Reckless Angel Read Online Free PDF

inn.”
    â€œBut I could not tell you what I intended,” Henrietta protested. “You would have become exceeding perverse and said I should not.”
    Daniel Drummond closed his eyes briefly. Mistress Ashby might well fancy herself in love, but from the tone of this exchange it seemed likely that love of the reluctant Will Osbert had merely offered excuse to flee the parental hearth and the prospect of wedding and bedding the ancient and unwholesome Sir Reginald. It looked as if he was not going to shed this burden for some time.
    He interrupted their wrangling. “How did you escape the field, Will? Henrietta says she saw ye fall.”
    â€œI did not fall,” Will said. “If I did not recognize Harry, it is possible she mistook someone for me.”
    Daniel nodded. In that hell’s kitchen, clouded with gunsmoke, deafened by the clash of steel and the roar of cannon and the crack of musket shot, anything could have happened. “How did you light upon this place?”
    Will scratched his freckled nose. “I have been scouring the countryside for days; dodging Roundhead patrols all the while. I could not see how she could just disappear, sir, so I thought if I made inquiries at every inn and in every village someone would have some news.”
    â€œAnd lo and behold…” Daniel said dourly with an encompassing swing of his arm at the assembled trio. “If you heard we were here, the patrols won’t be long behind.” He walked to the window. “Without passes, we shall have the devil’s own time journeying south, and Henrietta is still far from strong.”
    â€œI am not going,” Henrietta declared. “So you need not concern yourself with me. The Roundheads will not trouble me here—”
    Daniel swung around from the window. “Mistress Ashby, my patience is not inexhaustible!”
    â€œBut I am nothing to do with you,” she protested with perfect truth.
    â€œâ€™Tis so, Sir Daniel,” Will put in. “We will shift for ourselves now that I have found her. You must look to your own safety.”
    Daniel looked at the young man’s flushed earnestness and smiled reluctantly. “I appreciate your concern, Master Osbert, but I have a feeling that I can more effectively ensure Henrietta’s return to Oxfordshire than you.”
    Will glanced worriedly at Henrietta, who had slumped despairingly on the bed. “She cannot return, sir. You do not know Sir Gerald, or Lady Mary, Harry’s stepmother.”
    Daniel frowned. “Some punishment for such an escapade is surely merited? You would not deny that. Is it the rod ye fear?”
    â€œThere’s worse things than the rod,” Henrietta said, looking at Will, who returned her look in gloomy comprehension.
    Daniel sighed. “Very well, we will leave the question of your ultimate destination to be decided later. But we will essay the journey south together. D’ye have a horse, Will?”
    Before Will could answer, footsteps sounded on the staircase and the goodwife, white-faced, stumbled into the room. “Soldiers, sir,” she gasped, dabbing her lips with her apron. “Roundheads, some fifty yards down the road, Jake says. They’re comin’ ’ere, sir. What’s to be done?” Her voice trembled on the edge of hysteria. “They’ll burn the ’ouse over our heads, drive off the cow, they’ll—”
    â€œNo, they will not, never fear, goodwife.” It was Henrietta who spoke with sudden energy. She was pulling back the cover on the cot. “Will, get under the bed.” She picked up her nightcap, cramming it on her head, tucking up her hair beneath it. “Quickly, Will…Oh, do not argue with me…Sir Daniel, youmust hide in the linen chest. ’Twill be a bit cramped.” She lifted the lid, and the strong aroma of camphor filled the little chamber.
    â€œI’ll not hide to be smoked out