His Lady Mistress

Elizabeth Rolls289Faster than he’d ever seen it. And Verity had left three hoursago.‘Damn it, Marley! She’s not used to this part of the country...’Marley nodded. ‘Aye. Didn’t think she’d be this long, orthat the mist would come on this bad. But I made sure shehad Bessie in the shafts. That little cob knows the way backfrom hell. And she’s got the dogs with her.’A cob and a couple of gun-shy spaniels?He was being ridiculous. She’d gone to the village, to takeSarah to Martha Granger. The road was safe in daylight, evenin a heavy mist. It went nowhere near the cliffs. But evenso... ‘Fig out a fresh one, Jem. I’ll meet her.’ He caught theman’s guilty eye. ‘Never mind. I dare say she’s safe enough.But...’ he left the sentence unfinished, all too aware of Marley’ssuspiciously straight face.He was being ridiculous. The road from the village wasexcellent—she couldn’t miss the turn. It was straight after thebeech wood. Even if she did, Bessie wouldn’t. But he wantedto see her. To be with her. He hadn’t said everything thatneeded to be said. If only she’d waited, he’d have gone withher.Verity clucked to the cob between the shafts and glancedaround in disbelief. How could a mist roll in that fast? A seamist? She could taste the salty tang. It hung in the still air,shrouding the road until she felt as if there were no realitybeyond it. That the world had vanished into wreathing, clingingwhiteness.The old stableman’s voice came to her... Be a mist later,I shouldn’t wonder. If’n ye’re still out, don’t worry. Give themare her head. She’ll get ye home.The dogs sat beside her, tongues out, panting happily. Sheshouldn’t have come out, or if she had, she shouldn’t havestayed at Martha Granger’s so long. If only she had a watchwith her. Time stood still in this white, lost world without