“That is progress. Very well, my idea is simple, but hard to execute. Any number of things could go wrong.”
“Tell me.”
“You must get Eddie to attack you. Right in front of Prinny.”
She pursed her lips. “I excel at making people violently angry.”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“You think Liddican will be there tomorrow. In the park with Prinny.”
He nodded. “The countess has done an excellent job of letting everyone know where we’ll be. Eddie is not one to miss a chance to ingratiate himself with Prinny. We must make sure the prince sees the real Lord Liddican.”
“So I will enrage him, you will make sure that Prinny knows it is all Liddican’s fault, and then when he attacks in frustration—”
“Prinny will have no choice but to deal with the man. And the way he deals with violence like that is to send it far, far away.”
“All the way to Australia? Liddican is a peer.”
Heath grunted in disgust. “That’s why I can’t skewer him like I want. Though if he lays a hand on you, I will not stop myself.”
“He will not lay a finger on me. Not unless I allow it.”
A flash of fear coursed through him. “Do not be overconfident.”
“Never,” she promised. “I’m just confident enough.” And with that, she leaned forward and kissed him.
And he allowed himself to be thoroughly and delightfully distracted.
Chapter Twelve
The day dawnedbright and clear, and Sadie was a mass of nerves. It was one thing to act as Lady Vengeance in the back garden of a ballroom. It was quite another to be a brassy Scotswoman in front of the Prince Regent. A few weeks ago, that would not have made any difference to her. But now, she didn’t want her reputation to hurt Lord Heath.
“Good God, you are giving me a headache!” the countess snapped as they rode to the park. “You Scots always go to extremes. First you don’t care at all about your reputation and now you’re…” She waved her fingers at Sadie fidgeted on her seat. “Well, you’re like this.”
“If I mess up today in front of the Prince Regent, how will that effect Lord Heath?”
The countess’s brows arched in surprise. “Not at all! He will cut all ties to you. His reputation can afford a misstep, but attaching himself to you would be like marrying a clown who can never put a foot right. And just think how this will affect his girls! They’d never have a good come-out—”
“Enough!” Sadie exclaimed. She did not need all her worst fears voiced aloud.
“On the other hand,” the countess persisted, “if you act as you usually do—”
Sadie dropped her hands on her hips. “Brassy and rude?”
“As yourself with a firm sense of justice and modest control, then I believe the prince will be charmed by you.”
Charmed and hopefully ready to put Lord Liddican on a boat headed someplace more suited to his vicious nature. That was what she held onto as they neared the park. Until she looked out the carriage window.
“Oh my.” The entire route was choked with carriages and riders.
“Hmmm,” returned the countess. “It is about what I expected.”
“Do you think the prince is here already?”
The countess looked at her watch. “Doubtful. Prinny rarely keeps to his schedule.”
Lord Liddican, however, was already there. Sadie saw him as soon as she descended the carriage. He was dressed in finery as he chatted with a circle of young bucks. At least he didn’t have a gaggle of girls around him. Lady Vengeance and her friends had gotten the word out, so the women of thetonhad been warned away.
