Page 117 of A Single Obsession

A few minutes later, Beau flung open the opposite door of the drawing room. Reed and the man jumped to their feet. The two miscreants glanced at each other in horror before turning to face him.

“Your lordship,” said her aunt’s maid in a voice laced with alarm. “What are you doing up? You should still be in bed.”

“Come now. Surely you didn’t really believe I was on my deathbed. I admit my head is sore, but I assume I have your companion to thank for that.”

She looked at the man standing beside her, who shot her a warning glance.

“There’s no need for secrecy. I know my mother engineered this little charade.”

“What do you—”

Beau held up his hand to forestall her. “I don’t want to hear your excuses, nor any defence for this piece of cruelty—yes, cruelty. To force people into a course of action they have not chosen for themselves is both cruel and wicked.”

“I was only following my orders—”

“What about your own sense of right and wrong? It was your lies, not my mother’s, that brought Miss Merry to my side. As I am not on my deathbed, I wish to return her to her sister’s house before she is distressed any further. Though I am grieved to admit it, I need your services to accompany her back to London—for propriety’s sake. Wait out the front. I’ll bring the carriage around shortly. And I suggest you pray Miss Merry is more merciful toward you than you deserve, or it will be a most uncomfortable trip.”

“Yes, my lord,” Reed said, hurrying out the door which Beau had entered.

Her accomplice remained, staring at the floor.

“Your services, however, I am happy to dispense with. I won’t have a thief in my house.”

The man jerked his eyes up, disturbed by Beau’s accusation.

“I know you stole Romeo, as well as whacking me over the head, but I’m willing to offer you some leniency as you were acting under orders and my horse was returned to me unharmed. Now, get off my property before I change my mind and summon the constable to arrest you.”

The man needed no second warning and fled after Reed.

As soon as he’d gone, Eliza rushed into the room and threw her arms around Beau. “You were magnificent.”

He started to disclaim, but she put a finger to his lips. “No. Don’t say anything. I’m proud of you, Lord Beaumont.”

At her words, he raised his chin a little and, setting his shoulders back, he offered her his arm, and led her to the foot of the main staircase.

“We’d better see about returning you to London, to avert the wagging tongues. It would be a shame if your reputation was ruined when we’ve taken such pains to preserve it.”

Eliza pouted. “Reputations are overrated. Why does it matter when we’re planning to marry, anyway?”

“Because I don’t wish for the slightest slur to fall upon my wife, and I won’t have it said you forced me into marriage, or worse still, that my mother did. Please—it’s important to me.”

Eliza’s shoulders slumped. “I know, but the thought of having to go back to that”—she waved her hands around, trying to find the words to encompass her negative thoughts about town—“closed-in-ness is depressing. I want to stay here. With you.”

“I wish you could, but I don’t see how you can until after we’re married without my mother or some other respectable female here.”

“Like Harriet?”

“No. Not like Harriet. I wouldn’t trust her within a mile of me until we’ve tied the knot.”

They both laughed.

“Why don’t you join Reed outside while I remove the evidence of our escape?”

Eliza nodded and wandered out the front entrance and sat down on the steps leading up to the pillared courtyard to wait for Beau. She basked in the afternoon sunshine while her aunt’s maid stood at a respectful distance, a tight expression on her face, and her hands in constant movement.

“I expect my mother will be surprised when you return tonight, won’t she?” Beau said to Reed as he joined them. He paused. “When was she expecting to see you again?”

“Tomorrow, my lord.”