Lord Valorous(33)

"If I could intervene, we really do not have time for this conversation, and it is bloody icy out here." Lord Vereton hissed the words at them.

"Are you going to climb up to Lady Revel's window?" Poppy asked.

"We are going to hopefully enter through the lower floors and make our way up to hers. You need to leave, and I shall apprise you of what I find tomorrow. After I've given you a piece of my mind about your reckless behavior, that is!"

"Oh... could I not-"

"Absolutely not!" both men said instantly.

"Oh, but-"

"God's blood," Lord Hatherton snarled. "Walk to the end of the street now, Miss March. Hamley is waiting there with the carriage. Get inside, and I shall return soon and apprise you of what we find."

"But I could stand watch for you both, in case anyone comes."

"From where?" Jacob glared at her. "It is hardly a through road. Furthermore, no staff will be out here unless absolutely necessary. Now go, Poppy, before I really get angry."

"You're always angry," Poppy muttered, turning away. "And I should tell you before I go that Lord Revel has a woman sitting outside Lady Revel's room."

"You did so earlier."

"Well I was not sure you would remember, so I am telling you once more."



       
         
       
        

His teeth snapped together as he glared down at her.

"But of course, you are noblemen, and need no help from one such as I."

Lord Vereton was chuckling softly now.

"Christ, woman, will you shut up."

"It is wrong to blaspheme, but in light of the circumstance I forgive you." Poppy didn't add anything more, she simply walked away. Stopping at the corner of the house that would take her back to the street, she flattened herself against the wall. Peering around, she watched the lords move from window to window before disappearing around the other side and out of her line of vision.

She did not want to leave. What if Lady Revel's condition was so dire that Poppy needed to go to her? What if there was trouble, and someone chanced upon the lords while they entered the house? She wasn't deliberately trying to be annoying, but could not make herself leave. Poppy moved slowly around the front of the house, she waited a few minutes until she hoped the lords were inside, and then hurried to stand beneath Lady Revel's window. Cold seeped into the thin soles of her boots as she looked up at the window. Huddling into her scarf, she watched, waited, and prayed.

The slide of a window had her looking upward. The breath lodged in Poppy's throat as she saw Lord Hatherton's head appear. Dear Lord, surely he was not about to climb outside? Too frightened to move in case he looked down at a noise she made, Poppy held her breath as he and Lord Vereton climbed out and perched on the narrow ledge that ran around the house. They then crept along it until they reached Lady Revel's balcony. Only then did Poppy exhale.





CHAPTER NINE





The woman seated outside Lady Revel's room was slumbering as Jacob and Leo reached the third floor. But as her chair was stationed in front of the door, they could not enter the room. Instead, they slipped into another several doors down. Opening the window, they climbed through.

The ledge running around the house was wide enough to walk along, and they quickly made their way to Lady Revel's balcony. Something made Jacob look down, and he saw her. Poppy was beneath, looking up at him.

"Idiot," he snarled. "That woman has no concept of how to follow orders."

Leo joined him and lifted a hand to Poppy. She replied with a small, nervous flick of her fingers.

"Don't wave at her, for pity's sake, Leo. It will only encourage her!"

"I like her. She's got spirit. In fact, she reminds me of Charlotte and Grace."

Jacob ignored the small flash of pride at his friend's words. He was angry with the risks she was taking, and would let her know just how angry when he got hold of her. What the hell was she thinking, walking about in the dark alone? 

"Go to my carriage!" he whispered as loud as he could, for fear he would wake someone.

Poppy of course ignored him.

"Backbone," Leo whispered.

"If you're quite finished perhaps you could shut up, so we can do what we came for."

"You're awfully touchy about Poppy, Jacob."

"I'm not awfully touchy about her, I'm angry with her. Note the differences, please, Leo."

"You always sound pompous when you're denying your feelings."

Jacob muttered something foul and reached for the window, praying it was not locked. It wasn't, and he slid it upward and entered with Leo behind him. Thick curtains made the room dark so Jacob parted one enough to let in a weak shaft of light. As their eyes adjusted, Jacob heard the soft breathing of someone he hoped was Lady Revel. Moving closer, he confirmed it was her. Searching the bedside table, he found several vials of liquid. Handing them to Leo, he bent to study the woman.