Lillian's Light Horseman (26 page)

He curled his lips into a tight smile. “Yes, I know.” Talking about Lillian in the past tense disturbed to him. “Is there anything unusual that occurred?” he pressed.

She stared over his shoulder, her gaze unfocused. “The only thing out of the ordinary was the visit from Mr. Dawson.”

William froze. Dread coiled and tightened the base of his spine. “What?”

Mrs. Thompson shrank away from his intense stare. “I didn’t think anything of it,” she whispered. “I assumed he was taking his automobile for a run and just stopped in to say hello.”

William shot up from his chair and started pacing. “How long was he here and what happened after he left?”

“He visited for an hour and a half, approximately.” Mrs. Thompson wrung her hands in agitation. “When he left, Lillian went straight to her room claiming a headache.” She looked up from the table, her face pale. “I didn’t see her for the rest of the evening.” Her eyes widened as the import of her words sank in. “Do you think Mr. Dawson is somehow responsible for Lillian leaving?”

William scowled, fury emanating from his every pore.
Why didn’t Mrs. Thompson mention this before? How often does George Dawson stop by the property, for Christ’s sake?
He was suddenly and overwhelmingly certain that something George Dawson had said or done was the reason for Lilly leaving them. Nothing else made sense. He thought back to his odd conversation with Dawson a few nights previously and grew even more agitated. The man had an agenda. What exactly it was, he couldn’t be sure. But Dawson’s questions regarding his relationship with Lillian and his insinuations about his daughter and William taking another wife had been peculiar.

“I’m
certain
George Dawson is responsible,” William snarled.

He had no time to waste. He needed to speak to Dawson before it was too late. Before something happened to Lilly and he lost her forever.

* * * *

Lillian had been relieved to find John Steele waiting patiently at the arranged meeting spot. It had taken her longer than she’d anticipated to arrive and she’d worried that he would grow tired of waiting and leave.

“Miss Hamilton,” he greeted her warmly and helped her from her horse. “Do you need to rest for a moment? You look tired.”

Lillian smiled and tried in vain to stem the tears that threatened, but she couldn’t. And, she realized with horror, her bottom lip was trembling uncontrollably and her eyes were overflowing. Fat teardrops ran unchecked down her cheeks.

She was mortified that a kind word could overwhelm her so. “I’m s-s-sorry. Everything has just been so sudden and a little shocking.”

He frowned and drew her into his arms. “Hush now,” he crooned. “It’s understandable. You are overcome.”

He stroked her back soothingly and Lillian melted into his warm embrace, taking comfort from his caring ministrations. She’d never felt so alone and so frightened—even the long trip from England to Australia hadn’t been so nerve racking. At least at that time she had employment and accommodation to look forward to. Now she was homeless and utterly heartbroken and once again facing a future without William in it. She shivered and pulled away from John Steele. “Please forgive my outburst. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

He smiled and caressed her cheek. “Please don’t apologize, I’m here to help. I’d like to think that we’re friends.”

Lillian returned his smile tremulously. “Yes. Thank you for meeting me.”

“Think nothing of it. There is nowhere else I’d rather be.” He turned to his horse and retrieved a blanket and a small hamper from his belongings. “Let’s rest for a moment and take some refreshment.”

Lillian took his outstretched hand and followed him to the shade of a nearby tree where he spread the blanket out and helped her to sit.

“Mr. Steele—”

“Please, call me John. As we’ll be traveling companions, I think that we can dispense with the formalities. May I call you Lillian?”

She smiled. “Of course.”

“You were going to say?” he prompted.

“I just wanted to thank you again for your kindness. I don’t think that I would be capable of finding my way to Byrock without assistance.”

He scowled. “Nor should you. Gallivanting around the countryside alone is no position for a young lady to be in.” He reached out and grasped both of her hands in his larger ones. “Do you have a plan once we reach Byrock?”

She looked away. “No. I’m taking one day at a time.”

“Hmm.” He ran his thumbs in circles over the backs of her hands. “I won’t allow anything to happen to you, Lillian. I’m here to take care of you.”

Lillian turned back to him in surprise. “I have money, John, and I’m independent. I’m not a weak girl in need of assistance. I can take care of myself…” She faltered for a moment and looked around the unfamiliar and harsh environment. “However, I do appreciate your help now.”

She couldn’t miss the devilish smile and the roguish glint in his eye. She shivered as an inexplicable chill worked its way down her spine.

Chapter Thirty-Two

William jogged up the stairs of the Dawson property and flung the front door wide, rattling it on its hinges and sending a young maid scuttling for cover. “
Dawson
!”

He’d driven like the devil possessed him to get to the property as quickly as possible. Now he would wait no longer. He
needed
an explanation. It was too much of a coincidence that Lillian’s departure had occurred not long after Dawson’s visit.

William stalked down the hallway and entered the drawing room where George Dawson was rising from his seated position at a writing desk.

“Cartwright,” Dawson greeted William mildly. “Why all the fuss?”

William advanced on him menacingly, his eyes glinting with suppressed fury. “Don’t play the innocent with me. You know very well why I’m here.”

Dawson raised his eyebrows.

“Let me make it simple for you. Where the fuck is Lillian?”

Out of the corner of his eye, William saw Margaret Dawson enter the room. “What on earth is all the commotion about?” she questioned, her gaze landing on William.

“Apparently, Cartwright’s little governess has run off and he has some notion that I know where she’s hiding,” Dawson smirked delightedly at his daughter then looked back at William. “I assure you I have no idea.”

“Then it’s just a coincidence that Lillian left not long after you visited her?” William asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Dawson shrugged. “I don’t profess to know what goes on in the heads of young ladies.”

William cast a sidelong look at Margaret. She had her head cocked to the side studying him quizzically, a soft smile curling her lips. He looked back at Dawson. The man had retaken his seat and was leaning back in his chair, a look of calculated nonchalance composing his features.

William’s tenuous hold on his temper snapped. He stalked to where Dawson sat. “
Enough!
” He slammed both fists on the desk. The older man jumped in alarm and tried to back away but he was caged between the wall and William’s heaving body. William grinned wickedly, enjoying the fact that Dawson had misjudged his own actions. By trying for aloof indifference, he’d literally backed himself into a corner.

William leaned forward, bracing his body on his arms. “I’m not going to ask you again, old man. You tell me what you know, or be prepared to face the consequences.” He watched as a myriad of emotions crossed the other man’s face—fear, calculation then anger.

“I’ll tell you what I know,” Dawson snarled. “You have the audacity to stride into my home and throw your weight around, after impregnating my daughter!”

Whatever William had expected to hear, it definitely hadn’t been that. The air left his lungs as the implication of what Dawson had just said hit him full in the chest. “What the fuck are you talking about?” he whispered, incredulous.

The other man turned smug. “Just what I said. I don’t think that I have to
explain
it to you, do I?”

William stepped back a pace, confusion crossing his features. This couldn’t be happening. No wonder Lillian had left. If she thought that Margaret was pregnant with his child, it would be the ultimate betrayal to her. Fury boiled in his veins. He clenched his fists and he felt the tendons in his neck bulging with the effort to refrain from lashing out and punching the man. He took three deep breaths, trying to calm his raging temper. He needed to get his priorities in order. First and foremost, he had to determine the direction in which Lillian was heading.

William straightened and spun around to face Margaret, his eyes glinting dangerously. “You told your father these lies?”

She smiled slyly and walked toward him, her hips swaying provocatively. “I’m sorry, William, I had to tell him.”

What the fuck is she talking about? Is she insane?
William looked at her in disbelief and held his arms in front of him to halt her advancement. “Stop!” he ordered roughly.

“And you
are
going to marry Margaret, Cartwright. I demand that you make an honest woman out of my daughter!”

William whirled back to face George Dawson and laughed coldly. “You’re insane, man! Your daughter
tried
to seduce me under this very roof three nights ago. I’ve never known your daughter intimately. I have no doubt that some man has been there, but it definitely wasn’t me.”

Margaret gasped as George’s face turned purple in his outrage. “How
dare
you!” her father ground between clenched teeth.

“No!” Once more bracing his arms on the desk, William leaned toward George. “How dare
you
! I don’t have time to deal with your delusions or those of your daughter. You’re going to tell me where Lillian is right now or, so help me God, I’m going to pummel the information out of you!”

Dawson’s face paled and his eyes grew wide. “C-C-Cartwright, you have to do the right thing.
And
we can combine our two properties. Think of what we could do together.”

William gaped at him. “Is this your agenda? To get your slimy, greedy hands on my land?”

“No, that’s just a side benefit for both of us.” Dawson’s tone turned cajoling. “This is for the best, William. Even Miss Hamilton is in agreement. That’s why she left. She understands that her continued presence would make matters difficult for you and Margaret. She didn’t want to stand in the way of you marrying my daughter.”

“Lillian is mine!” William bellowed, making Dawson jump in alarm. “How fucking dare you interfere with me and what’s mine!” William shook his head, trying to dispel the madness. “Let’s get one thing straight,” he said, his voice ominously low. “Not now or
ever
will I marry your daughter!”

Dawson started to protest but William slammed his palm on the desk with a look of warning. “I can’t believe that you prompted and encouraged a young, innocent woman to leave my protection. You are despicable! Now tell me where she is,” he thundered the last.

Dawson cowered under William’s furious glare. “She’s headed for Byrock,” he whispered.

“Byrock?” William asked, incredulous. “How the fuck is she going to make it to Byrock alone, you bastard?” He straightened and shoved a hand through his hair in anxiety. He started toward the door, his mind already working to formulate his subsequent plan of action, when Dawson’s next words stopped him dead in his tracks.

“She’s not alone.”

William turned and stabbed the other man with an intense stare.

“John Steele is with her,” Dawson explained.

A red haze of fury engulfed William, narrowing his vision to a pinprick as feelings of dread, possessiveness and jealousy conflicted and coiled in his gut. “Dawson, you start praying now that nothing happens to Lillian.” William’s voice turned into a turbulent rumble. “If Steele touches one hair on her head, he’s a dead man—as you will be. Now, you start fucking talking and tell me
everything
that I need to know.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

“We should stop soon. It’s getting dark.”

Lillian turned to where John was looking westward, toward the sinking sun. “I agree,” she replied, despondent. All day, she’d been dreading the point when they would stop for the evening. The thought of spending hours in the dark and in the middle of nowhere with John Steele made her uncomfortable. Granted, he’d acted like a consummate gentleman, but she couldn’t help but feel awkward at the prospect of passing so much time alone with him, yet she needed to rest. The unfamiliar position in the saddle for such a long time had her muscles aching and screaming for relief, and she was exhausted. The last twenty-four hours had drained her physically and emotionally. She’d been on horseback, give or take some resting time, for fifteen hours of those twenty-four. She was also dreading the enforced contemplation time, time in which she knew she would think about William. The heartache and betrayal she’d been pushing to the back of her mind would invade her thoughts and haunt her dreams. And the pain in her chest that she had been steadily keeping at bay would assault her at full force. No, the silent, uninterrupted evening hours were an anathema to her, even if they offered some physical relief.

John, dismounting from his horse and tying the reins to a nearby tree, roused Lillian from her thoughts. Her mare had been following John’s stallion and sidled up next to his steed to wait patiently.

“Lillian, we need to rest.” John reached up to help her dismount.

She accepted his assistance, too tired to do anything else. When he wrapped a strong arm around her waist and another under her knees, she sank against him.

“I’m sorry, John, I’m just a little weary.” She gave a small laugh. “I’m not accustomed to spending so much time astride a horse.”

He settled her on her feet, ensuring that she was steady, and grasped her shoulders as he gazed at her intently. “You look pale.” He moved his hands to cup her cheeks in his palms, brushing the sensitive skin under her eyes with his thumbs. “And you have dark circles here. You need to sleep.”