Erina looked down at her bosom. She had been cursed with a rather large one. “I shall use binding. Honestly, you are merely throwing excuses in my way. Women dressed as men in Shakespeare’s works. InTwelfth Night, it worked perfectly well for Viola.”
He sighed. “That was a play. This is real life.”
“Very well, don’t come with me. Remain here to please your father. I shall go alone.”
“No, you won’t, damn it.” He threw up his hands. “It so happens that I own a curricle. But I insist you dress normally. You can be my sister.”
She tried to hide her glee. “We don’t look alike.”
“Cousin, then.” He attacked his hair again, which this time flopped neatly back into place. “My God, what am I agreeing to?”
“Too late to renege,” she said silkily. “You’ve given your word. I intend to send a letter to my father somewhere along the route. To set his mind at rest.”
Harry raised his eyebrows. “How thoughtful.”
She reddened and looked away.
“You know what will occur to them, don’t you?” he said.
“What?”
“An elopement.”
Pleased, she nodded. “But that’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
His brown eyes narrowed slightly as they studied hers. “Is it?”
“They won’t worry. Father will think I’ve done it to save him the expense of a wedding.”
“But what happens when you return home, having traveled unchaperoned?”
“Father will be cross with me at first. But he will be pleased to have me home safe, and I shall agree to anything he proposes for my future. And as men can avoid marriage far more easily than women, you can persuade your father to give up the idea.”
“That’s assuming youarrive home safe.” He gazed at her disbelievingly. “I can see you’re determined, whatever I say.”
She firmed her lips. “I am.”
He tapped a booted foot and sighed. “All right. We’ll leave from London on Thursday. I’ll contact you on Wednesday to make the final arrangements.”
Erina’s heart banged joyfully. “Oh good. This is exciting, isn’t it, Harry?”
Harry scowled. “I said you’d exhaust me if we married. How right was I? And we’re not even man and wife. I don’t know about you, Lady Erina, but I’m going to bed.”
Erina watched him stomp away into the darkness. Then she squealed and performed a few steps of an Irish reel while Jessie watched her with soft, brown eyes. She must write to Cathleen once itwas all arranged. Her last adventure before a life that promised little but banality.
Chapter Six
In the entryhall, Lady Althea left the servants and came to Jack’s side. “It’s my Uncle George, Baron Caindale. He was kidnapped on his way here.”
Her eyes registered shock. She wrung her hands as her desperate attempt to remain calm deserted her. Against his better judgement, as it would look bad in front of the servants, Jack took her arm and drew her farther away from the huddle of servants. “We need to talk. Perhaps you can see to the staff first?”
She spun around and sent her uncle’s groom and coachman on their way to the stables. Billings sent the footmen to the kitchen with an order for them to be fed and for tea and sandwiches to be brought to the salon.
“I must go up to my mother,” Lady Althea said, after order had been restored.
“Billings can see to Lady Butterstone,” said Jack. “I want you to tell me all that you know. Then I’ll question Lord Caindale’s servants. If something can be done, I’ll need to act fast.”
“Yes, yes, of course.” With a shuddering breath, Lady Althea went and spoke quietly to Billings.
