the old and rotten timbers would have sunk, snagged or broken up in the three miles of bends and banks before the next bridge. His hopes were pinned on sunk or snagged.
“We’ll take Daemon’s horses.”
“Will you now?” a sleepy voice asked from the doorway.
Blake spun and faced his brother, already dressed in high boots, breeches and a sturdy shirt, waistcoat and coat, the very picture of a powerful duke. “You’re going to help?” he asked.
Daemon gave him a don’t-be-daft look before walking farther into the room. “The Duke’s horses will be faster. I had Dominic collect three of the best last night. They should be saddled and ready right about,” he pulled out his fob and examined the face, “now.”
“What are we waiting for, then?” Sophie could be out there, hurt, desperate or in danger. Fourteen years was more than enough time to forget how dangerous the wild countryside could be. The night they were stranded, she’d wanted to start walking back to the inn on her own. The woman had no idea.
Blake didn’t wait for an answer. He turned on his heel and marched through the muddy yard and into the stable. They’d wasted enough time.
Dominic handed him the reins to a towering chestnut and with barely a nod, he swung up into the saddle and took off north. The horse mustn’t have seen exercise for some time in Blakiston’s yard, and sensing his eagerness, took the lead and lengthened his stride, quickening his pace until the only sound was the thunder of his hooves. The wind whipped past, stinging his cheeks.
Blake leaned over his neck, only putting the slightest pressure on the reins to keep the beast to the solid parts of the road rather than the slick mud. One of them was going to wind up with a broken neck if even one hoof was misplaced.
When the northern bridge came into view, Blake looked heavenward and gave thanks, reining in hard.
“I thought you were never going to slow,” Daemon said as he brought a midnight horse to a stop next to his.
“I would rather find Sophie than die trying,” he said.
“You could have ridden past her and never noticed.”
Blake shook his head. “She won’t be on this side of the river and the current is going the opposite way.” He swallowed hard. “If she went in, she’ll be down Matthew’s end.” As soon as he said the words, he groaned. He should have taken the south.
“Don’t even think it,” Daemon ordered. “We will find her safe and sound. That woman has more lives than an alley cat.”
“I hope so,” Blake muttered before crossing the bridge with care. If the water had been strong enough to take the other, then this one could have sustained damage also.
By the time they got to where the footings from the old structure stood, naked and lonely, the sun shone bright on a day of torment. He saw small boot tracks sliding about before ceasing in the harder part of the roadway.
“Thank the Lord she made it over,” Daemon breathed, echoing Blake’s exact thoughts.
With more hope than he dared feel an hour before, they set off again, this time in the direction of Matthew’s house. There was nowhere else to go out here.
“Do you think she was wrong to react the way she did?” Blake asked as they rode. “After what I said?”
“I would have punched you, myself. Or called you out. She did what any woman would have done. But for God’s sake, she should only have fled to the kitchens or barn in this weather.”
“Why are you helping me now? You don’t think I deserve her any more than I do.”
“It’s not about who deserves whom or even how you treat each other. It’s a question of whether you can make her happy. I believe you can. If you can keep your mouth shut.”
But the problem wasn’t going to be his mouth. Even if they found her, how could he tell her everything in his heart before she ripped his head off?
Before he could think further about the angle of his approach, she appeared. Just like that. She walked with long strides over the crest of a hill in the middle of the road on the hard packed dirt and she was...smiling. Vibrantly. The sleeves of her ruined dress were pulled up to her arms and stains darkened the front, but she smiled as she walked.
Blake kicked his heels hard to the sides of the horse until the beast surged