Cold Comfort (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 5)

Only yesterday.

Shaking her head in disbelief, Emmeline turned around and spied Oliver sitting atop his horse yet hidden deep within he shadows of the barn. At first glance, she missed him. It was only when his horse nodded his head, trying to tug on the reins, that she noticed him. Her gaze lingered for a moment, but he was temporarily distracted by tugging the horse’s head back up and talking briefly to Harry, who vaulted into his saddle with an ease that was startling.

Emmeline reluctantly hurried across the yard only to be halted half-way by Niall.

“Over here,” he called.

Emmeline changed direction and made her way over to him, and the large beast he stood beside. She wanted to protest that she couldn’t possibly ride such a huge animal, but wisely kept her mouth shut. Instead, she dutifully handed her bag over to Niall, who threw it to Rhys, who placed it carefully into the back of the cart he was driving. Rhys then deftly flicked the reins and guided the cart out of the yard.

“Where is he taking her?” Emmeline whispered quietly as she turned away from the blanket covered object lying motionless in the back of the cart beside her bag.

“To the coroner,” Niall replied honestly. “She has to be examined and certified dead. The men there know what to do with her.”

Emmeline nodded but swiftly forced all thoughts of the poor woman’s family, and the grief they would feel when they were told the awful news about their loved one. Instead, she focused on stepping onto the mounting block Niall nudged toward her. Seconds later, she found herself staring down at the ground several feet away, battling with a bone-deep terror.

“Just hang on and let me do the rest,” Niall urged as he tucked her boot into the stirrup closest to him. “You are good to go.”

Emmeline’s cheeks blushed furiously. Daintily, she tugged her cloak around the bare flesh of her legs and prayed to God it would stay in place throughout the journey. Eventually, tense and on edge, Emmeline followed Niall out of the yard. As she passed the open maw of the barn door, she peered into the darkness, but was surprised to note that the shadows were empty. There was no sign of Oliver or any of the other men of the Star Elite. They had all melted into the shadows and had simply vanished.

Shaking her head in disbelief, Emmeline dutifully tugged her hood higher to cover her features a little more, and began to pray for it to be all over sooner rather than later.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Many hours later, a stiff and very sore Emmeline studied the ground beneath her horse with a regret that came from her very soul. She had never wanted to cry so much in her life, and suddenly struggled to contain the urge to refuse to get off the animal who had walked practically all day with very little rest and absolutely no objection whatsoever. It was only the thought that the animal might need to be rid of her that forced her to try to dismount.

“Where is the mounting block?” Emmeline whispered.

“There isn’t one,” Oliver replied after a brief search for it. “Here. Let me help you.”

He studied her beautiful face. Even with her hair uncharacteristically askew, she looked beautiful. Exhausted but stunningly pretty. So much so, he edged closer to her without having even realised he had moved.

Within seconds, Emmeline found herself standing before him, this time on knees that shook for an entirely different reason. She clutched at Oliver’s arms fiercely for a moment while she willed herself to remain upright.

“Stop laughing,” she growled when she saw his lips twitch.

“You have done a wonderful job,” he assured her. “Especially for someone who is not used to riding.”

“That has to be the most arduous day I think I have ever endured,” she muttered. “I don’t think I have a muscle that doesn’t ache.”

Oliver grinned. “You wait until it all catches up with you tomorrow.”

Emmeline rolled her eyes. “Can’t wait,” she murmured ruefully, but doubted her discomfort could get much worse.

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“Come on in,” he urged softly.

Oliver tucked her hand in his and tugged her gently toward the huge house standing in resplendent glory at the side of the large stable block. It overlooked a large lake at the rear. The left side of the property faced the stable block leaving the right side facing the village, which was nearly two miles away as the crow flies. There was, most importantly, no earthly possibility of anybody venturing anywhere near the house without being noticed by the men who would, somehow, be keeping watch all day every day.

“We weren’t followed?” Emmeline asked as she sauntered after him.

“No. They did try but the first time we doubled back we lost them,” Oliver assured her. “They were heading in the wrong direction that last time we saw them. That gives us an advantage because we have effectively now disappeared. They have no idea where we have gone so we are free to talk and plan.”

Emmeline frowned at him. “What day is this?”

“Wednesday. We move on Smidgley tomorrow. For now, we are going to have something to eat and then get an early night. We need a good night’s sleep because we have a long day tomorrow and a journey to the Red Lion to undertake.”

“Smidgley then has to go to gaol. Will you sleep at all?”