“No, I’m coming with you.” Dom narrowed his eyes at her, and she huffed. “What if the caretaker finds the tunnel? I am much safer with you.”
“Very well,” he said, not at all happy. “But if there is trouble, stay out of the way.”
She nodded as he took her hand. Keeping close to the house, they rounded a corner and found themselves facing the drive. Matt stood on the steps, his pistol pointed toward the open door. Two horses waited patiently off to the side nearest her and Dom.
He whistled softly, and a neatish gray swung his head around and walked to them. After lifting her onto the horse, in one elegant movement, Dom mounted behind her, and barked, “Worthington, it’s time to depart.”
Matt reached in, slammed the door shut, and in a matter of seconds was on his horse, galloping down the drive. Dom and Dotty followed, not slowing until several minutes later.
Finally she breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m so glad you came when you did. I found the tunnel but had been trying to figure out how much money I would need for transportation back to London. I did not know if I had enough.”
“I’m thankful you’re not injured.” Dom looked at her as if bemused. “Had you really been thinking of money for a coach?”
“Naturally, I had. I did not want you to—”
“You are remarkable.” His lips took hers, and she threw her arms around his neck.
After a few moments, Matt coughed. “If the two of you wouldn’t mind, we must decide what we’re going to do while we wait for the coach. Is there an inn nearby?”
Dotty glanced at her gloves and the arm of her spencer. “Not one I would go to at present. Look how dirty I am.”
For the first time Dom seemed to notice the state of her wardrobe. “It was rather filthy in there.”
“How did you escape?” Matt asked.
She grinned. “There was a secret staircase.”
“Thea had found it by the time I arrived.” Dom tightened his grip on her. “My clever love.”
She was pleased with herself as well, but it was time to decide how to return home. “We can’t ride through Town like this.”
“Quite true.” Dom said, looking up the road. “The coach should be here soon.”
“If nothing else,” Matt added, “we can find a coaching inn and hire a carriage to take Dotty back to Town. We’ll say she had an accident, which will account for her soiled garments.”
“What an excellent idea.” That would solve the problem. “It’s always best to have an alternate plan.”
Dom groaned. “Why do I feel as if I have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to subterfuge?”
She straightened her skirts as best she could, but there was still too much leg showing. “If we stop at an inn, I would like to send the Whitakers a note.”
“The Whitakers?” Matt asked.
“The couple at the house. Although they would not have allowed me to go, they were very kind.”
“Thatkindold man shot at me, and his wife tried to bash my head with a pan,” Matt snapped. “The only reason I was still at the door was I knew he was out of bullets.”
“Oh.” Naturally, she’d remembered the shots, but then Matt had been unharmed. “It truly wasn’t their fault. Fotherby told them I had eloped with a fortune hunter, and my parents would arrive in two days to take me home.”
“Then let Fotherby tell them the truth,” Matt growled.
“Did that bounder touch you at all?” Dom’s voice was sharp as a blade and black with rage.
She shook her head. “No, no. He abducted me so we would not marry. He said he would send me home after I had missed the wedding.”
“Merton,” Matt said with a scowl, “if you don’t end his worthless life, I’m sure the ladies will be happy to.”
She twisted her head around in an attempt to see Dom’s face, but he now held her so tightly, she couldn’t see much of him. On the other hand, it was very pleasant, perhaps more than just pleasant being crushed against his hard body. Still, she would have liked to see his expression. He sounded thunderous. “I think we should tell his mother.”
