Chapter Eight
Lissa waited inthe wood, pleased that the weather had cooled considerably. Anthony’s distraction of Ellie’s coach had made it easy to slip out while the footmen were helping him get his coach back on the road. Now all she needed do was wait for Ellie’s coach to continue on and join Anthony.
She felt so much younger, like she had back in France when she and Anthony had planned to rob the next coach to come down the road. Sometimes they would go the whole night with nary a traveler. Other times, the coach would hold those with little wealth and Anthony would refuse to take anything. She would grow irritated with him, but he always brightened her mood.
At least this time, there was truly no life-and-death danger. How much danger could there be at a peer’s party, even if it was with mistresses? With such women about, she’d feel more comfortable, even if she’d never been a mistress. She had no doubt they would talk and she’d uncover much more to help Dory.
It was this anticipation she’d miss most once married. Or maybe it was the completion of the puzzle that was Leighhall that she would miss the most. Either way, marriage loomed just beyond the horizon, and she did not look forward to it. At least she could try to find someone in trade who traveled often, leaving her to her own whims.
She’d discarded the idea of marrying Anthony a sennight ago when she discovered he was a baron. A baron! She’d been so furious with him, especially as she couldn’t give him the force of her full wrath with the duchess present. But that abated when she realized she could use his confession to make him take her on this foray to Leighhall’s so she could help solve his mystery…if there was one. She truly hoped the lord held a dire secret, otherwise, there would be no way to dissuade him from his intent to ruin Dory’s reputation.
Being able to help her friend and disguise herself to find the clues made Lissa feel more alive than she had since stepping onto England’s shores. It was this experience that meant even more than Anthony’s societal status. This adventure would be the very last of her life.
Unless…
Even as Ellie’s coach moved on and Anthony stood about his, a new idea formed. Her grandmother wished a life of luxury, while for herself she wished only freedom. To her grandmother, the only course of action to a comfortable life was marriage to a peer. But what if she could amass a fortune another way, a way she had significant skill at?
She was about to enter a home that was sure to have much wealth under the guise of a mistress. What if there was a secret room and that room did hold precious jewels and gold? Even if no such room existed, she would be among strangers who were peers and would certainly travel with expensive items to show off among each other. As Anthony had said, high peers expected all to act honorably with them. Granted, she hadn’t stolen anything in over a year, but such skill did not simply vanish. It was a worthy solution, and one she needed to contemplate more fully.
“Lissa?”
At Anthony’s call, she moved out from behind the tall bushes where she’d stood. No sooner had she left their cover than Anthony whipped his head around, spotting her immediately. The man definitely had a keen sense of space.
“If we leave now, we should be one of the first to arrive.” He held his hand out to her, and she clasped it with her bare one, having eschewed the usual gloves for her more wanton role. She wasn’t sure if it was the role or the man, but a tingle of excitement raced up her arm.
He cleared his throat as he walked her to his coach, which now sported a coat of arms.
She pointed to the symbol of a lamb upon a mountain. “Is that yours?”
He glanced toward the convenience. “Not at all. I may be attending this house party under my real title, but I see no reason to be identifying myself in any other way. I chose a rather meek coat of arms, as my plan is to pretend to be in awe of Lord Leighhall. The man obviously lives for adoration.”
She allowed him to help her into the coach, then waited for him to settle in opposite her as the door closed behind him. “AndIplan to learn as much as I can from the other mistresses and servants. I imagine some of the women will be ladies who were led astray in the past by a peer, or who had no choice due to their lack of wealth. Do you believe some may be from the middle class as well?”
“I do not know what backgrounds the women will have, but I do know the men will all be peers. I cannot say what to expect, as I have never been to a house party such as this.” He winked. “We will learn all about it together.”
Her heartbeat raced at the weekend to come. “While I’m interested in what such a house party is like, I have nothing to compare it to. Hopefully, I never will. However, I’m very excited to see what we can discover. I’m also looking forward to thechallenge of acting the part of a mistress. I do hope the clothes I ordered are appropriate. I’ve never met one, so I had to rely on the seamstress’s expertise.”
Anthony chuckled. “So many of your packages arrived while I trailed after Leighhall last week that the Captain was certain I have a strong admirer. Though he was too much a gentlemen to ask, he did hint at it. I, of course, didn’t explain anything. Were they all clothes?”
“They were. From what I understand, a mistress wears much more than I expected. They dress much like ladies do. I did have the seamstress modify one of my own dresses, so I could arrive in appropriate attire. I do hope everything fits.”
He cocked his head as if mulling over something. “If anything doesn’t, you may have time to make adjustments. I know many a lady who embellishes a gown or two.”
She wrinkled her nose at the prospect. “Truly? You think the mistresses embroider and do mending? If so, then this portends a poor adventure. I do not wish to spend my time the same way I would while visiting the Blackmores.”
“Then let us hope it is vastly different.” He crossed one ankle over his knee and relaxed back into the thick cushion. “Now, we must determine our plan. First, who are we?”
She’d already thought about who she would be, since they had often done this when engaging in activities that were not quite legal. “I will go by Lizzie, Lizzie Laurent. My grand-maman calls me Lizzie, so I will be sure to react. I am a French courtesan, new to this country.” She waggled her eyebrows. “You met me while serving in the war and took comfort in my arms. When you left France, you couldn’t bear to leave me behind.” She fluttered her lashes and clasped her hands together.
He stared at her wide-eyed before his lips twitched. “Lizzie? No, that is too close to your real name. Best to have somethingentirely different in case we leave on poor terms. There is the chance we could be caught somewhere we shouldn’t be.”
“You do make a good point.” She went through the names she’d used before, but they were far too mundane. Then she grinned as the solution came to her. “I shall be Daguette.”
“Little dagger?” His brow furrowed, but then he nodded. “Yes, that will do. No one but your classmates know you by Dague. Yes, that will be perfect. But we are simply lovers, notin love.”
She waved off his comment, having far too much fun. “Nonsense. What do you think mistresses are for, but to love physically and emotionally? That way you aristocrats can marry some stiff Society miss who will accept you into her bed for the sole purpose of having heirs, no emotion involved.”
“And my brother wonders why I don’t wish to marry.” He shook his head. “Very well—I couldn’t bear to leave you in France, but I hide you from my family.”
