Page 36 of Presenting Miss Letitia (Once a Wallflower 1)

“I think we’re somewhere near Dymchurch. We’ll head for the Hythe coast where we’re more likely to run into the excisemen,” Brandon said. “There’s enough left of the night for them to still be around. But we don’t have long. It will be daylight soon.”

Letty managed to keep up with him, but his long legs would soon outpace her. Her sandals were never meant for this activity, and she couldn’t see the ground clearly. A moment later, she stumbled into a ditch. A pain shot up her leg. “Ow!” She hopped on one foot.

Brandon bent over her. “Are you hurt?”

“I think I’ve twisted my ankle.” She tried to put her weight on it, and the flash of pain made her gasp. “Go on without me. I’ll hide here somewhere.”

“Not a good idea.” Brandon lifted her into his arms and set off again, stalking through the trees.

“I am slowing you down,” she protested. “I am not a featherweight.”

“It can’t be helped.”

“You might have disagreed with me.” She rested her head against his chest, his voice rumbling against her ear.

“I have not time nor breath to be charming. I do apologize.”

It worried her that his breath was becoming labored, and the others would be in pursuit. “You’re never charming, and you aren’t carrying me properly.”

“How many men have carried you? Or is that an impertinent qu

estion?” He grunted as he stopped to settle her better in his arms.

“I remember my father did when I was seven. I’d hurt my ankle then, too. It might be the same one.”

He put her down before hefting her up again, this time over his shoulder. “Better?”

“Oomph! No, it’s not!” Letty gritted her teeth and hung on to his coat. “And you can take your hand away. It’s too near my derriere.”

“Oh? I wasn’t aware of it. I must apologize again.” There was a deplorable lack of regret in his voice.

He shifted his hand farther down her legs, which was only marginally better. She sighed. This was no time to be pernickety. Indeed, if they escaped with their lives, he would have become familiar with a good deal of her.

They hadn’t gone more than fifty yards when the moon disappeared, and complete darkness descended.

Brandon placed her on her feet.

Relieved, Letty sat on the grass.

Brandon cursed. “The sky is clouding over, and it feels like a storm brewing. They get pretty fierce ones down here.” He sat beside her. “We might have to find shelter.”

She spread her domino over her knees and battled to allay her fears. “My costume will be ruined. It was hired, you know.”

“That’s the least of our troubles.”

“Do you think they’ll come after us?”

“Listen.”

The sound of horses thudding over the ground grew closer.

“But they won’t see us in the dark,” she said in a hushed tone.

At that point, the moon made another appearance, turning the landscape silver-gray. She could see Brandon clearly. He’d raised an eyebrow at her. “Right, let’s get on.” He stood and offered her his hand, then pulled her up into his arms again. They’d only gone another few yards when a dark shape ahead blocked their way.

“The boundary of the estate,” he said. “If we can get over that wall, they are less likely to pursue us.”

On reaching it, he put her down and wandered a few yards to survey it. The stone wall was too high for her to climb, even if her ankle wasn’t wrenched.

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