Page 94 of The Smuggler’s Escape

Noelle wrenched her hands away. “Is this some sort of husbandly command? Because I won’t stand for it.”

Richard set his hands on her shoulders. “We’ve been through this already, my love. I wouldn’t dream of commanding you to do anything. I do, however, want a wife who takes my wishes into consideration, just as I took yours into consideration yesterday.”

“Even if your wishes don’t make sense?”

“Occasionally, yes, even if they don’t make sense. More than that, though, I wish you to trust me.”

She said nothing. She wanted to trust him, longed to with all her heart . . . but he’d betrayed her once. She couldn’t trust him not to do so again. Not only that, something was amiss, and had been ever since he’d returned to Sussex. She couldn’t quite pin it down. The sudden betrothal, the profession of undying love as if he’d never left her. The insistence on obedience, contrasted with the willingness to let her behave improperly even when it was sure to affect his reputation, although not as badly as it would hers.

A footman appeared at the foot of the stairs. Richard glanced at him. “Yes?”

“Will Dalbey is in the stables to see you, my lord.”

Richard thanked the footman, who left. “I must go, love. Oblige me this once by doing as I ask. Later, when I explain myself, you will see whether your trust was misplaced.”

“Why not explain now?”

He shook his head. “This isn’t the time or place. You look all out, sweetheart. Go to bed.” He kissed her briefly on the lips. “Sleep well.”

She picked up the cup of wine and took a sip. It was warm and comforting, but she must remain alert tonight. She had almost reached the head of the stairs when Lady Ariadne called to her. “Mademoiselle de Vallon! The very person I wished to see.”

This effusiveness could mean only one thing. “If you are about to ask me to play piquet with you, I can’t. Lord Boltwood doesn’t want me to.”

“My, my! He’s giving orders already, and you’re not yet wed.” She hurried up the stairs toward Noelle.

“He says you’ve lost enough tonight.”

Lady Ariadne sighed. “How true.” She held two folded, sealed papers in her hand—requests for loans, no doubt. She lowered her voice. “I have something most secret to discuss with you. Let us go to your bedchamber.”

Noelle frowned. “What is it?”

“A private matter.” Lady Ariadne’s voice trembled. “Extremely private.” She was quivering, but Noelle had seen that before when Lady Ariadne was starved for piquet. No doubt she meant to ask to play where no one would know. They mounted the remaining stairs together, passing the maid Betsy in the passageway.

“I am so looking forward to seeing your sketches, Miss de Vallon,” Lady Ariadne said loudly.

An obvious excuse to cover up for more piquet. Lady Ariadne must be desperate indeed if she feared tattling servants, so Noelle answered in kind. “I hope you will like them, Lady Ariadne.”

In her bedchamber, Noelle lit a branch of candles on a small table and added a few coals to the fire.

“You are a quick-thinking conspirator,” Lady Ariadne said breathlessly. She locked the door, took a seat at the table before the fire, and tucked the papers under her reticule. One foot tapped wildly on the floor. She must be desperate to play.

Noelle sighed and unearthed a piquet deck from her trunk. “I’ll play a couple of games, but only for farthing points.” She didn’t think Richard would object to that. If he did, too bad. She shuffled the cards and cut for the deal, which fell to Lady Ariadne.

“It doesn’t matter who deals.”

Had Lady Ariadne learned nothing all this time? “Of course, it matters. Don’t you want the advantage in the last hand?”

Impatiently, Lady Ariadne took the deck and dealt. “You don’t suppose I really want to play for farthing points, do you? I need to speak to you on an urgent matter.”

This was unlike the Lady Ariadne she knew. “Pardon?” She discarded the usual five and replaced them from the talon.

“You know what we need to discuss,” Lady Ariadne said. “I am putting myself at great risk for you.”

What? “If anyone is taking a risk, it’s I. Richard may well be angry with me for disobeying him. It’s your turn to discard, Lady Ariadne.”

“Forget the cards.”

Unbelievable words, coming from that particular mouth. Noelle gaped at Lady Ariadne, alarmed now.