‘But a week is not long,’ she countered.
‘And he is very welcome to come too,’ cut in Mr Hart, but Elizabeth shook her head.
‘My husband is on a strict treatment plan for his gout and must follow it faithfully. I’m afraid skipping a week will undo all his good work.’
‘And there is much we need to do in Bath,’ I added. ‘We have not even been to the theatre yet …’
‘Pooh, the theatre!’ scoffed Jane. ‘Who cares about the theatre when we’ve been invited to acastle? We can go to the theatre when we get back. There is nothing exciting on anyway, onlyThe Taming of the Shrew, and I saw that thelasttime I was in Bath.’
I could see I was not going to get any help from Jane—she was hell-bent on seeing the dratted castle for her book. I tried another tactic.
‘Lucinda, I don’t think your mother would approve of—’ I started, but Mr Hart cut in again.
‘My father will be there, Mrs Fitzroy, and yourself and Miss Austen.Threechaperones is surely plenty for Miss Fitzroy!’ He chuckled softly, but I was not amused.
Lucinda was practically bouncing up and down on the sofa, and I eyed her helplessly.
‘Please pleaseplease, Aunty Fliss!’
Everyone was looking at me as I seemed to hold the deciding vote.
‘All right, very well. If Mr Hart’s father will be there.’
Lucinda squealed again and leapt up to hug me, crying, ‘Oh, thank you!Thank you!’
I glowered at Mr Hart over her shoulder, and he gave me a cherubic smile.
‘An excellent decision, Mrs Fitzroy. I am sure you will find Hartmoor to be a most interesting diversion.’ He winked at me, and my heart sank. I should have tried harder to extricate my niece from his company, but now she was in even more danger because of this trip to his damned castle. I was the worst chaperone ever!
PART THREE
Playing With Fire
Chapter 11
There were two good things about the journey to the castle: First, it was only three hours away. Three hours was close enough to Bath that I could organise an escape at short notice if I needed to.
Second, Mr Hart did not travel in his carriage with us for propriety’s sake but rode next to it on his horse. However, I soon discovered this was not an advantage. As the afternoon grew warm, he took off his riding coat, flinging it over the pommel. This meant his backside, clearly outlined in his fitted breeches, rose up and down on the saddle as he trotted along; and the sight was somewhat distracting. Lucinda also seemed rather interested in the scenery as she kept leaning over me to peer out until I pulled the curtain across smartly, blocking both our views, saying the sun was in my eyes.
‘But what if Mr Hart wishes to say something to us?’ she grumbled.
‘I cannot imagine what he would have to say about the fields. I’m sure if he has some pressing insight about ploughing, it can wait until we reach the castle.’
Jane snickered, and it was only after I said it that I realised the double entendre. But it stiffened my resolve further to protect Lucinda from anyploughingMr Hart might have in mind.
However, after what felt like many more hours of being jolted around inside the airless carriage than just three, I finally succumbed to my nausea and knocked on the roof. There was a ‘Whoa, boy!’ from outside, and the carriage came to a halt.
Yanking the curtain aside, I lowered the window and spoke directly to the gentleman, with Lucinda elbowing me aside to make room for her too. ‘Forgive me for asking, Mr Hart, but how much longer is it?’
He drew his watch out of his waistcoat pocket and looked at it. ‘Not too much further. How do you fare?’ he enquired. ‘There is a copse beside the road if you need another comfort stop.’
‘No, I do not—’
‘Well,Ido,’ said Lucinda, opening the door before I could stop her. She jumped down to greet Mr Hart, who was descending from his horse.
‘Do you want to come with us?’ I asked Jane, but she declined. By the time I had put on my bonnet and alighted from the carriage, Lucinda and Mr Hart had strolled off together down the road.
Of course, that would not do as Mr Hart could not accompany her to the trees!
