“What of the danger?” Uncle asked.
“You shall see for yourselves that the danger has passed. We are on land. What could happen now?”
Nick added, “We’re not needed here. TheFancy’ll need several weeks before she’s seaworthy, but it’d sure be a boon to have an astute mind like yers to help us puzzle out what happened.”
Mr. Bennet’s sharp eyes snapped to Nick. “I am astute now, am I? Since your observation cannot be the conclusion of previous study, I must assume your compliment to be influenced by my daughter’s artful wording.”
“What about Connell?” Alexandra asked.
Elizabeth shrugged. “He can follow us if he pleases. What can he do so long as Nicholas is surrounded by his influential family? Perhaps he will find a more worthy prize to pursue, then we may carry on in peace. Imagine that, Papa. A couple days, just a trifle delay, of peace.”
“You call cramped, jostling carriages peaceful?”
She smiled, her eyes twinkling. “I never claimed that my argument was perfect.”
Mr. Bennet chuckled, and Darcy knew she had won. He also knew he was doomed to lose most of their disagreements. While he was accustomed toalways having his way, he did not find the prospect of losing to Elizabeth troubling in the least.
The man Mrs. Finchleytrusted with her dirtier tasks stood in front of her, twisting his hat in his hands and shuffling his weight, enduring her blackest stare.
“You let her get away?” she repeated through her clenched teeth.
“She must’ve climbed out the window at the dead of night.”
“And you have no indication where she went?”
His head bowed lower. “No, ma’am. But I’ll find her. You can count on it.”
An excuse Amelia had heard many times in her life. One she did not accept lightly. Slowly, deliberately, she rang her bell. “Send another cup up. Mr. Smith must be parched,” she ordered, motioning for him to take a seat.
He did so reluctantly.
“You can hardly be blamed. She is as slippery as a greased piglet. Like a bird, she flits away,” she chuckled at her own joke.
“I appreciate your understanding, Mrs. Finchley.”
She cooed, “How could I not extend you some leniency when you have been in my employ these twenty years? Not once have you given me cause for complaint until now. No, Mr. Smith,let us put this behind us. Find her, and bring her to me, and all is forgiven.”
The maid returned with the teacup and saucer, and Amelia poured, fumbling the service just enough to tap some of the powder from her ring into Mr. Smith’s cup.
“You have been a benevolent employer, Mrs. Finchley, and I thank you.” He toasted her health and drank.
While he sang her praises, she planned her escape. She could not stay in London where they could find her. She must get away.
He lifted his cup again. “Thank you for the bit of refreshment, Mrs. Finchley. Now, I have a bird to catch, so I will take my leave.”
Amelia smiled at him. She figured he had an hour left. Two tops.
Weak hearts were so unpredictable.
CHAPTER 33
Nicholas had captured ships and fought opponents more skilled than himself. More than once, his wits and pure, unabashed luck had saved his skin. But he had never felt himself more in danger than he did at that moment: aboard a two-sail fishing boat, surrounded by family and people who were fast becoming friends.
They huddled together mid-deck, enjoying the clear skies and salty breeze.
Had he been wrong to listen to Darcy? What if Nick’s past was better kept hidden? He could fend for himself, but what of Lord Matlock? He was a powerful man, but he wasn’t young. Nick could see he was tired. He was the reason Nick had agreed to hire another boat rather than travel overland. Nick hadn’t needed Nuñez to inform him that Lympstone was only thirty-seven nautical miles away to know travel by sea wouldbe much more comfortable for their party … with the exception of poor Mr. Gardiner, who was currently leaning over the side of the vessel.
It would not be much longer.
