Page 63 of A Dangerous Engagement

“By the by, do you know anything about what happened to the printing press last night?”

“The printing press?”

“Yes.” Lady Blackstone was giving her that shuttered look again.

“I’m not even sure I knew there was a printing press. Where is it?”

“In that little building over there.” Lady Blackstone waved her hand.

Felicity shook her head.

“It is very strange. The servants left it in the evening, and when they went back this morning, it was broken.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I hope it does not cause any serious problems.”

“I daresay it shall not. I only ask you because you and Mr.Merrick were nearly the only ones who were not with us last night when we stowed away the weapons that arrived.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Lady Blackstone, I don’t know anything—”

“No, I don’t suppose you do. It is just as well. Oliver and I thought to spare you any of the details. Well, I hope you have a good afternoon. I must go now to my room and write some letters of business.” And she kissed Felicity’s cheek.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

As Lady Blackstone began talking with Felicity, Philip hurried upstairs to his room. He quickly opened the hidden compartment in his trunk and took out the original papers and the key hidden there. He tucked them in his waistcoat and stepped out into the corridor, closing his door behind him.

“Merrick!” Ratley stood three feet away. “I was just going to look for someone to play billiards. Won’t you join me?”

“Oh, of course. Let me just ... change my coat. I’ll only be a minute.” Philip ducked back in the room, carefully removed the papers from his waistcoat, placed them back inside the secret compartment, and changed his coat.

When Philip came out of his room, Ratley was waiting for him.

Philip did not exactly relish playing billiards with Ratley, but perhaps he could ask him some questions. The man was rather gullible for a revolutionary. And if there was one thing Philip had learned from his older brothers, it was not to be gullible.

They walked down to the billiard room together, and as they entered, Philip asked, “So, have you and Miss Mayson set a date for your nuptials?”

Ratley opened his mouth, then pressed his lips tightly together. “As a matter of fact, we have not.” He took a deep breath and heaved a sigh. “I am for sooner, and she is for later, though I cannot understand why.”

“My brother went through the exact same thing with his wife.”

“He did?”

“Yes, and I shall explain it all to you and tell you exactly how to act.”

Ratley turned wide eyes on him. “I would be grateful for your advice.”

“You see, we men are always impatient to have the words said and the matter resolved, once we have made up our minds to wed. But women, well, they feel very differently.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. You see, women feel so much more deeply than we men. Sometimes it is difficult for them to get their feelings and their thoughts moving together. Does that make sense?”

Ratley’s forehead creased. “Do you mean, they want to get married ... too much?”

“Yes! You understood me precisely.” Philip was making this up as he went, but,thank you, Lord, he was selling it well enough for Ratley to buy. “The core of the matter is”—Philip put a hand on Ratley’s shoulder—“Miss Mayson is quite attached to you. Anyone who sees the two of you together cannot help but believe that. But, as with all ladies, she needs a little time to get used to the idea of marriage.”

“I suppose that makes sense. She is very devoted to me.”

“Ofcourse. And I saw Lady Blackstone talking with her in the garden just now. That is just the thing she needs—an older woman who has been married before, helping her to accustom herself to the ideas and duties of marriage.” Philip clapped Ratley, hard, on the back. “Give her some time. Two or three weeks. You’ll see. She will be as happy and anxious to marry as you are.”