Page 59 of Ravished

"I shall send a short note to my aunt's house letting her know I shall be somewhat late returning this afternoon," Harriet said. "I would not want my family to worry."

"As you wish," Fry murmured. "Expect Lady Youngstreet can arrange for a member of her staff to deliver it."

Late that afternoon as the last of the other members of the Society took their leave, Harriet was handed up into Lady Youngstreet's old-fashioned traveling coach. Lady Youngstreet smiled benignly as Harriet seated herself beside her.

"I always use this coach for traveling any distance in Town," Lady Youngstreet said. "So much more comfortable than the newer style of Town carriage."

Fry and Applegate sat down across from the ladies on the maroon velvet cushions. Harriet could not help but notice that their expressions were very strained.

"This should be a most enjoyable journey," Lady Youngstreet said.

"I am quite looking forward to it," Harriet said. "I just happen to have my sketchbook in my reticule. "Do you suppose this gentleman with the collection of fossil teeth will allow me to make some drawings?"

"I expect he can be persuaded," Lord Fry mumbled.

The heavy old carriage set off slowly through the crowded streets. When it reached the outskirts of the city, however, it did not slow. Instead, the coachman urged the four-horse team into a sedate canter.

Harriet began to grow uneasy. She glanced out the window and noticed that they were leaving the city and were now in open country. "Are we getting close to your friend's house, Lord Fry?"

Lord Fry turned a dark shade of red. He cleared his throat. "Ahem. I think it's time you were told what is happening, my dear Miss Pomeroy."

"Yes, indeed." Lady Youngstreet patted her hand reassuringly. Her eyes were bright with excitement. "You may rest easy, Harriet. As your faithful friends, we have taken it upon ourselves to rescue you from marriage to the Beast of Blackthorne Hall."

Harriet stared at her. "I beg your pardon?"

Lord Applegate ran his finger around his high cravat and looked more resolute than ever. "We are headed for Gretna Green, Miss Pomeroy."

"Gretna Green? You are kidnapping me?"

Lord Fry frowned. "Not at all, Miss Pomeroy. We are rescuing you. We have been working on our plan since shortly after St. Justin arrived in London. It has become clear he is going to continue to play his wicked games with you. We could not allow it. You are our friend, a fellow fossil collector. We will do what we must."

"Dear heaven," Harriet whispered, stunned. "But why Gretna Green?"

Applegate squared his rather thin shoulders. "It will be my great pleasure to marry you there, Miss Pomeroy. We have decided it is the only way to put a stop to St. Justin's machinations."

"Marry me? Good grief." Harriet did not know whether to laugh or scream. "St. Justin is going to be furious."

"Have no fear," Applegate said. "I shall protect you."

"And I shall assist him," Lord Fry proclaimed.

"So shall I." Lady Youngstreet patted Harriet's hand. "In addition, we have the coachman to aid us. Never fear. You are safe from the Beast, my dear. Now, then, I have brought along a little something to warm the bones. A little nip of brandy always makes a long journey less tiresome, don't you think?"

"I say. Excellent notion, my dear." Fry gave Lady Youngstreet an approving smile as she drew a bottle out of her large reticule.

"Good grief," Harriet said again. Then realization struck her. She frowned. "Does this mean, Lord Fry, that you do not know a friend who has a collection of fossil teeth?"

"Afraid not, my dear," Fry said as he took the brandy bottle from Lady Youngstreet.

"What a disappointment," Harriet said. She sat back in the plush seat of the lumbering coach and resigned herself to wait for Gideon.

She knew it would not take him long to set out after her, and when he finally caught up with the Youngstreet carriage, he would not be in a pleasant frame of mind.

She knew she would have to protect her friends from Gideon's wrath.

Chapter Eleven

Gideon concealed his surprise when Felicity Pomeroy and her aunt were shown into his library very late in the afternoon. Neither lady looked happy, he noticed as he rose to his feet. And Harriet had not accompanied them.

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