AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Were they still behind me? I honestly wasn’t sure.
All I knew was that I needed to find Lady Radcliffe and beg for her support… otherwise I would have to walk to London myself. I knew I didn’t have the funds to secure safe passage there on my own.
The older woman was sitting on a divan, her hands busy with an embroidery hoop. She looked up as I entered, her expression quickly transforming from neutral – perhaps, a generous person might have even said, pleasant – to shocked.
“Amelia! What, are you some kind of wild animal, bursting in here like that?” She cried, her eyes widening at the state of my appearance.
I must’ve looked wild – my hair windswept, and the hem of my gown covered in mud.
“I have been beside myself! How dare you go off with that… that man! In the broad daylight, too! Someone could have seen you! Fraternizing with a rake…”
I barely heard her words.
“Lady Radcliffe. Something has happened.” I stammered, suddenly feeling nervous.
“Yes?” She asked, glaring at me.
I swallowed, trying to gather myself.
“My uncle, Nicholas Allen, a resident of London, has been in an accident. He is gravely injured.”
She sniffed.
“How unfortunate. I apologize.”
“I feel I must go to London immediately, to be by his side, and help his family out however I can-”
“How would you get to London?” She interrupted, raising her eyebrows at me. “Are we not stuck here at this abominable estate for yet another day? And then you must accompany us to Cornwall.”
I opened my mouth, unsure of what to say.
“I was hoping, Lady Radcliffe…” I began to stammer, watching her expression shift into annoyance. “You might allow me to travel there, to see that my uncle is well.”
There was a moment of extended silence.
Lady Radcliffe gave me a pathetic attempt at a smile.
“Travel all the way to London? How rude, girl! My carriage is being fixed to bring us to Cornwall. There is simply no way-”
Her voice faltered as footsteps entered the room behind me. Before I could turn to see who it was, a deep voice came to my rescue.
“Lady Radcliffe, I assume you are arranging travel to London?” Lord Marsden said in a commanding voice.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him stand next to me, and his looming presence gave me an odd sense of comfort.
The older woman stared at him, her mouth slightly open.
“Indeed, I am not!”
I felt my heart constrict inside my chest. I began to imagine ways I could travel to London without Lady Radcliffe’s help… perhaps Uncle Thomas could lend me the money, or I could sell my purse and dresses…
“Absolute nonsense!” The Lord suddenly said, his voice impatient.
Lady Radcliffe stood, looking up at Lord Marsden with an imperious expression.
“I’m afraid Miss Allen does not have the funds to secure the passage. I would lend her the money, but we have already extended a great deal on her beha-”
Marsden interrupted her.
