“I’m allowed, considering where we are and why and all I’ve got to be thinking about,” Roslynn replied, her tone sharply defensive. “Did you think this business of selecting a husband would be easy work? Hell’s teeth! Sometimes I canna think for the worry of it!”
That managed to stir Nettie’s sympathy. “Now, hinny, it’ll be over afore ye—”
“Shh,” Roslynn interrupted with a frown. “There it is again, Nettie. Do you feel it?”
“What?”
“That someone’s watching us.”
Nettie gave her a doubtful glance, not at all sure whether Roslynn was simply trying to get the subject off herself or if she was serious. But the girl was certainly intent on slowly perusing the street this way and that.
“If someoneiswatching us, it’s no’ us they be watching, but ye. An admirer, nae doubt.”
Roslynn looked back at Nettie impatiently. “I know what it feels like to be looked at like that, and this is not at all the same. I’ve felt it ever since we stood outside the bonnet warehouse waiting for Frances. I tried to ignore it, but the feeling persists.”
“Well, then, it’s nae doubt some pickpocket who’s marked us, and no’ surprising wi’ all them jewels ye’re wearing. Hold yer purse tightly, lass.”
Roslynn sighed. “You’re probably right. It’d be too soon for Geordie to have found me, wouldn’t it? Still, I’d as soon wait in the carriage than out here in the open. Do you see our driver yet?”
Nettie stretched up on her toes. “Aye, about five shops down, but it appears he’s stuck behind a wagon. See him? We can walk, though, and get ye settled inside. Then I’ll come back tae tell Lady Frances.”
It wasn’t that Roslynn was paranoid, but she had never felt such a strange feeling before. It was no doubt her imagination run wild, but just the same, there was no point in her standing outside the drapery shop when the carriage was now in sight. Still, she gave one more glance around her, but there were so many pedestrians on the walkway and vehicles in the street, it was impossible to notice any one person staring at her.
They started down the street but got no farther than twenty feet when an arm snaked around Roslynn’s waist from behind, lifting her right off her feet. Shedidn’t think to scream, yet it was almost a relief that her suspicions hadn’t been wrong, and she was prepared. No panic, no fear—yet. She simply let the upper half of her body drop over the steely arm that held her, grabbed the edge of her skirt, and plucked the dirk out of her walking boot.
Nettie, meantime, let out a screech to warn the whole of London. She immediately charged the fellow before he moved one foot, swinging her reticule left and right, catching his ear, whipping around his face to flatten his nose. It also caught Roslynn’s bonnet as she raised herself, knocking it forward over her eyes so she couldn’t see. But her target was felt, cutting off her air as it was. She didn’t need to see the beefy arm to take a chunk out of it.
The fellow howled and let go, and Roslynn found herself sitting flat on her backside in the middle of the walkway. She tipped her bonnet back in time to see Nettie still after the man, getting a few more swings at his head and shoulders before he leaped into a dilapidated old carriage and the driver took off, tearing into the horses with a vengeance.
It gave Roslynn the shivers to know that the carriage had been so close, that only a few more steps and she’d have been thrown into it. And everything had happened so fast. There were people standing around her, but all obviously too slow in their reactions to have helped. Only now did one of the grooms from their carriage come running up to offer his assistance—too late.
Nettie turned around, tugging down her spencer, which had come all askew in her attack against the footpad, unable to stop the triumphant smile that was now turning her lips up at the corners. Not even seeing Roslynn sprawled on the ground could lessen hermoment of victory—until she saw the dirk still grasped in Roslynn’s fist. But still,shehad made the blackguard run for his life, even if Roslynn had made sure she wasn’t carried along with him. They had prevailed, and she was inordinately pleased.
So was Roslynn, come to that, even with her backside smarting. Gramp would have been proud of her for remaining calm and doing what she had to do without hesitation. She had drawn blood for the first time, but even now she didn’t feel squeamish about it. What she felt was a good deal safer, knowing she really could take care of herself. Of course, she had been prepared. She might not always have that intuitive warning to put her on guard. And if more than just the one man had tried to grab her, that would be a different story too. She didn’t dare get cocky about this success.
Roslynn accepted the groom’s help in rising and calmly returned her dirk to her boot before dusting off her skirts. Nettie waved the anxious fellow back and the crowd too, with a few choice words about concern being unwelcome when coming so tardily. Huffily she gathered up the dropped packages, thrust them into the groom’s hands, and grabbed Roslynn’s arm, fairly dragging her on toward the carriage.
“I should’ve listened tae yer warning, lass. I will next time.”
“Then you think it was Geordie’s hirelings?”
Nettie took a moment to consider. “Truth is, it could’ve been, but I doubt it.”
“What else, then?”
“Just look at ye, wearing those sapphires round yer neck like a beacon. They could’ve thought ye were the wife of some rich lord that’d pay a pretty piece tae be getting ye back.”
“I suppose.” They were both silent for a moment more, then Roslynn added unexpectedly, “I think I’ll go to the Eden party after all. It won’t hurt to leave London for a few days, just to be safe. If Geordie is here and watching, he’ll think I’m onto him and fleeing again. And until then, I’ll keep Frances’ servants close to me when I go out.”
“Aye, on that I’m in agreement. Ye need tae be more cautious than ye ha’ been.”
Chapter Ten
It had been a simple matter, escaping London on Brutus’ back, two stalwart grooms flanking her. Roslynn didn’t bother with a disguise this time. If the town house was being watched, she wanted Geordie to be aware of her leave-taking, to see the hefty satchel of clothes she carried, to think she was fleeing London.
The subterfuge seemed unnecessary, however, when they were several miles away and it appeared no one followed behind them. The brilliant sunrise offered ample light by which to keep watch, but the roads were clogged mainly with farmers bringing their produce to market and with travelers coming to London for the weekend. Only one fancy coach was seen leaving town, and Roslynn left it so far behind it didn’t matter whether it had been following her or not.
She had a pleasant breakfast while she waited in the inn where she had arranged to meet Frances, and when Frances showed up with nothing suspicious to report, Roslynn felt safe traveling the rest of the way to Hampshire in the Grenfell coach. Halfway there, she left one worry behind for another, but there was little she could do about this one except hope her concern was unfounded. In her favor was the likelihood that a man like Sir Anthony wouldn’t care to leave the excitement of London for a small country gathering, and Lady Eden had confided that this party, planned for months in advance, would be attendedmostly by her neighbors, country gentry like herself who generally avoided London during the season.
