Lady Ellingham and the Theft of the Stansfield Necklace: A Regency Romance by Miriam Rochester

seen her looking so forlorn and he knew the reason, this
time she had gone too far and the stakes were high.
          Richard sat on
the bed and took her hand.  I have come to say goodnight Flick and assure you
that all will be well, these things rarely end up in a killing, but if anything
should happen tomorrow do not blame yourself.  It is as much my fault as yours
as I could have handled things differently. I saw him lay a hand on you and it
raised my temper, so there was no way I was going to back down. I will not deny
that I would have preferred you had left things unsaid but it is done now. Before
I go tell me, have you evidence to prove your accusation?’
          Felicity bit her
lip. ‘She could hardly tell Richard that the evidence sat right under his very
nose, nestled in a black velvet pouch in the drawer of the bedside table.  He
would want to know how she had acquired it and if he knew that, he would have
an apoplexy.’
          Richard misread
her silence. ‘No I thought not,’ he replied. ‘We shall have to make the best of
things, but Felicity you must not speak of this to anyone, without evidence you
could be prosecuted for libel.’
          He bent down,
kissed her on the cheek, and got up to go.  She grabbed his hand. ‘Richard it
is not too late.  If you take me around to Thorndale’s house now, tonight, I
will apologise and you will not have to meet tomorrow.’
          ‘No Flick,’ he
sighed. ‘The arrangements have been made. The meeting shall go ahead as planned.’

Chapter 5
     

Shenanigans on Hampstead Heath
     
         It was nearly
midnight and Felicity could not sleep.  Richard had tried to put her mind at
rest but the fact remained, he could be seriously hurt or even killed and no
matter what he said, it would be all her fault.  Richard was as stubborn as she
was impetuous and had not let her apologise.  Very well then, she would need to
think of something else.  She sat up in bed, her mind racing to search for a solution.
           Perhaps she
could visit Thorndale herself and offer an apology.  She need not go unescorted,
after all for she could take Sarah.  Felicity was intrepid but she recollected
her experience of the previous night, and another encounter with a footpad was
more than she cared to repeat or even contemplate. Moreover what would Lord Thorndale
think of her.  A woman visiting a single man alone with only her maid in
attendance at this time of night was beyond all bounds of propriety. No doubt, Thorndale
already viewed her unfavourably, but she could not have him thinking that she
was a light skirt.  No, that solution would not answer at all.
          Perhaps she could
waylay Thorndale’s carriage.  Harry’s clothes were still under the bed.  She
could disguise herself as a highwayman and hold up his carriage, but then what
would she do?  She could not keep them at bay forever and she certainly would
not be able to bring herself to shoot anyone. What if Thorndale suspected that
the attack was a ruse and managed to overpower her, all would be lost.  It also
occurred to her that if she was wearing Harry’s clothes he would recognise her
as the intruder from the night before, exposing her and then the game would be
truly up. No, that would not answer either. 
          However, he had
to be stopped and stop him she would. She racked her brains for a solution. If
only she could make him late for the appointment.  Richard would only need to
wait for him for as long as etiquette required and when Thorndale did not turn
up her brother could leave the field honourably.  Felicity did not have much of
a plan but she knew the time and the place where the duel was to take place. 
If she could just lie in wait and waylay Thorndale’s carriage, perhaps she
could cause it to overturn, which would delay him enough to make a difference.  How
hard could it be?
          At 5am and with
her mind made up Felicity arose and