Georgy snapped her fingers at the man. “A chair, quickly!”
In a moment, Apple was able to sink into a cane chair, Georgy bending solicitously over her, and the proprietor offering to fetch a glass of water.
“Yes, please do so,” said Georgy. “But lock the door first!”
The man stared. “Lock the door? But, my lady…”
“Only for a moment while we decide what is best to do. Hurry, man!”
Apple had cause to be grateful for Georgy’s status, for the proprietor, looking bemused, went to do her bidding and then disappeared into his back premises, presumably to fetch the water. She held a hand to her palpitating bosom. “What shall we do? I must escape, Georgy!”
“We’ll sneak into the carriage before she can see you.”
“But the carriage is at the other end of the town!”
“I’ll send Herbert to bring it here.”
Apple breathed a little more easily. The footman who accompanied them was waiting outside the shop. Captain Edginton’s instructions were clear and, rather to Apple’s surprise, Georgy obeyed them.
“Rob won’t let me venture out all alone, especially now. I tell him I am not made of china, but he is adamant. He says Mama would expect it, and that is perfectly true.”
Yet even the thought of negotiating the few feet from the shop to the carriage caused Apple a shiver of fear. “Suppose Marjorie is passing just at that moment? She will see me and all will be in vain.”
“She won’t see you. Why should she? Which way did she go?”
“Oh, down towards Emmeline’s. How does she come to be here? She ought to have turned for Portsea from Winchester. Or tried along the road towards London.”
The proprietor returned at this moment and Georgy took the glass he held, handing it to Apple. “Drink this. I will go and tell Herbert to bring the carriage.”
Apple seized her arm. “Wait! Couldn’t we sneak out the back way? Is there a street behind where the carriage could wait for us?”
She turned to the proprietor as she spoke. Seeming to catch something of the prevailing excitement, he gestured vaguely in the direction behind the shop.
“Indeed there is, ma’am. If your coachman can find his way there. It’s a narrow street, but I think it may be wide enough.”
But Georgy took a hand. “Oh, this is silly! We are not going to go creeping about like a set of criminals. I will tell Herbert to choose a moment when there is no one in sight and we will be out of here in a trice.”
So saying, she bade the proprietor open the door again and sallied forth to arrange everything.
Apple could not withstand a rise of dread that Marjorie would walk into the shop. Why in the world had she to arrive in this place just at this moment? The workings of Providence were not going in Apple’s favour. Which did not augur well for Alex’s mission.
Chapter Nine
Reaching the capital far too late to go seeking out Apple’s lawyer, Alex betook himself to an ordinary for a meal and sent Carver to book a room at Stephen’s in Bond Street. He’d already decided not to venture anywhere near the London house. For one thing, it was shut up and he was not expected. The few servants remaining would be put into too much of a flurry by having to serve his needs. Besides, he didn’t want any word of his activities getting back to Dymond Garth. His mother would infallibly hit the roof if she knew what he was up to.
His stomach satisfied, the thought of a dull evening on his own drove him to seek amusement at Brooks’s, reflecting that few people he knew would be in Town at this season. Almost at once, he ran into a friend, who offered him a bed for the night.
“Good God, no, Vincent! Couldn’t impose.”
Lord Wintringham waved his protestations aside. “There’s plenty of room in my lodging, and I can do with the company.”
Alex eyed him, realising the fellow looked decidedly hangdog. “Blue-devilled, Vince? What’s to do?”
Vincent took a gulp of wine and sighed. “Parson’s mousetrap, my friend. It looms.”
Alex stared. “Don’t say you’ve got yourself betrothed? Never saw any announcement.”
“Not yet, but if I don’t manage to cajole one of the eligibles this coming season into taking me, I’ll be well and truly in the suds.”
