Page 14 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

You should soon receive a request for ransom, but make sure father does not pay it. One, because I am no longer with the kidnapper and two, because he had no intention of returning me home safely even upon payment of the ransom.

Please tell everyone else in Society that I fell from my horse in the park and was taken to rest with a relative in Bath so no one will question my absence. There is a second letter enclosed with mine. Keep it until you receive the letter of ransom and then share it with the entire family.

I believe Uncle Edgar will offer to come retrieve me in Scotland. If he does, let him come.

She was likely making the face again as she considered what she might do when he arrived in Scotland. As bloodthirsty as she’d been she realized she wasn’t able to cause him physical harm. Not just because it was illegal, but because she didn’t think she could carry out such a thing.

She would consider the perfect way to make him pay for what he did. She would have plenty of time while waiting for her letter to arrive and him to come north.

I know this all sounds like something from a Theodore Stonecliff novel, but I assure you, it is true.

“You read Theodore Stonecliff novels?” he asked.

“Yes, and if you think to scold me for reading books more suited for a man, I’ll remind you I have five older brothers and most of what I read is passed to me from them when they’ve finished with it.”

“I was not going to deliver a scold. I would actually say they are suited for women as well as men. After all, Theodore Stonecliff is in fact a woman.”

“Why do you think so?” She thought to the stories and the writing style, but had no inkling if this was true.

“I don’t think it. I know her. She is married to my dear friend.”

“Theodore Stonecliff, a married woman?” She shook her head. “I am not so ninny-headed to believe such a thing. No husband would allow his wife such a freedom. How many times must I remind you of the five older brothers before you realize I’ll not be so gullible?”

He chuckled. “Believe me or no, but it’s true. I’ve no reason to mislead ye. It would seem your five older brothers have left you quite cynical.”

It was true Lord Breckenridge had no reason to mislead her, but she knew well from dealing with her brothers that one did not need a reason to make a jest except for the amusement of it. And perhaps he was correct about her being cynical as well. If only slightly.

His claim seemed almost so unbelievable as to be true, and so far, Lord Breckenridge had not been caught in a lie. She decided to set judgment aside until she’d come to know him better. She would think on the possibility of such a thing later.

If you were to have any doubts as to the authenticity of this letter, please recall that I know you were responsible for breaking father’s pistol when you dropped it from the attic window. And since you and I were the only ones there, only I know the truth. And now Lord Breckenridge as he is reading over my shoulder, but I will swear him to secrecy as well. By the way, I don’t recall why you said he was unsuitable for marriage, he has been most respectable.

Your sister,

Lo

“Lo?”

“Apparently it is tiresome for young men to speak two syllable words frequently, so they shorten them to single syllable words for ease of use. Dave, Hen, Thom. Luke and James remained Luke and James.”

He nodded.

“What happened with the pistol?”

“We were forever stealing them from our father’s study to shoot at things propped on a fence. One particular time he found it missing before we could sneak back to return it. Father was livid because… well, it was quite dangerous, but not the most dangerous thing we’d done.”

“Really?” He shook his head. It seemed she made him do that quite often.

“Anyway, we had planned to toss it from Davey’s window, but he said it would be obvious he had it because it would be found on the ground outside his window. So he and I went up to the attic and tossed it out the front of the house to land in the drive. Where none of our windows faced.”

“Quite a brilliant plan.”

“There is a reason none of us were maimed or killed, my lord. We were very clever.”

“Deviously so. I will take the truth of the pistol to my grave, Lady Lo.” He smiled. “My, but that is so much easier to say than Lady Harlow.”

She chuckled at his jest, but she also noticed the heat on her cheeks. She rather liked hearing the shortened name on his lips. And in his accent. Not that she could say why.

With her letter finished, she passed over the lap desk so Lord Breckenridge could write the missive that would accompany hers.