her shape, while the spotted neckerchief hid her
slender neck, her most betraying feature. She wore the mouse-brown
bag-wig, covered by a battered flat-brimmed hat.
“It’s marvelous!” exclaimed Verity. “A much better disguise than more elegant clothing. Lord Cyn was right.”
“You
would
think that,” grumbled Chastity, but with a smile.
A new problem fretted Verity. “Chas, do you think Father knows I’m missing?”
Chastity looked at her sister sharply. “He’s bound to, unless Henry Vernham has hushed it up for his own nefarious reasons.”
“Oh, lud. What reason would Henry have to do that? All he wants is
William so he can control the estate. Or perhaps worse…” Verity
shuddered. “Horrible Henry! That sums him up so beautifully. I like
Lord Cyn.”
“You like everyone,” said Chastity grimly. “Here, is there space for my suit in that portmanteau?”
Verity took it. “I do not like everyone. I dislike Henry intensely.
But I like Lord Cyn, and I feel very secure knowing he’s an officer.
Our plan is full of hazards, dearest, but I’m sure he can carry it
through if anyone can.”
“He’s in it for amusement, Verity!”
Verity shook her head. “You must learn to look beneath the surface a
little. Remember he’s a military man, like Nathaniel.” She paused in
her work of pushing the brown suit into the full bag. “But Father
worries me, Chas. He knows about Nathaniel and will have no trouble
discovering where he is stationed…”
“And with his connections,” said Chastity quietly, “he could virtually raise the country.”
“Chas, we
have
to tell Lord Cyn who we are, and what he’s embroiled in. Father could ruin him with a word.”
Chastity’s eyes widened in alarm. “But that would mean he would know who I am! Oh, what does that matter next to your safety—”
“No,” said Verity quickly. “What would it gain us?” She knew how Chastity dreaded facing anyone as the Notorious Chastity Ware.
They looked at each other. “It shouldn’t matter,” said Chastity.
“I’m sure we can reach Maidenhead without tangling with Father…”
“I’m sure we can,” Verity said firmly, then bit her lip.
“But what of Nathaniel? If Father is a danger to Lord Cynric
Malloren, he’s even more so to Nathaniel. His career could be ruined.
Officers have been thrown out of the army for merely voting against the
government in an election…” Verity’s hands clenched on Chastity’s. “And
what of the baby? Do you think they
could
take William? I’d die first!”
“I’m sure they couldn’t,” Chastity soothed. “Nathaniel would never
allow it. And you’ve forgotten his true nature if you think he would
not sacrifice his career entirely for your happiness. But it will never
come to that,” she added hurriedly, knowing Verity would immolate
herself before hurting her beloved. “Nathaniel is a highly regarded
officer, and this is a time of war. Once the knot is tied, no one will
be able to make a case for taking away your child.”
In truth, she wasn’t as certain as her words implied, and her own
knees were turning to jelly at the prospect of challenging the Earl of
Walgrave’s will again. But what choice did they have?
What they needed was an advocate as powerful as Walgrave. They might as well wish for the moon.
Chapter 4
Chastity rode into Shaftesbury with Lord Cyn, alert for any sly move
he might make. Despite his professed eagerness to help them, she didn’t
trust him one iota. He had too frivolous an attitude to life, and a way
of making the most outrageous things sound reasonable.
Such as them coming into town in the first place.
And her giving him back some of his money.
After all, he’d said, he did intend to buy clothes, and it would
look strange for the groom to be paying the shopkeepers. It had sounded
too reasonable to deny, but Chastity was fretted again by the feeling
that matters were being cleverly slid out of her hands.
They left the horses
slender neck, her most betraying feature. She wore the mouse-brown
bag-wig, covered by a battered flat-brimmed hat.
“It’s marvelous!” exclaimed Verity. “A much better disguise than more elegant clothing. Lord Cyn was right.”
“You
would
think that,” grumbled Chastity, but with a smile.
A new problem fretted Verity. “Chas, do you think Father knows I’m missing?”
Chastity looked at her sister sharply. “He’s bound to, unless Henry Vernham has hushed it up for his own nefarious reasons.”
“Oh, lud. What reason would Henry have to do that? All he wants is
William so he can control the estate. Or perhaps worse…” Verity
shuddered. “Horrible Henry! That sums him up so beautifully. I like
Lord Cyn.”
“You like everyone,” said Chastity grimly. “Here, is there space for my suit in that portmanteau?”
Verity took it. “I do not like everyone. I dislike Henry intensely.
But I like Lord Cyn, and I feel very secure knowing he’s an officer.
Our plan is full of hazards, dearest, but I’m sure he can carry it
through if anyone can.”
“He’s in it for amusement, Verity!”
Verity shook her head. “You must learn to look beneath the surface a
little. Remember he’s a military man, like Nathaniel.” She paused in
her work of pushing the brown suit into the full bag. “But Father
worries me, Chas. He knows about Nathaniel and will have no trouble
discovering where he is stationed…”
“And with his connections,” said Chastity quietly, “he could virtually raise the country.”
“Chas, we
have
to tell Lord Cyn who we are, and what he’s embroiled in. Father could ruin him with a word.”
Chastity’s eyes widened in alarm. “But that would mean he would know who I am! Oh, what does that matter next to your safety—”
“No,” said Verity quickly. “What would it gain us?” She knew how Chastity dreaded facing anyone as the Notorious Chastity Ware.
They looked at each other. “It shouldn’t matter,” said Chastity.
“I’m sure we can reach Maidenhead without tangling with Father…”
“I’m sure we can,” Verity said firmly, then bit her lip.
“But what of Nathaniel? If Father is a danger to Lord Cynric
Malloren, he’s even more so to Nathaniel. His career could be ruined.
Officers have been thrown out of the army for merely voting against the
government in an election…” Verity’s hands clenched on Chastity’s. “And
what of the baby? Do you think they
could
take William? I’d die first!”
“I’m sure they couldn’t,” Chastity soothed. “Nathaniel would never
allow it. And you’ve forgotten his true nature if you think he would
not sacrifice his career entirely for your happiness. But it will never
come to that,” she added hurriedly, knowing Verity would immolate
herself before hurting her beloved. “Nathaniel is a highly regarded
officer, and this is a time of war. Once the knot is tied, no one will
be able to make a case for taking away your child.”
In truth, she wasn’t as certain as her words implied, and her own
knees were turning to jelly at the prospect of challenging the Earl of
Walgrave’s will again. But what choice did they have?
What they needed was an advocate as powerful as Walgrave. They might as well wish for the moon.
Chapter 4
Chastity rode into Shaftesbury with Lord Cyn, alert for any sly move
he might make. Despite his professed eagerness to help them, she didn’t
trust him one iota. He had too frivolous an attitude to life, and a way
of making the most outrageous things sound reasonable.
Such as them coming into town in the first place.
And her giving him back some of his money.
After all, he’d said, he did intend to buy clothes, and it would
look strange for the groom to be paying the shopkeepers. It had sounded
too reasonable to deny, but Chastity was fretted again by the feeling
that matters were being cleverly slid out of her hands.
They left the horses
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