Page 24 of A Dangerous Engagement

A tear tracked down her cheek, and she covered her face with her hands. “I’m so afraid,” she whispered, muffling the sound with her hands. “God, please send me someone to help me. Surely you can send a friend, an angel, to save Aunt Agnes and me from this predicament.”

Footsteps crunched on the walkway. She sucked in a deep breath, wiping her face with her hands before plucking her handkerchief from her pocket. She pressed it to her nose and looked up.

Her stomach sank. Lady Blackstone and Mr.Ratley were approaching. Had they seen her letter? Did they open it and read it?

“Sweet Felicity, you’re up early this morning.” Lady Blackstone was smiling, but it seemed a cold smile. Or was that only Felicity’s imagination, her fear getting the best of her?

“Darling, are you well?” Mr.Ratley sat down beside her.

“Oh yes. I was only taking a turn about the garden when I grew a bit tired and sat down to rest.” She smiled up at him.

“You are not worrying about what we spoke of earlier, are you? Because there is no reason at all for you to worry. Once we are married, you never need concern yourself with matters you do not wish to. I know I said you could help make decisions, but if that makes you uncomfortable, you need only leave it all to me and the others. I love you too well to push you into distasteful or frightening tasks.”

Frightening? Yes, frightening was a good word for the tasks they were planning. Also, unlawful, immoral, and—

“My dear, your countenance does not put our hearts at rest. What is it you are thinking?”

“I am ... a little worried. I do not wish anything to happen to either of you. I love you both too well, and this revolution might not be entirely safe for you.” It wasn’t a lie, as she did not wish anything to happen them.

“Darling.” Mr.Ratley took both her hands in his. He lifted them to his lips and kissed them.

She shuddered.

“Now don’t fret about such things,” Lady Blackstone said. “Once everything is set into motion, you will stay here at Doverton Hall, and Mr.Ratley and I will go to London and implement our plans, but we shall hardly do any hand-to-hand fighting.” She smiled as if the thought was amusing.

“And how soon will all this take place?” How long would she have before she could escape and tell the authorities?

“While Parliament is in session,” Mr.Ratley said, still squeezing her hands. “Probably in about a month.”

Lady Blackstone was staring at her rather shrewdly. Did she suspect Felicity’s disloyalty?

To make it look more convincing, Felicity leaned her shoulder into Mr.Ratley’s. He put his arm around her.

“You will be safe, won’t you?” She gazed up into his face. Could she truly have married this man and loved him and had his children? She told her heart to pretend it was true, to pretend he was not a revolutionary but an ordinary man. But her skin crawled with imaginary bugs at being so close to him.

She looked away and saw Mr.Merrick coming toward them. Thank goodness. Now she could move away from Mr.Ratley with the excuse of propriety.

Mr.Ratley became aware of Mr.Merrick’s presence and waved him over to them.

“Good morning.” Mr.Merrick had a much friendlier look than the other men here. What a shame he was one of these lawless revolutionaries. He was actually very handsome, with his red hair, muscular build, and ready smile. There was something about him that drew her to him.

After a bit of talk about the weather, Felicity was persuaded to take another turn about the garden. She was quickly paired with Mr.Ratley while Lady Blackstone took Mr.Merrick’s arm.

Were they only pretending friendliness toward her? Had they read her letter, and were they now planning to kill her secretly out here in the garden?

Mr.Ratley looked down at her and patted her hand. Was he plotting her murder even now?

Her heart thudded sickeningly in her chest, and her knees went so weak she could barely walk.O God in Heaven, am I about to die? Jesus, please receive my spirit.That was what some saint in the Bible had said. Would her role model, Hannah More, hear of her murder someday at the hands of insurrectionists who had discovered she was loyal to her king and her country?

“Miss Mayson, are you well?” Mr.Merrick was staring at her. “Forgive me, but you seem a bit pale.”

“Oh no, I am very well.” She plastered a smile on her face. Did she seem suspicious? Should she play the part of the fainting female? She had fainted a couple of times before and might actually be near to that again. “I am enjoying the fresh air, but perhaps I would like to go back inside. I think I rose too early this morning.”

“Of course, my darling.” Mr.Ratley was all attention now, holding her arm with both hands, as if to keep her from falling. “We shall get you inside right away. Right away, of course.”

She smiled up at him, trying to look grateful and doe-eyed, but her heart was still beating hard, and her knees were still shaky.

“You look as if you have a headache.” Mr.Ratley’s forehead was wrinkled. “You should get into a dark room and lie down.”