Never Dance with a Marquess (The Never Series Book 2), Maggi Andersen [best short novels of all time TXT] 📗

He was soon back in the saddle, and after fighting Prince to make him understand who was in charge, rode to the kennels.

When he arrived there, apart from the din the dogs made to see a visitor arrive, there was no sign of Jeremy.

Bevans came over to him. “Can I help you, milord?”

“Have you seen Lord Leeming today?”

“No, milord. Hasn’t been here.”

“If he comes back, tell him to wait for me in the library.”

“Yes, milord.”

Nicholas turned his horse and, with a curse, rode toward the ruins.

***

Carrie had rushed to the window in time to see Nicholas riding away on a black horse. She watched him until he was out of sight. She’d allowed Jeremy too much latitude while Papa was ill. He and Bella roamed the estate ungoverned. Now their behavior proved a never-ending source of worry for Nicholas. Jeremy’s ears would burn when he came home.

She decided not to tell Bella. There was no sense in worrying her. Back in her bedchamber, Carrie stood at the window overlooking the driveway. Behind her, Anna kept asking her questions. Carrie struggled to concentrate, hating her helplessness. She wished she could have gone with him. The wait would be interminable.

Finally, after leaving instructions for the maid, she left the room.

Another hour passed. It grew late. Surely Jeremy would have returned from the kennels by now, unless he didn’t go there. She spun away and walked the length of the porch beside the towering Doric columns.

Abercrombie stood at the open door. “Would you care for a cup of tea in the sitting room, Miss Leeming? I will alert you immediately if someone arrives.”

“No, thank you, Abercrombie.” She rubbed her arms, her gaze on the drive. “I prefer to wait here.”

Carrie’s pulse skittered at the sound of a horse’s hooves clattering on the gravel. She stepped off the porch to see if Jeremy had returned.

Prince galloped into view, riderless, reins trailing, and continued around the house, disappearing toward the stables. Carrie’s blood chilled. She ran back into the house. With an anxious glance, she brushed past Abercrombie, who had remained at the open door, and flew upstairs to change into her riding habit.

Shortly afterward, she met Bella in the corridor.

Bella stared at her. “You’re going to ride. Why wasn’t I invited?”

“Come downstairs with me. I’ll explain as we go.” Carrie took her arm and urged her to the stairs.

Bella clutched her hands in distress when they reached the entry hall.

“Has anyone come, Abercrombie?” Carrie asked him.

Concern etched into his features. “No, Miss Leeming.”

“I’m going to look for them. If Nicholas arrives, please tell him.”

“Don’t go without me,” Bella wailed.

She rubbed Bella’s arms. “Dearest, I need you to wait for Jeremy.”

“But what if he doesn’t come before nightfall?”

“Of course he will. They will both be back before dark.”

“How can you be sure?” Bella followed her onto the drive. “You’ll get lost, too,” she cried. “I’ll be alone.”

“I won’t go far, Bella.” As Carrie tied the strings of her hat, the head groom ran from the stables. He shook his head at her silent query. “Henning will have some idea where to look. He can accompany me,” she said more briskly than she felt.

As Carrie and the groom cantered down the driveway to take the path to the river, a horse ridden hard came toward them. Carrie reined in, then sagged with relief. Nicholas rode Jeremy’s gelding with her brother perched in front of him. Her fears were well-founded; they were drenched.

“I’m sorry, Carrie.” Jeremy’s face was flushed, his slim frame racked with tremors.

“You scared us, Jeremy.” Carrie’s stomach roiled. “We imagined something terrible had occurred.” She sought Nicholas’s gaze, finding some relief in his reassuring nod and his steady demeanor.

“He’s shaken from his nasty experience, but well enough,” Nicholas said. “Ride ahead, Carrie, order a hot bath for him. Henning, come with me.”

After Nicholas assisted her silent, shamefaced brother into the house, Carrie went with him to his bedchamber and saw to his bath. Jeremy was freezing and shook so badly, he could hardly speak.

After a hot bath, his face was a better color. The shudders racking his slight frame eased. Carrie rubbed his hair with a towel.

“You have behaved recklessly, going off on your own. I hope you realize that.”

Jeremy bowed his head, his shoulders slumped.

“Get into bed,” she ordered when his thick brown locks were dry. “Some hot chocolate and food will make you feel better.”

He climbed in without a murmur, and she tucked in the surrounding blankets. She sat on the edge of the bed. “Can you tell me what happened?”

“I rode over to the ruin, Carrie. It was disappointing, just a stone wall and a pile of rocks.”

“Wasn’t that how Nicholas described it?”

“Yes. But there were steps down to the old dungeons. I thought I might find a skeleton or implements for torture and iron manacles.”

“I doubt Nicholas’s family would torture and imprison people.”

“It’s possible. You don’t read the same books as me.”

Carrie welcomed his flash of spirit and waited, heart thumping, to hear the rest.

“While I was wandering about, a torrent of water burst in and filled the caverns. It caught me unawares. I waded through it, but…” His eyes widened and welled with tears. “I couldn’t find my way out. The freezing cold water rose too fast. It was up to my chest before I knew it. The current swirled around and dragged me under.”

Carrie gasped. “Oh, Jeremy!”

“When I came up again, I climbed onto a nearby pile of rocks, but the water was soon halfway up the cavern walls.” He swallowed. “Then Nicholas called to me. I was never so glad to hear his voice in my life! He swam to reach me, Carrie. The water was over my head.