "And how does Morris treat you?" "What do you mean?" "Does he treat you with courtesy and the respect due his brother's wife, or is he dismissive, scornful, and reveals resentment that you gave his brother a child?" "Oh, he was always polite as he should be, but no more than that." Orion had the feeling that was not all, but he did not press her on the matter. "How did your husband die?" "Stabbed. He had been at one of his clubs, so he said, and was attacked on the way home. Robbed and stabbed several times. The wounds became infected and he died." She smiled faintly when his lovely blue eyes narrowed. "I, too, wondered if Morris had something to do with it, but the men were caught and confessed. They had simply seen a fine gent strolling home and saw a chance for some gain. He fought and they fought back. They won. For the moment. Their victory and new wealth was short-lived. They were hanged a year later, and even when facing that gruesome end, they said nothing about anyone having hired them or even told them where Henry would be. I do think Henry died wondering if his brother had had anything to do with it, for he ranted about his brother while fevered." Orion turned his attention to finishing his meal as he thought over all she had told him. Despite what the men who had killed her husband had said, there was always the chance that Morris had had a hand in her husband's death. It was possible to arrange a person's death without actively taking part in the planning. Simply talking loud enough about the person's plans, wealth, and direction within the hearing of known thieves could be enough. It was something to consider. He doubted Morris grieved his loss. Glancing quickly at Catryn, he thought on how little grief there had been in her telling of the tale. Not a hint of loss or sorrow had been evident in her words. She could have been speaking of someone she had only known in passing. There had been a few other hints that her marriage had not been a happy one, something all too common amongst the ton. It was not just his family that suffered from broken or dismal unions, but few of the ones outside of his clan suffered as much desertion as his. It was too bad she was such a good woman, he mused. She was a widow ripe for seduction. A bad marriage often left a woman yearning for something more, some passion and pleasure. Orion knew he could give her that. He had left behind enough satisfied women to have confidence in his skills in the bedchamber. Unfortunately, Lady Catryn was too good a woman, despite her recklessness in chasing after her child, something he could not help but admire. "Giles said you worry about how Morris will treat the boy if he hears young Alwyn talking to people who are not there," he said, and almost smiled when she gave Giles an accusatory look and the boy just shrugged. "It is just a child's game, but yes, I am worried that Morris will have no patience with it," she replied. "I have tried my best to make Alwyn understand that his little game can upset some people, but he is, after all, only five, and sometimes forgets. I just fear that Morris is one of those who will find it very upsetting. He is a very superstitious fellow." "Is he now. That will help." "How so?" The serving girl entered with some stewed apples, small cakes, and cream, so Catryn had to wait for her question to be answered. She took the time to think about every instance where she had noted Morris's superstitious nature. Although she did not know how such information could help Sir Orion, she wished to give him as much as she had. By the time the maid left and they had each helped themselves to some of the treats set before them, she was a little surprised to discover that her memories revealed that Morris was actually very superstitious, very concerned about all those shadows in the dark that others ignored once they left childhood. "A superstitious man acts differently than one who is not troubled by such things," Orion said as soon as the door closed behind the maid. She thought about that for a moment and nodded. "Yes, I suppose he would. I was just realizing that Morris is very superstitious, very worried about ghosts and goblins and things that go bump in the night. It is as if he never matured past the age where he feared what was under the bed." "There is sometimes good reason to fear what is under the bed, so to speak. A man like that," he continued before she could remark on his words, "will not stay in an inn named, let us say, the Devil's Horseman. He will travel on to one with a less ominous name. He may even do a few things that draw the attention of the people around him, like tossing salt over his shoulder if he spills it or becoming nervous just because a black cat walks by. Most people have a touch of superstition in them, and have limits as to what odd things they will accept with ease, but the worst of such fears have passed except in a few. I suppose he believes in such things as witches." "Oh yes. There was a fair near us when we were at the country house, and Alwyn wished to go. So did I. But Morris refused to come with us because he said there was a witch there. He meant the gypsy, I suspect, who was doing her readings or whatever they are called. I thought he just used it as an excuse to hurry away from the country, because he left that day; but the more I thought on it, the more I realized he was serious." "And exactly what does Morris look like? Tall, short, red hair, black hair?" "He does have dark hair, but it is more of a very dark brown. Hazel eyes. Shorter than you and almost too thin. He prefers to wear his wig when out and about, for his hair is thinning. He also prefers his clothing to be as bright as his carriage. Morris is a bit of a dandy. Otherwise he is not one who would stand out in a crowd. There is nothing about him, aside from his bad taste in clothing, that would make you recall him if you ever met him." "And your husband had dark brown hair?" "Not as dark as Morris's, but yes. Why?" "Because I begin to wonder if we have been following the right carriage, despite my inability to believe there could be two such gaudy carriages on the road. Everyone who has seen it has mentioned the small boy looking out of the window as having black hair, very black hair, rather like Giles's." Orion noted the faint hint of color that came and went on her smooth cheeks. The boy's hair color had obviously troubled her. He wondered if he had judged her wrong, if she was more daring than he had thought her to be. Had she cuckolded her husband? "I know." Catryn rubbed her forehead. Even speaking of Alwyn's hair, so different from hers or her husband's, or even her father's, never failed to give her a headache. "My father says that color shows up in our bloodline now and then. It goes back a long way." "To some distant relative?" "Yes, but he never told me who. I asked, but he said he would have to search the books he has on the family, and I soon forgot to remind him that I was waiting to know. It would have been nice to have a name to spit out every time someone noted that Alwyn's hair is an odd color for a redhead and brunet to produce. Always remarked upon ever so gently and politely, however." He was not surprised by the bite in her words. It was easy to imagine just how such a prying inquiry would be made, and the poorly hidden implication behind it. Orion ignored the twinge of disappointment he felt over the fact that she had n