Caught in the Storm of a Duke's - Abby Ayles Page 0,11

a chill.”

Tears streamed from Judith’s eyes. She was cold, truly chilled to the bone.

Yet, she could not care less about herself. Mr. Giraud was still out there.

“Why wouldn’t he stop the carriage, Amy? He should know better.”

“Well, my lady, you did make it clear that you want him to take us to Aunt Tia’s at all costs.”

“That is ridiculous! I did not know the weather would become so violent.”

“No matter. All we can hope and pray for now is that we all make it out of this … safe and sound.”

More tears rolled down Judith’s cheeks. Somehow, she knew that was a fool’s hope. Something terrible was indeed going to happen.

Heartbroken, she dropped her head into her palms and began to sob.

“Dear Lord, what have I done?”

Chapter 5

Mr. Giraud was a simple man who lived a simple life. He had a wife and two daughters back in London, all of whom he loved and cared for very much.

He earned an honest living as a coachman.

Many times, he had traveled this route and several others, bearing passengers to and from their destinations. Perhaps his work was not as fancy as that of, say, a captain on the sea, but he was just as hardworking.

He watched the weather, scouted the terrains, sought the best travel paths and wholesome resting places suited to all kinds of passengers from across every social class.

He was good at what he did, even if he said so himself.

It was why, when he had awoken earlier that morning, even before the weather had become blustery, he had looked to the far end of the sky and known there was a storm coming.

Having heard many sad tales, he knew better than to be caught in a storm, especially while driving a carriage. It never ended well.

Accidents were bound to happen and, all too often, lives were lost. Those who survived rarely did so in one piece.

So, there and then, he had made up his mind to speak to the fair lady and advise her that their journey be delayed.

Well, he had tried.

She had remained obstinate, determined to cover more ground before the day’s end.

He should have continued to insist. He should have refused. At the very least, he should have demanded that if she still wished to travel, then she would have to do it without him.

But the lady was the daughter of a wealthy baron, and he was no more than a common man. By all counts, she was his better.

The baron had paid Mr. Giraud a handsome sum to bear his daughter safely to the north.

It was five times worth his usual fees. How could he have refused?

Had he known the lady was so impetuous, he would still have accepted the offer, aware that it was the kind that only came once in a lifetime.

Then, he had heard her say she was going to pay him even more.

There was so much he could do with the money. At the very least, buy gifts for his dear Marie and the girls.

They had been pleading for more dresses for a while.

Mr. Giraud had imagined himself returning home bearing boxes of beautiful dresses.

The smiles on their faces, the light in their eyes, would have been worth it all.

However, as he struggled to see amid the downpour, he came to the realization that the morning before might have been the last time he would ever see them.

He wouldn’t be returning with any dresses. He wouldn’t be returning at all.

He chided himself as those dreadful thoughts crossed his mind. It would not do to welcome such evil when all hope was not yet lost.

If only he could see, he would stop the carriage and join the ladies.

Alas, he was not certain they were in a good place. What was to say the rain would not cause a flood and end up carrying them away?

He simply had to continue. Perhaps he would be able to lead them to a place safe enough to rest and wait out the storm?

Once again, the skies rumbled. This time, when lightning struck, it landed between the horses.

He had been having a hard time enough, trying to get them to keep moving.

They were already uneasy from all the rain and wind. Almost being hit by lightning caused them to snap.

Their neighs filled the air as they rebelled, digging their hind heels into the ground, whilst they reared their forelegs into the air.

The reins started to slip from Mr. Giraud’s hands as the horses struggled to break free. He