Free Madcap Miss by Claudy Conn Page A

that dashed disgusting gruel.”
    “Hmm, I am not sure—”
    Ashton cut her off. “Do you know, I do think that a good idea. He is not feverish, and food will replenish his strength.”
    “There, you heard the man. Off now, be a good girl and fetch,” Scott unwisely said.
    “Careful, my buck. You will fully recover, and my memory is long, and I can be patient as I plot out my revenge.”
    They all laughed, but Felicia said, “Right then, off I go to have a tray brought up to you.” She turned back to Ashton. “Anything for you, sir?”
    “No … I think I will go and wash up and change,” Ashton said.
    A moment later he walked her to the staircase, and she touched his arm to thank him again. “Sir, we will always be in your debt for your continued kindness.”
    “I find I don’t wish for either of you to be in my debt. Rather, I would hope, Felicia, that you will trust me and tell me the whole truth so that I may safely see you situated.”
    She was surprised. Had he not believed the story she had given him? It was very nearly the truth.
    She lowered her gaze and said, “I have already told you our circumstances. There is no more than that.”
    “Ah, but there is,” he answered enigmatically and turned to make his way to his room.
    * * *
    Felicia stopped by her room, took up her hat, and then made her way downstairs and arranged for a breakfast to be taken to Scott. She then had a quick cup of coffee and swallowed a sweet bun nearly whole while standing.
    She needed some fresh air and perhaps a ride?
    Guilt swept through her as she thought of Ashton asking her to trust him. She was keeping things from him, which in her mind was the same thing as lying. He had been all that was good and kind, and she had given him only half-truths in return. It was very wrong of her.
    Perhaps it was time to come clean and tell him the whole—tell him who she was, who her guardian was. Perhaps? She would take a ride to clear the cobwebs in her head and try to make a good decision.
    She made her way to the livery of the inn, sighing happily because the morning was gloriously perfect for a little exercise with her horse.
    She smiled at the stable hand, a neatly dressed young man of no more than fourteen or fifteen years who rushed towards her.
    “Aye then, will ye be wanting yer saddle, miss?” he asked politely.
    Felicia thanked him, and between them they had her neat bay gelding, Whiley, tacked up. She led Whiley outdoors and used the mounting block to hoist herself up easily into the saddle.
    Walking her horse slowly towards a bridle path at the left of the stables, she wanted to throw her arms out and drink in the beauty of the fresh, cool air. Thank goodness, Scott would be fine. Thank goodness, she wouldn’t have to face her horrible guardian and might make the next six weeks safely out of his grasp. Thank goodness.
    Smiling, she put Whiley into a trot but slowed him back to a walk as the trail narrowed and became cluttered with exposed roots.
    It was as she took stock of her surroundings, for she had taken a branch of the trail that looked wider than the one she had been on, that Whiley took a misstep and then another.
    “Oh no … Whiley, what is this?” she exclaimed. She jumped out of her saddle at once, removed her glove, and ran her hand down his leg looking for heat.
    She didn’t find any swelling or heat, so she picked up his hoof and found the problem. He had lost a shoe.
    Sighing, she patted his neck. “Right then, dashed uncomfortable, isn’t it, old boy … walking about with a shoe missing. We’ll get you back and see to it.”
    It was then, all at once, that the sound of a man’s voice caught her attention. Felicia instinctively, worriedly looked about herself. She could see nothing.
    She tethered Whiley and walked through the thick woods towards the sound of a gruff voice who seemed to be in the heat of anger and debasing someone who had displeased him. That someone, from the sound of her crying,