Although he wasn’t on particularly good terms with the deity, Matthias thanked God it was full moonlight that night. He wondered if that was the reason Esmond had chosen tonight to make for Gretna Greene but decided against it. This entire scheme smacked of desperation, as if some part of Esmond’s plan had gone so badly that he’d reacted out of sheer panic.
They had been riding nearly an hour at a fast pace, and Matthias was loath to suggest it, but—“We have to rest the horses.”
Nick shot him an anguished look, but gradually slowed his animal.
Matthias had never seen that expression on Nick’s face and it caused a wrenching sensation in his chest. “We’ve made good time thus far.” He tried his best to be reassuring. “We’ll catch them well before sunrise.”
Nick nodded reluctantly. “I didn
