Mistletoe and Mayhem - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,209

swam. As he left the tavern, the doorway shrank. He rammed into the doorjamb. Rubbing his shoulder, he stumbled into the night. Overindulging and missing supper left Julius good and foxed. His mother would have his head when he arrived home—unless he could slip into Everly Manor without anyone noticing. Congratulating himself on his cleverness, he set off with a wobbly gait to retrieve his horse.

“Gads!” The heels of his new boots were uneven. He’d pointed out the minor difference to the cordwainer in London to no avail. The man had been making boots for Julius’s father for years and was personally affronted by Julius’s observation. Not wanting to cause trouble for his father, he dropped the matter. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Diffuse light from lamps mounted to the weathered Tudor buildings illuminated the dirt lane as he made his way to the mews. Nightfall had come earlier than Julius expected. As he neared at the mews, a northerly gust whipped the tails of his greatcoat. He smashed his hat lower on his head to keep from losing it and greeted the stable master watching over the livestock.

“A storm is coming this way, Lord Julius,” the older man said. “Do you deem it wise to ride for home tonight? The missus would make you a bed if there are no rooms to be had at the inn.”

“Thank you for the kind offer, Hudson, but do you believe a few snowflakes frighten me more than my mother?”

“The marchioness’s a fearsome lady, that she is.” The weathered lines around the stable master’s eyes were magnified when he smiled. “If I let you ride off in this weather, I fear I’ll feel the sting of her sharp tongue following services Christmas morn.”

“After church, indeed. Mother would meet you at the front door.”

“Oof!” The stable master winced and chuckled. He was an affable chap who’d worked at the mews since Julius was a boy and knew his family well.

“Lady Seabrook has a heart of gold,” Hudson said. “Lots of good she does for the village.”

“She is a good mother, too, but like you, I’d rather she not hear I risked life and limb to get home tonight.” Julius tapped a finger against his temple. “I have a plan.”

Hudson, having fulfilled his duty, shook his head and disappeared into the mews. The sweet scent of hay and richness of leather escaped through the opened door. Julius waited. His damned uneven boots made him sway side to side. He glowered at the mud-splattered excuse for footwear and threatened to toss them in the bin at Everly Manor if they didn’t behave.

A moment later the stablehand led Julius’s horse outside to the mounting block. The Welsh Cob’s mahogany coat glimmered in the lantern light, and his pale blond mane lit like a halo. His name was fitting. Torch. If Julius believed riding home posed a danger, he wouldn’t risk an injury to his beloved horse.

Julius pulled a piece of carrot from his greatcoat pocket and spoke lovingly to the gelding. Torch sniffed the offering before gently taking it. The treat wasn’t a bribe but an appreciation of his patience.

“Not much longer until you are back to your warm stall,” Julius murmured. “I promise, a bucket of oats awaits you.”

Hudson cleared his throat; Julius startled. He’d forgotten about his audience. Julius’s brothers always teased him whenever they caught him talking to the horses, but he saw it no different from their sister Ammie chattering to her dogs. If the older man thought the behavior was odd, he never gave a hint of it. Julius dug into his purse for an extra coin to thank him.

“Godspeed, my lord."

As Julius rode away from the village with its glowing lamps and cheerfully lit windows, darkness engulfed him and his horse. A full moon fought to penetrate the inky clouds creeping across the sky, but its valiant efforts were for naught. When Torch wanted to trot on the rutted road, Julius held him back. Anything other than walking was too risky, even if his horse could see better than him.

He couldn’t be certain how far he’d traveled before a vicious gust tore through the bare trees. The first few stinging icy pellets caught him by surprise, but not nearly as much as the flash of blue light that illuminated the sky. A distant rumble followed.

His horse tensed beneath him. Julius leaned forward to pat Torch’s neck and speak soothing words, but another bright flash and clap of thunder caused the gelding