Page 62 of The Storybook Hero
For an instant it was difficult to tell who was more surprised by the encounter.
The young man’s arm hovered in mid-air, then a wide grin spread across his face as he turned to speak to the others behind him. “Leave it to Mister Alex to have a pretty wench willing to warm his sheets.”
“Let us hope he has had as much success in locating our nephew as he has had in finding a doxy for his bed,” remarked William, his eyes raking over Octavia’s rumpled gown and the tumble of errant curls that had escaped her hairpins. “Ivor, have you some money to give this … female for her services?”
“But we still do not know if it is really Alex who is inside,” pointed out Thomas. “Squid, can you ask her if?—”
“If you are looking for Mr. Alex Leigh, he is here. As is young Count Scherbatov.” Recovering from her initial shock, Octavia responded rather loudly in English, her speech clearly mirroring the same cultured tones as those of the marquess and his brother.
Squid gave a strangled cough and the three gentlemen each flushed in embarrassment.
“Y—you are English?” exclaimed the marquess.
She nodded, only then remembering to lower the barrel of the pistol.
“Er, I beg your pardon, ma’am, for voicing such inappropriate speculation,” began William. “We had no idea you were, er, not one of the local?—”
“You can hardly be blamed for assuming the worst, sir.” Her chin rose a fraction as she regarded the group before her. It was most peculiar, but for an instant she couldn’t help but feel there was something strangely familiar about the two dark-haired gentlemen….
Quickly banishing such odd thoughts, she continued in a rush, “However, despite present appearances, I am no doxy,but a respectable English governess. There is a reasonable explanation for my presence in Mr. Leigh’s rooms. We agreed to join forces and travel north together for the sake of the young people in our care, as it seemed … the sensible thing to do. Although the highest sticklers may not approve of the arrangement, nothing improper has occurred between us. Together we have managed to bring our charges to safety. Though, I might add, after some very harrowing circumstances.”
If anything, her show of quiet dignity caused the gentlemen to appear even more embarrassed. For a moment, the only sounds were the shuffling of booted feet and several more muted coughs. After an exchange of rueful glances, it was Chittenden who broke the awkward silence.
“Once again, Miss, er….”
“Hadley. Octavia Hadley.”
“Once again, Miss Hadley, let me offer you our sincere apologies for the crude comments that were made …”
Octavia gave a curt nod, indicating that the apology was accepted and he should go on.
“Our man Squid has introduced himself, but let me make the rest of us known to you. I am Lord Chittenden and these two gentlemen are my nephews, Lord Wright and Lord Thomas Leigh.”
Octavia blinked. The Earl of Chittenden and the Marquess of Wright! Why, even a country miss such as she knew they were two of the most influential—and moneyed—men in London. That certainly explained how such a daring rescue attempt for their young relative had been planned. But it did not explain what the gentlemen were doing here in Russia themselves. After all, if they had paid for someone else to risk….
Another discreet cough interrupted her thoughts. “Miss Hadley, might we step inside?”
A dull flush rose to her cheeks. “Yes, of course,” she stammered, quickly stepping aside so that the gentlemen could file into the room. “N-naturally you are anxious to meet with your young relative.”
“Quite.” William’s eyes had already made a sweep of the spartan quarters. “I am also anxious to have a word with my brother.”
It took a moment for the statement to sink in. “Brother?” she repeated faintly.
“Yes. Alex is our youngest brother,” added Thomas. ”Did he not mention the family connection?”
Octavia felt the color drain from her face as the words of the garrulous Mrs. Phillips came echoing back.Alexander Leigh—are you perchance related to William Leigh, the Marquess of Wright?No wonder the two younger gentlemen had looked rather familiar!
“No. He did not.” Her voice had taken on a rather brittle edge. “I imagine he saw no reason to reveal the truth to a … mere stranger.” Drawing in a sharp breath, she added, “Indeed, the only reference he made to his family was to indicate his estrangement from them. He said that they didn’t care in the least what might happen to him.”
“He was wrong.” The marquess’s lips crooked in a rueful expression. “Not that he was given much reason to think otherwise.”
Turning abruptly, she moved to one of the closed doors and threw it open. “Nicholas, you must come out and meet your … other relatives.”
The boy slowly stepped out from the shadows, followed closely by Emma. However, rather than approach the three gentlemen who stood expectantly in a tight semicircle, he rushed straight to Octavia, and took her hand.
“Surely a brave fellow who has faced murderous Cossacks, deadly blizzards and a troop of enemy soldiers can’t be nervous at the prospect of meeting his family,” she murmured close to his ear. Giving him a small squeeze of encouragement, she urged him forward. “Now go give your uncles a proper greeting.”
Squaring his thin shoulders, the boy approached the strangers and made a very credible bow. “I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, sir. I?—”
