The Charmer

by CJ Archer

  ***

  Orlando had lied to her about meeting the two strangers among the trees. Susanna was certain of it. She wasn't sure how she knew since she had no proof, but she did.

  What was he up to?

  And did it bode ill for her or anyone she loved?

  He'd told her she could trust him, yet that was probably a lie too. Since he'd lied about the strangers, and most likely about being a gardener, how could she trust anything he said?

  "The service was nice today," Bessie said. She was squeezed between Susanna and Cook on the driver's seat, her good hat in her lap lest it blow off.

  "It was too long," Cook said. "I've got to get back to my kitchen."

  "The kitchen won't miss you for a while yet," Hendricks said from behind them where he sat with Orlando in the back of the cart. "Your soul comes first."

  "My soul does all right, thank you, Mr. Hendricks. More than I can say for some others," Cook muttered.

  "Eh? What's that about mothers?"

  Bessie giggled and bumped Susanna, probably because Cook had jabbed her with her elbow.

  Despite her anxiety, Susanna smiled. She appreciated their chatter. It took her mind off her other problems, although nothing could dampen her awareness of Orlando sitting behind her. Even after all his lies, his presence was still a comfort.

  Which made her the biggest fool in England. First John, then Phillip, and now Orlando. It was time she learned from the lessons given her, beginning now. Today.

  Suddenly Silver balked and veered sharply to the right. Something whizzed past Susanna's face, inches from her nose. A small blade.

  Bessie and Cook screamed.

  Orlando grabbed Susanna's shoulders. He was shouting.

  Hendricks was shouting.

  Out of the corner of her eye, shadows moved amid the trees, but she was too busy trying to control a terrified Silver to look closer.

  "Get down!" Orlando ordered, taking the reins and pushing her forward onto the footboard at the same time.

  Cook put her hands over her face. Bessie stopped screaming, but she clutched Cook, her eyes wide as Silver swerved to miss a tree. The cart, however, didn't. It bashed against the trunk, throwing everyone about and unnerving Silver more.

  Orlando spoke soothing words over the din of the rattling wheels and his big, capable hands expertly persuaded the frightened horse to a slower, calmer pace. He handed the reins back to Susanna and leapt off while the cart still moved.

  "Stay down!" He pulled a long knife from where it had been hidden under his sleeve then ran off into the trees. He returned a few moments later, his face stony. His gaze skimmed Susanna from head to toe as she sat on the seat once more.

  "Are you...?"

  She shook her head. "It missed."

  Naked relief passed over his face before his eyes shuttered again.

  "Wh...what happened?" Cook asked. She clutched onto Hendricks's hand so hard the poor man's fingers turned white.

  "A knife," Susanna said. "It came from nowhere."

  "It came from someone's hand," Hendricks growled. "A coward hiding in the trees."

  Orlando ran back up the road and bent to inspect something near the bend. He returned carrying a small, thin blade. He was still holding his own knife, a rather lethal-looking weapon that he must have kept strapped to his forearm. Did he always carry it?

  "Do you recognize it?" he asked her.

  She shook her head. It was just a plain, simple knife that anyone would carry. "Did you see anything in the woods?"

  "A horse galloped off through the trees. The rider wore a long cloak with a hood, but that's all I could make out." He shook his head and stalked off. He paused a way up the road, swore vehemently then kicked up a clod of dirt with his boot.

  "He and I are finally in agreement," Hendricks said heavily.

  Cook looked at him and, as if she just realized she'd been holding onto Hendricks, snatched her hand out of his. "What an ordeal!"

  Bessie wrapped her arm around Susanna's waist. "Are you sure you're all right, my dear?"

  Susanna gave them all a reassuring smile. "Just a little shaken. Nothing that a warm cup of mulled wine won't cure." It would take much more than that to settle her nerves but it may help to settle theirs.

  Orlando returned and placed his hand over Susanna's, still clutching the reins. It was only then that she realized she was shaking. "I'll drive," he said. His turbulent, unblinking gaze met hers and held it. The world seemed to close around them, shutting out the others and all ills so that there was only the two of them. Only this moment. Only the beating of their hearts, Orlando's strength, and the security of his presence.

  "But...why?" Bessie's plaintive question jolted Susanna into focusing.

  She climbed into the back of the cart with Hendricks's help. Orlando leapt up to the driver's seat and they set off at a fast clip.

  No one answered Bessie. Susanna didn't have an answer anyway and she doubted Hendicks or Cook did either. Only Orlando might know why someone had attacked them, but Susanna wouldn't confront him in front of the others.