It was nearly dark now, but was darker still in the carriage, and at first she couldn’t make out much; but then Suzette began to be able to distinguish her father’s form crumpled against the door on the ground. Her breath caught in her throat as she noted how still he was, and for one moment, she feared he was dead.

“Father?” she breathed, not wanting to believe she’d killed him with her escape attempt. Much to her relief his dark shape shifted as if he were trying to turn and look at her and Suzette breathed a heartfelt, “Thank God.”

In the next moment she was grabbed from behind and dragged away from the opening. Danvers spoke, his breath brushing her cheek as he snapped, “Get the old man out of there, Thompson.”

Suzette glanced back to see the driver moving to kneel at the opening and survey the situation inside the cab of the carriage, and then Danvers was throwing her off the side of the overturned carriage . . . literally. He tossed her to the ground like she was a sack of waste. It wasn’t a far fall, perhaps six to eight feet, but even so it was painful. Suzette knew she no doubt had more new bruises on her body, which was already carrying several from her first hard landing. She was slower to rise this time and had to bite her tongue to keep from groaning as she became aware of her body’s complaints over its recent rough handling. It seemed to her it was worse now than the first time she’d got up, but supposed her worry for her father had raised her blood enough to keep her from noticing then.

“Get up,” Jeremy ordered grimly, but then grabbed her arm to jerk her up without waiting to see if she’d obey. He then gave her a shake with his grip on her arm and roared, “I ought to kill you right now.”

“My lord?”

Jeremy glared at her for another moment, and then turned to raise an eyebrow at his servant. “What?”

“He’s tied up,” the man said uncertainly with a nod toward the open carriage door.

Jeremy’s jaw tightened and he asked sharply, “Is that a problem?”

The man considered the question, and then tilted his head and said cagily, “Not if you were planning to give me a bonus or something . . . a permanent raise, say.”

Jeremy’s eyes narrowed grimly. “Very well. Now, get him out.”

The driver nodded and then lowered himself down through the open carriage door.

“Sit,” Jeremy snapped.

Suzette hesitated, but then sat on the grass at the side of the carriage. It seemed the smartest move at that point. Jeremy looked angry enough to throttle her, and she couldn’t run and just leave her father behind. Besides, her legs were a little shaky anyway. Sitting seemed like a good idea.