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And it might be the only way of winning him back. He was angry because he felt Marcella had treated his affections and his engagement as a game. Any man would be insulted by such. Now she could show him the real Marcella, the truest version of herself.
“He won’t love it if it ends in disaster,” Adeline noted.
If Marcella could not win back Reginald’s love, she would never be able to live with herself. It was true that she was risking everything on this reckless plan, brought about by impulsivity and love, but she strongly suspected that if she made no risks, it would be all the harder for her.
Reginald liked her when she was risky. He liked her when she was brave. And at the thought of being surrounded by his strong arms once again and pressed tightly against his broad, muscular chest, an excited thrill shot through her, sparking like lightning.
“It won’t end in disaster,” Marcella said. “Don’t they say that love conquers all, Adeline?”
Having dressed for the long ride, Marcella left the manor and set her course next for the stables. The day was gray with heavy, bloated clouds which hung ominously in the distance. Rain was coming, but hopefully, it would remain away long enough for Marcella to leave.
“If love truly conquers all, you wouldn’t need to hurry,” Adeline said, her tone becoming increasingly anxious.
“I’m not going to debate the point with you. I’ve already decided what I intend to do, and I will see it through.”
Adeline sighed, and as they entered the stables, one of the stable boys hastened to them. “Shall I prepare a horse for you, My Lady?”
Marcella remembered another horse ride, scarcely months before, when she’d taken flight from her family’s estate, and Reginald had followed her. He’d looked so handsome, dashing even, with the raindrops in his tousled hair and his brow furrowed in concern.
“At once,” Marcella replied.
Adeline bit her lip and wrung her hands in the fabric of her gown. “I can come with you,” she said, “to make sure you’re safe.”
Marcella shook her head and took her friend’s hands in hers. Adeline’s face was soft and kind, but Marcella couldn’t miss the obvious concern in her friend’s eyes. “You can’t come with me,” Marcella said firmly. “I appreciate you for offering, and your affection is more than I deserve, truly. I have no idea how I found myself with such a kind friend as you.”
“But Marcella…”
“Adeline, what could you do that I could not?” Marcella asked. “If we were caught by some villain, how would you handle them any better than I would? My dear, this is going to be dangerous enough, and my heart would break if I ever put you in danger.”
Adeline looked as though she still wanted to argue, but she said nothing, seemingly at a loss for a proper retort. Marcella gave her friend an encouraging smile.
“What I need you to do, Adeline, is prepare an escort to follow me. I’ll set off at once after Reginald, and you can prepare some servants to follow. I’ll seek them out once I’m in London.”
The stable boy returned with the horse. Marcella let him help her mount, and she settled comfortably on the horse, hitching her skirts up in a rather un-ladylike fashion to help her remain seated better.
“Be careful,” Adeline said.
“I will be.”
Marcella coaxed her horse from the stables and coaxed the animal into a trot. Where had Reginald gone? To Southwark, obviously, which was only a couple hours’ ride away. She might even meet him on the road if he’d not traveled with all haste, but Marcella suspected he had.
She led the horse to the road, and taking a deep breath, urged the horse into a gallop. The animal immediately quickened its pace. Wind whipped through Marcella’s hair and riding habit. She was well-dressed for this venture, something which she’d deemed necessary, but she only hoped she hadn’t lost too much time
And I can bear the cold.
The damp, cool air swirled around her and chilled her to the bone, but Marcella rode on without any hesitation. She had to find Reginald. She had to make things right. And neither cold nor the wet would stop her. Marcella hoped only that she reunited safely with her husband and didn’t meet some terrible misfortune.
Just because Reginald was a reformed highwayman and one of the kindest, most understanding men she’d ever met didn’t mean that all highwaymen were. And Marcella knew that this quest, however justified, was also a dangerous one.
