paper, stopping frequently to check that she had made no mistake. When she finished and was satisfied that all was in order, she carefully folded her copy and tucked it into the top of her chemise, where it lay like a cold, sharp knife against her bosom. She returned the original to her dress pocket.
“Now all I have to do is wait for a suitable opportunity to return it to you, Sir Nicholas,” she murmured, “and I hope one arises before you discover it is missing.”
She lay on her bunk, fully dressed, and stared at the ceiling, far too excited to sleep. She had a lot to think about. She had to find a plausible reason to persuade Sir Nicholas to accompany them to London, for she now felt it imperative that she not lose sight of him until she had spoken to her uncle. Lord Bromley, in his capacity as Under Secretary, would know exactly how to handle such an unusual situation.
She jerked up into a sitting position some five minutes later, a self-satisfied expression on her face. “The comte, of course! He would be most suspicious if he noticed that I had left my father at Dover,” she exclaimed triumphantly. “Sir Nicholas, you’ll just have to accept my offer to take you to London.”
C hapter 6
It was early afternoon before the boat finally reached Dover. The trip had been rough, and as far as Roberta could determine from the faces of the people who had gathered on deck, she was one of the few lucky ones who had not suffered seasickness. There was no sign of Mrs. Ashley or Sir Nicholas, and she assumed they were still in their cabins. As she stood, looking toward land, Williams came up behind her.
“That was as rough a trip as I’ve ever ’ad,” he said. “I expect Mrs. Ashley is glad it’s over.”
Roberta turned guiltily. She really hadn’t given a thought to Mrs. Ashley’s discomfort, for she had devoted all her energy to the problems Sir Nicholas presented. “I expect so, Williams,” she replied. “She never has liked sea voyages. I take it you didn’t suffer unduly?”
“Nay, not me, Miss Roberta. Matter of fact, I rather enjoyed the battle we had with the elements. I looked in on…oh… your papa just a short while ago, and he’s all ready for the journey to London.”
“You mean he wants to join us?” she exclaimed. “I—I thought he would have preferred to make his own arrangements, and travel alone.”
Williams looked about cautiously before mumbling, “It was his suggestion, Miss Roberta. He thought it for the best on account of the comte being on board. It would look very strange if you were seen going off without your father,” he said.
Roberta nodded in satisfaction, pleased that this hurdle had been jumped without trouble.
“Sir Nicholas even asked if it would be possible to make Reigate by dusk,” Williams added, “for he knows of a very good inn there where we could spend the night.”
“And can we?” she inquired, fingering the piece of paper in her pocket. She wondered if Sir Nicholas had noticed it was missing yet.
“With the fresh team that should be awaiting us, I’m sure of it. I’ll just give them their heads.”
“Good. Now, as for getting ashore, we will wait for you in Papa’s cabin, and when you have the carriage ready, you can fetch us. The captain won’t mind our lingering if you make it worth his while, will he?”
“I’ve already taken care of that, Miss Roberta. Your father gave the necessary funds.” He tipped his tricorn and left Roberta in deep thought.
“It would seem that Sir Nicholas and I think along the same lines,” she said. “Now I am forced to wonder why he wants to go to Reigate.”
The answer to that was obvious when they arrived at the inn. The landlord, after Sir Nicholas had spoken quietly in his ear, greeted the party warmly.
“An old and trustworthy friend,” Sir Nicholas said when Roberta asked what it was all about. “He’ll take very good care of us, and I can promise you an excellent meal. People come from
“Now all I have to do is wait for a suitable opportunity to return it to you, Sir Nicholas,” she murmured, “and I hope one arises before you discover it is missing.”
She lay on her bunk, fully dressed, and stared at the ceiling, far too excited to sleep. She had a lot to think about. She had to find a plausible reason to persuade Sir Nicholas to accompany them to London, for she now felt it imperative that she not lose sight of him until she had spoken to her uncle. Lord Bromley, in his capacity as Under Secretary, would know exactly how to handle such an unusual situation.
She jerked up into a sitting position some five minutes later, a self-satisfied expression on her face. “The comte, of course! He would be most suspicious if he noticed that I had left my father at Dover,” she exclaimed triumphantly. “Sir Nicholas, you’ll just have to accept my offer to take you to London.”
C hapter 6
It was early afternoon before the boat finally reached Dover. The trip had been rough, and as far as Roberta could determine from the faces of the people who had gathered on deck, she was one of the few lucky ones who had not suffered seasickness. There was no sign of Mrs. Ashley or Sir Nicholas, and she assumed they were still in their cabins. As she stood, looking toward land, Williams came up behind her.
“That was as rough a trip as I’ve ever ’ad,” he said. “I expect Mrs. Ashley is glad it’s over.”
Roberta turned guiltily. She really hadn’t given a thought to Mrs. Ashley’s discomfort, for she had devoted all her energy to the problems Sir Nicholas presented. “I expect so, Williams,” she replied. “She never has liked sea voyages. I take it you didn’t suffer unduly?”
“Nay, not me, Miss Roberta. Matter of fact, I rather enjoyed the battle we had with the elements. I looked in on…oh… your papa just a short while ago, and he’s all ready for the journey to London.”
“You mean he wants to join us?” she exclaimed. “I—I thought he would have preferred to make his own arrangements, and travel alone.”
Williams looked about cautiously before mumbling, “It was his suggestion, Miss Roberta. He thought it for the best on account of the comte being on board. It would look very strange if you were seen going off without your father,” he said.
Roberta nodded in satisfaction, pleased that this hurdle had been jumped without trouble.
“Sir Nicholas even asked if it would be possible to make Reigate by dusk,” Williams added, “for he knows of a very good inn there where we could spend the night.”
“And can we?” she inquired, fingering the piece of paper in her pocket. She wondered if Sir Nicholas had noticed it was missing yet.
“With the fresh team that should be awaiting us, I’m sure of it. I’ll just give them their heads.”
“Good. Now, as for getting ashore, we will wait for you in Papa’s cabin, and when you have the carriage ready, you can fetch us. The captain won’t mind our lingering if you make it worth his while, will he?”
“I’ve already taken care of that, Miss Roberta. Your father gave the necessary funds.” He tipped his tricorn and left Roberta in deep thought.
“It would seem that Sir Nicholas and I think along the same lines,” she said. “Now I am forced to wonder why he wants to go to Reigate.”
The answer to that was obvious when they arrived at the inn. The landlord, after Sir Nicholas had spoken quietly in his ear, greeted the party warmly.
“An old and trustworthy friend,” Sir Nicholas said when Roberta asked what it was all about. “He’ll take very good care of us, and I can promise you an excellent meal. People come from
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