“Yes, miss.” Mary quickly dressed her in the two-piece skirt and jacket, over top of a cotton blouse and a warm woolen petticoat.
Mary brushed and pulled her hair into a simple low bun while Adeline fretted about the artifacts and the scandal that would surely ruin her family’s name. Then she realized the answer was simple. If she took the pieces with her then her father couldn’t be implicated. There would be no proof that he ever had the pieces. Her heart ached at taking away their opportunity to make money on the sale, but it was for their own good. In fact, she was saving them from their own bad decisions.
She would figure out how to return the items anonymously. She glanced over at Kingsbury, who was still standing facing the door. Perhaps he would know how to return the items. Perhaps she might trust him after a bit of analysis.
Her lips twitched in amusement at his ramrod-straight posture. “You may turn around. Good boy.”
If she thought she might needle him with the last bit, she was dead wrong.
Kingsbury turned around and winked at her. “All set, then?”
Mary added the hairbrush and comb to her trunk and closed the lid with a snap of the brass clasps. “How will you sneak it out of here, miss?”
Kingsbury crossed to the window and gave a soft whistle like a warbling bird.
A couple minutes later, Lieutenant Trent’s handsome face popped up above the sill. “Good evening to you, Lady Amberley.”
Kingsbury passed the trunk to Trent who balanced it on one shoulder with his long arm wrapped around the lid. “Take that down, will you?”
“No problem, boss.” Then he disappeared down what Adeline assumed was a ladder propped against the house.
She went over to the window and peered out into the back garden. Past the wall, a carriage waited in the lane behind the house. She glanced back over her shoulder. “You really planned this all out?”
“I have the route plotted. We must travel a couple of hours tonight to get out of London. But then I think it safest to stop for the night and continue on in the morning. How long does it usually take to reach Millstone Manor?”
“It can be done in two days, but we often take three because my mother doesn’t like to be cooped up in the carriage for so many hours at a time.”
“Ready?”
“No.” She scrambled to think of an excuse to go downstairs. “I’ve realized I left my extra set of spectacles downstairs in the library. I must go get them. And perhaps a book or two for the journey.”
Kingsbury frowned, his eyes narrowed.
“I will go out the back door and meet you in the garden. I promise.” She made a cross over her heart.
He nodded, and disappeared out the window. Once he was gone, Adeline sucked in a deep breath. Was she actually allowing him to abscond with her into the night like in some Gothic novel?Don’t be a ninny and romanticize this.Once his task of delivering her to Millstone Manor was completed, he would head back to his job capturing smugglers at sea. She would hide the artifacts in Wiltshire and return to London to fix the mess her father had made.
For the first time in her life, Adeline had no idea what would happen next. It was exhilarating. She gave Mary a hug. “Thank you for your help. George knows about the trip, but Father and Mother do not. Most likely, no one will even notice I am gone for several days. Can you go see if the corridor is clear?”
“Yes, miss, leave it to me.”
After Mary exited, Adeline quickly grabbed two more chemises from her drawer. Clutching them to her chest, she followed. They made their way downstairs without seeing a soul. Adeline slipped into the library and grabbed her carpet bag. She quickly wrapped the gold crosses in the length of fine cotton and then opened the case that held the diadem. It was more delicate, and sent up a prayer that it would survive the journey as she carefully wrapped it in her other chemise.
Assessing the items on the table, she grabbed the statue of Artemis. Perhaps the goddess would keep her safe. Satisfied that they were hidden, she tucked them all in the bottom of the bag. Then she took the novel she was halfway through and two others, placing them in the bag next to the bundles. Finally, she crossed the room to snatch up her extra spectacles and slid them into a side pocket. She looked around at her space. Was there anything else? She grabbed her favorite wool shawl off the back of the chaise and stuffed it into the bag as well.
Then she blew out her taper. Leaving it behind, she headed to the back of the house. The cold air slapped her in the face when she slipped out the door. She glanced back at the dark windows. Was this the right decision? It didn’t matter; Kingsbury was kidnapping her, and despite the nerves that tangled in her belly, a small part of her danced with excitement. A new adventure awaited.
Chapter Sixteen
Malcolm paced backand forth under the large oak, keeping to the shadows. She had changed her mind. Damnation, he was going to have to go inside and drag her out after all. He kept an eye on the back door.
“Are you sure about all this?” Trent said from where he lounged against the trunk of the tree. “Is the girl worth all this trouble?”
“Yes,” he snapped. Then, he paused his pacing to face Trent. “Look, this is the woman I am going to marry. If I am honest with myself, I knew it from the first moment we met.”
“Sure it’s not you wanting to rescue the damsel in distress? Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“No, dammit. This lady is different.”
