“I will send one to the mews as well.” She took the paper from him and sat down. “Hear me out, love. I’ve got it all figured out…”
Rhoda’s changed her mind and does not wish to leave with the earl tonight. Please go to the mews to inform Blakely at the allotted time.–Sophia.
Emily hastened to tie her boots and then reached for her shawl. She hadn’t fallen asleep, but she had been laying abed for what felt like hours. Why hadn’t Sophia informed her earlier? It was already half past three, and she’d only just received the missive. She’d doused the candles and then slipped into the corridor.
Drat, blast, and double bollocks! Just when she’d had everything all set. Impatient to speak with Rhoda, but knowing she’d best get to Blakely first, Emily practically ran down the corridor. Barely enough moonlight filtered in through the windows or she would have needed to carry her own light.
When she stepped outside, the sky glowed a deep indigo blue above her. Ah, the moon was full and the sky clear. It would have been the perfect night for travel. Rhoda could not afford to get cold feet! Did she not realize how untenable her situation in London had become? Oh, this was horrible!
Increasing her pace, she kept her sights on the large stable block. Already she could hear the sounds of horses. As she turned the corner, she caught sight of a driver sitting atop one of the duke’s coaches and mindfully slowed to a walk.
She wasn’t a hoyden, after all.
“He’s waiting for you inside the carriage, ma’am.” The driver tipped his cap.
A footman stepped forward and opened the door to the carriage for her. “Blakely?” Darkness encompassed the interior of the coach. “Blakely, are you in here?” She could barely make out the shadow of him slouched on the forward-facing bench. As she peered inside, the stench of alcohol hit her like a brick wall.Good heavens! He’s soused!
“Blakely!” She climbed in, vaguely aware of the door being closed behind her. And oh, drat, the footman was putting up the step. She grabbed the earl by the arm and tried to jostle him awake. “She isn’t coming, Blakely. My lord!” Then the carriage jerked.
They were moving!
“Stop!” she hollered, but they kept right on moving. She tried thumping on the ceiling, but they drove on.
Surely, the driver could hear her? “Blakely.” She shook him by the shoulders. As the carriage took a turn, she lost her balance and fell right on top of the earl. And even this didn’t awaken him!
“Hrmph… erg… mmm,” Blakely mumbled when she pummeled his chest. Panic swept through her as their speed increased. The driver must have turned onto the main road.
“Marcus!” she tried again. This time, his arm wound around her, and he turned so they were both lying on the bench. The touch of his hand on her belly sent all sorts of inappropriate sensations through her, causing her to clench her thighs together.
“Driver, stop!” she tried hollering once again.
“Shhh…” Marcus pulled her even closer. So much so that she could hardly move.
She wrinkled her nose. If she were to inhale deeply, likely she could get tipsy from his breath alone.
This wasn’t happening. Oh, good Lord, this wasn’t happening! First, the horror of trapping Carlisle earlier this evening, and now she was trapped in a carriage with her best friend’s intended! On the way to Gretna Green, no less!
Hopefully, the driver would simply stop within a few hours. She’d inform him of the mistake, and they could turn around and come back.
But would it be too late? Prescott had told her Lord Carlisle intended to offer for her first thing in the morning!
Rhoda’s mother was going to have conniptions!
Emily groaned but forced herself to relax. There was little she could do at this point. Her dress was imprisoned beneath Blakely’s booted feet and the rest of her pretty well trapped against the man himself.
A flush spread through her at the thought of him awakening to find her there… with him. “Oh, please wake up!” she tried one last time in vain.
The earl answered her with a loud snore.
Taking a calming breath, Emily wiggled to make herself a little more comfortable. This was her punishment. Yes. She was certainly being penalized for what she’d done to Carlisle. And for what she’d been planning to do to Lord Blakely.
When she’d caught sight of the former vicar’s expression after being dragged from the closet, Emily had seen a man devastated by his circumstances.
Perhaps this was for the best.
Surely, if a certain bachelor’s intended disappeared in the night with a second bachelor, then the first bachelor was no longer required to propose to his intended? Of course not! The second bachelor became the lucky one… or in this case, the victim.
Blakely was going to kill her! Except… this couldn’t be counted as her fault, could it?
