Abandoned to the Prodigal - Mary Lancaster Page 0,68
grooms who lived over the stables, she could saddle her own horse. She would be safe before her father knew she had gone.
*
Excitement ensured Dan woke early. Which suited him because he’d been going to walk round a couple of tenant farms with Patrick.
The servants were only just up by the time he ran downstairs to the kitchen, snatched some toast from Cook with a wink and a grin, and ran back up to the front door.
He knew before he pulled back the bolts that it was raining. What he didn’t expect was to see the sodden wet figure of Lady Juliet Lilbourne asleep in the corner of the portico.
In sheer alarm, he dropped to a crouch beside her, seizing her by the sodden shoulders. “Juliet! Juliet, in God’s name, what is wrong?”
Until her eyes fluttered open and relief paralyzed him, he hadn’t realized how far he had fallen. Her bewildered gaze focused on him, and she threw her arms around his neck.
He could only hold her in a rush of tenderness, lift her in his arms as he stood. Then, her breath of laughter pierced his anxiety.
“Oh, let me stand, or you will ruin me all over again.”
“Minx,” he said huskily, letting her drop to her feet. “But what on earth are you doing here? You’re soaking wet.” His gaze fell on the small carpetbag behind her.
“I’ve run away,” she blurted. “I have to marry Jeremy or Barden, and I won’t!”
“Of course, you won’t,” he said calmly. “Infamous idea.” He picked up the bag and ushered her inside.
Griffin stood facing them with a face like thunder.
Dan scowled. “Lady Juliet—”
“I’m aware who her ladyship is, sir. I’m also aware what his lordship’s reaction will be to her presence at Myerly.”
“Nonsense,” Dan retorted. “Even my grandfather would not send a lady away in this condition, and I most certainly will not. Send Susan to us, and she can take Lady Juliet to whichever chamber is still free.”
“Very good, sir,” Griffin replied stiffly. “And you will be where, sir?”
“Visiting his lordship, of course, to bring him the good news.” With that, Dan ushered the shivering Juliet into the reception room.
“I’m sorry,” Juliet blurted. “I didn’t mean to bring trouble upon you. I just needed to run, and I knew you would help me, only I didn’t think it all through…”
“There’s nothing to think about. No one will throw you out.”
She shivered, no doubt remembering that the Alfords had already thrown her out of their house. Beside them, what were the chances with a grumpy old man who hadn’t spoken to her father in more than twenty-five years?
“We’ll sort it out, Juliet,” he assured her. “How long were you out there?”
“I don’t know. I lost track of time after I spoke to Papa. I was so angry…and I hadn’t even realized it was raining when I left the house. I didn’t want to go back for a cloak. It was still dark when I got here, so I stabled my horse…and then I realized I couldn’t knock on the door in the middle of the night, and I had no idea which window was yours. So, I waited for the house to wake up. I didn’t mean to be discovered asleep. And now I must look like a drowned rat!”
“Kitten,” he assured her. “Or a very beautiful urchin. Either way—”
Susan appeared, and he broke off, probably for the best. Susan’s eyes widened as she recognized Juliet, but she only curtseyed. “If you’d follow me, ma’am.”
Dan gave the maid Juliet’s bag. “Is my mother up yet?” he asked her.
“I don’t know, sir. She hasn’t rung.”
He nodded and watched them go. Juliet glanced back once over her shoulder as though regretting her hasty decision.
She should have been. He should have been. But he wasn’t.
He waited until the door of the small chamber on the half-landing closed. Then he walked to the stairs and ran lightly up. But before he reached his mother’s chamber, Colin appeared in the doorway of his, in his shirt sleeves and still unshaven.
“What the devil’s going on? Please tell me you haven’t brought Lady Juliet here!”
“I haven’t brought Lady Juliet here,” Dan said obligingly.
“Then who did arrive? My man said it was Lady…”
“It is,” Dan said and knocked loudly on his mother’s door.
“Daniel, for the love of—” Colin began.
Dan ignored him and went in at his mother’s yawning command.
She was sitting up in bed, drinking hot chocolate.
“He has chocolate?” Dan said, distracted.
“My father? Lord, no, I brought it from London. Geoffrey