“Did he not know of it before?” Georgie poured a cup of tea and pulled a fresh rack of toast to her.
“No. He hadn’t been informed. This is bad luck for you.”
“Yes, but these storms usually do not last long.” Although, this one seemed as if it would last all day.
“That’s true.” Adeline’s face brightened. “This will give me the opportunity to read one of the new books that arrived yesterday.”
“Which one is that?” Reading was always a good way to pass the time on a rainy day.
“Louisa Stanhope’sThe Nun of Santa Maria Di Tindaro.”
Georgie had read all of Miss Austen’s books, but she had unfortunately died the year before. “I haven’t read her.”
“I think she is excellent. You might want to start withThe Bandit’s Bride.”
“I’ll do that. Thank you.” Naturally, it was not as pleasurable as spending the day with Turley. Still, it would give her an opportunity to find a new author.
The rest of the day passed as she had expected it would, but the next morning dawned sunny and crisp. The previous day had given her a great deal of time to think about her problem with Turley. And she had decided that it would be better if she finally addressed his fears about falling in love. If that went well, then she had every intension of experiencing her first kiss.
He arrived in time to break his fast with them and took his usual chair next to hers. “I am grateful that we have sun for at least a little while today.”
Georgie stared at him. “What do you mean for a little while? Why should it change?”
“The wind is light but blowing steadily from the west. On the horizon there are dark clouds. We should have time to get in a few races before it reaches us.”
“In that case, let’s not waste any time.”
As she expected, no groom accompanied them. When they reached the path they used for racing, she was surprised to find it not nearly as muddy as she thought it might be. Thus far, they had won an equal number of races, but Georgie was determined to win the next one. In furtherance of that goal and unbeknownst to Turley, she and Lilly had spent a few hours practicing starting faster.
As Georgie brought Lilly to a stop she could not keep her smile to herself. “Are you ready to race?”
“Of course. We’ll have to call our own start.” He brought his horse beside her.
“You can do it.”
“Would you like a head start?”
“No, thank you.” He was going to have a surprise. “We shall win without taking advantage of you.”
He said something else, but Georgie wasn’t paying attention. Instead she listened for the number to be called. On the count of three, Lilly burst forth just as they had practiced. They reached the curve in the road and almost ran into a coach that had no reason to be there at all.
Quickly reining her horse in, Georgie turned to tell the coachman he was on private land when a pair of meaty hands grabbed her and dragged her off Lilly. “Let me go!”
Drat, of all the times not to carry a riding crop.
“Not likely. His lordship’ll pay us good if we get you before tomorrow,” the blackguard called out. “Open the door.”
Another man went to grab her mare’s reins. She couldn’t let them take Lilly. “Kick!”
The scoundrel didn’t even have time to shout before he was on the ground bleeding from his head.
“Bloody bitch,” the man holding her spat. “If Lord Lytton didn’t want you so bad I’d make you pay for what you done.” He opened the carriage door and shoved her in.
Lytton? Why would he want me? And where is Turley?
He couldn’t be that far behind her.
“We’ll have ta leave ’im here.” The coach dipped as the bounder climbed onto the coachman’s seat. Thank God he didn’t get in with her. “Let’s get out o’ here.”
