Wildfire Kiss (Sir Edward 1)
However, Sir Frederick lost no time in his preparations to leave. His beloved needed him. He wondered whatever for …
***
At that particular moment, and just as Freddy was calling for his coach, now repaired and ready for use, his beloved Corry was opening an envelope marked ‘confidential’.
She stared at it doubtfully for a moment before opening it to read:
Dearest Corrine,
As it happens, something is afoot in Lewes. You must meet me at once at the Lewes Inn, just before you reach the village on the village road, and tell no one where you are going.
I fear for your cousin in this matter. Hurry to me, my love, so that we may avert a scandal.
Your servant always,
Frederick
Corry stared at the wording.
She did not yet know Freddy’s hand, but she fancied she knew Freddy’s style, and this was far from it. And why so formal—‘Your servant, Frederick’? How odd. Their intimacy had progressed past such things.
She had seen Babs leave just moments ago and had tried to make her wait so that she could join her, but Babs had said she needed to take a walk alone. Was that what she was doing? What was Babs up to?
It was this circumstance that worried her, coupled now with the note …
There was nothing for it. Lewes was not so very far away; she would ride out immediately on horseback!
***
When Sir Edward had penned his notes, he had been wise enough to muse at length over the wording. He would have to say nothing, yet enough to make each recipient do as he wished and leave straightaway without stopping to think.
He was most concerned about Miss Bretton.
She was a practical young woman who would not move impulsively. However, her concern for her cousin should drive her forward and into his web.
He would have Sir Frederick and Miss Bretton to the north, while Babs would rush off, as he had instructed, to meet him in the southwest. How perfectly satisfying.
His letter delivered to Lady Babs early that morning had informed her that he was willing to discuss a delay in their marriage plans if she would meet him and allow him to plead a case for his continued courtship. He knew Babs would do anything he asked to accomplish this. She wouldn’t suspect anything nefarious, as she believed he was willing to wait and publish the banns and marry her with all the world in attendance. He had told her often enough that was his fondest wish. Well, he would forgo that.
Damn, but he was ever so brilliant.
He would school the chit and teach her to please him. She was, after all, only a female, and in the end she would adhere to her husband’s wishes.
He took up his riding gloves, his top hat, and his crop and made his way across the room. He had hired a coach for this expedition, as he did not want Babs seen climbing into his carriage. That wouldn’t do. He needed to get away cleanly and have a few hours lead before anyone was the wiser.
He didn’t want his coat of arms noticed, and hence the hired coach. He didn’t need any eyebrows raised, and he didn’t want any undue attention until he was well away from Brighton. Things were coming together nicely, very nicely indeed!
***
The duke looked at Sir Charles and grinned. “Well, and when I tell you next time that you and the Home Office are out, perhaps you will believe me.”
“Don’t be so smug! We couldn’t very well ignore a viable threat on Prinny’s life, now could we?”
“Of course not, but then, it did not really require ‘all the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men’, in attendance. It was a simply a hoax,” the duke said with a sigh.
“Under ordinary circumstances, you would not have been put into such a pet over this business.”
“No? Then perhaps you will admit that these are not ordinary circumstances.”