Page 40 of Lady, Behave
She writhed and yelled, but her cry came out muffled to her ears. “Wha ish the meanung of—”
That was a stupid question. She knew the meaning.
Bugger! She whacked him about the head with her parasol. Then elbowed him in the ribs.
He grunted and groaned.
She kicked back to strike his legs.
He cursed.
But in the end, he was more powerful than she. And so was the potion he had sprinkled in his cloth. She felt her strength die, coughing at his acidic concoction and sinking into his arms like a withering flower.
Chapter Eleven
Cass took Fifiby the shoulders. “What do you mean she disappeared?”
“She is gone.Pouf! Pouf!” The maid was rabid. Her hair down, her skirts askew from running all the way home. “Like…like Fouché would take a woman—she’d be no more!”
Cass scowled at her. “Fouché does not have power here. Who took her? When? How?”
“I do not know,Madame. ThegitansaysMademoisellenever came.Pouf! She is gone!”
Cass ran a hand through her hair. “The fortune-teller did not see anyone abduct her?”
“Only a little man. No chin! Big nose,Madame.”
“No chin? Big nose?” Cass frowned.
Laurel slapped a hand to her cheek. “The curate! What’s his name?”
Fifi shook her head.
Cass stared at Laurel. “Fellowes?”
“The Earl of Davenport’s boy? He hasn’t half a brain to play with!” She snapped her fingers and ran to pull the bell.
Within a minute, Richards bustled in. “My lady?”
“Run to St. James’s Street, number two, and tell Colonel Lord Welles I need him immediately. Addy’s gone. It’s a matter of life and death.”
*
“Who is thisyou suspect?” Welles gripped Cass’s hands. Her maddeningly marvelous lover was well turned out in black and fawn superfine street clothes, a hulking and comforting presence in the small room.
Laurel, Richards, and Fifi stood agape in fear.
“He’s Davenport’s boy, Magnus.” Cass fought tears, and Magnus thumbed them away from her cheeks. “The earl’s fourth son. A little fellow. Simpers, actually.”
“Fellowes.” Laurel wrung her hands, a frantic look to her large jade eyes. “No chin. Big nose.”
“Addy complained to me about him pestering her,” Cass said. “He’s a pimple on the arse of society. Or…well, that’s what Addy said of him. There is no one else of whom she complained so bitterly.”
Laurel snorted. “He wants to save her from herself. Thinks she needs to be more conservative. Should be a nice little mouse. Not kiss men.”
“What? But she hasn’t!” Cass was now furious. “She reformed. Promised me when we came here. And she did. She did! What is he talking about?”
“And now she’s gone!” Laurel stepped toward Cass.
