A soft breeze tousled his hair and cooled his face. It had been a long, dusty ride, and Lord Lillesley was happy to find a small bench beside the Blue Thistle on which to take some refreshment. A short meeting here with Richard and then another two-hour ride and his fortnight of escape from the cares of London would be over.
He sat his cup on the bench and stretched his legs out in front of him. He closed his eyes against the brightness of the afternoon sun and drew in a long, slow cleansing breath before releasing it just as slowly.
There was a rustle of skirts next to him, and he opened his eyes just in time to see a beautiful stranger take a seat beside him on the bench.
“It’s a lovely day, is it not, my lord?”
He blinked and drew his brows together in question. She looked to be a lady of quality, but such a lady would surely not speak to a gentleman to whom she had not been introduced.
She sat there expectantly, smiling and waiting for his reply. Her eyes seemed to dance with amusement.
“Indeed, the breeze is quite refreshing,” he said cautiously looking around to see if she was accompanied by anyone.
“I can assure you,” she said in a soft voice, “I am not unaccompanied. My companions are within, but I preferred to stay without and speak to you. You are Lord Lillesley, are you not?”
She laughed at the look of shock which crossed his face. “I am not without my sources of information, my lord, and I had a need to speak with you. In fact, I have been looking for you.”
“You were looking for me?”
She nodded. “I happened upon my cousin within the inn, and he mentioned something which made me think the fine carriage in the yard belonged to you.” She leaned a bit closer and lowered her voice. “To own the truth, I did not exactly know what you looked like, but the stable boy was kind enough to direct me to you.”
A decided sense of unease settled in Lillesley’s stomach. He did not know why such a woman would be looking for him, but in his line of work, he knew that even the most innocent looking person could pose a great danger.
“I wish you no harm, though you most assuredly deserve it.” There was a sharpness to her voice. “It would be no great task to quietly escort you to your carriage and arrange for your transport to wherever I might choose.”
He gave a small snort of derision. “I beg to differ, Miss…?”
“You do not believe I am capable of such a feat?” Her eyes had begun to sparkle with determination, and he began to question his ability to avoid such a result. She pulled a small gun from her reticule. She kept it tucked just behind the material of the bag so that no passersby would see the weapon, but Lord Lillesley could see it was pointed directly at his left side. “The heart is on the left side of the body. One shot and yours would stop. It is a small gun, but the hole its bullet would leave would be large enough. Of course, I would probably ruin my clothing and someone might hear, but there shall be no need of that, am I right, my lord?”
“I thought you said you would not harm me?”
“No, I only said I did not wish to harm you, but wishes are not always granted.”
“I could take that gun from you in an instant, then where would you be?”
She shrugged and smiled. “You may take the gun, but not without the knife I have in my other hand finding its way into some part of your anatomy. And, who would blame me for causing you injury if you were to attack me?”
She did not seem easily intimidated and her planning appeared to be most shrewd. He eyed her warily. “So, are you going to abduct me?”
“You admit I could?” Her expression was one of utter delight as if he had just promised her a large present.
He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes as if resigning himself to his fate. “I do believe you may be capable of such a feat.”
“May be capable?” she retorted. “Must I really show you?” She motioned with her head to the side toward where his carriage stood. “Shall we go?”
“Are you serious?” Lillesley’s eyes grew wide in astonishment.
“Quite,” she said as she drew back the hammer on her gun.
Lillesley swallowed and rose to his feet. She quickly opened her reticule and placed her knife inside while drawing something out and slipping it into his pocket.
“You have stolen my necklace. That is what I will say if you run from me.”
Lillesley shook his head in disbelief. “And if I pull it from my pocket and fling it to the ground?”
“I will still shout that you attempted to rob me, but then tossed my necklace aside in fear. Now, to the carriage, if you please.” She smiled sweetly at him, her eyes still sparkled with amusement as if this were a game.
Obediently, he began walking toward his carriage. His driver was not atop the box nor was he anywhere to be seen.
“You will find your driver where I left him, my lord.” She strode ahead of him and opened the door to his carriage. “See.” Inside, sat his driver having a bit of refreshment with an officer and a woman.
In the moment it took for his mind to comprehend what it was seeing, she extracted her necklace from his pocket and placed in her reticule. “Mrs. Darcy?”
She smiled and curtseyed. “My lord.”
“What is the meaning of this?” he sputtered.
“It is rather disappointing, is it not?” She sounded much like a child, who was set to begin a rather convincing bout of being sulky, but her face was suffused with a smile. “Richard insisted that to actually abduct a peer of the realm would be frowned upon, so I had to settle for just the pretense.” She held up the gun. “Empty,” she explained. “Although the knife was real.”
Richard took the gun from her before assisting the young woman out of the carriage.
“Hannah, please inform Mr. Darcy that my discussion with Lord Lillesley is nearly complete.” Hannah curtseyed and hurried off to do as she was bid.
“You see,” said Elizabeth, her eyes had lost their amusement and had taken on a fiery quality, “I placed you in no real danger quite unlike how you treated Hannah, Georgiana, and me. I trust you will remember the feeling of being at the mercy of another, who may indeed wish to harm you, and realize that should you think of placing anyone from my household in peril again, you will face real danger.
“I do not believe my uncle, Richard’s father, is aware of your part in what transpired at Oxford Cottage. If you wish to keep it that way — and I assume you do since you do have political aspirations — you will be very circumspect in how you deal not only with my family but also all other innocents such as Hannah.”
Elizabeth gave a small curtsey to take her leave. “Your sister has extended an invitation to Mr. Darcy and me for dinner in a week’s time. I look forward to seeing you then.”
Lillesley stood staring after her as she walked away, his jaw slightly slack.
“Be thankful my cousin allowed her to speak on her own behalf,” said Richard clapping his friend and superior on the shoulder. “I would, however, be prepared for a friendly joust while he is in town. I can take the bullets from Mrs. Darcy’s gun, but I do not believe I can save either you or me from her husband’s foil.” With a laugh, he followed Elizabeth leaving behind a shaken Lillesley.