Treacherous Temptations(58)

“But I can’t Jenny! I can’t even bear to look upon him after this. I never want to see his loathsome face again!”

“But miss, I don’t see another way. If he plans to take ye abroad, ye’ll be going to the coast. Just go along until you can get away from him altogether. We’ll contrive a way to slip off before the ship sails.”

“But even if I could manage to get away, I would still need money to hire a coach to get home.”

“Have ye any jewels?”

“Lady Blanchard has everything locked away except…” Mary rose and retrieved a small box from her dressing table. “Here’s the strand of pearls I wore to the opera.” She handed them to Jenny. “I daresay they’ll bring enough to get us home.”

“Would you like me to have James take them to the pawn for ye?”

“Are you sure you trust him?”

“Aye,” Jenny grinned, “But I still won’t say more than I must. Don’t fret miss; we’ll see you through this.”

“You’ll go with me, Jenny?”

“Aye, miss. I won’t leave ye.”

“Thank you.” Mary hugged her. “I don’t know what I would ever do without you.”

“So what will you do now?” Jenny asked.

“I don’t know yet. I suppose we have to wait for an opportunity. When it presents, we must be ready to act without hesitation.”

…

The hoped for opportunity presented when Lady Blanchard came to Mary shortly after noon. “Leave us,” she commanded Jenny. The maid signaled Mary with a slight nod and a hand on her pocket before she withdrew.

The countess locked the door behind her and then raked Mary from head to toe with a subtle smile and an arched brow. “How do you feel this morning, my dear? Did you sleep well?”

Mary didn’t know precisely what Lady Blanchard was about with her unusual solicitude, but she was obviously fishing and Mary refused to take the bait. “Very well, my lady,” Mary replied with a cheery smile. “And you?”

Lady Blanchard returned a puzzled frown. “You were not…disturbed…in any way during the night?”

“No, my lady.” Mary raised her brows above widened eyes. “Did something untoward occur?”

“Nothing at all, my dear.” The countess pasted on a false smile. “Perhaps it’s just my maternal instincts coming to the fore after the fright you gave us the other night.”

“I am so very sorry for worrying you,” Mary replied. “But I promised I would not run off again. Is it necessary to keep my door locked?”

The countess surveyed the room with a narrowed gaze before sitting upon the freshly made bed. She beckoned Mary to join her. “Let us talk my dear. You must understand that it is for your own good, as I only desire to keep you safe from harm. You are still under my care after all—at least until you are wed.”

“I see. Have you any further news from Sir Richard?” she asked. “Has he contracted an alliance for me?”

“Very soon, child. I expect the matter may even be concluded this day.”

“Today?” Mary had to remind herself to breathe.

“Yes, my dear. I daresay all will be arranged with great dispatch after what occurred the night of the opera.”

“Is it so very imminent?” Mary asked, feeling increasingly like a bird trapped in a cage.

“I can see the subject unsettles you. If it is your wedding night that causes such apprehension, perhaps I may allay your fears. I imagine you have many questions, but are perhaps reticent to broach the more delicate subjects pertaining to your marriage.”

Mary neither confessed nor denied it, but looked to the countess expectantly.

Mistaking her silence, Lady Blanchard continued, “Do you quite understand what will be required of you? Do you know what transpires in the marriage bed, Mary?”

Not daring to look the countess in the face for fear of betraying herself, she diverted her gaze to her hands and schooled her face to impassivity. “I understand the fundamentals regarding the act of procreation, if that is what you mean. Having lived my entire life in the country, I have seen various animals bred at the home farm—the sheep, the cattle, the horses. I cannot think it so very different for people.”

“But you have no personal experience regarding the intimacies between a man and a woman?”

“How could I when I am unwed?” Mary regarded her innocently and then looked away. “But if you are asking if I have ever permitted a gentleman any liberties with my person, I would have to confess my guilt.”

“Indeed?” The countess raised both delicately shaped brows.

“Yes, madam. I have allowed Lord Hadley to kiss me.”

“To kiss you?”

“Yes. Twice in fact. Once at Kensington Gardens and again at Bushy Park.”

“And that is all? Just a kiss?”

“I believe he would have pressed for much more, my lady, but I told him I didn’t like it.”

Lady Blanchard pinned her with an incredulous stare. “You didn’t like it when he kissed you?”

“No, my lady. At first it was pleasant enough, but then it became quite revolting when he put his tongue in my mouth.” She shuddered for effect.