[Harlequin] - Alice Thornton - The Wolf's Promise (txt), Ksiazki, txt
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THE WOLF'S PROMISEbyALICE THORNTONAlice Thornton was born and brought up in the Sussex countryside. Herfavourite subjects at school were English and History, and she hasalways made up stories for her own and other's amusement. She has ahistory degree from York University, and historical research is stillwhat she enjoys most, next to writing. She works in London as asecretary in a large teaching hospital, and at present she has nochildren, pets, or a husband!Recent titles by the same author:TEN GUINEAS ON LOVEAN UNSUITABLE MATCHTHE WOLF'S PROMISETo Phil and Irene--and the authentic French phrases that didn't getused!DID YOU PURCHASE THIS BOOK WITHOUT A COVER?If you did, you should be aware it is stolen properly as it wasreported unsold and destroyed by a retailer. Neither the Author northe publisher has received any payment for this book.All the characters in this book have no existence outside theimagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyonebearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspiredby any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidentsare pure invention.All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or inpart in any form. This edition is published by arrangement withHarlequin Enterprises H B. V. The text of this publication or any partthereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by anymeans, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without thewritten permission of the publisher.This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way oftrade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulatedwithout the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding orcover other than that . in which it is published and without a similarcondition including this condition being imposed on the subsequentpurchaser.MILLS & BOON, the Rose Device andLEGACY OF LOVE are trademarks of the publisher. Harlequin Mills & BoonLimited,Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 I SRISBN 0 263 79877 1Set in 101/2 on 12 pt Linotron Times 04-9610-76158Typeset in Great Britain by CentraCet, Cambridge Printed in GreatBritain byBPC Paperbacks LtdPROLOGUEWest Sussex 1793It WAS cold and dark on the beach. A black night sky arched over theendless expanse of sand and gusts of icy wind buffeted the Earl. Heshivered and turned up the collar of his greatcoat. He could hear thecrash of the incoming tide away to his right, but he couldn't see muchfurther than the circle of light thrown by the lantern Sir William hadsnatched from the riding officer."Damn it! The scurvy villain lied to me!" Sir William exploded.He was staring at the marks in the ridged, damp sand where the kegs hadbeen hauled up onto the beach in a long daisy-chain of contraband."Or perhaps your informant was himself misled?" the Earl of Ellewoodsuggested, stamping his feet to keep warm.It was quite clear what had happened. The smugglers' landing had beenhere, while Sir William's small party had been lying in wait on anempty beach two miles to the west."They're a cunning lot," the riding officer began nervously. It madehim anxious to have the local magistrate, two of the magistrate's men,and a visiting earl assisting him in his duty. "It would be just likethem to feed you false...""Be quiet, damn you!" Sir William growled. "If you were any good atyour job, neither the Earl nor I would be wasting our time on thisGod-forsaken beach! Well, their tracks are clear enough. We'll followthem. Lead the way."He handed the lantern back to the tiding officer and swung himself intohis saddle."Yes, sir." The riding officer shuttered his lantern until only a thinbeam of light was visible. Then he climbed up onto to his horse andbent low in the saddle so that he could still see the smugglers'tracks. His lack of enthusiasm was very evident.Sir William and his men followed the luckless riding officer, but LordEllewood did not immediately join them. He was frowning in thedarkness."I think Bess has picked up a stone," he called. "I'll catch up withyou in a minute.""As you wish." Sir William's voice drifted back in the darkness."Damn sorry about this, Henry. I was hoping to show you some actiontonight.""The night's still young," the Earl replied.He watched for a few seconds as the others rode away. Then he lookeddown at the dark, stirred-up sand and pinched his lower lipthoughtfully. The tide was coming in quickly; many of the smugglers'marks had already been washed away, but he was sure he'd seen the deepfootprints of heavily laden men and horses going down towards thewater--not away from it.There was probably a reasonable explanation for that, and he knew solittle about the smuggler's craft that he wasn't inclined to make afool of himself by voicing his observations.But it was certainly a fact that Sir William had been tricked intowaiting on a beach two miles to the west, yet the very obvious tracksleading away from the landing point also headed in a westerlydirection.Lord Ellewood began to lead his mare east along the beach, keepingclose to the tide line There was no moon in the dark sky. It was hardto see what lay ahead, but the stars provided some light, and now thathe was away from the riding officer's lantern the Earl's eyes adjustedto the darkness.Two hundred yards along the beach he found what he was looking for. Atrack of damp, churned up sand leading inland from the sea. Horses andmen had passed this way not long ago.He felt a surge of gratified pleasure that he had guessed right, andhis heart began to beat faster with excitement. There was no time togo back for Sir William. Without hesitation he followed the tracks upthe beach towards the black shadows of the dunes.The sea rumbled behind him; dried seaweed crackled beneath hissalt-caked boots, and ahead of him he could hear the wind whistlingthrough the thin, exposed grasses of the dunes--but he could barely seewhere he was going and he trod almost blindly towards his goal.He was nearly among the dunes when the light of a lantern blazedsuddenly in his eyes.His heart thudded in startled alarm. He flung up a protective arm tohis face, squinting into the glaring light and black darkness ahead,unable to see howmany people confronted him. He had heard nothing to warn him of theirpresence.He struggled to see beyond the lantern light, remembering all thestories Sir William had told him of smugglers beating or even killinganyone they believed to be a danger to them. Was he going to bebattered to death without even seeing his attackers?"I'm sorry, my lord," said an apologetic voice, 'but I'm afraid I can'tlet you go any further. ""What the hell do you think you're doing?" the Earl rasped, more angrythan frightened. "Who are you?"He heard someone chuckle in the darkness behind the lantern."No one important." The voice sounded like that of a youngman--pleasant, educated and confident. "In case you can't see it, mylord, I should warn you that there is a pistol levelled at your heart.It will be better for both of us if you don't make any sudden moves.""You damn murderer! You'll swing for this!" Lord Ellewood gratedfuriously."I haven't murdered anyone yet," his opponent pointed out mildly. "Iwould infinitely prefer it to remain that way--but the matter lies inyour hands."The Earl's first moment of surprise and fear had passed and he began torelax. As far as he could tell, the other man was alone, and he didn'tseem to have any immediate plans for violence."What do you intend to do with me?" he asked more temperately."Nothing," said the young man. "We could discuss the weather--it'sremarkably dry for the time of year, don't you think? Or you couldtell me the latest scandals from London--and when the conversationbegins to pall, you will be free to go back to the Manor.""What if Sir William catches up with us first?" the Earl enquiredpolitely.His eyes were beginning to adjust to the lantern light which was not,in fact, all that bright, and he could discern the dim outline of hiswaylayer. The young man was bare-headed in the wind. He was alsotall, but he seemed to be lightly built and Lord Ellewood feltconfident that, if an opportunity arose,he would be able to turn the tables on his opponent. "He won't," saidthe young man confidently."What have you done to him? " the Earl demanded angrily, taking ahasty, unconsidered step forward as he spoke, suddenly afraid for hisfriend."Stand still? Unexpected menace in the assured voice brought the Earlto an abrupt halt. " Thank you. I believe I've already mentioned I'mnot partial to murder. " After his initial sharpness, the young mansounded friendly again, and almost reassuring. " But I've no doubt SirWilliam will find tonight's chase more exhilarating than the averagefox huntThe Earl drew in a deep breath, allowing the sudden tension to easefrom his body."You've sent him on a wild-goose chase?" he said at last."As you say," the youth agreed. "Until your arrival I thought I'd lostthe toss, but now I see I was mistaken," he added politely.The Earl grunted, unimpressed by the implied compliment."I'm sorry to detain you in such an inhospitable place, my lord," saidthe young man apologetically. "If you had gone with Sir William youwould have been a great deal warmer! But I won't keep you much longer.If you wish, you can retrace your steps now.""That's ha...
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