A Lady Betrayed Read Online Free

last evening,” he told her, his voice matter-of-fact. “I feared you would be very ill if you lay in the wet and cold.”
    â€œBut…”
    She looked dazed, as did soldiers who had suffered blows to the head during a battle. He kept his voice low and soothing. “Help is coming.”
    â€œMy father—he will be very worried—”
    â€œIt’s all right. I have sent word to your family.”
    The tenseness in her face eased, and she shut her eyes again. “You’re being very kind,” she murmured. “I’m so sleepy.”
    â€œThen rest. I will not leave you,” he promised, remembering her whispered plea.
    She shut her eyes again, and he sat beside her without speaking. Around them, a manic chorus of birds trilled in the treetops, the sun rose higher in the sky, and a deer ventured out of the edge of the copse to drop its head in the tall grass and sample the greenery.
    It had been a long time since Adrian had experienced this sense of harmony, as if all were right with the world, even for just a golden moment. Whatever had happened to Miss Madeline Applegate, she seemed to be recovering, and that brought him a feeling of joy he had not known in years.
    And his lie—when she learned the deception within whose deep folds he had felt compelled to enshroud them—it could well shatter the brief accord of this moment. So he might as well enjoy it while he may.

    Within the hour, Adrian heard a heavy tramping of footsteps, and then an elderly manservant appeared on the path between the trees, followed closely by a maidservant, also of advanced years. They both wore expressions of mingled hope and anxiety.
    The man paused when he set eyes on Adrian, but the woman—either more anxious or simply more stubborn—plowed ahead and didn’t stop until she could fall to her knees beside Miss Applegate.
    Their noisy passage had given Adrian time to extricate himself from close contact with the sleeping young lady, so this time the scene that met their eyes was not quite so scandalous. Even so, the sight of their beloved mistress lying on a horse blanket beneath a stranger’s clothing, bereft of her own, made the maid suck in her breath.
    Not wanting the woman to fall into hysterics, Adrian said quickly. “Do not shriek! I found her unconscious and soaked to the skin in the storm last night. I feared for her health if she lay in her wet clothes. She has not been harmed in any way, I give you my oath as a gentleman.”
    â€œOf course I wouldna scream out, noises ’urt her poor ’ead at such times as these,” the serving woman said, to his mystification. They both stared at him with distinct suspicion.
    â€œYe told the baker that ye were Miss Applegate’s betrothed,” the man said now.
    â€œI did,” Adrian agreed, meeting the man’s narrowed eyes.
    â€œMiss Applegate,” the elderly man continued stubbornly, “has na betrothed.”
    â€œI would suggest that you speak to Miss Applegate about that,” Adrian said, his tone firm.
    The man pursed his lips together and hesitated, and Adrian hoped he had the chance to speak to Miss Applegate first.
    â€œDid you bring a carriage so that we can convey her to her home?”
    The man nodded slowly. “It be there on the byway.” He motioned toward the road that Adrian’s mount had left before plunging into the trees. “We will ha’ to carry her there.”
    But first, the maidservant insisted on making her mistress more respectable, taking up the damp clothing that Adrian had stripped off the night before. So Adrian turned his back and walked over to his gelding, patting the sulky beast and promising it a proper breakfast soon.
    â€œUnless we are both of us fed first to the Yorkshire lions, of course,” he added beneath his breath. Playing Good Samaritan might become a dangerous pastime.
    But Miss Madeline Applegate had, with her wistful