The Mysterious Miss Flint (Lost Ladies of London 1)

“Unlike you, I have nothing to recommend me. You are Lady Rose Darby,” Nicole said remaining resolute in her decision to stay. “Lord Cunningham loves you and has no doubt been out of his mind with worry these last six months.” The earl would stop at nothing when it came to controlling his daughter’s future and deciding whom she could marry. “Lord knows what your father has told him.”

A whimper left Rose’s lips. “Do you think his love will have faded after such a lengthy separation?”

“Once true love springs to life in one’s breast, it can never be tempered.” Well, that was what she told herself in a bid to banish the nightmares. Nicole considered the kind and beautiful woman before her. “Only a fool would refuse to wait for you. Find Lord Cunningham and elope to Scotland as you’d planned.”

While Nicole’s tone brimmed with hope, inside, she acknowledged the daunting task ahead. But London was only twenty miles away. Plenty of carriages passed through the village. Someone was sure to offer a gently bred lady assistance.

Rose sighed. “Will I ever see you again?”

“Of course.” Nicole had no idea where or when, but the close friendship they’d developed during their ordeal was strong enough to withstand anything. “But let us not think of that now. You must—” She stopped abruptly. “Hush.”

Nicole’s heart thumped against her ribs at the sound of Baxter’s heavy gait plodding up the stairs. The guard was slight of frame and pounded the wooden boards merely to prove he was not shirking his duties.

Nicole’s hand settled on the door knob.

“Wait.” In a sudden flurry of panic, Rose gripped Nicole’s arm. “I can’t do it,” Rose whispered. “If I hit Baxter on the head with the candlestick, I’ll surely crack his skull.”

Baxter’s faint humming was drowned out by the violent rattle of the door at the far end of the hall.

Nicole turned to Rose. The lady was so petite it was foolish to expect her to render a man unconscious. But it was too late to alter their plans now.

“Don’t worry. Take this instead.” Nicole handed Rose the linen napkin, took the candlestick and placed it on the floor behind the door. “Force the napkin into his mouth as soon as he’s on the floor, and I’ll deal with the rest.”

Despite experience when it came to physical scuffles with men — or one man in particular — nerves pushed to the fore. She sucked in a deep breath, rattled the door and rapped a few times, just for good measure.

The creak of boards beyond the door confirmed Baxter’s approach.

“Baxter?” she called through the gap between the frame and the jamb. “Open the door. Quickly.”

“What is it?” he answered back.

“I need to speak to you. Just for a moment.” Nicole signalled for Rose to hide behind the armoire.

“You know I can’t open the door.”

“It is of a personal nature.” Nicole softened her tone. “There are too many people watching us during the day. I … I have seen the way you look at me.”

Her comment was met with silence.

Seconds passed.

Then the jailer’s keys jangled and one rattled in the keyhole. The lock clicked. Nicole stepped back as Baxter opened the door. The faint glow from the candle in his hand illuminated his face. He was a short man of less than average height, which accounted for his need to boast of his conquests. From the playful glint in his eye, he understood her meaning.

“What are you doing out of bed, Miss Flint?” A confident grin played at the corners of his mouth as he crossed the threshold. “Looking for trouble no doubt.”

“A lady struggles to sleep during such turbulent weather.” A gust of wind shook the sash window behind her. Even the elements were on their side tonight. Nicole retreated further into the room. “Your whispered words of comfort is all that’s needed to soothe my fears.”

The candle flame flickered as he held the brass stick. His lips parted as his firm eyes centred on her mouth. “What about Lady Rose?” Baxter’s gaze drifted to the mound of pillows hidden beneath the blankets in the far bed.

“Rose is asleep. Step inside while I fi

nd my cloak and then perhaps we could take a stroll outdoors.” Nicole shuffled back and drew Baxter further into the dark room. “After all, we would not want Mrs Gripes to find us together.” The temptation to glance at Rose was great, but she resisted.

“I’m not supposed to enter my lady’s bedchamber,” he said, but his feet proved to be in discord with his words. “Stokes will have my hide if he hears about it.”

Nicole reached for the cloak on the bed and clasped it to her chest as she closed the gap between them. “Well, I won’t tell him.”

Baxter stepped closer and moistened his lips. “And you can be damn sure I won’t.”