AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s him—” Felix wheezed, leaning against the door jamb before his legs could buckle. “Kenney has taken her. I ken he has. There’s nay other reason for this. Edwina wouldnae have run from me, nor would she have wandered somewhere that I wouldnae be able to find her. Nae after last night. Nae after we’ve just been married.”
It was a keen and startling sense of clarity that pierced his skull. He had insulted Kenney, he had wounded Kenney’s pride, and he had threatened the fellow. Of course, Felix should have known that Kenney would not simply accept that and return to Beckingdale Manor with his tail between his legs.
“Ye cannae make assumptions just yet,” Meredith said softly, resting a hand upon her brother’s shoulder. “Aye, Kenney isnae here, but that doesnae mean he’s taken her.”
Felix whirled around. “Then whyisnaehe here? I ken he dinnae leave last night. The stable lad said nay one had departed yet, when I went to see if Edwina was with Buttercup.”
“Then let that soothe ye,” Meredith insisted. “If nay one left, then Kenney must still be here, and I’m certain that Edwina will be, too. Ye’re nervous because ye love her. ”
Felix stared at her, wishing he could believe what she was saying. But his heart told a different story. His heart knew something was wrong, terribly wrong, and it was only a matter of time before he found out what.
“Find my wife,” he urged, leveling his gaze at the search party. “And if ye cannae find her, find Lord Beckingdale.”
This all pointed to Kenney. Ofthat, Felix was certain.
CHAPTER28
Edwina did not knowhow long she had been lashed to the back of the horse, but her bruised and aching ribs seemed to suggest that it had been a fair while. Still, she did not dare to thrash or make a muffled sound, in case it gained her another knock to the head
So, it came as something of a surprise when the horse came to a slow halt. Edwina heard the creak of leather as the rider got down from the saddle, and held what little breath she had as heavy footsteps came around to the rear of the horse.
She winced as strong hands seized her, dragging her off the beast and back onto the sharp ridge of a broad shoulder. She was carried only a few paces before she was unceremoniously thrown to the ground. The impact knocked the wind out of her, though a blanket of grass softened her fall somewhat.
“Are ye goin’ to be quiet and still?” a cruel voice rasped.
Edwina nodded.
“If ye try to scream or run, there’s nay place for ye to hide that I willnae find ye. And ye’d best believe that I can run faster than ye,” the voice continued. It was familiar, somehow, but distorted by the sack over her head and a hoarseness, as if they had recently had a sore throat.
Edwina nodded again.
Her captor grabbed the hem of the sack and began to pull it away from her, disturbing her nightdress in a way that unnerved her. She wore nothing underneath, and there was a very real chance that the skirt of it would ride all the way up to her breasts.
To her surprise, her captor seemed to notice the potential for indecency, and pinned the hem of her nightdress to the ground with his foot, before continuing to remove the sack. A kindly gesture that, perhaps, unnerved her even more than nudity.
A moment later, the sack was tossed to the grass, and she was free to feel the cool air and sunlight upon her face. Her captor stood behind her, and she did not dare to turn around as he unfastened the gag from around her mouth.
“We’re only restin’ for a short while, so daenae get comfortable,” the man warned. “Ye’ll be goin’ back in that sack and gag. I would have ye ride with me, but I cannae risk ye causin’ trouble.”
Curious about that voice, so strange and yet so familiar, Edwina finally mustered the courage to turn and look upon the man who had stolen her away from her beloved. Her eyes widened in horror, and though she had promised not to, the shock ripped a scream from her throat. Nearby crows exploded from their nests: a sea of black wings taking to the skies, messengers of bad tidings.
And this was certainly bad.
* * *
The search had proven fruitless. Felix had not rested on his anxious laurels in the Morning Room, as his sister had wanted, but had joined Ryder and Angus in scouring the Castle and grounds for any hint of Edwina or Kenney. Both seemed to have vanished into thin air, and Felix knew that it was no coincidence.
“What do ye want to do, Felix?” Angus ran a stressed hand through his hair. “Should we search again? There might be somewhere we havenae checked.”
Felix shook his head. “We’ve searched everywhere. Wherever my wife is, I doubt she’s in the Castle anymore.”
“I just cannae believe thatnayone would’ve seen them, though,” Ryder chimed in. “There should’ve been guards posted this mornin’, and it’s nae as if ye can leave through the gates without someone spottin’ ye.”
Felix swallowed thickly. “Aye, ye’re right. There should’ve been guards posted, but I informed them all that they could partake in the festivities. I doubt anyone was awake when Edwina was snatched away.”
“But John would’ve taken it upon himself to watch the gates, would he nae?” Angus glanced over the small group of weary men, many of whom were still nursing headaches and unsettled stomachs. “Speakin’ of which, where is he? I havenae seen him all mornin’.”
Felix arched a puzzled eyebrow. “I thought he was leadin’ one of the searches?”
