Sinfully Yours (Hellions of High Street 2)
“Oh, do go on,” said her sister after a long swallow. “Why, exactly does he want you to take her to that particular place?”
“Because it has a storage room with a very heavy door and a sturdy lock. My task is to confine
her there until Devlin can arrange to have both of the miscreants taken away by his government contact,” she explained. “I have an idea on how to trick her into entering it. However, if anything goes awry, I wish to have something more convincing than words to make the comtesse doing my bidding.”
“How…” Caro paused to pat back a yawn. “How can I help?”
“Actually, I think it best to for me to deal with her alone,” replied Anna. “She may get wary if I say that you are accompanying us.”
Her sister plainly didn’t like being left out of the action, but she held back any complaints and merely nodded. “I suppose that makes sense. But surely there is some role I can play.”
“Actually there is. Can you find McClellan and alert him that Davenport will be looking for him before the hunting party assembles to leave for the moors?” she asked. “You might also warn him that Davenport plans to make his move just before the hunt reaches the Witch Coven and may need help to spirit Verdemont away.” She paused for a fraction. “It never hurts to have message passed on by you too, just as a precaution in case they miss each other beforehand.”
Caro nodded, not before stifling a second yawn.
So, I am not the only one plagued by sleepless nights.
Anna couldn’t help but wonder just how much her sister’s feelings for the rough-mannered McClellan had changed since their initial clashes. But for the moment, she pretended not to see the tiny gesture.
“Never fear.” For some reason, Caro chose to drop her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I’ll handle it.” Hurrying away from the table, she flung open the bedchamber door—
And nearly knocked Josette off her feet.
“I’m so sorry! I—I didn’t hear you come in,” stammered Caro.
“No harm done,” said Josette as she hastily gathered the clothing she had dropped. “I did not wish to intrude on your sisterly confidences, so I was just going to leave these items on the sideboard.” She held out the same shifts and chemises that she had gathered up earlier and explained, “The laundry room’s main tub has sprung a leak, so they have put off the wash day until tomorrow. I thought it best to bring your things back here, so they wouldn’t get lost.”
“I’m very grateful that you manage things so well, Josette,” replied Anna. “I am aware of how fortunate I am to have found you.”
“I try to be efficient, mademoiselle,” said her maid. She carefully folded the garments and placed them on the sideboard. “Voilà. I shall now leave you and Mademoiselle Caro to finish your tête-à-tête in private.”
“Oh, I was just leaving,” said Caro, casting a meaningful look at Anna. “I promised Mama that I would see if she left her embroidery box in the Morning Room.”
“Yes, by all means, do. You know how cross she gets when she’s misplaced something,” she said.
With that, her sister lost no more time in quitting the room.
“Shall I take away the chocolate?” asked Josette, spotting the empty cup.
“Yes, thank you.” Feeling a bit guilty from earlier, Anna quickly added, “It was delicious.”
“Bon.” Her maid did a last bit of tidying to the vials and boxes on the dressing table. “Shall you be needing me to change for nuncheon?”
“No, no. Your time is your own until the supper hour.”
Josette turned to leave.
“Thank you again—for everything,” said Anna, nervousness making her edgy. “I hope you know how much I have come to value not only your skills but also your sage advice. I am grateful.”
The maid quirked a half-smile. “That is kind of you, mademoiselle. Though I fear the differences in our stations of life make it very hard to be true friends, I sense that we are, in many ways, kindred souls, non?”
“Would that I had your worldly confidence and experience,” murmured Anna. Thinking of the coming challenges had her stomach all aflutter.
“Be careful what you wish for,” responded Josette. With that, she bobbed a parting nod and quietly drew the door shut behind her.
Devlin paced back and forth before the sitting room hearth, mentally reviewing his plan for thwarting the vicomte’s attempt to kill the prince while he waited for Anna to make her way to his chambers. Unlike the designs for his intricate automata, he had decided that it was best to keep things simple. As the hunt approached the Witch Coven, McClellan would add a little extra distance between each shooter, making sure to assign Verdemont the lead position. Devlin would be next in line, and when they wound their way into the rocky outcroppings at the foot of the knoll, he would creep in to close the gap. At the first sign of foul play, he would pounce and disarm the Frenchman with the help of two of the burly local ghillies that the baron would station in hiding.
The gunpowder in Verdemont’s cartridges and powder case had been replaced with a harmless substitute, so his weapon would be useless. Even without that precaution, the man would have little chance against three opponents. And McClellan would keep watch on the top of the knoll, in case an accomplice was lurking.