Dangerous Masquerade (Regency Masquerade)

Before Ria could say another word, her maid sped off around the corner. Wistfully, she watched her go. Her despondency grew as she saw the mother and daughter leave the shop, chatting and smiling.

Quickly turning away, she caught a glimpse of Geoffrey on the other side of the street. Geoffrey and John Blackwell.

As though feeling her gaze on them, they both looked directly at her. Blackwell took a step toward her but Geoffrey put a hand on his arm, said something to him, and tugged him in the other direction. With a bow and apologetic glance at her, Blackwell followed.

Puzzled, Ria watched as they disappeared around the corner, then with a shrug turned back to the inn.

Her coachman already had the carriage waiting for her, so she climbed in and settled back against the squab, put her feet on the hot brick, and spread the sable rug over her legs.

Just as they set off, she heard a shout and her coachman being hailed. “Stop!”

She looked out the window to see Luc beckon Matthews down from the box. Both men bent and examined one of the wheels while her groom held the horses still.

Hearing Matthews make a loud exclamation, she leaned out the window. “Is there a problem?”

The coachman looked at her, his face pale. “Yes, madam. The linchpin is loose. If Lord Arden hadn’t seen the wheel wobbling, we might have…” Instead of finishing his sentence he told her, “It will have to be fixed before we can set off.”

Ria asked no further questions. Judging by the look on his face, it was a serious problem.

Gratefully she looked at Luc. “Thank you for your assistance, my lord.”

Looking back to the coachman, she instructed him, “Please have it seen to. I will be in the inn. I might as well have luncheon.”

The earl smiled. “I’ve already booked the private parlor and would be pleased if you would dine with me.”

Ria hesitated. Much as she wished to spend time in his company, she was still concerned about him discovering who she was. And it wasn’t appropriate to spend time dining alone with him in the inn.

While she sought a polite way of refusing, she saw Mrs. Babcock watching them—disapproval clearly evident even though a large, hideous hat trimmed with ostrich feathers obscured part of her face.

Nodding graciously, Ria accepted his invitation. What business was it of Mrs. Babcock? Anyone who’d had the lack of judgment to purchase a hat clearly related to the one in the milliner’s window had no right to disapprove of anything.

Her groom opened the door and folded down the carriage steps. Before Harry could assist her down, Luc held out his hand. As it engulfed hers, she enjoyed the rare feel it. His grasp was warm, strong, with just the right amount of pressure.

Stepping down from the carriage, she preceded him into the inn.

From the corner, Geoffrey watched Arden usher Ria into the inn.

That bitch! And damn Arden. If he hadn’t interfered… Geoffrey’s nails cut into his palms as he curled his hands into tight fists.

He’d come so close. If that bastard hadn’t noticed the slight wobble of the wheel, his plan might have worked. Oh, there was no guarantee she’d be killed, but if he was lucky she would have been.

For a few moments, Geoffrey enjoyed the pleasant fantasy of Ria’s crumpled body lying in the wrecked carriage, blood flowing down her cheeks, her sightless eyes looking at him.

Then he sighed. Luck! That was the problem. He didn’t seem to have much these days. But then it wasn’t his fault. Other people always let him down.

Geoffrey cast a disgusted look at one of his disappointments. “Are you certain about the trust? I haven’t forgotten it was you who said the marriage hadn’t been consummated!”

The man next to him paled. “I was sure it hadn’t been. He treated her like a daughter, not a wife.”

“Did you check with the other servants like I told you to?”

“Of course. As I said before, most were tight-lipped as I expected. But I found one, a maid, and she was sure he never visited her bed.”

Geoffrey thought for a moment. “Probably did it the first night. I didn’t think it would be like my dear departed uncle to make such a mistake.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“That’s a good question.” Geoffrey frowned, “A very good question.”