Was it his imagination, or did Margaretha’s shoulders stiff en? She spun around and faced Anne.
“Anne, you have always treated me with contempt and petty mean-spiritedness, and I’m tired of it. If you cannot treat me as a friend and a relative, the way I have treated you, then don’t bother to come visit me at Hagenheim anymore when this is all over.”
“Ach! I did not know you had such a temper, Margaretha.” But Anne said nothing more to Margaretha, and they continued walking.
Anne tried to make conversation with Colin occasionally, but for half an hour, Margaretha never spoke. Anne even invited Colin to come to visit her when all was done saving Hagenheim and capturing Lord Claybrook.
He was afraid he would never be able to convince Margaretha to stay with her cousin now, although he still hoped she was softening. When they were nearly to Lord Rupert and Lady Anne’s home, Colin caught up with Margaretha and took a peek at her face. Before he could say anything, she unclenched her teeth to say, “I’m coming with you. You can’t stop me.”
No. Not softening at all.
Chapter
20
Margaretha hardened herself to the disappointed look on Colin’s face. Even though his lip was swollen and he still had traces of the blue and greenish bruises on his face, she couldn’t allow herself to feel any pity for him, not until she was no longer afraid he would try to leave her with Anne.
Anne quickened her pace as they drew near her home, causing them all to walk faster. The two-story stone house looked quiet. There was no sign of Claybrook’s guards. Colin asked Anne to wait, but she ran toward the house, leaving Margaretha and Colin staring after her from their hiding place behind some trees.
“Margaretha.” Colin turned toward her. His expression was intense, reminding her of how passionate he had been when she’d first seen him in Frau Lena’s chambers. He fastened his dark blue eyes so powerfully on her that she couldn’t look away.
“I will not be responsible for you.” There was a note of warning in his voice. “If you are killed, it will be your own fault for being stubborn.” He glared at her. “This is your last chance to stay here and be safe.”
“I will not stay here. My family — every person in the world that I love — is in danger.”
He looked as if he wanted to say more, but he only pursed his lips, turned away, and started walking.
Margaretha went after him. He stopped when he was parallel to the stable behind the house.
“Do you think it would be wrong,” Margaretha asked, as they both stared at the stables, “to take two horses from my uncle’s stable? My father will pay him back.”
“I was contemplating the same thing. But we must be careful. Claybrook’s guards could be watching the house.”
“Perhaps they haven’t gotten here yet.”
Colin squinted as he continued to stare at the stable.
A young man walked out of the door and across the stable yard. He wore the plain brown work clothes of a stable boy, and he walked slowly, not like someone who was anxious or under any sort of watch. “Indeed, I think we can go without fear. I don’t believe Claybrook’s men are here yet.”
“Let me go. You stay here.”
“No. You will run off and leave me.”
He gave her a shrewd look, and she knew she had guessed the truth.
Without waiting to hear any more arguments from him, Margaretha darted out of the trees and crossed the road just as the stable boy turned and went inside the kitchen behind the house. She ran as quietly as she could. Just as she was almost to the stable door, Colin caught up with her. He darted into the stable ahead of her.
Neither of them spoke as they each worked to saddle a horse. Margaretha’s heart pounded in the dark, musty stable, the pungent odor of horse manure stinging her nostrils. Every glance at Colin showed his concentration, that old intensity and determination that so often tensed his features.
They worked quickly, Margaretha whispering a prayer that the two horses they had chosen would prove to be strong yet cooperative.
Finally, both horses were saddled and ready. Colin grabbed her lower leg through her skirt and boosted her up. Her heart thumped extra hard when she realized he wasn’t trying to get away from her.
He vaulted into the saddle of his own horse, and they ducked their heads as they guided their mounts out of the stable door. Margaretha took just enough time to glance around. Not seeing anyone, she spurred her sprightly brown mare forward, following just behind Colin and his tall black gelding.