Elizabeth Rolls - His Lady Mistress

Autumn 1817

V erity huddled into the murk by the chimney stack, watching through the shifting veil of rain as the two men, little more than dense shadows in the pouring blackness, carried their grisly burden from the cottage to the cart. The horse between the shafts tucked his tail in and stamped restlessly, snorting as the stench of death reached him. The boy at his head murmured in shaking tones and held his lantern higher.

One, two, three A thud followed as the men swung the body on to the back of the cart.

Her heart tightened. Oh, God! Please be gentle.

Right. Got everything, Jake?

Ayeoh, hang on, wheres the? Jake vaulted into the cart and scrabbled around. No. Here tis, Bill.

What?

Thought wed damn near forgot the stake. Wont do to forget that an all. Rector be really put out, he would.

A snort greeted this. Taint him as has to drive it in. Is it? Well, come on. Best get it over with.

Aye. Here, lad, hand over that glim. You get on back to bed. And dont be thinkin on this. Tis a cryin shame. But there aint nothin to do cept obey orders.

Orders. Her gut roiled as the lantern changed hands and the cart lumbered off. Slipping from the shadows, she followed, just close enough not to lose the sickly light in the blinding rain.

At the end of the village street a swift rattle of hooves sent her scurrying for cover in the lych gate of the churchyard. All that she could see of the approaching rider was that he was tall, and wore a heavy cloak. Clenching her teeth against their betraying chatter, Verity strained to hear what the rider said to the men. The words were muffled in the curtain of driving rain, but the deep accents were unfamiliar. It must be the fashionable stranger who had put up at the inn earlier in the day.

She bit back a sob of fury as the horseman rode out at the same slow pace as the cart. It was none of his business! Did he just want a sensational story to tell his friends? Her fists balled in impotent rage. She must not reveal herself. Surely he would not stay long. She could still do what must be done. Blinking rain out of her eyes, she followed the cart and rider out of the village.

The rain swiftly penetrated her threadbare cloak, chilling her to the bone. She shivered uncontrollably, fiercely pretending that it was just the cold, that there was nothing to fear.

Doggedly she repeated the litany over and over in her mind. There is nothing to fear. No bears or wolves. Ghosts dont exist. There is nothing to fear

Except the dark and fear itself. She had never been out this late at all, let alone by herself You arent alone. The cart is aheadno one else will be out on a night like this anyway A shudder racked her at the thought and she forced her mind away nothing to fear except her own self-loathing.

Finally the cart reached the crossroads. Trembling with exhaustion and cold, Verity shrank into the hedgerow, crouched on the wet turf, scarcely noticing the branches clawing at her and the icy trickle of water down her back. With a shaking hand she pushed back draggled, soaking hair and peered out of her sanctuary. At least the rain had stopped and the clouds were breaking up so that the moon cast a fitful, nightmarish light.

The lantern had been set down and gleamed on the sodden ground. Close by it she could see a dark, gaping shadow.

One of the men leaned over it and swore. Bloody ell! Damn graves about half-filled up with water. Gawd! What a miserable business!

Never mind that, answered the other. Least we aint diggin it right now. Get him in an be done with it. Quicker the better, I say. Give me a hand here, then.

Verity watched avidly as the two went to the back of the cart.

Wait. The stranger had dismounted. One of you hold my horse. Ill lay him in the grave.

A choked sob tore free. How dare he? That she had condemned the poor broken creature in the cart to be flung into his grave by a curious stranger.

What the hell was that? muttered one of the men, shifting uneasily.

Verity put the back of her hand against her mouth and bit down hard.

Nothing, said the tall stranger. Just some beast out hunting.

On a night like this? scoffed the other. Nay. Tis easy to see youre from Lunnon! Any sensible creatures deep in its hole by now.