Quickly, she strode through the herb garden and up the back stairs, her step lighter than it had been in months. As much as she preferred to keep her plans to herself, she was finding that having help was indeed beneficial. She had complete confidence that Anthony wouldn’t tell anyone. Even in France, he’d kept her secrets from her grandmother, though there weren’t many. He would keep this one, too.
Reaching the top of the stairs, she halted and looked around the corner. No one was about. She walked to her door and slipped inside, pleased that no one had seen her. Turning toward her armoire, she halted in surprise.
“Where have you been, and why are you dressed like that?”
Chapter Three
Merde. What wasEllie doing in her room, especially at this hour? It would be best to brazen it out. “I went for a ride, as usual.” Striding over to the chair by the fireplace, Lissa pulled her right boot off.
Lady Eleanor Compton of Dulac was anything but meek, especially as she stood there scowling, her red hair as yet unbrushed, her blue dressing gown barely tied. “There’s nothing usual about this.” She waved her hand emphatically before settling it on her hip. “I came in here with an offer of help, only to find you gone. Then you arrive dressed like a man?”
Lissa couldn’t help grinning and lowered her head so Ellie wouldn’t see as she yanked off the other boot. Finally, she looked up and shrugged. “It’s how I got about in France.” She frowned. “Sometimes I miss home so much, I need to recapture it.”
Usually such emotional tactics worked, but as Ellie crossed her arms over her ample breasts, it was clear she wasn’t impressed. “You escaped from poverty and war to our shores. Don’t try to tell me you long for that again.”
Her classmate was far too honest to brook any dissembling. Rising, Lissa gave an exaggerated sigh. “True.” She lifted the boots and brushed past Ellie to deposit them in the back of her armoire, their respective daggers remaining hidden from her classmate. Closing the door, she faced Ellie. “You said you came to help me?”
Ellie moved to the chair she’d just vacated and sat. “Not until you tell me why you went riding dressed as a man.” Her eyes narrowed, suspicion clear in her gaze. “Tell me you took a groom.”
Lissa leaned back against the armoire and crossed her arms. “I took a groom.”
Her friend eyed her then nodded, finally convinced she told the truth. “At least you are being safe. Now tell me why you are dressed so.”
On one hand, Lissa would like nothing better than to take one of her classmates into her confidence. On the other hand, the fewer people who knew about her adventures, the less likely she’d be caught. “I’d rather not.”
Instead of being affronted, Ellie shook her head. “Tsk, tsk. I thought I could help, but it appears you won’t tell me. Then I guess you’ll just have to tell the duchess.”
Lissa’s breath caught in her throat, and though she didn’t move a muscle, fear crawled up her spine. Not fear of the duchess per se, but fear that her one chance to enjoy life again would be snatched away.
The Duchess of Northwick managed the Belinda School for Curious Ladies, and as forward thinking as she was, she would not look kindly on riding about in men’s clothes, meeting an unmarried man, friend or not, and searching for an unmarried tradesman with that friend while discovering the secrets of a degenerate viscount. Even as Lissa thought of all the problems the duchess would have with her new life plans, she knew her course.
She purposefully moved her gaze, studying Ellie. The woman was someone who could not easily be discounted either for her intelligence or her sheer force of will. Ellie also tended to mother them all, looking out for them like a protective hen despite the fact she was only twenty-four herself. She was much like theplanets and stars she so loved, a force of gravity and impossible to ignore. Yet, unlike those cold celestial orbs, Ellie had a heart as large as the Continent.
There were worse classmates to be caught by. Lady Rose was far too proper, and Lady Sophie, though very quiet, was far too observant and would go straight to Lady Northwick. Lady Georgina couldn’t keep a secret any better than Dory.
Finally, Lissa pushed away from the armoire and unbuttoned her trousers, the shirt beneath covering her to her knees.
“Shall I fetch the duchess, then?” Ellie was far too confident, but she had reason to be.
Still, Lissa ignored her and pulled the men’s shirt over her head. After untying the material she’d used to bind her breasts, she took a deep breath, surprised at how constricting it had felt. She used to bind them all the time at home. Walking in her stockinged feet to the bed where she’d left her shift, she pulled it on to cover her nakedness before gathering the material and clothes up and adding them to the back of the armoire. Finally, she moved to her bed and sat upon it with her legs crossed, facing Ellie. “Very well, I will tell you.” She had no doubt that Ellie had made note of where she kept everything, so she would know the woman didn’t support her if anything came up missing.
“I’m listening.”
She held up her hand. “First, you must take an oath not to tell anyone.”
“I cannot take such an oath until I judge it is possible to do so based upon the information you relate.”
Lissa bit down on a grin. Ellie, though the daughter of an earl, was as blunt and straightforward as herself. “Then I fear we are at an impasse.”
“No, we aren’t. You are. You can speak to me with no oath or speak to Her Grace.”
She should have known that Ellie would not make any promises. “So you mean to ruin my entire future?”
At that, Ellie laid her hand on her chest. “I have no such intention. Come, Lissette, tell me what you are about. Perhaps I can help.”
And there it was, her wonderfully big heart, obvious in her offer and her softening tone of voice. It was that characteristic that reminded Lissa of her own mother. “Very well. I rode out in disguise to meet a friend who has agreed to help me find a husband before the Season begins.”
Ellie’s eyes lit with delight before they narrowed. “Then this friend was a man, and perhaps an unmarried one at that? Was it Mr. Taylour?”
