Page 46 of A Dangerous Engagement

And yet, he owed her so much.

“Thank you for this key. Since Lady Blackstone’s rides are usually of short duration, and she’ll probably not be with her falcons for long, I’ll wait until another time to use it. But I do want to thank you for saving me from getting caught in Lady Blackstone’s room last night. I owe you my life.”

“Well, you saved me when I fainted and carried me into my room. Thank you for being a gentleman.”

“It was my pleasure. I mean ...” Itwashis pleasure, but he shouldn’t say that. “What I mean is, I am glad I was there to help.”

She smiled. “I don’t know what I would have done if you had not been here to find my letter and destroy it. What would they have done if they had read it?”

“Probably locked you in your room or at least forbade you from leaving the house. You would have probably been subjected to constant indoctrination of their beliefs.” Or they would have killed her.

She nodded.

“But now we must concentrate on getting this information before their revolution begins. We probably only have three or four weeks.”

The look on her face said that a few weeks seemed like a long time—too long. And he agreed. They needed to work fast, before Ratley forced her to marry him.

“With your permission,” Philip said, “I shall hide the key until there is a good opportunity to use it.”

“Of course.”

Some of the tension seemed to leave her shoulders. She looked down at his wadded handkerchief in her hands.

“You would not want your fiancé to find my handkerchief in your possession.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink. She handed the wet handkerchief back to him. “Forgive me for crying and soiling it.”

“No harm done. It can be washed.” He smiled as he shoved it into his pocket. “My sister embroidered my initials on it, which also match my assumed name.”

“That was very clever.” She clasped hands and rose from her stool. “I should go back to my room. I told Mr.Ratley I had a headache and that I might come down to retrieve a book.”

He stood. “Of course. I hope you are not having too much trouble fending off that gentleman’s advances.” It was a delicate subject, and he probably should not ask, but ... he wanted to know.

“I ... no, not too much trouble. But I am glad I have hope—that this will all be over soon.” She seemed to shake her thoughts away and smiled, meeting his eye. “But the answer to your question is no. Mr.Ratley is not as much of an ogre as he might be.”

She was trying to put on a brave face. As she put her hand on the doorknob, he touched her shoulder. She turned to look at him.

What could he say?Be careful? Don’t be afraid to scream if he refuses to listen to protest?

“I will be careful not to betray myself or you,” she said, mistaking his thoughts. “Please let me know if I can assist you in any way.”

“Thank you, Miss Mayson.”

As he stared into her determined but vulnerable face, Philip ached to promise that he would protect her. But he couldn’t do anything that would endanger the mission. Those words sickened him, even as he left them unsaid.

She gave him a slight smile and left the room.

Felicity was taking her morning walk the next day when she decided to change into her riding clothes.

She came back out of the house and walked toward the stable, thinking she might ask one of the grooms to accompany her on a short ride. If she could develop a habit of riding every day, she might figure out a way to escape, or at least ride to a nearby town to send a letter.

She was just entering the stable when she heard voices coming from farther in. Lady Blackstone said something, then Mr.Ratley answered.

Felicity slipped into the first stall, which happened to be empty, and listened, concentrating to make out the words.

“Don’t you think we can trust her?” she heard Mr.Ratley ask.

“Felicity?” Lady Blackstone said. “Trust is something we can’t afford. You know that.”