Miranda nodded. “Yes, all is well.”
His tension eased. “I’ve just finished breakfast and was on my way to see her. How is she?”
“Eager to see you,” she said, smiling.
“I was going to call upon her father later this morning, but Bram has meetings scheduled and will no’ be free until later this afternoon. I may call upon Lord Lowery on my own after I visit Gwenys.”
Miranda shook her head. “No, that is not a good idea. You’ll need Solway at that meeting. Gwenys’s father is easily manipulated by his cruel wife, and the only one who intimidates him more than that awful woman is Solway. Is there any way he can postpone his appointments and join you earlier?”
Douglas arched an eyebrow. “Nay. He has important government matters that require his attention. I asked him, but he apologized and said he could no’ do it. Perhaps ye might have better luck persuading him. He’d give ye the world if it were inhis power. But I suppose ye’ve noticed how besotted he is with ye.”
Little daggers of pain shot through her. “He has been wonderful to me and Gwenys.”
She left, thinking to simply take a quick jaunt around London while she cleared her head. But what was there to think about when she already knew what had to be done?
She had to go to Parliament in search of Bram.
Surely he would have a few minutes for her between his appointments. She was not too prideful to sit outside his office and wait for him.
But as her carriage approached the Parliament building, the roads became clogged with traffic and no one was moving.
Her driver leaned down to address her. “M’lady, I think there must be something going on, because all the roads near Parliament are closed off.”
“Oh dear. Never mind, I’ll hop down and walk the short distance. Wait here for me, Cummings.”
“No, m’lady,” he said with urgency. “I do not think it is wise. What if there is trouble ahead? It isn’t safe for you.”
Miranda dismissed the possibility, for she could not see any unruly crowds. “Most likely it is a luncheon or other special event in honor of a visiting dignitary. These happen often enough. Wait here for me,” she insisted. “I won’t be long.”
The day was sunny and pleasant except for the slightly odorous breeze blowing off the Thames. But she ignored the stench and walked apace toward the government building. However, her heart sank when she rounded the corner and noticed a crowd of men who looked quite angry and were obviously protesting something. They stood between her and the visitors’ entrance.
Mounted cavalry had taken positions between those men and the massive government doors.
“Oh, this is not good.” She was disappointed Cummings had turned out to be right. Although she was eager to see Solway, she knew it was too dangerous to proceed.
She had just decided to turn back when the angry group of men chose that moment to advance upon the soldiers. The soldiers pushed back with military force.
Miranda found herself suddenly swallowed up amid the chaos. As the mounted soldiers pushed the rioters back, she was surrounded by a large group of men who were retreating in panic as shots rang out. Soldiers had fired over their heads as a warning, but the protestors thought the shots were aimed at them and ran for their lives.
She tried to scramble out of the way, but one of those rioters suddenly grabbed her silver heart necklace and ripped it from around her neck. “Think ye’re such a fine lady,” he sneered. “I’ll show ye—”
“You bounder!” She punched him in the face and tried to grab back her necklace. But he held it up just out of her reach.
When he turned to run, she leaped onto his back and gave him a solid smack on the head. “Give it back to me!”
“Think ye’ll knock me out cold with yer lacy gloved hand?” He laughed and shoved her off him so hard, she tumbled awkwardly to the ground.
She’d lost Solway because of her foolish fears. There was no way on this green earth she was going to lose his necklace, too.
She wanted to pounce on that bounder again and pound him to dust, but she could not even move with the breath momentarily knocked out of her. And now her ribs were on fire. Men tripped over her, further bruising her already-inflamed ribs.
Everything was happening so fast.
She had just managed to roll to her knees when she saw a row of soldiers on their horses advancing.
Dear heaven.
They were coming straight for her.
