Replenish the Earth Read Online Free PDF Page A

mouth to protest, caught her guest’s eye and closed it again. After chewing her thumb for a moment as if uncertain what to do, she gave the necessary directions.
    Donning her rather old-fashioned cloak and the stouter of her new pairs of shoes, Sarah set off. The morning was cold and the ground damp, but today the sun was shining. She had no trouble following the landlady’s directions and finding the lane leading to her house. It didn’t seem well used. High banks at each side were covered in tangles of dead vegetation and there were deep ruts in places, half-filled with mud, around which she had to pick her way with great care.
    For the first time she began to wonder whether she should have waited for the trap. Or at least, sent for Mr Pursley to act as her guide.
    Not used to being alone anywhere, and unaccustomed to the quiet of the countryside, she looked around her a little nervously as she walked. What a fool I am! she thought after a while. Anyone would think there were wolves and brigands in the woods. The place will be very pretty in spring when the leaves are out, I dare say. But today, she couldn’t deny that there was a sad feel to the damp brown landscape and try as she would, she couldn’t shake off a feeling of apprehension.
    Suddenly, a dog came bounding down the slope on her right, a great shaggy creature, barking furiously. Sarah cried out in dismay as it leaped up at her, sending her sprawling on the ground. A man’s voice shouted angrily from somewhere and the dog, which had been standing next to her, still barking but wagging its tail furiously, rushed off again.
    As she struggled to her feet, she found a strong hand under her arm making the task easier. She looked up to thank her rescuer and found herself gazing at a man of about her own age, whose face might have been deemed handsome had it not been marred by a scowl. For a moment, she forgot everything as she stared at him. He looked so healthy and strong, not pale like the gentlemen she had seen in London, nor shrunken and furtive like the people who frequented Furness Road.
    It was unusual to find a man so much taller than she was. It felt - strange. It must be that which was making her heart pound and her pulse race. Or perhaps it was his stare, for he had the kind of eyes which seemed to probe right into you. Such dark, compelling eyes.
    She realised he’d said something and found herself blushing like a ninny and stuttering as she tried to understand his question. What was wrong with her today? She must be more tired than she’d realised. Then she noticed the streaks of mud on her cloak and skirt, and that jerked her out of her silliness. ‘Was that your dog, sir?’
    ‘I’m afraid so.’
    ‘You should keep such a brute under better control!’
    He took a step backwards and his apologetic expression was replaced by the scowl. ‘Santo’s not dangerous! And anyway, it’s his job to warn us of strangers walking along the lane. You should have kept to the public highway, madam. This lane leads nowhere but to Broadhurst Manor.’
    She gave him back scowl for scowl. ‘As the new owner of Broadhurst, I have every right to come this way, so you had better keep that ill-trained brute under more control in future, because I have no desire to be attacked every time I walk to and from the village!’ She began to limp on.
    ‘Wait!’ He hurried after her. ‘You’ve hurt your foot. Please let me . . . ‘
    ‘I’m not hurt.’ She set off again, but slipped on a patch of muddy ground and if he hadn’t caught hold of her, would have fallen again.
    For a moment, she couldn’t move, because she’d jarred her bad hip. She closed her eyes and clung to him as pain washed through her.
    His voice was a growl of sound from just above her ear. ‘You are hurt.’
    ‘I just - twisted my leg,’ she said, through gritted teeth. ‘It will pass in a moment.’
    His voice was gentler. ‘Hold on to me.’
    She had no choice but to do so until the