Cinders and Ashes by Rebecca King Page A

That means Rat
could be aware that no other body was found. Amelia, the man who
was going to push me out of a moving carriage to my death is
undoubtedly on his way to report back to Ballantyne. Because they
cannot be certain of my death, they will almost certainly come back
and look for my body. Believe me; you do not want to be out here,
all alone, when they call by.”
    He knew
he was frightening her but needed her to understand that he simply
would not leave unless she was with him.
    “ Why should they bother with me? It was windy, dark and
raining that night. You could have been anywhere when you were
pushed. Why should they bother to check this road?” Amelia felt her
stomach flip over at the possibility of this Rat person, knocking
on her door. Swallowing hard, she stared at Sebastian and tried not
to let her fear show.
    “ Because they will check the area and will almost certainly
want to search the cottage.” Carefully he swept his hands down her
cold arms, until he was holding her trembling hands in his. “I have
to leave in the next day or so. I need to get in touch with my
brothers. They will be frantic by now and will be trying to find
me. My ribs have healed enough that I can return home, but I cannot
countenance you being left here by yourself. You simply must come with
me.”
    Amelia
felt tears well again, and this time couldn’t prevent them
trickling down her cheeks again. Defiantly, she shook her hair back
from her face and looked him straight in the eye, her voice
firm.
    “ I will not go with you. I will not be your servant or your
whore, and I do not belong in your world. My place is here,
Sebastian.”
    Amelia’s
heart ached for the confusing turn her life had just taken. “You
have to leave. Of course you do. You have to go back to your world,
and leave me to mine.”
    Tugging
her hands out of his, she was too upset to realise she was
revealing her nakedness when she slid from the bed. Quickly she
disappeared behind the retiring screen to dress. She was so lost in
her tumultuous thoughts; she didn’t look back or notice Sebastian’s
masculine interest.
    Sebastian sat on the side of the bed, and watched the curvy
bottom of his intriguing lover disappear from sight. Ignoring the
surge of desire that swept through him at the sight of her
delicious curves displayed so gloriously, he swore loudly. He knew
the prospect of leaving scared her, but had hoped the passion they
shared would have tipped the balance in his favour.
    That the thought of leaving him was too painful for
her, he thought ruefully, considering his
arrogance. Her vehement refusal to go with him was a minor setback
he would just have to skirt around somehow.
    He shook
his head as he carefully banked the fire. There was one thing he
was certain of; when Sir Hubert left later that morning, Sebastian
could waste no time in leaving Glendowie with Amelia in tow,
whether she liked it or not.
    He could
only hope Bestwick was reliable, and provided the relevant manpower
and transport.
     
    “ Come on, Amelia,” Sebastian muttered quietly from his seat in
the dark confines of Lord Bestwick’s most luxurious travelling
coach. Bestwick had been true to his word. A few hand-picked men
had appeared as planned, along with the conveyance, a few minutes
ago. They were under strict instruction that under no circumstance
was Amelia to be unduly scared any more than was necessary, or
harmed in any way.
    So far
he was impressed. The men had quietly disappeared into the dark
shadows of the woods, and he hadn’t seen or heard of them since.
Even the two horses hitched up to the carriage had remained quiet
and steady under the groom’s calming hands.
    Heart
thumping, he became aware of a sudden flurry of movement within the
trees. A soft squeak of surprise rent the air, before all four men
appeared at the side of the carriage, a small bundle of squirming
blankets held between them.
    Sebastian opened the door and watched as the wriggling mass
was set