Read A Match of Wits for Free Online

in the seat. “What are you talking about?”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Helena isn’t dead.”
    “What do you mean, she isn’t dead?”
    “I think that’s fairly self-explanatory. One is either dead or one is not, and believe me when I say Helena is not amongst the deceased.”
    “She didn’t die in the accident that damaged your leg?”
    Zayne’s jaw clenched. “My accident was caused when Helena insisted on taking her horse up a steep hill that was beyond her abilities. When I realized she was in danger, I tried to pull her off her struggling mount. Helena, for some unknown reason, balked at my assistance. She kicked out at me, missed, and kicked my horse. The horse took issue with that and reared. I was thrown to the ground, the horse fell on top of me, and my leg was crushed in the process.”
    “You’re lucky you weren’t killed.”
    “Was I?” he countered. “My leg suffered an extensive break. Since Helena and I, along with her parents, were on holiday well away from progressive cities, I was left at the mercy of an incapable hack who managed to reset the bone, but not cleanly. Now I’m forced to hobble around on a leg that’s barely usable.”
    “Have you consulted a different doctor, one who might be more proficient in the art of setting bones?”
    “Of course I have, but the only option available to me is to have the surgeon rebreak the leg in order to reset it. There’s no guarantee that will work, and I’m not exactly keen to go through that type of trauma again.”
    “But if it would allow you to walk better and, perhaps, ease the pain, don’t you think you should consider it?”
    “No.” He held up his hand when Agatha opened her mouth, effectively cutting off the argument she’d been about to make. “Why did you believe Helena was dead?”
    Agatha blew out a breath. “That was the only conclusion I could come up with to explain your appearance and your somewhat disagreeable attitude. I assumed you’d suffered a tremendous shock. Death is one of the greatest shocks of all, hence the reasoning behind believing Helena to be dead.” She tapped her finger against her chin. “Although, now that I think about it, Helena’s demise probably wouldn’t be a huge shock to anyone since she always possessed such a delicate nature.”
    “Helena’s delicate nature seems to have been a figment of her imagination.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    Zayne’s eyes turned a little stormy. “When I arrived out west two years ago, I was delighted to discover Helena had put her fragile ways behind her. I foolishly believed we’d finally be able to embrace an active future together, but then I began to realize Helena was different. She was no longer the girl I’d known since childhood.”
    “And that’s why you broke off your engagement—because she was different, or . . . because you were furious with her for causing your injury?”
    “We never got around to getting officially engaged, and I didn’t break off our association—she did.”
    “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
    “Quite honestly, neither did I at first, but I’m growing weary of this topic and no longer care to discuss Helena.”
    Agatha’s teeth clinked together. “You’re the one who brought her into the conversation, so we’re going to continue discussing her until I’m satisfied I understand exactly what caused me to find you in such a sorry state.”
    “You’re beginning to irritate me.”
    She arched a brow.
    Zayne glared at her for a moment before he shrugged. “Fine, if you must know, Helena wasn’t happy to see me when I arrived out west.”
    “Wasn’t it always the plan for you to join her?”
    “ I thought it was, but apparently I was wrong, because she appeared downright surprised when she came to the door and found me standing on the other side.”
    “Didn’t you let her know you were coming?”
    “I sent her a telegram, but . . . if you’ll recall, I’d sent her numerous