Page 61 of A Dangerous Engagement

“I only ask because I did not see them in the stack of mail going out.”

He’d forgotten to write those letters. A stupid mistake. “I forgot to bring them down. I shall bring them later.”

“You look as if you did not sleep very well.”

“I did not, my lady. I was feeling ... sad and restless, thinking of my mother.”

“You poor dear.” She clucked her tongue. “I’m so sorry we don’t have any unmarried ladies here to distract you and make you think of other things.”

“Thank you for your kindness. I find I prefer to be alone with my thoughts today.”

Soon after, he hurried to his room to write the letters to his fake mother and brothers in London that he was supposed to have written the night before. Then he brought them down for the post, which had already gone for the day.

Now his focus had to be on getting those papers back into Lady Blackstone’s room before she missed them. But as long as she stayed close to the house, he couldn’t risk going into her room.

Later, he was discreetly trying to locate Lady Blackstone when he looked out a window and saw Miss Mayson and Mr.Ratley sitting on a bench talking. What was that boor saying to her? She looked distressed, possibly even crying.

He could not march out there and demand Ratley stop harassing Miss Mayson. He could not appear any more concerned about Miss Mayson than he already had. Ratley was her fiancé, and, like it or not, she had to continue with the charade for a while longer.

Mr.Ratley finally got up and left her. Just then, Philip heard someone approaching from behind him. He turned to see Lady Blackstone.

“Mr.Merrick. It’s good to see you out of your room. I shall pay a little visit to Miss Mayson.”

Mr.Ratley entered from outside. He and Lady Blackstone slipped into a small sitting room and talked in hushed voices, then Lady Blackstone left, striding out the door that led outdoors and to the garden.

Mr.Ratley now stood looking at him. “Merrick. I did not see you there. We should play a game of billiards. I have to go up to my room to take care of something, but perhaps later.”

“Of course.” Did Philip dare try to replace Lady Blackstone’s papers while Ratley was upstairs?

If Lady Blackstone did not take any trips in the near future, he’d have no choice but to replace the papers while she was outside, or even just downstairs. Time was short—for himself, and even shorter for Miss Mayson.

He decided to risk it.

Felicity listened as calmly as possible while Lady Blackstone spoke.

“Dear Felicity, Mr.Ratley tells me that you are wishing to have your parents and sister at your wedding.”

Felicity could see the disapproval in Lady Blackstone’s lowered brows. “Oh. Well, I ... I had hoped that they might be present.”

“My dear, I understand, of course. But you must see that this is a time of war. We must do the things that are necessary for the good of all. Mr.Ratley is sacrificing his time and resources for the good of England, and you surely wish to honor that sacrifice.”

“Of course, I will always wish to honor my husband. Mr.Ratley is not yet my husband, but I do wish to honor him. But does honoring my fiancé, or for that matter, honoring my husband, mean that I must do everything he wishes me to?” She had to be careful. She did not wish to speak too vehemently on the subject. Perhaps she was beginning to emulate her friend Leorah. But after all, God was the authority, first and foremost, even ahead of one’s husband. Felicity could even imagine her favorite writer, Miss Hannah More, agreeing with such logic.

If only Mr.Ratley would change his mind about marrying her. Perhaps he would, if she was too outspoken.

Lady Blackstone’s jawline was rigid. “Of course not. Do you think I did everything my husbands said?” Lady Blackstone laughed, but it was a cold, brittle sound. “But as I was saying before, this is a time of war. In wartime, brides must accept less time with their husbands, and they must seize the time that they do have, lest they have regrets later. Mr.Ratley is a good and a wealthy man. Even if he is killed in our rebellion, you shall be well taken care of. Imagine what you will inherit.”

“I suppose I should think that way.”

“But you are a kind and gentle person, so innocent and good, it had not occurred to you that it would be best to marry first, in case something happened to Mr.Ratley.”

Felicity remembered what Lady Blackstone had said about her, that she was timid and afraid to speak her mind.

“You would never think of marrying a man only for his fortune,” Lady Blackstone went on, patting Felicity’s hand placatingly. “Of course, I know that, and Mr.Ratley knows that, which is why he wishes to make sure you are taken care of if the worst should happen.”

“So he only wants to marry me quickly because he’s afraid he might die, and he wants me to inherit his money if he does?” Felicity did her best to look wide-eyed and naïve.

“And why not? He cares so much for you.” Lady Blackstone smiled with her lips, but her eyes seemed to be shrewdly searching, trying to read Felicity’s thoughts.