Page 59 of The Storybook Hero
“No. Not if you and your men do as you are told. Don’t attempt to pursue us and I shall drop your weapons just before we turn onto the main road.”
“God help you—the two of you really are mad,” repeated the officer with a dazed shake of his head.
A gust of wind shivered the heavy pine boughs, and a flurry of snow swirled around the small encampment. Alex glanced at the men’s tattered boots and worn cloaks and his lips compressed in a tight line. “I have a suspicion you are going to have just as much need of the Almighty’s help in making your own way home.” The horses shifted in the traces, clouds of vapor muffling their snorted complaints. With a shrug of his shoulders, he signaled for the others to climb into the waiting conveyance.
Octavia didn’t budge. “Alex …”
“The devil take it, must you always argue—” She cut off his snappish words with a mute gesture at the kettle of soup. “You are quite right. But hurry.”
Octavia took up two of the battered bowls from near the fire and ladled out a generous helping for the two children, who fell upon the steaming contents with undisguised relish. After a quick bite for herself, she fixed another portion and carried it to where Alex held the officer at gunpoint. “You must eat as well. I’ll keep my pistol trained on the prisoner.”
He said something rude under his breath.
“Must you always argue?” She mimicked his own earlier tone of exasperation with frightening accuracy. “Don’t be an obstinate ass! Do you really wish to pass out cold from hunger and exhaustion?”
The Frenchman’s lips gave a wry twitch. “It does not appear, monsieur, that your wife is a lady to argue with. Er—” He gave a nervous glance at the gun that was being waved uncomfortably close to his head. “Please do as she says.”
Alex gulped down the soup. “If the lady were my wife, I doubt I should have even a shred of my sanity left.” He tossed aside the empty bowl and took hold of the officer’s coat, pulling him out of Octavia’s line of fire. “Come along with me.”
Octavia thought she heard a whispered prayer of thanks. Stifling an indignant retort, she hustled the children into the interior of the sleigh. How dare the two men claim the workings of the female mind were incomprehensible! What had she done—other than secure transport and supplies—to provoke the mercurial Mr. Leigh’s odious temper? It would serve him right if she?—
Catching sight of two pairs of eyes regarding her with a mixture of awe and curiosity, she moderated her black scowl somewhat. “Try to get some sleep,” she counseled, arranging yet another blanket around their slight forms. “We still have a long journey ahead, but perhaps the worst is behind us.”
Her words proved true enough.Several times during the night, the sleigh was slowed by sentries patrolling the roads, but a vague mutter, accompanied by much pointing and gesturing caused the soldiers to wave them on. By the time dawn glimmered on the horizon, they had not sighted a soul for several hours.
Octavia insisted on taking over the reins, sending Alex inside to grab a bit of rest. No doubt the only reason he agreed, she told herself on climbing up to the driver’s seat, was because his jaw was too frozen to voice a protest. There was silence all around, save for the swoosh of the iron runners through the powdery drifts. The miles continued to slide by and as the sun stole out from behind the thick clouds, the snow covered landscape took on an ethereal beauty, the sharp northern light setting the vast expanse of white to winking and glittering as if it were covered with diamonds.
Precious indeed was each step closer to St. Petersburg, mused Octavia. Once there, she and Alex could each feel a well-deserved measure of satisfaction in having succeeded against overwhelming odds.
And what of their odd little group?
They would, of course, go their separate ways.
Alex would be eager to catch the first ship back to England and deliver the young count to his relatives. She, too, was determined to go on to London, though it might take a little longer to arrange. However, she doubted the Renfrews would dare raise much of an objection when she threatened to expose their misuse of Emma’s funds. Once she had made sure the girl was comfortably settled in a proper household, she could begin to think about what might lay ahead for her.
Though in truth, the future didn’t seem nearly as bright as the sparkling snow. With no references, the chances of securing any respectable position did not seem overly good. Her mouth scrunched up in a rueful grimace. One thing was sure—whatever the future might hold, it did not include a certain ill-tempered, impecunious tutor.
She should be glad of it, for he was the most aggravating, arrogant and sardonic man she had ever met …
So why was she feeling a strange little lurch of her insides at the thought of never seeing Mr. Leigh again after they reached their destination?
She was merely … hungry, Octavia told herself. Besides, she could be sure that Alexander Leigh was feeling no such qualms at the prospects of soon parting ways. It was clear that he thought her a managing, overbearing shrew!
Such lowering thoughts were interrupted by the sight of movement up head. She slowed the horses to a walk and made ready to grab for the pistol tucked away in her pocket. It was, however, only an elderly peasant shuffling along witha large sack of firewood slung over his back. A few hurried inquires revealed that the fighting lay well to the south. Further questioning caused the fellow pause and tug at his long beard.
When it finally came, the answer brought a smile to Octavia’s lips.
“What’s the matter,” demanded Alex, his stubbled face finally making an appearance from inside the cab. “Why are we stopping?”
She gestured at the old man. “He says his wife would be happy to cook a hot meal for us at a reasonable price, and that we might also take a few hour’s rest in his barn. But there is even better news….”
He blinked.
“We are some miles to the northwest of Novgorod. That means we should reach St. Petersburg in two days.”
Fourteen
The journey was completed without further adventure. It remained arctic in temperature, but the main roads were well traveled and afforded a number of decent taverns where they were able stop for hot tea laced with sugar and the opportunity to thaw out from the biting cold.
