Page 15 of Papa's Desires
Chapter 7
Before the door closed behind Miss Wickersham, Rosie and Daisy entered and joined Cynny at thewindow.
Cynny was grateful for the distraction as her thoughts had gone immediately to the pocket watch she had pinched from Lord Grayson a few days earlier. Had he realized where it had gone missing and come here to retrieve it—and have her arrested and carried off to prison? A shiver of terror ran up her spine. Her eyes darted about the room, her mind whirling with escapeplans.
“Is that not the gentleman you were speaking with in the garden last week?” Rosie asked. “He is certainly handsome. Why do you suppose he hasreturned?”
“You would not even tell us his name or what you spoke about,” Daisy said, pushing her way in front of the other two to get a better look. “Oh my. He is an attractive man. Do you suppose he has come to call upon you,Cynny?”
“Of course, not,” Cynny said, though her heart fluttered at the thought. “He knows I am to be wed. In fact, I told him the exact date when we spoke. He is simply a busybody and I have no idea why he would be here at Talcott House so soon. He must have business with Miss Wickersham. He had no appointment the last time he stopped here, clearly he is boorish and rude and cares not for the time or convenience ofothers.”
Daisy and Rosie turned to stare at Cynny. “That is rather unkind,” Rosiesaid.
“You never say mean things,” Daisyadded.
“Well, he simply got on my bad side, I suppose.” Cynny had no response for her uncharacteristic pique. Something about Lord Grayson brought out unexpected feelings inher.
“Who is that man?” Daisy pointed out the window and the others looked aswell.
“He looks veryserious.”
“Is that a pistol in hishand?”
Oh mercy. Cynny’s knees wobbled, though she managed to make her way to her bed and shakily sat upon it. The constable. Lord Grayson had brought the constable along. She would be arrested and taken to prison. She would never become a bride, or a lady, or anything other than a miserable criminal who spent the rest of her days at hardlabor.
Ironic, was it not? She had spent her early years as a criminal and despite all of Miss Wickersham’s efforts, she would end her days paying for hercrimes.
She was the most loathsome, ungrateful person on the face of the earth. And soon, everyone would know the truth abouther.
Daisy and Rosie continued to stare out the window. “Oh, I believe the man with the pistol might be more handsome than the other man. Honestly, Cynny will you not at least tell us hisname?”
“Grayson,” she said, her voice shaking. “He is Lord Grayson. I have no idea who the other man is.” She could not force herself to speak her deepest belief and fear, that the man with the pistol was there to take her intocustody.
“They are inside now,” Daisy said, heading for the door to the hallway. “I am going to find out what is happening. What an excitingday.”
“Cynny, are you unwell?” Rosie clasped Cynny’s hand. “You are positively clammy. Shall I get NurseLister?”
“She is indisposed,” Cynny replied. Besides, there was nothing in Nurse Lister’s arsenal of remedies that would heal what ailed Cynny. A dark cloud of dread fell overher.
Rosie went to a pitcher on a table and brought Cynny a drink of water. Cynny sipped the liquid, though it tasted like vinegar on herlips.
“I am sure it is simply a matter of pre-wedding jitters,” Cynny said in an attempt to distract Rosie. “Would you mind giving me a few minutes alone? I should like to gather my thoughts before I become abride.”
“Yes, ofcourse.”
With a bit of relief Cynny watched as Rosie opened the door. As soon as she was alone, Cynny intended to make a run for it, though where she would go or what she would do, she had no idea. All she knew was that no good could come from staying at Talcott House one momentlonger.
Before Rosie could make her exit, Daisy came rushing back into the room, pigtails flying, faceflushed.
“Cynny, you must come. They are talking about you in Miss Wickersham’s study and the men are shouting. Lord Grayson says he will not leave the premises withoutyou!”
Too late. There was noescape.
* * *
“Lord Grayson,I thought I made it clear to you on your last unannounced visit that Talcott House is not a continuous open door for the whims of callers, regardless of their socialrank.”
Through the tiny hole in the floor of a closet above the headmistress’s study, Hyacinth saw Miss Wickersham’s eyes shoot daggers at Lord Grayson from across the room. And rightfully so, Cynny thought. He was the most arrogant, pushy man she had ever encountered. But even lying prone on the hard wooden floor, she could not help but notice the twinges in the area between her thighs. She squeezed her thighs together and pressed against the floor seeking relief. Yet again, she lamented Nurse Lister’s illness and the hands of fate which had prevented Cynny from finding out about her specialtreasure.
