Page 49 of A Dangerous Engagement
“You are not worrying about me, are you?” He glanced back at her with an amused smile.
“No, I’d just like to know, so that I’m not caught by surprise.”
“I don’t suppose there’s any harm in telling you.” He swayed with the movements of his horse as they ambled slowly—at least she could be thankful for their slow gait.
“In May, we will distribute in all the major cities the leaflets we’ve been printing, to as many people as we can.”
“Leaflets?”
“Yes, and some longer pamphlets too. Mr.Cartwright is quite good at writing essays that motivate and inspire. And we have our own printing press in the outbuilding beside the gardener’s shed, where Lady Blackstone has some servants employed in printing them. They’ve been working twelve hours a day for weeks now.”
Mr.Merrick probably knew this, but she needed to be sure and tell him in case he didn’t.
“I see. And then what?”
“Then, probably in May, we will target the army and the home guards, convince them that the government is so corrupt they need no longer feel any allegiance to it or to the king. After all, a king whose government is so unfair and unjust has forfeited his right to rule. If we can get the army and militia on our side, we shall be unstoppable.”
Felicity smiled as though the idea was a happy one.
“Meanwhile, we shall join with our supporters in London, who will assassinate the Members of Parliament, the king’s advisors, and ... well, you probably don’t want to hear these particulars.”
“And this will happen in May?”
“Yes. We plan to act fast once we begin. Better to strike quickly.”
“When will you and the others have to leave here?”
“Probably the first of May. Lady Blackstone wants us all in place ahead of time. We’ll be so spread out, the authorities won’t possibly know where all of us are. And frankly, I don’t think anyone outside our group has any idea what is about to happen. Lady Blackstone is so clever, she has made sure to keep our activities very quiet.”
“Yes, Lady Blackstone is quite clever.”
“She is indeed. But it could be dangerous. It is likely we could even lose a few men.”
She should probably pretend more interest in Mr.Ratley’s welfare and ask where he would be and his role in the revolution. Instead, she rode on in silence, turning her attention to staying on the horse’s back.
“Here is a romantic spot I’ve been wanting to show you, but I had to wait for Lady Blackstone’s approval.” He had stopped to open the gate to a sheep pasture, then led his horse on foot while she and her horse followed. He halted in front of a large rectangle-shaped piece of wood lying on the ground.
Mr.Ratley came to stand beside her. “I have brought you to the shell grotto.”
“The shell grotto?”
“Yes. Wouldn’t you like to get down from your horse and explore it with me?”
She did not like the look in his eye.O God, cannot you help me avoid kissing him? I do not think I can bear it.“Won’t it be dark inside?”
“I think it will be light enough.” He bent and took hold of the large piece of wood and shoved. He seemed to have some difficulty with it but slowly pushed it several feet, uncovering a hole. Next, he walked several feet away and removed a tree branch, revealing another smaller hole. Were those holes to be the only light? Although she was quite curious to see the shell grotto, being in a dark, close space alone with Mr.Ratley did not appeal to her.
“I would prefer to come back another time with a group of people,” she said.
“But we are here now, and we don’t know when we might be able to gather a group to come with us. And we can’t go home now. We have not been riding more than fifteen minutes. Come.” He reached for her.
“I’m afraid my horse might run away. Besides, we are all alone out here. If someone were to come along and see that we were in the grotto, they might think we were improper.”
“Darling, the horse will not run away, and we are engaged to be married. What does it matter if someone thinks we’ve been improper?”
She could think of no other excuses, so she let him help her off the horse.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
