“Don’t be ridiculous, Liv.” Adeline shook her head, but her smile grew.
“I am right!” Olivia moved in front of Adeline, stopping her from moving away. “Youmusttell me everything.”
“No, I mustnot.”
“Oh, please. I’m your only sister. We share everything, and I know you’re dying to tell me something.”
Adeline held back a laugh. Her sister knew her well. “Let me just say that at one o’clock this afternoon, I plan on making my dreams come true.”
Olivia gasped. “You’reeloping?”
“Of course, not. That’s too scandalous.”
Olivia sighed. “Thank goodness for that. I mean, our father has ruined our family name, but if one of us were to elope, that would only make things worse.”
“Then rest assured, I don’t plan on running off to Gretna Green.”
A teasing grin crossed Olivia’s face. “However, you do plan on meeting the lord, correct?”
“Perhaps.” Adeline shrugged and moved past her sister.
“Where are you going to meet him?”
Adeline kept quiet, giving her sister time to think. The chickens around Adeline’s feet squawked for more food, so she tossed them another handful of feed. When Olivia gasped again, louder this time, Adeline knew her sister had figured things out.
“Not the Griffith’s old cottage.”
Adeline peeked over her shoulder at her sister and grinned.
“Oh, dear.” Olivia scurried back around in front of Adeline. “But what if you’re caught?”
“Why would we get caught? The place has been abandoned for years.”
Olivia’s stare narrowed suspiciously. “Unless you are hoping to get caught...”
Adeline’s cheeks grew warm. She quickly pushed past her sister again as she continued to feed the chickens. “Don’t be ridiculous. Pa will never know.”
She didn’t have to look at her sister to know that the younger girl’s mind was spinning with ideas again. But this was exactly what Adeline hoped for. She prayed the stage had been set for her grand finale.
Soon, Olivia disappeared, which gave Adeline time to ready herself for her secret meeting with Collin. She changed into another gown and brushed her hair out of the coil it had been in this morning. There was no need to pinch her cheeks to bring more color since they were pink enough already, due to the excitement shooting through her.
She crept to the stable and saddled one of the horses before mounting and taking off. She knew her brothers or her mother wouldn’t ask questions. Adeline had gone to the market place many times without telling anyone. So she hoped they would think this was just part of her daily schedule.
The closer she came to the abandoned cottage, the harder her body shook. Doubt tried to sneak into her mind, but she quickly ushered it out. Collin had admitted to being a rogue, but she’d found the tender, caring man underneath his disguise. He would make her happy, and she’d do all she could to make him feel the same way.
She tethered her horse to a tree and slowly walked into the cottage. Collin must not be here yet, since she hadn’t noticed his horse in the yard. But still, the prickles of awareness crawling up her arms and her back let her know that someone was here.
“Is someone here?” she asked with a shaky voice.
She moved from one room to the next, peeking inside. Her ears sharpened their senses as well, but she couldn’t hear anything except for her ragged breaths.
“Collin? Are you here?”
After checking every room on the bottom floor, she climbed the stairs to the top floor. Dust coated the banister and rubbed off on her gown. When she reached the top, she brushed off the dirt.
“Collin?” she asked, moving toward the first bedroom.
Just as she entered, the floor squeaked. Seconds later, out of the corner of her eye, there was a flash of someone rushing toward her. She turned quickly just as two strong hands clasped her upper arms. And when she stared into the eyes of a man who was not Collin, her heart sank. Panic tightened her chest.
