Dexter Deatherage was apoplectic. “You can’t do this, Mona. It’s reckless.”
Mona looked down the barrel of a revolver she was cleaning. “But I am.”
“As your lawyer, I am advising you this trip places you in grave danger.”
“I’m tired of parties, endless meetings, and teas with strangers. I need this trip. I need to get away from all the pomp and circumstance surrounding my life. I need an adventure or at least a vacation.”
“And you think Eastern Kentucky is going to be restful?” Dexter pulled the gun out of Mona’s hand. “Listen to me. The Appalachian Mountains are a dangerous place. There are few roads and what roads exist are mostly dirt. You have to go on horseback, and you’ll be cut off from contact. You could run into a blood feud like the Hatfields and McCoys.”
Mona grabbed her gun back. “That feud ended years ago.”
“Mona, you are placing yourself in jeopardy for a kidnapping. At least, take some of the Pinkertons with you.”
“Lord Farley is accompanying me.”
Dexter threw up his hands. “Oh, great. Another prime target for kidnapping. Lord Farley is in line for the throne of England. Why don’t you put a bullseye on his back—hey IRA—here’s a British royal for the taking?”
Mona gave an irritated sigh. “I hardly think the Irish Republic Army is ensconced in Eastern Kentucky.”
“Who do you think those people descended from? The Irish and Scotch-Irish.”
“Robert is not British royalty.”
“He’s a high-ranking noble who only recently lost his royal title.”
“His father did, not Robert.”
“Quit splitting hairs, Mona. You know what I mean.”
“No one will even know who he is. If the mountains are as isolated as you say, the people will never have heard of a Lord Farley, Marquess of Gower, future Duke of Brynelleth, ninth in line to the throne of Great Britain. He is going as Bob Farley.”
“I can’t help but think this is a huge mistake. What if your Aunt Melanie hears of this? She’ll use it to her advantage and create chaos.”
“No one knows I’m leaving. Not even my staff. I’ll leave a note with Violet and be back before two shakes of a lamb’s tail. You can handle things while I’m gone. As far as anyone is concerned, I’ll be taking a short holiday. For all I know, this is a hoax and we’ll be back in a few days.”
Frustrated, Dexter continued, “Look what happened to Mary McElroy in Missouri earlier this year. She was kidnapped taking a bubble bath in her own home and held captive.”
“For twenty-nine hours. I hardly call that an event.”
“I’m sure it was to Miss McElroy, who was dragged naked from her bubble bath by strange men. I hear she has had a nervous breakdown over this ‘non-event.’”
“I didn’t mean to sound flippant. I’m sure it was terrifying for her. You forget that my best friend, Lady Alice, was kidnapped only a short time ago.”
“And while she was missing, how did you feel, Mona?”
Mona bowed her head. “Awful. Not in control. Beside myself with worry.”
“Precisely. Remember the Charles Lindbergh baby? He was killed within the first hours of the kidnapping, and he was taken from his own bedroom—his own bed in a house full of live-in staff, and he still wasn’t safe. You’ll be out in the middle of nowhere—helpless.”
Mona stopped cleaning her guns and looked Dexter squarely in the face. “You must stop this ranting, Dexter. It’s unseemly. I know you are acting in my interest, but I can’t live like this. It’s not a real life being guarded like I was a prize pig at the state fair. I can’t go where I please anymore. Even when I take a walk on my own estate, I have a shadow following me. It’s downright creepy, not to mention intrusive. Dexter, my dear friend, what I can’t get you to understand is that I would rather face danger than live a safe, dull life. I must do this for my peace of mind.”
“I can’t talk you out of this?”
“No, and I wish you’d quit harping on it.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Soon enough.”
“When are you coming back?”
“If I’m not back two weeks after I’ve left, then you have permission to call out the dogs.”
“Great,” Dexter said, angrily while putting on his hat. “Just great. You can’t talk sense to a stubborn woman.”
Mona watched him leave the room and heard the front door open and slam shut. She shrugged, figuring Dexter would get over it. She understood Dexter’s concern and, in many ways he was correct, but Mona couldn’t live her life in a vacuum. She was suffocating under all the restrictions and needed to get away where she could relax and not be on parade. This little expedition was just the ticket.
Oh, Mona doubted they would find the mythical John Swift’s silver mine. It didn’t matter since she was looking for something other than riches.
Mona was looking for adventure!