“Who would have thought that a gentleman would try to take horses from a lady?” Vickers mused.
“One who was desperate. But I was not about to allow him to place us in an untenable position.” Elizabeth wondered what Geoffrey would think about the encounter. By the way he had been behaving recently, he might be upset about it. Then again, he had asked if she could shoot. Maybe he would think of it as part of herqualifications.
Vickers and Molly began to make sandwiches. Vickers offered Elizabeth the first one, but she shook her head. She would eat after the others had been fed.
Molly handed them through the window to the men before Elizabeth took the one that was offered to her. It was only after she had taken a bite, that Vickers and Molly ate their sandwiches.
Two hours later, they pulled up before a moderately sized house down a nice street on the back of a large park. The moment the horses stopped, Preston had the door open, and Nettle and Riddle, Geoffrey’s groom, came out to help with the trunks and horses.
“You will have to guard the horses,” Elizabeth said. “We almost had ours stolen today.”
“There’s a stable in the back with a lock, my lady. I’ll move a cot down from the upstairs, and we’ll take turns sleeping with them.”
That should do it. “Keep the pistols loaded and do not hesitate to sound the alarm.”
Naturally, it was not long before everyone knew how Elizabeth had driven off the would-be horse thief.
“Shot a hole right through his hat, an’ never even blinked,” William told the others.
“Your chamber is ready, my lady.” Mrs. Robins led Elizabeth and Vickers up the stairs to a large room overlooking a garden.
The fireplace had been lit. Beyond a set of French windows, Elizabeth could see a small terrace with two chairs and a table.
“The house was in good condition,” the housekeeper said. “There’s a Belgium couple taking care of it full-time. She had some maid helping, but since the army and everyone has been here, she’s been doing it mostly by herself.”
As Elizabeth discussed the menu for this evening and tomorrow morning with her housekeeper, it dawned on her that she finally had her own household to run as she saw fit.
“Madam knows a very good cook, if you would like to hire him,” Mrs. Robins said.
“Let us at least try him,” Elizabeth replied. If he was local, the cook would know where to buy the freshest food.
“Very good, my lady. I’ll tell Madam know.”
A copper tub was carried into the room, and in a short time it was filled.
Elizabeth lowered herself into the hot water that her maid had scented with lavender and lemon balm and allowed herself to relax after the day she and her servants had experienced.
Her mind wandered to her husband. Had he found Sir Charles? Most likely Geoffrey had. None of the staff had seen him, and she wondered if he had been put to work or if he had run into old friends of his.
There was only one way to find out. “Vickers, send one of the men to look for his lordship. I would like to know that he arrived safely, and I wish him to know that we are here.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Elizabeth decided that she would enjoy what little time she would have in the city. If the battle with Napoleon went well, they would be moving to Paris shortly. If not, they’d be fleeing back to England.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Elizabeth must have fallen asleep. The water had cooled significantly, and Vickers was shaking her shoulder.
She blinked. “What time is it?”
“Right around five o’clock. Stand up, and I’ll hand you a towel.”
She did as she was told and was surprised that the towel was warm. “You put it near the fire.”
“There is a rack there for it. Or I suppose that’s what it’s for.”
“Has his lordship been heard from?” She did not even know if she was to plan on him joining her for dinner.
