Page 55 of His Duchess in Disguise
“Oh, dear!” Emma said. “That certainly seems ominous.” Then she dissolved in a fit of giggles.
Eventually, the game palled, so they fell back upon conversation. When the silences between comments grew longer, Leo pulled a copy ofPride and Prejudicefrom a capacious coat pocket and handed it to Emma.
“Your Grace!” Emma exclaimed. “Wherever did you find it?”
“The village general store had three copies. It seems that the blacksmith’s daughter, the one that Mr. Hamilton is quite overtly courting, has quite a passion for the anonymous Lady’s writing. Perhaps you could read to us?”
“Of course!” Emma exclaimed. “I’ll begin at the beginning, even though I have read nearly halfway through.”
Emma read aloud until her voice began to fail, then the book was passed to Mr. Hamilton, who continued the reading. The miles fell away with a reasonable degree of pleasure as the shadows began to lengthen.
In spite of being entertained by the novel, they were all very glad to reach their first stop on their journey, a village named Sherriff’s Town. It was scarcely more than the stable where they could change their horses, a small tavern where they could buy something to eat, and a few scattered houses. The tavern counter served fried pies, both meat and fruit, as well as a very good local ale.
Emma took Rags on a lead to an out of the way stretch of grass and weeds, then she and Mary settled at a small table beneath an oak tree with their repast, while Leo and his secretary took care of the business of exchanging horses and inquiring about the road ahead.
Leo smiled to himself as he glanced across the small innyard to where Emma and her maid were seated, amiably discussing something that he could not hear.
I could get used to this. She has a quick wit, ready laughter, and she is so very beautiful. All of that, and a warm heart, as well. Yes, indeed, Mr. Hamilton I will gladly marry in haste before someone snatches her away.
Chapter 34
Percy Harlow, Earl of Cleweme, scowled at the trio of street urchins who stood before him. His butler and the footman who had found them lurking about the front entrance to his townhouse, stood solemnly at attention while he looked at the grubby youngsters.
“We’s here about the reward,” said the tousle-haired girl. She seemed to be the leader of the group, and the two boys her followers.
“I see,” Percy said. “And what makes you think that you know something that would be worth any reward at all? I don’t see Miss Hoskins in your company.”
“We saw somethin’,” the taller of the two boys spoke up.
“Miss Hoskins comes down to Cheapside often to buy books,” the other boy chimed in. “But five days ago, she came to sell books, instead.”
“And then she told off a mean man who was beatin’ a horse,” added the tousle-haired girl. “It was amazing! The man was five times her size, and the horse was just a little, bitty pony that he was beatin’ up on. She got right up in his face, she did, and told him how it was gonna be. Then she bought the horse.”
A clue. Five days of nothing, not even from the man I hired, and now there was a clue as to where the Baron’s daughter had gone off to.Percy could not believe his luck. He had nearly given up.
“Then what happened?” Percy asked.
“She bought some more stuff, then she put her dog up on the pony along with the stuff and walked out of Cheapside along with all the farmers come to market.”
“Thank you for your information,” Percy said graciously. “That isn’t enough for the full reward, but here is a shilling for each of you. Don’t spend it all in one place.”
The girl took the shillings, bit each one and gave him a smoldering look before curtsying and saying in a voice dripping in sarcasm, “Thank ye kindly, Lord Harlow. We’ll remember you next time we has any information to sell.”
The footman hastily gathered the children and ushered them out the door. It wasn’t much, Percy thought. But at least it was something to go on.
“Send two of the stablemen out to see what more they can learn,” Percy directed the butler. “She must have gone out of London on the Bath Road. A girl on a pony with a ragmop of a dog should have been memorable enough that someone will recall seeing her.”
“Of course, Lord Harlow,” the butler replied. Then hurried away to do his bidding.
Should I tell Hoskins about this new development? No, he is too busy guzzling my wine and sleeping it off. He has done nothing but blubber about being a bad father since the girl ran off. He hit her once, by all the saints. You’d think he beat her.
Chapter 35
Reggie watched the coach roll out of sight. In spite of that sour-faced barrister, he had just been named the heir to Menhiransten, should the current Duke die without issue. His debts were paid, his prize money replaced, invested on the ‘change, and he had an allowance. An allowance, as if he was a schoolboy or a babe in leading-strings!
He should be grateful for so magnanimous a cousin, but in truth, he felt resentful. Why should Leo have it all? And that girl! Brazen little hussy, running around the countryside. If Leo married her and got her with child, there went all his prospects for inheritance. She looked healthy, like she could bear a whole baker’s dozen little monsters.
Down in the kitchen, Henry, Matthew Blank’s replacement, also nursed a grudge. Robbie was a troublemaker, a poacher, and a thief. So, who gets to be the aide to the secretary? Robbie, that’s who. And here he was, stuck in the back corner of the kitchen where the only girl he could see was Betty Lou, the new kitchen maid. Betty Lou grew up next door, so there wasn’t any point showing off for her. She would just laugh at him.
