Dara said, “If you wish to go to the inn, it is this way.”
Gwendolyn gave an impatient huff.Sisters.“If you know where it is, lead the way.”
Elise started walking in a new direction. She and Dara followed.
“Did you win?” Dara asked again.
“I did.” Gwendolyn also thought about telling them that she had succeeded because of the man they had just struck down, but really, what good would that do?
Her sisters would feel bad—although they had yet to show remorse—and besides, nothing could be done about batting Mr. Steele over the head now. As their Gram used to say, there was no reason to worry about matters that were already handled.
“Did you winenough?” Dara had to ask.
“Morethan enough.”
Elise and Dara stopped in their tracks. They exchanged a look as if they feared Gwendolyn might be jesting.
Gwendolyn lifted her heavy skirts to show how the pockets of coin weighed them down.
Dara and Elise burst out into happy laughter, each doing a bit of a jig.
Their celebration was cut short when Gwendolyn grabbed them by the sleeves of their dresses and rushed them along.
“But we want to know what happened,” Dara said.
“Yes, you must tell us everything,” Elise agreed. “And who was that man accosting you? Dara feared we wouldn’t be able to rescue you.”
Gwendolyn would never tell them who Mr. Steele was, or about his demand for a favor. Or that he hunted people for a living and would now probably hunt her.
Except she would be in London. As a guest of Lady Blandford. He’d never find her there. The nobility wouldn’t let him in the door. She was safe. Her sisters were safe.
She smiled at the mighty Dara, who sometimes had more courage than sense and who rarely ran out of ideas. And now, thanks to her, Gwendolyn and Elise had a chance for a life that was more than rusticating in Wicklow under Richard’s thumb. Or her being in some squire’s bed to keep a roof over her sisters’ heads. A thought struck her. “Do you think Father would be proud of us?”
“After what you did tonight,” Dara answered, “I think he would crow to one and all that he taught you everything you know.”
He would, and he had.
“I miss him,” Elise said.
Gwendolyn nodded agreement. Their father had not been the most doting of parents, but he’dbeen the one they had. She picked up the pace and didn’t stop until they were safely in their room in the inn, where Tweedie was loudly snoring in her bed. Herald had been sleeping on the floor outside their door. He hadn’t stirred when they had stepped over him to enter the room.
Before they undressed for bed, Gwendolyn emptied her pockets. Her sisters marveled that she had been able to walk at all carrying so much weight. They let the coins run through their fingers, and then Dara began counting them. Even Gwendolyn was excited to learn there were three hundred forty-eight pounds.
Dara had them divvy the money among their valises. “We are going to London,” she announced. “And we are going to each marry a duke and live the very best lives.”
On that announcement, the women sought their beds. Despite Tweedie’s snoring, both Elise and Dara seemed to fall right to sleep.
However, for Gwendolyn, sleep didn’t come easy. All she could remember were Mr. Steele’s words—When I come for you, and I will, because I am very good at finding people whether they want to be found or not, you will grant me that favor.
She couldn’t wait to be away to London.
Chapter Four
Visits of “duty” must never be neglected.
The Rules (according to Dara)
We seem to be the only ones following these rules?
