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    A Dark Gentleman
    A Dark Gentleman
    A Dark Gentleman
    Ebook90 pages1 hour

    A Dark Gentleman

    By Frances M Carr

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    About this ebook

    Mysterious strangers can often be dangerous. Sarah Littlejohn's heart skipped at the prospect of joining her Aunt for a London season, for at one and twenty Sarah was no longer a young girl. A mishap on the journey brings her face to face with Jack Edgeworth who she blames for the accident. Jack finds her disapproval amusing, but he is less amused when she attracts the attentions of the handsome Robert Rossingham. As Aunt Charlotte observes, Sarah must learn to tell the sheep from the wolves, but that proves to be far from easy.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublishereBookPartnership.com
    Release dateJul 1, 2014
    ISBN9781783014736
    A Dark Gentleman

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      Book preview

      A Dark Gentleman - Frances M Carr

      ELEVEN

      CHAPTER ONE

      SARAH LITTLEJOHN sat back with a sigh. Her father and the vicarage were out of sight. The coach carrying herself and Nellie Green lurched from the driveway following the bend in the road. Excitement, fear and guilt, all churned in her stomach making her feel ill.

      Are you quite well m’dear. The woman sitting opposite Sarah asked.

      Oh quite well, thank you Nellie. I am afraid I worry at leaving father alone.

      The journey to your aunt will take but a few days and then I shall return and take good care of the vicar, so don’t you fret m’dear.

      Sarah smiled at the housekeeper for she knew full well the affection the woman held for the vicar. Sarah’s own mother having died several years since and this journey to London was at the command of an aunt she had never met.

      London, she sighed, for she had never been farther than Harrogate and that only a handful of times. How different it was all going to be. At one and twenty she had no great hopes of making a match, indeed she had no ambitions in that direction for she was perfectly happy living at home and helping to care for her father’s parishioners. It was going to be a wonderful adventure that she could look back on for the rest of her life.

      Nellie snored gently on the opposite seat and Sarah smiled at the woman’s ability to ignore the bumpy country roads they travelled. The vicar’s old coach with its tired springs jarred them over every pothole. Joe Leach, the sixty seven year old coachman had come to the vicarage with her father and mother after their marriage and as well as coachman did all the odd jobs around the place.

      On the afternoon of the third day of their journey, the sound of galloping horses and flying wheels drew Sarah’s attention to the coach window. The whinnying of frightened animals was joined by voices raised in anger then a violent thud and the world rocked and rolled over.

      Slowly, Sarah’s wits returned and she realised that the coach was now resting on its side. Moving her limbs cautiously she discovered no injury to herself apart from some rather painful areas which would no doubt be colourful by morning. She called out to the woman who was her travelling companion.

      Nellie, Nellie are you hurt?

      Well as can be m’dear, the lady in question replied as she struggled to right herself and reposition the broken feather that dangled between her eyes. I do not have much hope for this poor hat of mine. God love us, what happened do you think?

      We have been run off the road.

      Reaching up the door now above their heads, Sarah managed to thrust it open. I must see how Joe fairs.

      Wait child, Sarah, what’s to do?

      Joe may be hurt. Hitching up her skirts she clambered up to the open doorway and hauled herself through. Once on top of the tumbled coach she could see the smart carriage and pair being pulled up a few yards back down the road. Of Joe there was no sign. Pulling her skirts together she jumped down into the muddy road.

      Joe! Joe, answer me if you can. Please Joe! She heard a soft groan as she slithered down into the ditch. Joe lay with his legs trapped beneath the coach.

      With tears streaming down her face Sarah dabbed at the nasty gash on Joe’s forehead from which the blood flowed freely. Convinced that he was going to die she began to tug wildly at the offending coach, to no avail.

      She heard the carriage draw up in the road alongside the ditch and a strong cultured voice order his man to see what was to be done. A small bowlegged man in a green and gold striped waistcoat and green jacket dropped down into the ditch beside them and said after taking in the situation, It’s not as bad as it looks Miss, I’ll have him out of there in a trice.

      Working swiftly he levered up the offending corner of the coach with a stout branch and pulled the old man free. It appeared the full weight of the coach had not been resting on Joe, so although his legs had been trapped firmly, they had not been broken, as Sarah had at first feared.

      The gentleman climbed down from his carriage and rescued a near fainting Nellie Green from the coach. After sitting her on the bank to recover he returned to help his manservant lift Joe from the ditch.

      My humblest apologies ladies. I hope you have come to no harm.

      With the anger that follows fear and relief Sarah snapped, You must arrange to get this poor man some help directly.

      Kneeling at Joe’s side as she spoke, she looked up over her shoulder at the stranger’s dark silhouette against the bright sky and thought how tall and threatening he looked. You stupid creature you could have killed us all.

      One dark eyebrow rose and the gentleman’s stern features relaxed sufficiently for a shadow of a smile.

      Simms, he called to the servant, stay here with the old man. I will send a wagon back from Bridgehead for you.

      Sarah jumped to her feet. That will not do sir, cannot you see how very ill he is.

      I have seen worse on the battlefield, the old man will not die.

      When Sarah would have sunk once more to Joe’s side the gentleman stepped forward and extending his hand took her firmly by the arm. If you ladies will accompany me in my carriage I will be delighted to take you where ever you wish to go.

      As Sarah made to protect he steered her purposefully toward the high perch phaeton standing by the roadside. Its beautifully matched greys held in check by a small tiger wearing the same green and gold livery as the manservant Simms.

      You will observe, the gentleman spoke softly when they stood before the perilously high and fragile looking body of the carriage. That my carriage was built for two persons, three at a squeeze. There is no room for your driver or my manservant even should both be in perfect health.

      Sarah, looked at the slim shallow body of the carriage slung amid four outrageously large springs and had to admit that it was no vehicle to transport a sick person in. She had never seen anything like it in her life before and could not imagine mounting the obstacle herself.

      The necessity never arose however, as without warning strong hands encircled her waist and she was lifted

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