A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting(78)

‘I’m sorry,’ she called, her voice barely audible over the wind. ‘I must go.’ Pemberton gaped at her, but she turned resolutely back to Hinsley. Her heart was beating fast – so fast – and she was almost certain this was a mistake, but she had to do it.

‘I’ll remember on the way,’ she said. ‘I’m sure of it – let’s go now.’

They dashed through the hall, Kitty retrieving her cloak as they did so, and fled down the front steps towards the carriages, where a groom was watching Hinsley’s hastily abandoned curricle. She spared a moment to glance around, to make sure no one of their acquaintance was watching, but the driveway was blessedly empty and she leapt in after him.

‘Are you quite sure?’ Hinsley asked Kitty, even as he was directing his bays out onto the road. ‘I’m not sure Radcliffe would approve of this—’

‘Oh, who cares what he thinks,’ Kitty snapped. ‘You just drive – I’m trying to remember.’

Gusts of wind whipped through her hair relentlessly, tugging her curls free from their pins. She supposed they were lucky it was not raining, for they would surely be quite soaked through already – but the gale alone made managing the horses difficult enough.

‘Give them their heads,’ she told Captain Hinsley, as they rattled down Worple Road, watching his hands critically.

‘Don’t tell me what to do,’ he said through gritted teeth, though he loosened the reins anyhow.

‘I wouldn’t if you didn’t seem in such desperate need of instruction,’ she snapped back. It had not been long before the two had dropped all pretence at manners.

‘Are you sure this is the right way?’ he demanded.

‘Yes,’ she said, more certainly than she felt. ‘He definitely said Hill-something, off Worple Road.’

‘We can’t be far, then.’ Hinsley’s eyes squinted into the darkness.

‘What kind of evils are we to expect there?’ Kitty asked – repeating herself, louder, when he couldn’t hear over the wind.

‘I don’t know,’ he said grimly. ‘I have heard stories – crooked tables – opium – women – private prizefights. We just need to get Archie out before he commits himself too fully. Selbourne always plays this the same way, I’m told – he tempts away young bucks, lets them win their first ten games with him, so they’re addicted to the feeling, then turns the tables. Archie is in full possession of his fortune now – and Selbourne will have his eyes upon it, you mark my words.’

‘Gracious,’ Kitty breathed out.

As if summoned by Hinsley’s description, a set of iron bars suddenly rose ahead of them – tall, steel, and imposing. The main gates were shut, but a smaller, person-sized opening stood ajar to their left.

‘Right,’ Hinsley said, pulling up sharply. He handed her the reins.

‘Stay here,’ he instructed. ‘Walk the horses. I shall return in fifteen minutes.’

‘I’m coming in with you,’ she said indignantly.

‘You are not,’ he said firmly. ‘I absolutely forbid it; it is far too dangerous.’

‘It could be dangerous out here,’ she protested. ‘What if there are highwaymen – or bandits!’

‘They would be brave bandits indeed on a night like this,’ he said, but he appeared torn. After a second, he leant under the seat, groping around for a few moments, before sitting up and pulling out a pistol.

‘Be careful with that,’ he said. ‘I’ll leave it on the seat next to you. Do not touch it unless you are in danger. Can’t imagine anyone else coming this way, but – if they do, shoot it into the air. I shall only be gone fifteen minutes.’

With that, he jumped down from the carriage and, within a few steps, was swallowed up by the darkness.





33


Radcliffe stared out of his window onto the deserted street below. A strong wind had swept through London as dusk fell, flinging rain and red leaves from the nearby trees at the glass. It was the wildest storm he had seen in years. Behind him, his bedroom was packed up. In the morning, he would be leaving for Radcliffe Hall – he had meant to go today, but the weather had made travel quite perilous. He tried to envision Radcliffe Hall in his mind – usually a source of such comfort to him, the place where he felt most at ease in the whole world – but the exercise left him feeling entirely lacking. Isolation did not hold the same appeal it once had.

A polite knock on the door. He looked up to see Beaverton hovering on the threshold.

‘A young woman to see you, my lord.’ Radcliffe looked to the clock. His first thought was to wonder if he should be pleased that Miss Talbot was choosing to call at nine in the evening, rather than the morning – until he remembered that she no longer had reason to call upon him. By tomorrow she would be engaged, perhaps even was so already. Unless …

‘Show Miss Talbot in,’ he instructed, his curiosity piqued, his heart beating ever so slightly faster. He rose and walked to the fireplace to lean on the mantle, affecting nonchalance – before straightening almost immediately, feeling foolish.

‘Ahem,’ Beaverton pretended not to notice the moment – protective, as ever, of his lord’s dignity. ‘On this occasion, it is the young lady who always accompanies Miss Talbot.’