A Lady Never Tells(144)

There were circles beneath Rose’s eyes, and though they served only to make her appear even more lovely and fragile, Mary knew it was a sign of great worry. Her sister was an accomplished sleeper, and it took a great deal to disturb her rest. Mary wished she could have taken one of her other sisters with her—Lily, for instance, would have greatly enjoyed the drama of it all—but unfortunately, Rose was the one most essential to the project.

As they left the breakfast table, Mary linked her arm through Rose’s, pulling her close to her side. “It will be fine,” she whispered, and smiled. “I’ll be right there with you. And Sam will be watching out for us. Not to mention Camellia and Lily and Royce and Fitz.”

At the mention of Sam, Rose brightened, even allowing a small smile. Personally, Mary was more reassured by the presence of Camellia and Royce, but clearly it was Sam’s protection that meant the most to Rose.

“I know.” Rose nodded. “I am determined to be brave.”

The hardest part was waiting for another hour, as they had planned. They sat with Charlotte and Miss Dalrymple in the drawing room, but soon Miss Dalrymple began to fuss about the absence of the other girls. Charlotte, for her part, twisted her handkerchief and said little, glancing at Miss Dalrymple as if she wished her far away.

“Where are those two?” Miss Dalrymple asked for the fourth time, turning to look at the clock on the mantel. “It is considered a virtue to be punctual.”

“Perhaps they are not feeling well.” Mary had not considered dealing with Miss Dalrymple in her plans. “It might be best if we put off our lessons until this afternoon.”

Miss Dalrymple began to tsk-tsk, wagging her forefinger at Mary in the way that invariably aroused Mary’s resentment. “Now, do not let your sisters’ poor behavior influence yours, Miss Bascombe.”

“That will be enough, Miss Dalrymple.” Charlotte’s voice held that indefinable tone of aristocratic authority that Mary was sure she could never achieve no matter how long she studied. “I have plans to spend the day with the Misses Bascombe, so your class will have to be postponed until tomorrow. Perhaps you might spend the day devising something more entertaining for your activities tomorrow. I found their lessons yesterday dry as dust.”

Miss Dalrymple looked as if she’d swallowed a spider, but she only nodded and heaved herself to her feet. “Yes, of course, my lady.”

Rose turned to her cousin with awe after Miss Dalrymple had stalked out of the room. “How did you manage that?”

Charlotte shrugged. “One simply pretends to be Aunt Euphronia. However do you girls stand that woman? Viv is right; Oliver should replace her. We shall have to talk to him once all this is over.” She turned to look at the clock, just as Miss Dalrymple had earlier. “Is it time yet?”

“It’s approaching.” Mary stood up. She looked toward Charlotte, who nodded and rose to go out onto the terrace for the first part of their charade.

Mary and Rose went upstairs to get their bonnets and to hide their weapons about their persons. Fitz had lent Mary one of his collection of firearms, a LePage pocket pistol that was surprisingly small and light. Rose chose to carry a small knife with her, feeling that it would be more useful if and when the attacker grabbed her.

Bonnets in hand and weapons safely concealed in their pockets, they went back down the stairs and out to the terrace, where Charlotte and the earl sat looking over the gardens. Charlotte by now had worried her handkerchief into a rumpled ball. The earl looked completely at ease. Pirate, for once, was not at the earl’s feet, but stood at the top of the steps, apparently surveying the garden for possible foes.#p#分页标题#e#

Stewkesbury stood up at the girls’ entrance and bowed. “Are you ready?’

Mary nodded. “Perhaps we should begin by talking

a bit.”

“Of course.” The earl gazed out across the gardens. “Lovely day, is it not? Though I fear it will not be long before autumn is upon us.”

“Oh, Oliver, how can you be so—so unruffled?” Charlotte asked.

“Well, I must be, mustn’t I?” Oliver smiled faintly. “Otherwise, how can he tell I have become agitated?”

“Do you?” Charlotte asked. “Ever become agitated?”

“One endeavors not to.” He shot his cuffs, then pulled out chairs for Mary and Rose. “I think it would be best to urge you to sit down, don’t you?”

Mary glanced toward the chairs, but did not sit down. “Yes, and I think we would explain that we should like to go farther afield today.” She gestured to the east. “We have heard that there is an old mill, and we would like to explore.”