Page 45 of The Smuggler’s Escape

With a humorous little flicker lingering at the side of his mouth, Richard gave his bay the office to move again.

“That will cost you far more than two pinches,” Noelle said. Good, her voice sounded calm and composed. “He may have someone on watch at my uncle’s house. He may have someone follow us to see where we go.”

“Perhaps,” Richard said. The flicker grew more pronounced.

Noelle gritted her teeth. “I know, I know. That will only make it more fun.”

They reached the open road and set off at a canter toward Uncle Matthew’s drive.

They found Lady Boltwood conferring with Will Dalbey, while Uncle Matthew hovered and Lucretia waited hopefully in the background. Will’s cart was loaded with plants from the conservatory at Boltwood Manor, to be delivered to an elderly friend of Lady Boltwood’s in Chichester. Lady Boltwood’s traveling carriage, with a few of the more tender plants inside, stood in the drive. There was no sign of excisemen, but a rustle in the wood behind the garden had Noelle twitching like a doe guarding its fawn.

“Calm down,” Richard whispered. “The Dalbeys have put a few of their colleagues on sentry duty. They’ll signal if any revenuers approach. Go indoors and change your gown. We’re pressed for time.”

“What if Hale accosts us on the road? We must change our plan, I tell you!”

“And I tell you, my sweet, that you must trust me to take care of everything. Think of how wounded I’ll be if you don’t.”

Before she could utter an infuriated protest, he turned into an affable bridegroom, drawing Uncle Matthew away from the garden with questions about his new hunters. Lady Boltwood and Lucretia, full of wedding talk, swept Noelle indoors to change.

Fortunately, the two other ladies were perfectly content to do all the planning themselves. Apart from a sharp glance from Lady Boltwood and a quiet, “Are you feeling quite well, dearest?” from Lucretia, they chattered incessantly. Lucretia’s maid dressed Noelle in her best wool walking gown, to which were added a charmingly beribboned hat and a cloak lined with rabbit fur, brought for her by Lady Boltwood. By the time they finally left for Chichester, Noelle was a twitching bundle of nerves and guilt.

Lady Boltwood, by giving him no chance to interrupt, accepted Uncle Matthew’s regrets at his inability to accompany them due to the press of estate business. At least Lucretia would have a good time today.

Noelle accepted with relief Richard’s invitation to accompany him in the curricle, while his mother and Lucretia rode in the traveling carriage. At least she wouldn’t have to listen to any more wedding plans.

She should have known that driving with Richard would only make things worse.