meet her to plan the next round.
The Countess of Camberley swept in, wearing a smile too wide to be genuine. Elisabeth favoured her in looks, save for the fact the older woman was quite a bit heavier.
The Earl looked askance at his wife. “Captain Edward Barrett of Somersell Shipping.”
“Captain Barrett. Thank you for the teas. We shall sample them today.” The simpering smile and raised eyebrows belied that she had been informed of the real reason for Edward’s call.
“Your Grace.” Edward bowed and waited while the butler pushed in the ladies’ chairs, then gestured him to a seat between Lord and Lady Baxter, directly across from Elisabeth.
“Please be seated, Captain.” The countess proceeded to pour tea. “What a lovely purse. Where is it from?”
It lay on the table, open. Her handkerchief was already inside.
“Siam.” Fury boiled inside him.
She put it down and selected some cakes.
Lord Baxter chewed slowly and sat back in his chair, no doubt savoring the torture.
Elisabeth sipped tea. “It’s exquisite. Best without cream, I imagine.” Her eyes drew him in like an oasis promising relief to a parched traveler.
“I believe so, my lady.” This show was for the Earl and the Countess of Camberley to assert their power. She’d had enough presence of mind to ensure they could talk frankly later.
Teacups clinked and spoons stirred. The tea tasted like bile, the cakes like hardtack. Edward drained his cup and cleared his plate to be polite.
He rose. “Thank you for your hospitality, my lord, my lady. I have business to attend to in London.”
“Good day, Captain. And thank you again.” The countess stroked the silken purse as if it were a kitten.
“Godspeed, Captain.” Elisabeth’s eyes swam in tears.
This woman tore holes in places he never knew existed.
“Yes, my good man. Safe journeys. Hartman, see the Captain to the door.” The earl selected another cake.
The countess poured another cup of tea. Elisabeth slumped in her chair, likely wondering if he’d dare return. He followed the butler out, planning to pass the time in a nearby pub.
Chapter 6
Edward trained his sight on the gazebo. He tethered his horse outside the high hedge bordering the property and slunk like a fox through the trees and bushes. The crescent moon was so sharp in the sky it looked like he could hang his coat on it. A scatter of stars in the expanse of black velvet provided little illumination, a boon in this case.
Shadowy figures of rabbits and the like darted about. He caught a boot in a burrow and fell to his knees. Tranquil spring air cooled his skin, yet he was sweating profusely from effort and anxiety. Thankfully, it was too early in the year for wasp nests, but dead twigs snagged on his breeches. He heard the fabric tear on at least one occasion and hoped he wouldn’t look and smell like an escaped convict by the time Elisabeth arrived.
Edward hadn’t brought a pistol. The temptation to shoot the earl would have been too great. Trespass would be the worst crime he’d commit tonight. He crouched in the dark behind the gazebo for what seemed like hours. The hoot of an owl and squeal of a captured field mouse set his already taut nerves on alert. Leaves and a dead branch cracked off the tree and fell to the ground next to him with a thud.
Elisabeth slipped out of the dimly lit conservatory. Her simple black dress blended into the darkness. The cloak she’d donned against the spring chill fluttered like bat’s wings as she ran.
“Lady Elisabeth,” he whispered from his hiding place, so as not to startle her.
“Stay where you are, Captain Barrett. In the event anyone comes, they’ll only see me. Please, take me with you.”
“What would accompanying a stranger on a sailing vessel do to your reputation? I’ve already been threatened with imprisonment. What is the punishment for kidnapping?”
Elisabeth’s naiveté shone like a beacon through her bravura. “We could marry, and you
The Countess of Camberley swept in, wearing a smile too wide to be genuine. Elisabeth favoured her in looks, save for the fact the older woman was quite a bit heavier.
The Earl looked askance at his wife. “Captain Edward Barrett of Somersell Shipping.”
“Captain Barrett. Thank you for the teas. We shall sample them today.” The simpering smile and raised eyebrows belied that she had been informed of the real reason for Edward’s call.
“Your Grace.” Edward bowed and waited while the butler pushed in the ladies’ chairs, then gestured him to a seat between Lord and Lady Baxter, directly across from Elisabeth.
“Please be seated, Captain.” The countess proceeded to pour tea. “What a lovely purse. Where is it from?”
It lay on the table, open. Her handkerchief was already inside.
“Siam.” Fury boiled inside him.
She put it down and selected some cakes.
Lord Baxter chewed slowly and sat back in his chair, no doubt savoring the torture.
Elisabeth sipped tea. “It’s exquisite. Best without cream, I imagine.” Her eyes drew him in like an oasis promising relief to a parched traveler.
“I believe so, my lady.” This show was for the Earl and the Countess of Camberley to assert their power. She’d had enough presence of mind to ensure they could talk frankly later.
Teacups clinked and spoons stirred. The tea tasted like bile, the cakes like hardtack. Edward drained his cup and cleared his plate to be polite.
He rose. “Thank you for your hospitality, my lord, my lady. I have business to attend to in London.”
“Good day, Captain. And thank you again.” The countess stroked the silken purse as if it were a kitten.
“Godspeed, Captain.” Elisabeth’s eyes swam in tears.
This woman tore holes in places he never knew existed.
“Yes, my good man. Safe journeys. Hartman, see the Captain to the door.” The earl selected another cake.
The countess poured another cup of tea. Elisabeth slumped in her chair, likely wondering if he’d dare return. He followed the butler out, planning to pass the time in a nearby pub.
Chapter 6
Edward trained his sight on the gazebo. He tethered his horse outside the high hedge bordering the property and slunk like a fox through the trees and bushes. The crescent moon was so sharp in the sky it looked like he could hang his coat on it. A scatter of stars in the expanse of black velvet provided little illumination, a boon in this case.
Shadowy figures of rabbits and the like darted about. He caught a boot in a burrow and fell to his knees. Tranquil spring air cooled his skin, yet he was sweating profusely from effort and anxiety. Thankfully, it was too early in the year for wasp nests, but dead twigs snagged on his breeches. He heard the fabric tear on at least one occasion and hoped he wouldn’t look and smell like an escaped convict by the time Elisabeth arrived.
Edward hadn’t brought a pistol. The temptation to shoot the earl would have been too great. Trespass would be the worst crime he’d commit tonight. He crouched in the dark behind the gazebo for what seemed like hours. The hoot of an owl and squeal of a captured field mouse set his already taut nerves on alert. Leaves and a dead branch cracked off the tree and fell to the ground next to him with a thud.
Elisabeth slipped out of the dimly lit conservatory. Her simple black dress blended into the darkness. The cloak she’d donned against the spring chill fluttered like bat’s wings as she ran.
“Lady Elisabeth,” he whispered from his hiding place, so as not to startle her.
“Stay where you are, Captain Barrett. In the event anyone comes, they’ll only see me. Please, take me with you.”
“What would accompanying a stranger on a sailing vessel do to your reputation? I’ve already been threatened with imprisonment. What is the punishment for kidnapping?”
Elisabeth’s naiveté shone like a beacon through her bravura. “We could marry, and you
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