Royce choked back a laugh. “No. I fear not.” They continued walking for a few moments in silence. “I am sure I must be a bit slow, but I still don’t quite comprehend what his horses had to do with it.”
“They didn’t have anything to do with it,” Mary told him. “I don’t know why he kept blathering on about them. We didn’t touch his horses. We were standing in front of them, that’s all, because it was the best place to hide.”
“Hide?” Royce’s brows rose. “You were hiding?”
“Yes. Well, you see, we thought this man was following us.”
“He was following us,” Camellia interjected. “Because as soon as we turned that corner and hid, he came around it, looking about for us.”
“Who was following you?” Royce kept determinedly to his point.
“I haven’t any idea. We didn’t know him. Well, we wouldn’t, would we?” Mary asked reasonably. “We don’t know anyone here.”
“He was quite large and ferocious-looking.” Lily gestured with her hands to show his height and breadth.
“He was large,” Mary agreed. “Though in all fairness, I would not say he looked ferocious. We could not see his face really until he came around the corner, and then he just looked puzzled.”
Lily sighed. “You haven’t the slightest bit of drama in you.”
“Do you have any idea why he might have been following you?” Royce asked carefully. “You didn’t by chance do anything or say anything to him—”
“No,” Mary said firmly. “We were never close enough to say anything. We just saw him walking a block or so behind us. Later on, he was still behind us. That’s when we turned the corner and hid in front of the carriage, so that we could find out whether he was in fact following us. When we saw that he was, Camellia jumped out to ask him why—”
Royce let out a muffled groan. “Of course.”
“But he turned and ran,” Camellia put in contemptuously.
“Were you brandishing your knife, by any chance?”
“No.” Camellia’s brows drew together in irritation. “I didn’t take it with me. I can see now that I should have. I didn’t realize that it was so dangerous in the city.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Mmm. Neither did I,” Royce agreed.
“That dreadful coachman said that it was because our skirts showed our ankles.” Lily stuck one foot out, peering down at the offending limb. “But I think he was just being rude. I don’t think they’re offensive, do you? It’s not as if you can see them beneath our boots.”
“Indeed not. I never find the sight of a lady’s ankle offensive. I think ’tis far more likely that some lout, seeing four comely young women, unescorted, might have followed, thinking that he would try his luck at, um, making unwanted advances.”
“To four of us?” Mary asked skeptically.
Royce shrugged. “Perhaps that is why he was trailing behind, in the hopes that you might split up.”
“Well, really!” Mary grimaced. “If that isn’t the outside of enough! Can we not even go for a walk in London without being accosted?”
“I would not think ’twould be a problem in the normal course of events—as long, of course, as it is not one of you entirely by herself. But, if you will remember what Cousin Charlotte told you, your attire is, um …”
“Yes, yes, we realize that our clothes are unfashionable.” Mary cast him a flashing glance. “Everyone has gone to great pains to point that out. But how does that attract louts such as this one?”
“It is, perhaps, not readily apparent that you are young ladies of quality. Now, if you had a maid walking with you or a gentleman escorting you, I doubt there would be any problem. I, for one, would be quite happy to offer you my services in that regard.”
“So we are stuck inside unless we drag a maid along with us? Or get you or Cousin Fitz?”
“I think we should take Papa’s rifle with us, like we do when we go berry hunting in the woods,” Camellia offered.
“Sweet Lord.” A spasm crossed Sir Royce’s face.
“No, we can’t do that,” Mary said. “Everyone already thinks we’re odd enough. I know it’s a trial, but we’ll be in the country soon enough.” She turned to Royce. “We can walk there without any problem, I presume?”
“Of course.” Royce frowned. “But you can walk here as well. Simply take a maid if you don’t wish to wait for one of us men.”