Dark Rider

by Iris Johansen

  A soft jingle of bells.

  It was coming from the carriage room.

  A door slammed!

  She sat bolt upright, her heart pounding wildly. It didn’t have to be anything ominous. She knew nothing about castles, yet it didn’t seem likely that anyone would be wandering about the stables in the middle of the night.

  There’s not a man in the ton who wouldn’t give his soul to have Morgana.

  Horse thieves.

  It was certainly a possibility. If Morgana was considered such a jewel, then there would always be men who would pay to obtain the treasure.

  She found herself rising to her feet even before she made a conscious decision. She would never let them have that beautiful filly. The mare belonged to Jared, and here she was treated like the queen she was.

  Kapu neighed softly as she left the stall.

  “Shh,” she whispered. Her hand was shaking as she lit the lantern and took it down from the post. She had no weapon, but the heavy lantern might be used as a bludgeon. “I’ll be right back.”

  Why was she whispering? If the intruders heard her, they might think they were discovered and flee. She moved toward the cavernous opening leading to the carriage house.

  Maybe they were already gone. After all, a door had slammed. Perhaps they had taken whatever booty they had wanted and left.

  Let them be gone, she prayed as she crossed the threshold of the carriage house.

  The light from her lantern caused the dozens of coaches and phaetons to cast eerie shadows on the wall—giant monsters ready to pounce on her own shadow as she slowly walked down the long aisle.

  A sharp metallic squeak.

  She skidded to a halt. Where had it come from? Her throat was dry with fear as she called, “I know you’re here. Where are—”

  The door of the carriage on her left flew open!

  She caught only a fleeting glimpse of a slim, boyish figure as it launched itself at her.

  The breath left her body as she hit the floor.

  Her assailant was immediately astraddle her.

  She fought darkness and struck out.

  He grunted in pain as she connected with his eye.

  She rolled over, taking him with her. Now he was beneath her, and she reached for the lantern that had dropped from her hand. She lifted the lantern. If she could knock him out and then run to the castle for help …

  “Blast it, wait! I give up.”

  Cassie froze in place. The voice had been furious, disgusted, and undoubtedly feminine. Slowly, she lowered the lantern and looked down at her attacker.

  Green eyes glared up at her from a face as angelic as the ones in the pictures in Lani’s Bible. Short pale-gold curls rioted around the girl’s thin face. She looked a mere child—certainly no more than fifteen or sixteen. “Let me up!”

  “Why should I? So you can attack me again?”

  “I didn’t attack you. I just jumped on you. If I’d attacked you, I wouldn’t have let you get the best of me.”

  “You knocked the breath out of me.”

  “But I didn’t try to hit you with a blasted lantern. Let me up.”

  “When you tell me what you’re doing here. Are you one of the servants’ children?”

  She said defiantly, “It’s none of your business.”

  “Then we’ll stay here all night.”

  “You’ll get bored or Jared will come for you.”

  Jared. If the girl was one of the servants’ children, she would not be so familiar.

  “Perhaps he’s missing you already,” the girl said. “Let me up and go to him.”

  “He knows where I am.” She added, “And what is His Grace to you?”

  “More than he’ll ever be to a scraggly tart who pleases him only in bed.” Her scathing glance traveled over Cassie’s worn riding habit. “Where did he get you? London?” She shook her head. “His lady birds from London are much more comely. He must have gone directly from Tahiti to the dock and picked you up. I overheard one of Jared’s friends say a man becomes desperate after long weeks at sea.”

  Unexpectedly Cassie found her anger lessening. The girl was helpless, facing an unknown threat, and still had the courage to spit defiance. In similar circumstances she hoped she would have done the same.

  “What are you doing here in the middle of the night?” she asked.

  The girl set her jaw and was silent.

  “Who are you?”

  The girl didn’t speak.

  “Very well. I’ll go ask Jared.”

  A sly expression crossed the girl’s face. “Good idea. Go ahead.”

  And when she came back, the girl would be gone. Again she had a notion of vague familiarity. “After I find a rope to tie you up.”

  “No!” The girl hesitated and then said grudgingly, “My name is Josette.”

  “And your surname?”

  “Get off me. You’re crushing my stomach. You must weigh as much as Morgana.”

  “You know Morgana?”

  “Of course I do.” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What were you doing creeping about in the stable in the middle of the night? Did someone pay you to bed Jared and then try to steal Morgana?”

  “I’m not a horse thief. In fact, I thought the same about you. That’s why I decided to search the carriage house.”

  Josette snorted. “You came after a horse thief with only a lantern? What were you going to do? Set him on fire? Not likely.”

  “Believe what you like. I’m not the intruder here. I have permission to stay with my horse.” It wasn’t precisely true. She had actually given herself permission. Oh, well, close enough. “And I’ll wager no one gave you leave to be here tonight.”

  Josette frowned. “What’s wrong with your horse? Is he sick?”

  “He just feels a little strange. It’s his first night here.”

  “And his last,” Josette said fiercely. “Jared will toss you out of his bed and your horse out of his stable before you can blink.”

  “No, he won’t. I don’t occupy his bed.” She grimaced. “And, I assure you, he would never let Kapu leave if he had his way.”

  “Kapu?”

  “My stallion. I brought him from Hawaii.”

  “Where is that?”

  “An island.” When the girl still looked confused, she added, “Near Tahiti.”

  “Jared brought you from Tahiti?”

  “No, I brought myself. And from Hawaii.”

  “And the other woman at the castle, too?”

  It appeared the girl knew a good deal about what was going on at the castle. “How did you know about Lani?”

  “Is that her name?” Josette shrugged. “Someone told me about the women who came to the castle.” She said with deliberate cruelty, “She must be the pretty one.”

  “No,” Cassie corrected. “She’s more than pretty, she’s beautiful.”

  “Then she’s the one in Jared’s bed,” Josette said flatly. “He always chooses the best.”

  “The choice is not always the man’s.”

  “Of course it is. Are you going to get off me?”

  “Yes.” She swung off the girl and rose to her feet. “You’re no threat, and I can’t waste any more time on you. I have to get back to Kapu. Do what you have to do in here and be gone. I need to get some sleep.”

  Josette looked at her in astonishment. “You’re going to let me go?”

  “I can’t sit on top of you all night.” She moved toward the arched opening leading to the stalls. “You were truly concerned about Morgana, so you’re not a horse thief. I don’t care if you steal every coach in this room, as long as you leave the horses alone.”

  “I’m not a thief!” She jumped to her feet and followed Cassie. “And that’s a stupid remark. How could I steal a coach without a horse to pull it?”

  Cassie found herself smiling. “True. Then you might not steal the coaches either.”

  “I don’t have to steal. Jared would give me any coach I wished.”


  “Would he? Then you’re very fortunate. Good night.” She moved down the corridor.

  “I think I’ll come with you.”

  Cassie looked back to see Josette swaggering after her. The girl wasn’t as small as she had first thought, but she was undoubtedly a youngster. No wonder she had thought her a boy. Her slim hips were lost in those rough wool trousers, and the blue shirt hid any hint of breasts.

  Josette stopped, glaring at her. “Stop staring at me.” She lifted her chin. “It’s these trousers, isn’t it? Well, I like them. I can’t help it if you disapprove. I’ll wear what I like.”

  Cassie’s eyes widened, and then she started to laugh. She had said almost those same words to Jared. “I don’t disapprove. A woman should always wear what she wishes. I assure you, on occasion I wear apparel that’s much more shocking.”

  Josette was a trifle deflated. “Oh.”

  Cassie turned and resumed walking.

  “What kind of apparel?” Josette was beside her.

  Cassie shook her head.

  Josette was silent a moment, then asked, “Is it interesting being a whore?”

  “I’m not a whore.”

  “But you’re not shocked at the question, either,” Josette said shrewdly. “Why did Jared bring—Why did you come to Morland?”

  “Because I chose to do so.”

  “That’s no answer.”

  “I’ve not been getting many answers myself.”

  Josette scowled. “All right. Jared is my guardian.”

  Cassie looked at her in astonishment.

  “You didn’t know he was anybody’s guardian.” It was a statement. “That’s no surprise. Jared doesn’t like to let it be known.”

  “Why not?”

  She shrugged. “There are reasons. Anyway, I attend Lady Carradine’s School for Young Ladies except when Jared or Bradford is here. Carradine Hall’s only a short distance away, and this afternoon when I heard they had returned, I decided to come home.”

  “Jared sent you a message?”

  “No.” She added quickly, “But he would have. Probably tomorrow or the next day. He truly cares about me. I just decided to come on my own a little sooner.”

  Cassie looked back at the carriage room.

  Josette rushed on. “Oh, I didn’t want to disturb anyone in the middle of the night. I was going to sleep in the coach tonight and see Jared in the morning.”

  “I see.” She felt a surge of pity. She thought she was beginning to understand. The child clearly adored Jared, and he couldn’t be bothered about her. “How did you get here from your school?”

  “I walked.”

  “And how far is it?”

  “Not far.”

  “Two miles?”

  “Eight,” Josette admitted. “What difference does it make? I wanted to do it.”

  The answer made perfect sense to Cassie. “Who told you that Jared had come home?”

  “I have friends here,” Josette evaded.

  And the child would not betray the servant who had sent her word. Cassie was beginning to respect as well as admire the girl.

  “But Jared would have come for me anyway. We’re like brother and sister.”

  “I’m sure he would have,” she said gently. “Go back to the coach and go to sleep. Do you need a blanket?”

  Josette looked at her uncertainly. “You won’t go running to tell him I’m here?”

  Cassie shook her head.

  A radiant smile lit the girl’s face. “Good—Jared’s temper is always better after a good night’s sleep.” A bit of bravado returned. “Not that it would have mattered.”

  “Good night.” Cassie started down the aisle again. “I’ll wake you before I go to the castle in the morning.”

  “Thank you.” She fell into step with Cassie again. “I’ll just go along with you. I’m not really tired.”

  “After walking eight miles?”

  “If you don’t want me, just say so,” Josette flared. “I’ve no desire for your company. I only wanted to see your horse.”

  In spite of the challenging words Cassie realized she had hurt her. “Then stop quarreling and come see him. He’s in the stall just ahead.”

  Josette strode toward the stall Cassie had indicated. “If Jared likes him, he must be fairly decent. Though you may have—Great God in heaven.”

  Cassie smiled with satisfaction.

  Josette stood gazing at Kapu with an admiration near reverence. “Magnificent …”

  “Yes.” Then, as Josette stepped closer to Kapu, “No, don’t do—”

  Kapu was standing still, allowing Josette to stroke him.

  “Don’t worry, horses like me. Not as much as they do Jared, but they know I won’t hurt them.” She glanced over her shoulder. “What’s his name?”

  “Kapu.”

  “What a silly name. I’ll think of one of my own.”

  “His name is not silly. It means ‘taboo,’ ‘forbidden.’ ” Though it seemed the idiot horse was embracing the whole world these days, she thought crossly.

  “Oh, I understand.” She stroked Kapu’s nose. “You wanted to keep him yours.”

  “I named him that because he’s dangerous to ride, and it seemed a fair—” She met Josette’s knowing gaze. “How did you know?”

  “If I had a horse like Kapu, I’d want him to be mine alone.” Her expression was wistful as she added, “It’s important to have something of your own.”

  Cassie glanced around the stable. “You surely have a horse here. There are so many.”

  “But none that I’ve won, none that—” She broke off. “You don’t understand. Nobody does.”

  She had an idea she knew exactly what Josette meant. “None that you’ve had to coax and tend and fight the world to keep.”

  Josette nodded. “It’s not that Jared’s not generous. He even lets me ride Morgana. It’s just that—” She turned back to Kapu and her tone became gruff. “You’re right, Jared won’t discard you as long as he thinks he has a chance of getting this beauty.” She grimaced. “I shouldn’t have said that, should I? Lady Carradine would say it’s the height of rudeness.”

  Cassie laughed. “So would Lani, but not for the same reason. She claims if truth causes pain, then silence is better.”

  Josette didn’t look at her. “Did I cause you pain?”

  “No, I told you, neither Lani nor I occupy his bed. Your Jared cannot discard what he doesn’t possess.”

  Josette heaved a sigh of relief. “Good, I really didn’t mean to hurt you that time. It just slipped out.” She changed the subject. “How fast is Kapu?”

  “I have no idea. Bradford is going to clock him tomorrow morning.”

  “Can I be there?” Josette’s face was alight with eagerness.

  She smiled indulgently. “If you like. I don’t see why it’s so important. I don’t intend to race him.”

  “Of course you will. Everyone races here. It’s very exciting. What hour?”

  “Eleven.”

  “I’ll be here.” Her expression clouded. “Maybe. If Jared isn’t too displeased with me and sends me packing.”

  “Would that be so bad?”

  “Yes.” She added haltingly, “They hate me there.”

  She could not imagine anyone hating this urchin. In spite of her prickly nature and swaggering bravado there was something very appealing about Josette. “I’m sure you’re wrong.”

  “What do you know? They hate me.” She shrugged with a pretense of carelessness. “Not that I care.”

  “Why would they dislike you?”

  “Because they’re stupid and jealous.” She added, “They say I’m a foreigner and the enemy.”

  Cassie looked at her in bewilderment. “Foreigner?”

  “I’m Josette Brasnier, the Comptesse de Talaisar.” She rolled the title off her tongue with flamboyant grandeur. “And a French comptesse is far better than any of their puny English titles.”

  Foreigner. Brasnier. French. The
words whirled wildly in Cassie’s mind. She had heard that name only once before, but it was one she would never forget.

  “What’s wrong?” Josette asked, stiffening.

  The words were difficult to form, “Who was … the Compte de Talaisar to you?”

  Josette frowned. “My father, of course.”

  The child. Cassie had been so stunned at the murderous implication against her father, she had forgotten completely about the child Jared’s father had rescued from the soldiers. This must be the only survivor of the family Jared claimed her father had betrayed. “Danjuet.”

  “You’ve heard of my home?”

  “Yes.” The story Jared had told her was suddenly coming alive in the form of this young girl. She didn’t want that past to come alive; she wanted to push it away from her.

  “Did Jared tell—”

  “I think it’s time you went back to the carriage room,” she interrupted harshly as she opened the door of the stall. “You may not want to sleep, but I do.”

  “What did I do?” Josette asked, bewildered. “What did I say to—” She broke off and then lifted her head proudly. “It’s because I’m French, isn’t it? You hate me because of that beast Napoléon. You’re like all the others.”

  “No.”

  “You lie. It’s because I’m not English. Why else would you change so quickly? I can feel you going away from me.”

  It would be easier to let Josette think that it was her French birth that offended Cassie—but she couldn’t do it. She herself had been balanced too long between two worlds. “It’s not because you’re French. My father was French, and if anyone’s a foreigner in this land, it’s I.” She didn’t look at her. “Ask Jared.”

  “I’m asking you.”

  “And I’m not answering you. Ask Jared.” She lay down on the straw, drew her blanket over her, and turned her back. “And after you do, I doubt you’ll care what I think.”

  She could feel Josette’s gaze on her back. She felt as if she had struck a puppy. Ridiculous. Josette was much more like a young tigress. When Jared told her that Cassie was the daughter of the man responsible for her parents’ death, she would probably launch a lethal attack.

  She heard Josette’s soft exclamation and then retreating footsteps.

  Go to sleep. Nothing had changed just because she had met one of the people who had shared that terrible experience at Danjuet. It wasn’t as if Josette would ever have been a friend to her, anyway. She must make no friends here at Morland. She must keep everyone at a distance.