Page 84 of A Dangerous Engagement

“He has escaped?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. The scullery maid said she thought she saw you skulking about the shed at dawn.”

“I admit I did go out there. I couldn’t stop thinking of what a terrible state Mr.Merrick was in when they took him to the shed. I went to ask him if he was well. He made me no answer, so I went back inside and back to bed.”

“Did you help him escape?” Lady Blackstone leaned toward her and shook her finger in Felicity’s face.

“No, I avow to you, my lady, I did nothing to help him.”

Mr.Ratley suddenly entered through her open door. Poor Aunt Agnes was starting to rouse herself, sitting up in bed and saying in a groggy voice, “What is the matter? Felicity?”

“All is well, Auntie,” Felicity said as pleasantly as she could. “Do not upset yourself.”

Mr.Ratley approached Lady Blackstone. “It appears he broke through his bonds, which were lying on the ground, climbed up to the window, broke it out, and escaped through it. He somehow saddled and took his horse without anyone seeing or hearing anything.”

“Traitors. I will question the groom who was supposed to be watching the horses. Bring him to the small sitting room.”

“Yes.” Mr.Ratley turned, then stopped and looked at Felicity. He nodded to her and left.

“Felicity, you seem to have some kind of infatuation with Mr.Merrick.”

“Not at all. I do not know what you mean.” She tried to remain calm and dignified.

“Be that as it may, you shall suffer the same fate as the rest of us if Mr.Merrick has us arrested.”

“Do you think he will have us arrested?”

“He has no evidence against us,” Lady Blackstone said. “It is only his word against ours, and thankfully”—she held up the crumpled papers Felicity had returned to the dining room and smiled triumphantly—“he did not get the information he tried to steal from me.”

“Oh, that is a relief.” Felicity placed a hand over her heart and sighed.

Lady Blackstone reached out and patted Felicity’s cheek, as she had been wont to do when Felicity had first arrived at Doverton Hall. “Forgive me once again, my dear, for my suspicions of you. I know you would never want to see myself or Mr.Ratley hanged.”

Felicity tried to look meek. “I understand. It is a difficult time.”

“Yes, and now we must prepare for the worst because of that traitorous Merrick, or whatever his name is.” Lady Blackstone straightened her shoulders and slapped the papers against her palm. “We have to move the guns from the shell grotto where he knows we have hidden them. We will have to send the men out to warn everyone. And we will strike sooner, rather than later. Our plans will not be thwarted, no matter what Merrick does.”

“You are so clever and brave, my lady.”

Lady Blackstone’s expression turned grim. “I have had to do many things that most people would shrink from, just to ensure my own survival. No one knows, but I killed my first husband.” Her dark eyes fastened on Felicity, boring into her. “It was done in self-defense. He lunged at me, the drunken fool, with a knife in his hand. But I never drank in excess, and that gave me an edge—I’ve never forgotten that.” She stared at the wall before turning back to Felicity. “I took the knife away from him and stabbed him. It was so easy, I was surprised. And it was equally easy to convince the constable that he’d fallen on his own knife.”

Felicity stared back at Lady Blackstone, her fingers tingling uncomfortably and her toes going cold.

“And that is why I am so well suited to revolution. I know I am able to kill when necessary. So many people are unsure if they are capable of what is necessary. But I know that I am capable.”

“Did you kill that man in the garden?” Felicity whispered, holding her breath as she waited for Lady Blackstone’s answer.

Lady Blackstone said nothing for a moment, staring back at Felicity as if they were speaking of dress patterns or wallpaper. “I could have killed him—it was necessary—but I insisted Mr.Ratley do it. He had to show me he was capable, after all, before the revolution began, and we all were depending on him to be able to do whatever terrible deeds were necessary. For killing is terrible, Felicity. But sometimes it is necessary for the good of others.”

Felicity swallowed and nodded. “Yes, of course.”

Lady Blackstone smiled. “I must go. Mr.Ratley and I shall stay at Doverton Hall, but nearly everyone else will be leaving.”

Felicity took a breath to ask her if she and Aunt Agnes could also leave and go home, but she stopped herself.

“We need to pray,” Felicity said. “May Aunt Agnes and I go to church today?”

“Church?” Lady Blackstone looked confused for a moment. “It is Sunday, isn’t it?” She said it more as a statement than a question, then stared at the window. “Very well, but you should take a manservant with you, and don’t talk to anyone. We’ll be moving the weapons today. Perhaps, for that reason, it is good that so many people will be at church.” Her expression lightened as she said, “Yes, tell the rector, Mr.Birtwistle, that my guests have all gone back to London to enjoy the rest of the Season, and I am unwell. That is why I was not able to be at church today.”