Before The Scandal by Suzanne Enoch

Author:Suzanne Enoch [Enoch, Suzanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780061456749
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2008-05-05T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

“Where are you going?”

Covering his flinch, Phineas turned away from the front door and faced the landing above. “It may be late for you, Magpie,” he drawled with a grin he didn’t feel, “but for me the night’s barely begun.”“If you’re not ready for bed, come and play whist with me. Or billiards, even.”

He shook his head. Thank the devil she’d never encountered The Frenchman, or she might have recognized the army greatcoat he carried draped over one arm. “Not the kind of amusement I’m looking for, Beth.”

“But you—we—”

“Come along, Beth,” William said from the stop of the stairs above her. “My billiards game is a bit rusty, but I think I can manage whist.”

“Phin,” she murmured, her tone making the single word into a plea.

“Don’t wait up,” he said, opening the door and slipping outside.

As soon as he was out of earshot, he began cursing. English, French, Italian, Spanish—the language didn’t matter, as long as it was black enough to suit his mood. What if he was wrong? What if he had invented some sort of conspiracy to avoid facing the fact that his family didn’t need him after all?

“Saddle Saffron,” he snapped as he entered the stables.

Gordon, already mounted on Gallant and holding Ajax’s reins, looked at him. “Beg pardon?”

“Beth might be watching.” He stepped back as Warner walked over to collect the butter chestnut from his stall.

“Then what—”

“Wait five minutes after I leave, and meet me in the glade just southwest of the bridge. The one with the lightning-struck oak. Do you know where that is?”

“I know. Don’t be doin’ anything foolish without me.”

“I’ll hold off on being foolish until you join me.”

“Fair ’nough.”

A moment later Warner led over Saffron. “Master Phineas?” the groom intoned.

“Yes?”

“Mr. Gordon says this highwayman business is to help Lord Quence and Miss Beth. Is that so?”

God, he hoped so. “Yes, that is my intention.”

The groom nodded. “Then keep your head down, sir. You can trust me and young Tom here.”

“Thank you, Warner.” With a nudge of his heels he sent Saffron through the double doors and out into the stable yard.

On the chance that Beth or William might be watching him ride off, he headed in the direction of Lewes until he was beyond view of the house. Only then did he turn south and east toward the River Ouse. He dismounted beside the old shattered oak tree and led Saffron into a thicket that held a patch of good grazing. Once he’d tied off the yellow gelding where no one would stumble over him accidently, he donned his highwayman attire.

He heard a low, two-toned whistle. Whistling back, he slipped out of the thicket to join Gordon in the glade. “Let’s begin at Beaumont’s,” he said, swinging up on Ajax. “We can take a look around Donnelly on our way back.”

“Aye. Any idea what ye want t’do if we come across ten or so wolfhounds partial to sheep?”

“Shooting them comes to mind.”

“I don’ think The Frenchman’d care about dogs.”

No, he wouldn’t. Not unless they were chasing him.

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