Page 56 of A Sense of Injustice
Luke cursed when told by Falkner, who’d been landlord of the White Hart since Luke had been in short coats, that he’d just missed Cleethorp.
‘Any idea where he has gone or when he will be back?’ Luke asked.
‘Sorry, milord, but no. He’s not the most sociable of blighters and keeps himself pretty much to himself. Don’t think he’s too keen on mixing with the hoi-polloi. He hired a horse from our mews and rode off somewhere a while back like his backside was on fire.’
‘Damn,’ Luke muttered.
‘He’ll likely be back in time for supper.’
‘Don’t tell Cleethorp that I was looking for him.’
‘He won’t hear it from me, sir.’ Falkner scratched his ear. ‘Not that he talks to me except to complain about something or other.’ Falkner sniffed. ‘Wish I’d told him we was full now. I could do without his sort lording it over us lesser mortals. Would you like me to send a lad up to the Court when he gets back?’
Luke nodded, thinking that would save him another wasted trip. ‘That would be most obliging.’
‘Nothing’s too much trouble for you, milord.’
‘Good day to you then, Falkner.’
Falkner nodded. ‘Good day to you an’ all.’
Luke was halfway home when Romulus started to behave oddly. He kept darting off in the wrong direction. At first Luke thought he was chasing rabbits, but he kept his nose pressed to the ground and repeatedly rushed back to Luke, barking.
‘What is it boy? You want me to follow you?’
Romulus barked again, making Luke smile as he recalled Flora’s conviction that the dog understood every word spoken to him. He turned Onyx in the direction that Romulus seemed determined to take, and encountered Paul riding away from Beranger Court, leading a riderless Amethyst. Luke’s heart quailed. Flora had gone out on her horse to visit Miss Pearson before Luke had left for the village. God forbid that she had been thrown on the return journey. He knew he should have insisted upon her taking someone with her. The irresponsible chit was determined to test his sanity!
‘What happened?’ Luke asked curtly.
‘No idea. I was told Amethyst had come back alone so I came out to look for Flora. Hopefully, she’s just taken a tumble. Nothing worse.’
Luke thought about Cleethorp’s sudden departure from the White Hart and let forth with a string of colourful curses. He turned Onyx in the same direction as Paul’s horse and the two friends moved forward at a brisk pace.
‘I wasn’t sure whether to come alone or bring reinforcements with me,’ Paul said, ‘so I’m glad I met you. I mean, if she’s run across Cleethorp there’s no telling how either of them will react. You know how outspoken she can be.’
Luke shuddered. ‘All too well.’
‘Anyway, you can make all the decisions now.’
‘Cleethorp wasn’t at the White Hart. No one knows where he’s gone,’ Luke said, an urgent edge to his voice as he pushed Onyx into a canter.
‘He isn’t stupid enough to try and harm Flora,’ Paul said, sounding as though he was trying to convince himself as much as Luke. ‘It’s more a case of stopping her from laying into him.’
Luke ground his jaw, fury and worry radiating through him in violent waves. ‘He had damned well better not lay a finger on her or I swear I will not be responsible for my actions.’
‘Come on. If we cut through this coppice we’ll save a few minutes.’
‘But if she’s fallen along this path somewhere and is incapacitated, we’ll miss her.’
Luke pushed his hat onto the back of his head, momentarily unsure of himself. Romulus made his mind up for him when he ran on ahead, straight through the trees, nose to the ground. He turned his head, as though telling them to get a move on and trust his instincts. Luke made the decision to do just that.
They emerged from the trees a short time later with no sign of Flora and rejoined the quiet lane that led to Mrs Pearson’s abode. Luke paused to scan the area in all directions, shading his eyes against a weak lowering sun, but nothing moved other than the odd leaf fluttering down. A dog barked in the distance and the sound of the church clock striking the half-hour resonated across the valley. Romulus again ran ahead towards the Pearson residence. Paul and Luke followed but stopped abruptly when they saw a horse tethered outside a dilapidated barn. Luke held up a hand to stop Paul from speaking. Romulus remained alert at Onyx’s side, watching Luke through adoring eyes, waiting for his command. Luke strained his ears, listening for sounds other than the wind, and could just make out two voices.
One of which was endearingly familiar.
‘She’s alive,’ he said, dismounting and tying Onyx’s reins to the nearest tree. Paul did likewise. Luke glanced down and saw a hat he recognised discarded beneath a tree. ‘But if he has harmed her in any way then I swear…’
Paul touched Luke’s arm in a restraining gesture and the two friends, with Romulus slinking along beside them, heading for the entrance to the barn. Luke peered cautiously around the door. It swung in the breeze, its latch long since rotted away along with half its boards. Luke breathed a little more easily when he noticed that Flora appeared to be unharmed. She half-sat and half lay against a pile of old hay, looking disorientated. Cleethorp sat across from her, his features filled with rage as he watched her recover her senses.
