“I think you accepted the genius of the idea in the end,” Hayward’s words finally tore her gaze back to his. He was smirking in a mischievous way.
“You look far too happy at this outcome,” she said, pointing at him. “This is still a risk! Imagine if I am caught out in London dressed as a boy? What happens then to my reputation?”
The mischief on Hayward’s face vanished, and he grimaced instead.
“I know it is a risk –”
“My reputation could be in tatters!” Phoebe said then turned back round another time, grasping her hair at her temple with stress.
“My Lady,” Hayward’s voice pleaded with her to look back up to him. “I wish I could take away that risk, truly, I do, but if you were seen in London as you are, then we do risk the chance of you being seen by someone who knows your husband. It is the best precaution we can take.”
“I know, it is just…” she paused and fixed her gaze on him. “I have never done anything like this before.”
“Then maybe it is time to be a little more adventurous?” Hayward said with a smile. “Now, the staff are having a meeting with Mrs Goodman in fifteen minutes time. I’ll meet you downstairs then. It is the perfect chance for us to get you out of the house without anyone seeing you.”
She nodded her head to him, watching as he left, and Louisa closed the door behind him.
“Be a little more adventurous,” Phoebe repeated Hayward’s words to herself.
“Sounds like a good piece of advice to me,” Louisa said as she lifted up the clothes from the bundle. “Now, let’s get started!”
Phoebe was shocked by how quickly the transformation took place. Soon, she was facing the floor-length mirror and staring at a reflection that she did not recognize. Where a gown used to be were now the formal clothes of a valet, with the smart black jacket and the cravat that masked the bruise on her throat. Her curves had been hidden by the bagginess of the jacket, but it was the tight-fitting breeches that made Phoebe more than a little nervous. Her legs were slim and shaped so that she looked suspiciously like a young lady rather than a young man.
“What do you think?” Phoebe asked Louisa who walked up behind her.
“Hmm, it’s not quite right, it is. Oh, I know, turn around.” Louisa begged Phoebe to spin round to face her. Louisa fussed with Phoebe’s hair a few minutes before urging Phoebe to turn back to the mirror.
With her hair tucked up beneath a low-lying flat cap, she looked quite different. From how low the hat had been pulled down over her face too, it hid some of her features.
“I think you’re ready, my Lady,” Louisa said, jumping on the spot and clapping her hands.
“Right. Here we go then,” Phoebe breathed deeply, trying to find some courage as she left the room.
Hurrying through the house, she descended the stairs, constantly looking back and forth in case there were any staff around that had avoided Mrs Goodman’s meeting. When she reached the entrance hall, she found Hayward waiting by the open door.
He flicked his head toward her as she arrived, and a smile spread across his features.
“Convincing?” she asked with hope, standing primly with her feet together.
“Not entirely,” he said with a chuckle.
“Oh dear,” she sighed.
“It’s not so much the appearance as your mannerisms,” he said, hurrying toward her. “For one thing, stand with your feet apart, and you may need to adopt a deeper voice.”
“How’s this?” she asked, affecting a deeper tone as she jumped, placing her legs further apart.
“Much better,” he said then winked at her. The simple wink made a fluttering sensation in her stomach grow. “Now, we best be quick.” He beckoned her to follow him outside.
They stepped out toward the carriage that awaited them. Without a footman in attendance, there was just the coach driver, who was so busy ensuring the horses were ready to leave, that he didn’t notice when Hayward urged Phoebe to step into the carriage before him.
“All ready, James,” Hayward called to the coach driver, climbing into the carriage too.
“Right, Your Grace, we’ll leave now,” James called back.
With the carriage door shut, the horses lurched forward, and the carriage was pulled away across the driveway. At first, Phoebe peered out through the window, intrigued to see a bit of life in London after spending so many days in one house, but soon, she retreated back from the window and pulled her hat low over her face, just in case she saw anyone in the streets who could recognize her.
“Do you think I’m convincing enough?” Phoebe asked, turning to Hayward.
