Page 48 of The Rebellious Countess
He felt as if he were on his own mission of murder, and the only victim would be his wife.Mon Dieu, if his plan of using her as a wife caused her death…
“Don’t worry. I never get sick,” she whispered in French, her accent a bit too stilted for his comfort.
Máira was in tune with his emotions. It was uncanny and unlike anyone else since his father’s death. Even Hag no longer knew his heart the way she once had. He squeezed Máira’s waist and spoke in his native tongue as well. “I’m going to hold you to those words. Now be a good wife and be quiet.”
She gave a huge sigh, as if she found him impossible.
He nuzzled her hair and whispered in English in her ear. “Your French is atrocious.”
She smacked his hand but did not argue. For now, for him she would be the obedient silent wife, later she might throttle him.
Elias found a stable where he would have to either rest their horse or talk the proprietor into trading the stallion for a fresher mount, an act of necessity that would cost him plenty with Tomás.
He relieved Máira of her pistol, shoved it into the back of his waistband and dismounted before lifting Máira to the ground. “Stay behind me.”
He had already told her they would not speak in English again until they were safely aboard theMaribelle. He’d thought she would object, but she acquiesced without argument. Just as now, she stayed behind him as they entered the large stable with the stallion in tow.
“Bonsoir!” he called out to the quiet space in front of them. The stable was lit. Someone had to be inside. No fool would leave lanterns burning in a veritable tinder box if someone wasn’t there.
The snick of a musket being cocked behind him made him slowly turn, reaching behind him to wrap his arm around Máira to keep her close to his back as he turned to face the threat.
Looking down from the loft above the main door, stood a teenage boy with eyes wide as he held the weapon up against his jaw, the barrel aimed in their direction. If it weren’t for the way the boy quivered, the muzzle would have been aimed at his chest.
“We mean you no harm. We are looking for a fresh horse.”
The boy shook his head, his dark black hair spilling into his eyes. “We have none.”
Elias smiled. “As you can see, I am from the imperial guard.” He hoped the blood on the borrowed uniform did not show too much. “My horse is of good stock. He is more valuable to you than any of the nags you have.”
The boy shook his head once more. “You need to leave. Everyone here is infected.”
Elias nodded his head. “That’s why we have come. We are on our way to Mont-Saint-Michel. My wife will tend the sick there. When I became ill, she did not, and she saved me. She is blessed by the Almighty. She can help the military men at Mont-Saint-Michel survive as well.”
The shake of the boy’s head made Elias want to stop him from talking before the words left his mouth. “They’re dying like flies. Everyone is.”
Well, shite. That was the last thing he wanted to hear. “Then it is important that we get there quickly.”
“I told you, I have no horses.”
Elias looked from stall to stall. Every stall appeared as empty as the boy said. “None? Why?”
“They were stolen by people trying to escape the illness.”
“So why do you have the stable lit up as if you do have horses available?”
“To let my aunt know I am well.”
“I don’t understand?” None of it made sense.
“She is caring for her children. They are all sick. My uncle died, and that’s when people stole their horses. My aunt asked that I come here and make sure nothing else was taken. She sent word of her husband’s death to my parents, and they sent me to help, but when I arrived, the children were sick. She did not want me to go inside her house out of fear that I will get it as well.”
A donkey brayed in the rear of the barn.
“You have a donkey?” The beast of burden would have to do. It would kill the stallion if they continued.
His question brought a bark of laughter from the boy that was hardly filled with joy. “Pierre cannot help you. He is nearly twice my age.”
Elias winced. No, he could not take a chance with a stubborn old beast that may drop dead before they reached Mont-Saint-Michel. They would have to stop for the night and move on in the morning after their horse rested, but if things were as bad as the boy made them out to be, he wasn’t about to leave his horse unattended here.
