Chapter 28: Chapter 28

What the devil was wrong with the woman?

Colin Fordyce, newly invested fifth Earl of Bruxton, watched the young servant waver, then stumble back into the wall of the old stone tower, her basket slipping from her fingers. It was as if she'd been utterly shocked to hear his name. Afraid she'd collapse completely and do herself harm, he spurred Jupiter into motion, setting him across a wooden bridge that had certainly seen better days.

"No," she cried, holding up a hand as if to halt his forward progress. Colin ignored the gesture. He was tired, dirty, thirsty and sick of sitting in the saddle. He'd ridden all the way to Scotland to deal with his spendthrift wards and to find out what the hell was going on with them. Be damned if he was going to let some slip of a servant deny him entrance.