Exile for Dreamers by Kathleen Baldwin Read Free Book Online

would be of little use. They’ve no access to the higher circles of society, and I suspect there is something larger at work here. You’re certain you have no idea who these culprits are? Or what connection they might have to yourselves or the school?”
    â€œOf course not.” I swallowed against the lie that turned my mouth dry as sand. “Why would I?”
    His hat shaded dangerously intelligent eyes. Nevertheless, I could read the signs—in the skeptical tilt of his head, his cheek muscles flinching, and his eyebrows raised a millimeter too high. He didn’t believe me.
    â€œHow very perplexing.” He pursed his lips.
    Sera wrapped her arm around my waist. “They were murderers and thieves. They must have assumed Miss Aubreyson came from a wealthy family and planned to extract a ransom.”
    â€œThat is possible.” He continued to appraise me far too astutely. “Although, given her mode of dress, I find that unlikely. Why are you wearing a dress of that sort?” He also noted the ragged hem on Georgie’s dress. “What brought the two of you outside so early in the morning?”
    â€œA walk,” I said tersely and rubbed my arms to keep warm.
    â€œPrecisely,” Georgie piped up. “We like to take a brisk walk in the cool of the morning before weeding the garden. You wouldn’t expect us to wear our Sunday best for that, now would you?”
    â€œI suppose not. But if that’s the case, we must assume these men had been watching the house. How often is it your habit to perform these early morning activities, and…” Chadwick rattled off a string of questions, but my head throbbed and I found I could no longer listen. All I could see was the dead man with his skull blown half off.
    It surprised me when Mr. Chadwick finally quieted for just a moment. He, too, stared at the dead man. “I still think it was a lucky thing your Miss Stranje was able to make that shot.”
    Lucky?
    I turned to stare out at the field where it had all begun. There was another man lying out there with a fatal wound in his chest. My dagger having done the deed. Lucky? There was nothing lucky in all this. I hated the word. It tasted like poison on my tongue. The pounding in my head grew nearly unbearable. I reached up to check the bump and was rewarded with a handful of matted hair and blood.
    â€œLet me have a look at that.” Sera tugged my shoulder down so she and Maya could inspect the goose egg about to hatch on my skull.
    â€œShe needs rest,” Maya murmured to Sera. “The shock has been too much.”
    Sera nodded and turned to my inquisitor. “Mr. Chadwick, look at how pale she is. She must lie down soon, or I’m afraid she’ll collapse right here on the drive. We must excuse ourselves and take Miss Aubreyson home straightaway.”
    â€œYes, certainly. My apologies. I should’ve noticed she’s worse off than she let on. I’ll help you—”
    â€œWait.” I turned and pointed down the lane. “There may be another man, back there, lying in the road. I don’t know if he’s dead or not. When Lord Ravencross fired his pistol, the horse reared and threw the rider. We couldn’t stop to check. Lord Ravencross’s injuries were too…” I stared down the length of my arm. Wine-colored streaks stained my sleeve. Gabriel’s blood was everywhere. Crusted and drying. I gaped at my outstretched arm. “Too severe.”
    Shivers changed to quaking. I’m not the missish sort. Truly, I’m not. Nor do I have a weak stomach. Nevertheless, I felt as if I would vomit at any minute.
    â€œI’m cold.” My plea sounded puny and weak even to my ears.
    Mr. Chadwick whipped off his coat and draped it over my shoulders. He turned to Sera. “I’ll help you get her home.”
    Sera brushed him away. “Thank you, no. We can manage.” Maya put a supporting arm