Free Scandal's Reward by Jean R. Ewing Page A

name.”
    Catherine bit her lip. She could never tell Amy about the pool, or the night when she’d discovered him at Lion Court reading poetry. The pain in her heart was hers alone. If only his stark history could be so easily explained away!
    “Yes, but Millicent Trumble died because of him, Amy. He doesn’t dispute it, and I myself witnessed him stealing the jewels from his own family.”
    “We can know nothing of what truly happened, though, can we? I cannot believe him such a blackguard.”
    “Whyever should you defend him, Amy? It can mean nothing to you.”
    Amelia blushed and looked away. Her meeting with Dagonet had impressed her more than she could say. If he was David’s friend that was good enough for her. Besides, he really was so much more handsome even than David; it was no wonder that women lost their hearts over him. Indeed, she was glad she herself was already so much in love. The two girls strolled along in silence, each lost in her own thoughts, when two horsemen cantered unseen up onto the ridge behind them.
    * * * *
    “Pull up, Morris! ‘She walks in beauty, like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies; / And all that’s best of dark and bright / Meet in her aspect and her eyes;’ My friend, your beloved walks below.”
    Captain Morris rode up beside Dagonet and looked down on the Hunter sisters. Amelia’s ringlets shone beneath her bonnet like bright metal in the sunshine.
    “Don’t act the fool, Dagonet!” he said good-humoredly. “If you must quote the latest poets at every turn, at least choose something more appropriate. Amelia’s as blond as daylight.”
    “Why so she is! If Byron is not apt for her, then how about Wordsworth? ‘But, O fair Creature! in the light / Of common day, so heavenly bright, / I bless Thee, Vision as thou art!’ Let me silently depart and you may ride down and greet the Vision and her sister, who—if you hadn’t noticed—is dark.”
    Morris swung his riding crop and gave Dagonet’s mount a sound thwack across the rump. Laughing, Dagonet kept his seat easily as the gray bucked, then touching his own crop to his hat in salute, he rode away down the hill. Captain Morris trotted in the opposite direction to join the ladies. In a few minutes, dismounted and leading his horse, he strolled beside them up the moorland track.
    Amelia was radiant in David’s company. Catherine was glad enough to walk ahead to allow them some privacy. She tried to concentrate on the bright moor and the lovely day, though she still felt a little shaken. Just because Dagonet had willingly suffer a beating for the sake of a rabbit? She shook her head. He may have been kind to animals, but he had not shown her much mercy.
    Someone shouted. Catherine looked around. A boy was running toward her across the heath, waving his cap and yelling something unintelligible at the top of his lungs.
    “Good Heavens!” She called back to Amelia and Captain Morris. “It’s one of Westcott’s shepherd lads. Something must be wrong.”
    Catherine picked up her skirts and raced to meet the boy.
    His voice came in gasps. “Please, ma’am, there’s been a cave-in down at the Warrens and master’s best flock is all swallowed up.”
    Her heart began to hammer. “Take a deep breath, Tommy,” she said, “and explain exactly what’s happened. Mr. Westcott’s sheep are in trouble?”
    “Aye, ma’am! Right by the old minehead where our flock liked to shelter. The stream was all swelled up with rain and it cut down into an old mine shaft. Now the ground’s fallen in and taken our flock in with it. There’s a great pit of water, as used to be a meadow, but the sides are steep as steeples and slick as butter, so the sheep can’t get out. It’s the prize ram and ewes, ma’am. Drowned!”
    “What has happened?” Captain Morris had hurried up behind her with Amelia on his arm.
    “A disaster of the first magnitude! A mine shaft has collapsed at the Warrens and a flock of sheep is