Page 9 of Dare to be Wicked

“Lottie!” Eliza exclaimed in shock.

“See?” Lottie said triumphantly. “Even Mama swears when she’s terribly cross.”

Eliza huffed. “Well, why did he do it, then? He practically gave me the cut direct and yet yesterday, when he first saw me, I….”

“You what?”

Eliza shook her head, frowning. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m being foolish and reading too much into it, I’m sure.”

“Well, it was odd.”

“What was odd?” piped up a little voice.

“Oh, good morning, Cat,” Lottie said, holding out her hand to the little girl.

Cat took it, falling into step with them. “Do you mean Mr Demarteau?”

“Oh, good lord, did everyone see?” Eliza demanded in horror.

Cat shook her head. “Oh, no. Everyone else was too hungry, but I’d had breakfast hours ago. I only came back to see Fred and tell him to meet me in the stables once he was done. If he can move after eating so many sausages, that is.”

“He does like sausages,” Lottie said with a fond smile.

“I think you must remind him.”

“Of sausages?” Lottie asked, frowning.

“What? Oh, no,” Cat said, shaking her head. “Of someone he loved.”

“Who did Fred love?” Eliza asked in alarm.

“Not Fred!” Cat sent them an expression of pure exasperation. “Mr Demarteau. I think he must have loved someone who looked like you. Perhaps she died in the reign of terror. She might have been an aristocrat and had her head cut off, and he’s still pining for her.”

“My goodness, child, what an imagination you have,” Eliza said, laughing even though her hand went to her throat. “The revolution was over forty years ago. Just how old do you think he is?”

“Quite old,” Cat admitted.

Lottie spluttered. “Darling, he can be no more than thirty-five at the very most.”

“That is quite old,” the girl protested, which sent them both off into peals of laughter.

“Oh, I’m so glad you came, Cat,” Eliza said with a sigh. “I feel so much better.”

Chapter 4

Dear diary,

I am certain there is something going on.

Eliza wishes to speak to Cassius alone, but he is avoiding her and Lottie is as jittery as a cat on hot coals whenever Cassius is around. Eliza can’t keep her eyes from Mr Demarteau and Mr Demarteau will leave a room the moment she enters. Meanwhile, everyone can see that Eliza has caught the comte’s eye and he intends to court her.

Oh, this will be vastly entertaining. Better even than Mrs Radcliffe!

―Excerpt of an entry to the diary of Lady Catherine ‘Cat’ Barrington, youngest daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of Montagu.

30th June 1838, Holbrook House, Sussex.

“So, this is where you are hiding.”