Page 85 of A Dangerous Engagement

Felicity smiled and nodded, and Aunt Agnes said from her bed, “Very good, Lady Blackstone. You may depend upon us.” But as she sounded as meek as ever, with her shaky voice, it was no wonder Lady Blackstone did not see her as a threat. Perhaps Felicity could use that to her advantage.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Felicity and Aunt Agnes walked the short distance to the parish church with one of Lady Blackstone’s footmen escorting them. Felicity clutched herBook of Common Prayerto her chest and had to take several deep breaths to calm her racing heart. Aunt Agnes, however, barely even plucked at her sleeves.

They sat through Mr.Birtwistle’s sermon, and he impressed Felicity with his heartfelt sincerity. The man even referenced Miss Hannah More’s latest book and quoted her, making Felicity like him even more. And Aunt Agnes never took her eyes off him.

When the service was over, Felicity glanced over at the footman. He was watching her and Aunt Agnes, and he turned to follow them out of the church.

Felicity was careful not to make eye contact with anyone in case they tried to talk to her. Although that was unlikely, since she didn’t know anyone at this church. Finally, they were exiting, and she let Aunt Agnes move in front of her to speak to Mr.Birtwistle.

The rector’s face lighted up as he caught sight of her. “Miss Appleby. How good to see you. I trust you and Miss Mayson are well.”

“Very well, I thank you. Though Lady Blackstone is not so well and wishes me to give her regrets at not being able to attend this morning’s service. And here, I have brought back your book, which you were so good as to lend me, and I have included something inside it for you.”

Felicity’s heart skipped several beats as she prayed the footman had not heard the latter part of Aunt Agnes’s speech. But it was just as they’d rehearsed, so she could not find fault with her aunt, who continued to surprise Felicity with her calm competency.

Mr.Birtwistle took the book from her, and his eyes widened. Would he be scandalized that a woman unrelated to him would give him a gift?

“I shall be happy to inspect it when I am home. And did you enjoy the book?”

“Oh yes, it is one of my new favorites.” Aunt Agnes smiled.

“Perhaps I shall call on you and Miss Mayson later this week.”

“I would like that.”

Felicity shook his hand as well, and they were soon moving down the lane toward Doverton Hall, the footman close behind.

Aunt Agnes smiled at Felicity and winked. Felicity grinned back as they walked arm in arm.

As Felicity sat in the drawing room with Aunt Agnes that Tuesday, her body seemed almost light enough to float up to the ceiling. Her mind wandered from the book she was reading, and she imagined how shocked Lady Blackstone and Mr.Ratley would be if they knew that she and her aunt had outsmarted them. Mr.Birtwistle had undoubtedly found the papers and read the note they had included in the book Aunt Agnes had returned to him. Perhaps he had already sent the all-important papers to Mr.McDowell in London.

Was Mr.McDowell well? Was he suffering any serious consequences from his injuries? Did he appreciate and admire her for risking her life to get that information to him? She liked to think he did, that he was thinking fondly of her at that very moment.

Of course, it was much too dangerous for him to try to help her or even to make sure she was safe.

But the more she thought of him, the more she realized ... he might not think so highly of her at all. She was ashamed for anyone to know she had engaged herself to an insurrectionist who wanted to kill innocent people and wage war on his own government. And Mr.McDowell knew it all, had even seen her kissing Mr.Ratley.

She had behaved foolishly and unseemly. Was there something wrong with her, that she had fallen in love so easily? That she had trusted someone so quickly who was so greatly flawed? That she could agree to marry a man such as Mr.Ratley?

No, she wouldn’t let these thoughts tear at her heart. Yes, she had foolishly engaged herself to the wrong man, but she had also done many brave things. Perhaps no one would ever know the things she had done for her country and her king. But she knew, and Mr.McDowell knew. She had risked her life. She had done what she could to save Mr.McDowell’s life and mission, and to save her aunt and herself.

She admired Mr.McDowell so much. He’d been so strong and heroic and selfless. And just thinking of his handsome face made her heart flutter. The blue of his eyes, the masculinity of his square chin and rigid jawline, and even his red hair appealed to her in a powerful way. But most of all, there was a gentleness in the way he had touched her, including the last time they’d met in the closet in the library when he’d clasped her hand. Her heart had pounded as he gazed so intently at her, as if he was about to tell her something important. But then Mrs.Cartwright had opened the door and caught them.

Felicity sighed. It was not to be. Mr.McDowell would not want her any more than the other gentlemen, both with and without fortunes, had wanted her. She might as well start studying Chinese again.

Besides, she would probably experience something of a scandal for having been engaged to Mr.Ratley, once the truth came out about his involvement in a group to overthrow the government. And the newspapers would no doubt refer to the fact that she had been at Doverton Hall with Lady Blackstone, the leader of the group, for weeks. The damage to her reputation might be irreparable.

Lady Blackstone’s voice carried down the corridor. She sounded strident and serious.

Everything had been chaotic since they had discovered that Mr.McDowell had run away. Many had fled Doverton Hall, fearing the worst, and the rest seemed poised to leave as well. Was Lady Blackstone giving them last-minute instructions?

Felicity tiptoed into the corridor. When she was only a few feet from the dining room, she stopped and listened.

“We must strike now,” a man’s voice said, “before the Home Office sends out troops to seize our weapons and arrest us.”

“I think Mr.Rowell is correct.” Lady Blackstone was speaking now. “We will keep our plan exactly as it was, only we will begin to put it into play on the twenty-sixth of April instead of the twentieth of May.”