“To me it matters not one whit.” Eugénie snapped her fingers. “He wasn’t even interested in spending more time with me to-day.”
Did he know nothing about women? How were they going to learn about each other if he kept leaving?
“Well, in that case,” Cicely said, linking her arm with Eugénie’s, “you have my permission to make him suffer.”
“Merci beaucoup.”Her heart lightened. “You are very good to me. We will make a wonderful campaign against Viscount Wivenly.”
Will had a quick meal at the Parrot before his meeting with the solicitor who’d promised to take a look at Uncle Nathan’s will. With any luck at all, there would be a way to marry Eugénie without having to wait for his father’s permission. He paid his shot, then made his way to Wimmelskasts Gade, which the English called Back Street, and the office of Mr. Olesen,Advokat. Will left a quarter hour later with a recommendation that Eugénie file a suit in the court to allow her to become emancipated. Waiting on his father would take less time, assuming the letters were not delayed or lost.
He arrived at Mrs. Rordan’s house and knocked on the door.
“Lord Wivenly.” She narrowed her eyes. “What brings you back so soon?”
His hands started to sweat. There was nothing like being taken to task by an old woman one barely knew to make one feel six again. He cleared his suddenly phlegmy throat. “Apparently I did not follow through as I should have.”
She stood back, allowing him to enter the house. “Sounds like what my nephew did when he courted his young woman.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, he followed her through the house, then opened the garden door for her. At least he wasn’t the only one who had problems with women. “I trust you have many great-nieces and - nephews now.”
“No, not at all.” Mrs. Rordan picked up the basket and handed it to Will. “She rejected him. He was so heartbroken he went off to sea.” Pausing, she tugged on a pair of leather gloves. “That was over twenty years ago. I haven’t seen him since.”
“I’m sorry.” Will tugged on his neckcloth. He must speak with Tidwell about the amount of starch in the damned thing.
Mrs. Rordan waved her hand. “He’s probably better off. She married for position and has since turned to fat.” She clipped a pink rose, placing it in the basket. “There aren’t enough bonbons in the West Indies to make up for an empty bed.”
“Did her husband die?”
“No, he’d rather sleep elsewhere.” She cut a few more flowers. “And the whole island knows it.”
Will found himself feeling bad for the woman whose husband cheated on her. Yet, hadn’t he planned to do the same to Eugénie? Though now he knew he would not, could not be unfaithful to her. When had that changed? “It cannot be a comfortable position for her.”
Turning, Mrs. Rordan regarded him with a steady gaze. “Not for any woman.”
Will held out his arm to escort her back to the house. “I quite agree.”
A saucy smile appeared on the old lady’s face, and Will could see vestiges of the beauty she’d been. “Eugénie is a lucky young woman.”
“As I am a fortunate man.” He was surprised to find he meant it. If only his affianced wife would concur.
Instead of going back toward town, Will skirted Denmark Hill to another step street—the place seemed full of them—ending up near Wivenly House. He was about to knock on the door when a movement caught his eye. Eugénie and Miss Whitecliff stood by the lower gate. Eugénie kissed her friend on the cheek, then turned to cross the step street to her own house. As soon as the Whitecliff gate closed, a man Will had never seen before darted out of his hiding place behind the bushes lining the street, grabbing Eugénie.What the hell?He dropped the flowers and ran.
An arm as strong as iron caught Eugénie around the middle, knocking all the breath out of her. She struggled to get air back into her lungs again, making ready to scream, when a gloved hand covered her mouth.Mon Dieu. Biting down on the gloves, she kicked her legs back, but her skirts hampered the movement. Then she threw back her head, hitting his chest, but it was more like wood. Perhaps if she made enough trouble, he’d drop her. She squirmed and struggled as best she could, but he just laughed.
“There is no one around here this time of day to come to your rescue, and I’m being paid far too much gold to deliver you.”
Gold? Who would pay . . . ?Slavers. Had someone decided to stop her from saving the children by abducting her?
She elbowed him in what felt like a rib, yet he didn’t loosen his hold at all.
She could not disappear. It would kill her mother.
Suddenly the blackguard’s hold slackened, and Eugénie slipped enough for her feet to touch the stone steps. She screamed as loudly as she could. When the sickening sound of crunching bone reached her, she glanced over her shoulder. Wivenly stood a few steps up, making him even with the giant. He ducked, but droplets of blood sprayed out, landing on the stairs and bushes. Oh God, she prayed it wasn’t Wivenly’s.
Eugénie had to do something. He’d never win against thatcanaille! But what? If only she had her dagger, she’d stab the scoundrel who tried to kidnap her. She must begin carrying it everywhere, even to Cicely’s house. The only thing she had was a hat pin.
A very long, strong hat pin.
It might not help much, but anything was better than nothing. Pulling it out, she moved behind and to the side of the giant.
