Laurie Brown (14 page)

She gathered a few things she might find useful and tied them into the handkerchief.What else? Of course she would examine
the furniture for places large enough to conceal a man taller than Dev.

Which brought her back to thoughts of meeting him in the morning.

When she did finally drift into slumber, her erotic dreams seemed to carry dire warnings. She woke at dawn more exhausted
than before she’d slept, the covers twisted and tossed.

She dragged herself out of bed and rang for Dora. Breakfast, and Dev, awaited.

Eleven

J
OSIE WAS GRATEFUL WHEN DORA ARRIVED NOT
only with hot water but also with a pot of strong aromatic coffee. The maid fairly danced around the room, humming as she
opened the drapes and laid out Josie’s clothes for the day.

“You’re quite chipper this morning,” Josie grumbled, jealous of her energy.The maid couldn’t have gotten any more sleep than
she had.

“Big doings today. More guests arriving.” She giggled. “And other things.”

“Like what?”

“Oh, this and that,” she said, being evasive, and then she giggled again.

“What is making you so happy this morning?” Josie asked as she stepped behind the screen to wash. She could stand to hear
a bit of good news for a change.“Tell me.”

“For one, I no longer have to help Sadie see to Lady Wingate. And is she miffed at being moved. Oops, I shouldn’t be gossiping.
Mrs. Osman will have my head.”

“Nonsense. I asked a direct question and therefore you should answer.Why would Lady Wingate have to move?”

“It’s the numbers. With all the new arrivals expected, guests have to share their suites. Lady Wingate has been moved in with
her husband.And the Cracklebury sisters are now in her old room. Poor Sadie will be run ragged. She has to do for them and
Countess LaFoyn and Madame X.”

Josie donned her chemise and then took a seat at the dressing table to put on her stockings and soft leather shoes, which
felt more like slippers. Giving Dora permission to speak freely was like opening the floodgates.

“But don’t you worry, miss.You won’t have to move. His lordship gave specific instructions you were not to be disturbed and...”
Dora covered her mouth as if to keep a secret from escaping.

“And?” What was Dev up to? It was not like him to interfere with the running of the house.

“Just...other things.”

“Dora?” Josie let her voice carry an implied and totally false warning.

“Well...he told Mrs. Osman I shouldn’t have so many extra duties that your wishes are neglected,” Dora said as she cinched
up Josie’s corset.“You are my first pri...pri...”

“Priority?”

“That’s it.”

When Dora did not elaborate, Josie asked her directly,“What else?”

“Oh, miss. Don’t make me spoil the surprise.”

“Isn’t your duty to see I’m properly prepared for every activity?”

“Yes...” There was a bit of hesitation in the maid’s voice as if she already knew she would lose this argument.

Dora had chosen a white muslin dress embroidered with sprigs of tiny lavender flowers and mint leaves. She slipped it over
Josie’s head, fastened the back, and puffed up the tiny sleeves.

Josie checked her image in the cheval mirror and was satisfied to see she didn’t look as exhausted as she felt.“And isn’t
part of being prepared knowing what is scheduled to happen?”

“Yes.” Dora wrapped a narrow dark green ribbon sash around Josie just under her bustline and tied it in a bow at the back.

“Then how can you send me out that door totally ignorant of what Lord Waite has planned?”

“But it is sooo beautiful. I’m sure you’ll like it.”

Josie sat at the dressing table and picked up her brush.“I’m sure I will. But I would like it
better
if I had an idea of what was coming.”

The maid’s shoulders slumped.“Instead of breakfast on the terrace, I’m to bring you to the folly.”

“What’s a folly?”

“The building in the garden. Halfway down the drive there’s a path that leads through the grove. Oh, miss, his lordship wanted
to surprise you. Don’t tell him I told you.”

Josie didn’t see what the big deal was.“All right.”

“We’ve all been up since the wee hours to make everything perfect. Cook has prepared special dishes and the gardener picked
dozens of his most fragrant blooms to decorate the folly like a rose bower, and the footmen moved furniture, the table and
chairs and the chaise, and lots of pillows and...”

“Whoa!” Josie jumped up. Sounded more like Dev was planning a seduction rather than breakfast. As far as she was concerned,
walk in the garden
was not a euphemism for sex. She spun around and marched toward the door.“Come along, Dora. His lordship is going to get a
piece of my mind.”

“But, miss! Your bonnet? Your gloves?”

“Whatever. Bring them along if you must, but hurry.” Josie wanted to confront Dev before her indignation cooled. She left
the maid scurrying around the room in a panic.

“Wait, miss.Your shawl,” Dora called as she followed down the hall.

Josie marched down the main stairs. How dare that man make such a big deal out of a simple breakfast meeting. Did everyone
in the castle have to know about it? Did everyone think she and Dev were going to
walk in the garden
?

She passed the surprised butler and didn’t pause for him to open the door.The heavy portal moved easily on oiled hinges and
smacked the side of the house as she sailed through.The crushed shells on the drive crunched under her feet. “Ouch.” She moved
to the side of the road and into the soft grass.The morning dew quickly soaked her shoes, but she did not slow down.

“Please, miss,” Dora called.“Wait for me. I have your parasol.”

Josie did not bother to turn even though Dora sounded farther away than before. At the clip-clop and jangle of approaching
harness horses, she moved another few feet into the lawn to give them wide berth.When the carriage stopped a few feet behind
her, she glanced over her shoulder to see Hargrave leap down. She picked up her pace, hoping he would take the hint and leave
her alone. She wasn’t in the mood for more of his inane conversation.

“Miss Drummond?”

She knew he followed her but didn’t slack off her pace. She was beginning to feel like a drum major leading a parade. “Not
now, Mr. Hargrave. I’m late for an appointment.”

Suddenly, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back off her feet. She heard a scream but knew it wasn’t hers
because a hand covered her mouth, cutting off her air. Her shoes slipped in the slick grass as she struggled to stand. She
clawed at the hand covering half her face, but the thick fingers would not budge.

“Eager for your little tête-à-tête with Waite, are you?” Hargrave hissed in her ear. “Just like a bitch in heat.”

He lurched to the side, pulling her with him.

“Let her go, you beast,” Dora cried from nearby.

She must have jumped on his back, because Josie caught glimpses of a folded parasol swinging wildly overhead.

“Let...”
Crack.
“Her...”
Crack.
“Go!”
Crack.

“Get this lunatic off me,” Hargrave shouted. Seconds later he spun Josie around.The coachman dragged an inert Dora into the
nearby stand of trees. Blood seeped from her nose and stained the front of her apron. Josie said a quick prayer that the maid
would be all right.Then she added her own name to that very short list.

“Hurry up,” Hargrave said to the coachman. “And pick up all those things she dropped on your way back. I don’t want to leave
anything to sound the alarm.”

While the hulking coachman did his bidding, Josie continued to struggle. Hargrave may have been only inches taller than she,
but he was built like a barrel and had a grip of iron.

“Get her feet,” Hargrave said when the coachman returned moments later.

Josie kicked and kicked with all her might, catching the villain on the chin at least once, but to no avail. The two men lifted
her and shoved her into the carriage. She scrambled to the other side, shook the door handle, and pounded on the panel, but
it would not open.

Hargrave leaped inside behind her, and the carriage jerked into motion. He lurched onto the seat across from her and then
straightened his lapels and smoothed back his hair. “You may as well make yourself comfortable. I assume you’re smart enough
not to jump from a moving carriage, and it’s a long drive to Gretna Green.”

She scooted as far away from him as she could and crossed her arms. “Why are you doing this? What could you possibly hope
to gain?”

He laughed.“Everything. Once we are married, your inheritance will buy me back my life, the life I was born to lead.”

“You can’t actually expect me to marry you after...this?”

“With your reputation in shreds, you will have no choice.”

“Read my lips. I will never marry you.”

“And if you don’t agree to cooperate...”

“Killing me would defeat your purpose.”

“Nothing so barbaric.” He withdrew a tiny vial from his breast pocket. “One dose of this drug and you will agree to do anything
I say. I’ve found it quite handy.” He returned the bottle and patted his coat into place. “Now if you will excuse me,” he
said, slouching into the corner and propping his boots on the seat next to her.“It’s been a long night, and a man should look
his best for his wedding.”

“There will be no wedding.”

He grinned and then tipped his hat down over his eyes.Within minutes his snores rattled louder than the wheels.

Josie could not have slept even if she wanted to. How long would it be until she was missed? How long before Dora regained
consciousness? If she regained consciousness. If she didn’t,how would anyone know what had happened? How long would Dev wait
for her in the folly before he came looking for her? That is,
if
he even bothered to look for her.

Stop it!
No use worrying about that. She had better concentrate on her current predicament.

As long as the carriage was in motion, especially at this clip, she dared not jump. But it would have to slow down sometime.
Stop to rest the horses or even change to another team. How long could the poor beasts keep up the present pace?

Dev paced the folly. He didn’t bother to check his watch yet again. The sun had climbed well above the horizon, the coffee
had cooled, and the egg soufflé had collapsed into a disgusting lump.

Josie was not coming.

Not that it mattered.A bit of wasted effort, that’s all. Insignificant. He picked up the bouquet of deep red roses that he’d
personally selected.

And threw them across the room.

Damn. That aggravating woman had reduced him to childish temper tantrums.

Taking a deep breath, he straightened his cravat. A moment of foolishness, that’s all.

He grabbed the no-longer-quite-so-chilled champagne and poured a generous portion. Brandy would have been preferable, but
the bubbling wine was the acceptable choice for breakfast. He drained the glass and took up the bottle again. Rather than
refill the glass, he tossed it after the roses and took a long swig straight.

Josie deserved a proper setdown for her rudeness. And he was just the one to do it. He spun on his heel and descended the
four steps down from the folly in two long strides. As he strode along the path through the trees, he whipped up his indignation
to cover his disappointment.

Just before he stepped onto the lawn a strange noise gave him pause. He listened. What sounded like a painful moan came from
deep in the brambles. Josie? Could she have been hurt?

He bullied his way through the underbrush and discovered one of the maids lying facedown beneath a tree. He knelt, gently
turned her over, and propped her head on his arm.

“Dora? Are you all right? What happened?”

She appeared to be breathing normally if a bit noisily. Using his free hand he awkwardly withdrew his handkerchief, poured
a bit of the champagne on it, and wiped her face. Her eyelids flickered open. “Oh, your lordship. It’s you again. Are you
going to sing to me some more?” Her eyelids drifted shut.

The woman had obviously suffered a head injury.“Drink,” he commanded, holding the bottle to her lips.

She took a healthy swig. She reached out to touch his arm, and her eyes widened to saucers. “Oh, my, you’re real,” she cried
and sat up. “Oh, my.” She grabbed her head with her hands and swayed.“Oh.”

“Slowly,” he said. “Can you tell me what happened?” She seized his arm.“You’ve got to help her.”

“Who?”

“My miss.That horrible man took her.”

As hard as it was to keep his voice calm when his gut was churning, he knew he would get more information if Dora did not
slip further into hyste-ria.“ Do you mean Josie?”

“Yes, yes. You’ve got to find her.”

“Take another drink,” he said, handing her the bottle.“Now take a deep breath and tell me what happened.”

“We were on our way to the folly,” she began and managed to relate the incident with only a few tears.“Why would anyone want
to hurt my miss?”

He had a pretty good idea of Hargrave’s motivation. Dev could kick himself. He’d seen the determined look in that villain’s
eye the night before. When he’d told Hargrave to back away from Josie, the man had looked like a gambler who thought he held
a winning hand and was too desperate to fold when the stakes were raised above his purse. Dev should have insisted the man
leave the premises.

He stood.“I will find her,”he promised.He looked down at the poor maid, still seated and hugging the bottle of champagne to
her breast. She sniffed and wiped her tears and nose with her bloody apron.