Page 88 of A Dangerous Engagement

“Felicity still wants to marry you,” Lady Blackstone said in a honeyed voice. “Don’t you, Felicity?”

“Of course. As much as ever.”

“Oh dear. What is happening?” Aunt Agnes was plucking at her sleeves. “I don’t understand why Mr.Birtwistle departed so quickly.”

“He departed because he caused your niece, Miss Mayson, to be caught betraying your host. Perhaps I should send someone to kill him so he doesn’t talk.”

“He doesn’t know anything,” Felicity said quickly as her breath deserted her.

“Doesn’t he? Did you not pass information to him at church on Sunday?”

“How could we have done that?” she squeaked breathlessly. “The footman was watching us.”

Lady Blackstone pressed a hand to her forehead as if she was thinking. “Mr.Ratley, what do you say? At least she and Mr.Merrick were unable to get the most damning information, which was the locations of our weapons and the names of our leaders. I still have the copy he made in his own handwriting.”

But Lady Blackstone was wrong—or at least, Felicity dearly hoped she was.

“Well, Mr.Ratley? Do you still want to marry Miss Mayson, even after she tried to betray us?”

Mr.Ratley seemed to rouse himself and lifted his head. “How can I marry her now, knowing she would betray me at any moment?”

“Oh no, she will not.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Once you are married, she cannot testify against her own husband. And murder is so messy. If you don’t marry her, we shall have to kill her.”

Aunt Agnes moaned, and then a hush fell over the room. Mr.Ratley looked first at Lady Blackstone, then at Felicity. There was a hard, dark, cold expression on his face. She waited for his answer. Was it to be murder? Or marriage?

“I have the special license. We can get married tomorrow.”

“Or even today,” Lady Blackstone said.

Felicity’s heart hammered in her chest. Would she be forced to marry Mr.Ratley to save her life?

She turned to him. His face was unreadable.

“I shall have to think about it. I am still very hurt.” He turned away from her, and she was reminded of a child, pouting because he had not gotten what he wanted.

But Lady Blackstone’s expression was more akin to that of a falcon setting its sights on a field mouse.

“What else did you tell that rector?” Lady Blackstone hissed, striding forward and pointing her finger in Felicity’s face. “Tell me.”

Oh dear.She fought against the darkness closing in on her. She felt herself slipping, blacking out. She reached out for the arm of the chair, but her hand had no strength. She was falling.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Felicity awakened in her bed. Her head and eyelids were so heavy. Mr.Ratley was sitting beside her, his arms folded across his chest.

He fastened his gaze on her. “We were going to rule England together. How could you throw that away?”

She did not answer.

“Lady Blackstone says we should marry. But ... I am unsure about you now.”

How very astute of you.But sarcasm would do her no good.God, help me.

“Why am I so thirsty?” Felicity said, her voice sounding weak. “How long have I been asleep?”