His Lady Mistress

Chapter SeventeenMax awoke to find the day far advanced. He stared at theclock on the chimneypiece in disbelief. Past midday? How inHades had he slept that long? And where was Verity? Helooked with a grin at the tumbled bedding. Now he thoughtabout it, he hadn’t really slept that long.He yawned and stretched. No doubt she had gone to getdressed. A note on the pillow caught his eye. Hmm. Betterthan nothing, but he would have preferred to find Veritythere, all warm and soft and sleepy. Ready for his kisses. Asshe had been throughout the night. His heart pounded justthinking about it.He unfolded the note, wondering what she was up to.Max... He read and swore. A quick glance out the windowconfirmed his fear. A sea mist was coming in. Surely shehadn’t gone out in that? They wouldn’t have let her. Wouldthey?Twenty minutes later he was running for the stables.‘Took the gig? In this?’ Max’s stomach chilled as he staredat his head groom. The sea mist drifted around them in thestable yard. Beyond it the gardens and house were lost, as ifthey had never been. He’d watched it roll in and devour them.