Page 83 of A Dangerous Engagement

The back door was locked, but the key was in the keyhole. Felicity turned it, and it opened. She slipped out and closed it as quietly as possible.

It was beginning to rain, more of a light mist, and Felicity ran along the ground to the shed. She tried the knob, but it was locked. “Mr.Merrick!” she called in a loud whisper. “Are you in there?”

She listened but heard nothing. She tried again, calling louder this time, “Mr.Merrick! It’s Felicity Mayson.”

Silence. Oh dear. Could he be unconscious? Or worse? She had heard of people expiring from head injuries. They simply went to sleep and never awakened. Surely that would not happen to Mr.Merrick. He was so strong.

She knocked on the door. “Mr.Merrick?”

She decided to walk around the building. On the west side, underneath the window, broken glass lay on the ground. She looked up. The window was completely out. She looked closer at the ground and saw a drop of red. Was that blood? She touched it, and the red liquid stuck to her finger. She held it close to her nose. The metallic smell was blood.

Had Mr.Merrick managed to crawl out the window, thereby cutting himself? If so, he was free, thank God. “Let him not be seriously injured,” she whispered, clasping her hands.

After the quick prayer, Felicity ran back to the house. She’d nearly forgotten the papers behind the urn in the dining room. She went in and found them just where she’d placed them. She stuffed them up her sleeve and hurried to her room. Surely everyone else was still sleeping after the eventful day and evening.

But now, where could she hide the papers? Lady Blackstone had already searched her room once. Would she search it again? Besides that, Lady Blackstone would not forget the papers for long. She would go back to the dining room looking for them.

Felicity sat down at her little desk. She would copy the papers and then return them to the dining room. She took up her pen and quickly copied the names and places Mr.Merrick—she should probably start thinking of him as Mr.McDowell—had written in his masculine handwriting. She wrote as small as she could while still keeping the lists legible. She wrote until she was nearly out of ink, but she finished copying everything on two sheets of paper.

She looked about her room. Aunt Agnes was still asleep in her bed, so Felicity did her best not to wake her.

She spied her ownBook of Common Prayerbeside the bed and folded the papers until they were small enough and then stuck them between the pages of the book.

Somehow, she needed to get her new lists to Mr.McDowell and the Home Office. This information had been important enough to him that he was willing to give his life for it.

Some of the servants would be up by now. They might see her returning the papers to the dining room. But she would rather risk that than risk Lady Blackstone discovering them missing and then finding them in her room.

Once again Felicity ventured down the stairs and hurried to the dining room. No one seemed to be stirring. She darted to the large table, tossed the crumpled papers onto it, and bolted out again.

Whistling sounded from one of the rooms down the corridor. Felicity slowed her step, trying to appear calm. But once she reached the steps, she hurried up as fast she could, until she was safe once again in her room.

Her blood went cold at the thought of Lady Blackstone and Mr.Ratley and everyone else there being hanged for insurrection and treason. But wouldn’t she feel much worse if the royal family was murdered, along with the Members of Parliament and many other innocent people? No, she had to get those lists into the hands of the authorities, no matter the cost.

At least Mr.Merrick—Mr.McDowell—had escaped. She felt so comforted at the thought of him being safely back in London again, or at least on his way, she changed into her nightgown and went back to bed.

Felicity awoke to shouts outside her window. She’d only been asleep an hour, so it was still early. They must have discovered Mr.McDowell had escaped.

She considered going downstairs to ask what the commotion was about. Or was it better to remain in bed, pretending she had not heard anything?

Aunt Agnes continued her heavy breathing, oblivious to the noises, but Felicity couldn’t resist going to the window and peeking down at the yard below.

Men were running around the shed, the door of which stood wide open. More men were going in and out of the stable, at least one leading a horse out. Lady Blackstone was speaking in a loud voice, turning this way and that as she stood in one spot.

Felicity moved away from the window and got back into bed. She clasped her hands and prayed. “God, I beg you to help him make it back to London safely. Don’t let him get caught. Give him favor.”

Felicity waited for someone to send for her or come to her room. Finally, when she could stay still no longer, she got up and began dressing herself. She was nearly ready when a knock came at the door.

Lady Blackstone burst in without waiting for an invitation.

“Felicity, I see you are up and dressed.”

“I only need someone to button the top of my dress.”

Lady Blackstone strode forward and buttoned the top two buttons.

“I heard noises, shouts. Is something amiss?”

“Yes. Do you know anything about Mr.Merrick escaping?”