AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When had her head fetched up against his shoulder? She trembled, and he tightened his hold, and then—and then he sighed, and his lips moved against her jaw. His nose tucked behind her ear, and he inhaled, gasped, inhaled again, said “Miss Barrington—”
A clatter of hooves on stone sent the duke leaping away like a grasshopper. One of the colts had left the crowd and come around the back way, presumably to sneak up on the rest to catch them off guard; when he loped into the light of the moon, Tabitha could not believe her eyes.
“Ash! How in the world did you make it up that rock?” she scolded, and the young horse ducked his head. “You will undo all the good that poultice did!” It had worked very quickly, and she reckoned it had more to do with his healing powers than hers. “I know I am not supposed to be here, but please do not tell on me? Let us make a bargain: I won’t tell Mr. Marshall on you, fair enough? There’s a good lad.”
The colt slid with exuberance down the opposite side of the hill and galloped off to join his herd. “I only treated that young fellow’s hoof the other day, and I—oh, for goodness’ sake.”
The eventful evening ended on a solitary note: the duke had evaporated like a morning mist. Tabitha donned the coat and scarf and picked her way down a less rocky side of the hill, studiously minding her feet and not her thoughts…and definitely not the pinch in her heart.
Nine
Tabitha’s work had ever been her refuge: When circumstances threatened to sully her peace of mind, she turned to crafting and distilling and combining. Taking things that seemed contrary and putting them together harmoniously was utterly satisfying; perfecting the balance of a tonic, in its ingredients and its dosage, gave her an immense sense of accomplishment.
There was no relief in her concoctions today.
After being left to make her way back from thecursio, she had crept up to her room and risen before the dawn, to escape Timothy’s inevitable curiosity. She walked and walked, well away from the duke’s part of the park, returned to the cottage, smuggled some bread and cheese from the larder, and holed herself up in the healing shed. She made creams and soaps, distilled herbs into oils, even threw together some herbal sachets. She derived little pleasure and no distraction from the work: it was so ingrained in her, it allowed her mind to roam wild.
Much like theversipellesof Lowell Hall ran thecursio. How wonderful it had been to see such a thing; all the sights she’d seen on the Continent paled in comparison. She had been impressed by the Colosseum in Rome, by the Acropolis of Athens; steeped in history though they were, those static structures had nothing on seeing every species inhabiting Lowell Hall in the skins of their essential selves, in living, breathing, amazing freedom.
The duke surely missed being in his lionskin. It had to be painful, on many levels, to be unable to Change. On the other hand, he was becoming more and more comfortable in his manskin. At least he was last night. With his heat and his scent and protectiveness.
But why would he run away? Had it to do with her? Had she said something, done something that made him go?
Enough was enough. This was unlike her. She was as sensible as the day was long. Her bones were knit together with prudence, their marrow a sober core, her every thought and deed logical and judicious. She observed symptoms and gathered information as she gathered her herbs, organized her thoughts as she did her trug, never jumping to conclusions, never foolishly hoping for the outcome she preferred. She allowed nature to take its course, the aid of her wisdom and experience a bulwark upon which she leaned with confidence.
It would be most prudent and judicious to take the advice she gave out so freely, her favorite being that an overactive mind required activity of the body. Therefore, she would take another walk, and perhaps she would sleep. As she had not the night before.
Valerian tea might be on the cards that night.
Tabitha banked the fire in the hearth and put everything in its place then draped herself in scarves and coats, including the one upon which she had lain with the duke. She held it to her nose, and there was that bergamot again, with—she sniffed again—a hint of mint? And a kind of…cake? How odd. She held the collar tight around her neck and wrapped another scarf around to keep it nestled against her cheek.
Thus swathed, she decided to head for the Hall.
Its forecourt was cultivated and manicured more in line with a typical big house, although the topiary carved as lunging wolves alluded to the pack’s secrets, as did the fountain featuring a variety of statuary beasts, horses and bears and cats among them, cavorting in the flowing water. A massive hedge nearly two stories high shielded the wildness of the park behind from unwelcome eyes.
On the path ahead came her brother, radiant with a good day’s work doing what he loved.
He opened his mouth to hail her, and she shook her head.
As he passed, he squeezed her arm.
She stopped and turned. He looked back over his shoulder and blew her a kiss.
How fortunate she was in her brother. Even though he would leave her alone only until he deemed it time for her to talk about what was bothering her.
Before she knew it, she stood on the terrace in front of Lowell Hall. Ought she to have gone to the kitchen door instead? She was there, so there was nothing for it but to knock.
“Good evening, Miss Barrington.” For a rooster, Mr. Coburn exuded more than his fair share of dignity. If she had done wrong by not going around to the back, he would not say so, but his demeanor expressed his opinion.
“And to you, Mr. Coburn. I am here to collect my mending.”
“I see.” And he did not like it. Had she made yet another mistake? “As I am currently without an underbutler, you will find Lady Coleman and Miss Mossett in that pantry.”
“I’ll see her there, Coburn.” As quiet as a cat, a comparison she suspected he would not like, the Duke of Lowell appeared at his butler’s side.
“As you wish, Your Grace.” The butler inclined his head and looked down his nose simultaneously.
“I have offended Mr. Coburn,” Tabitha said as she and Lowell made their way deeper into the house.
