Free Love Entwined by Danita Minnis

fluid motion.
    “They have been in your midst for some time, Amelie, waiting for the perfect opportunity.”
    The horses jumped across an embankment in unison, never breaking their stride, so lovely…
    “They know who you are. They remember.”
    “Yes, they remember…” Amelie murmured. The sound of the horse’s hooves pounded through her…
    “You will remember.” The woman’s French was so insistent it blocked out the sound of the horse’s hooves in her head.
    She shook her head slowly. “I don’t. I can’t…”
    “Your precious life depends on it, ma chérie . Remember, Amelie.”
    A tray clattered onto the stone bench behind her, and she dropped her sketchpad.
    “I didn’t mean to startle you, Miss Amelie,” Caroline said. “Tea.”
    “Oh. It’s all right. Thank you.” She looked behind Caroline toward the row of hedges leading out of the garden maze. There was no one on the path.
    “You’re as white as a sheet. Are you well?”
    She picked up the sketchpad and set it down on the bench. “I’m fine. I just need to sit for a moment,” she said, looking down at the River Wharfe. She could not hear the bells anymore, and the Arabians were gone. “Caroline, did you see anyone on the path?”
    “The landscaper. Is he disturbing you?”
    She followed Caroline’s gaze up to a figure in the distance. The worker was trimming hedges. “No, not at all.”
    “Another maid, perhaps?”
    “Jilly is polishing silverware and if I know her it will take all day.” Caroline harrumphed. “Do you sketch everything, Miss Amelie?”
    “Just about.” She took a deep breath, looked up at the statue of Zeus and back down to her sketchpad. She smudged the charcoal end of his jaw on the sketchpad with her finger.
    Caroline peered over her shoulder. “What beautiful horses.”
    Amelie stared down at the sketch. “Arabians,” she murmured. Just behind the statue of Zeus in the distance, their long manes flew on the sketchpad. They were drawn proud and beautiful, and not by her hand. Tinkling bells made her look toward the River Wharfe once again. She looked around for the woman who apparently refused to speak with anyone but her.
    Caroline was looking at her strangely and shifted on her feet. “The Old Garden rose bushes closer to the house have the most beautiful Albas you have ever seen.”
    “I like it here.” She followed Zeus’s gaze out over the River Wharfe. “Couldn’t find me?”
    “Oh, it’s not that. I wouldn’t want you to get lost.”
    She chuckled. “I’d have an easier time finding my way around out here than in the manor.”
    “It’s just that this shooting makes me wonder if what happened six months ago was an accident.”
    She glanced at Caroline. “What happened six months ago?”
    “I shouldn’t have mentioned it.” Caroline started to walk away.
    Oh, no you don’t.
    “Caroline, wait.” She moved her charcoals off the stone bench. “I would really like some company.”
    Caroline looked back up the stone path at the landscaper.
    “It is either you or him. Won’t you stay for a while?” She gestured to the half dozen sweet rolls on the tray. “You can help me eat all of this.”
    Caroline sat down and reached for a danish. “Maybe just a few minutes.” She took so long to swallow the bit of pastry in her mouth that Amelie feared she had lost her nerve and would defect.
    Finally, Caroline spoke. “Master Cardiff doesn’t like gossip. He would be very angry with me if he found out I told you, Miss Amelie.”
    “Told me what?”
    “About the hunting accident.”
    She put her teacup down. “Another hunting accident? Well, that’s not gossip. That’s a fact, isn’t it?”
    “Yes, I suppose.”
    Amelie picked up a scone. “You were saying?”
    “It was Master Cardiff’s annual hunt. They come from miles around to attend. It’s a tradition. No one realized she was missing until after luncheon when her mount came back without her.”
    “Who was