Page 64 of Make Mine a Marquess

Beatrice raised her eyebrows. “What do I tell your mother when she realizes my message was false?” she asked.

“If all goes well, those two will start gossiping about something and you won’t have to say anything,” Phoebe suggested. “Otherwise, tell her you must have misheard me.”

“I hope you’re right and I don’t have to explain myself. Your mother may be my favorite aunt, but she can also be quite frightening.”

Phoebe knew the truth of this firsthand. “I’m grateful for your help.”

“I’m here anytime you need me.”

Another thought occurred to Phoebe. “I never had a chance to thank you for keeping watch outside the room as Landon and I played backgammon.”

“It was easy to keep watch with Mr. Adian,” Beatrice said.

Phoebe grew curious as to her cousin’s attraction to Landon’s friend. “What did you talk about with Mr. Adian all those times?”

A small smile crossed Beatrice’s lips. “A little bit about everything. My life in London and my school friends. I explained how we visited Gunther’s in the warmer weather for ices. I told him about Hookham’s circulating library. And he told me about his family life back home and his travels.”

“Were you worried you would get caught together as you looked out for us?”

“Not at all,” Beatrice said. “We were in the hall. It would be easy to explain that we simply crossed paths.”

“Well, I owe you a service.”

“Nonsense. You would do the same for me.”

“I would,” Phoebe said without hesitation. She hugged her cousin. “And I owe you another favor for occupying my mother so that I can sneak out to meet Sarah Smith.”

Beatrice pulled back. “Be careful, Phoebe.” Her voice held an undercurrent of warning. “You don’t know what you’re walking into.”

…

As soon as Beatrice knocked on Phoebe’s door to let her know her plan to occupy her mother had worked, Phoebe departed her bedchamber and quickly descended the grand staircase to the vestibule. Opening the front door, she slipped outside.

Simple.

A fountain near the drive drowned out her footsteps on the pavers. Hurrying past the fountain, she made it to the crushed shell drive and set a brisk pace. The village was not far, about a mile, and she was a fast walker. It was a pleasant day, and puffs of clouds dotted the blue sky. A thrill thrummed in her veins at the anticipated adventure. Her sojourn outdoors was better than being stuck in the drawing room with the ladies’ letter-writing campaign.

The excursion was precisely what she needed to distract her from her worries. Waiting until she was far enough away from the house, she took a deep breath and—

“Where are you going?”

She jumped at the all-too-familiar male voice, to find Landon behind her.

Good God! Where on earth did he come from?

A dangerous air of command exuded from him, and her mind grappled for an explanation. “I…I felt like a country walk.”

“Alone?” As he leaned slightly toward her, his midnight eyes traveled from head to toe.

Her nerves tightened at his tone and his look. Suddenly all she could think about was his height, his strength, and the unique combination of the scent of his cologne and dangerous male. This was a test she had to pass. She straightened her spine and faced him. “It’s daylight and my virtue is safe. I’m not at risk of brigands.”

“It’s the country. There’s always the risk of brigands or thieves.”

She gave him her fiercest scowl. “Why are you following me?”

“Where are you going?” he repeated.

The scowl had not worked. Her thoughts tumbled in her mind, and a sliver of panic tightened in her chest. From the hours they’d faced each other over a backgammon board, she knew he was shrewdly intelligent. Should she tell him the truth? She’d already told him about her involvement with the Society for Unwed Mothers in London. Would this be any different?