Taking a knife from his pocket he cut the rope that held her bound hands turned upwards towards the manger and knew, as they fell limply onto the straw, that she was unconscious.
He picked her up in his arms and carried her towards the door followed by Yates.
As he stopped outside it, he waited and without being told Yates knew that he was to close the door and replace the padlock in its original position.
It took only a few seconds before Yates led the way to open the door into the paddock and the Earl came slowly after him, being careful not to knock Cledra’s feet against the side of the stall or the passage wall.
When they were outside in the crisp night air. the Earl, who was carrying Cledra so that he touched as little as possible of her bare back, spoke for the first time,
“My c
