Byron's Child by Carola Dunn

Author:Carola Dunn [Dunn, Carola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance/Time Travel
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1991-08-16T04:00:00+00:00

“Serves her right,” said Giles callously. “I need a map, though, to work out what we should do.”

“There is a map-book in the book room.”

By a stroke of luck, the shortest route from London to Liverpool passed not far from Kirkby Mallory. Giles and Charlotte were planning their story when Roland came into the book room.

He greeted Giles, then turned to Charlotte. “Not dressed yet, my dear?” he asked reproachfully.

“I heard that Giles was come and I wanted to tell him that Jodie has already left. Oh Roland, the most shocking thing has occurred.”

“Fortunately my sister left me a letter. She has made the stupidest mistake. It seems she has told Thorncrest we are to leave from Liverpool.”

“Liverpool! Then they have driven north?”

“I’m afraid so. Cousin Charlotte and I have been consulting a map. If they stayed at Waterstock overnight, as they intended, they will have gone north through Birmingham, whereas the shorter way from London is through Northampton. The roads converge at Stafford, however. The only chance is to waylay them there and dash back to Bristol.” Giles could only hope that en route he would come up with an excuse for detouring to find the miscreants at Kirkby Mallory.

Before Roland could speak his mind, a considerably disturbed mind by the look of him, Charlotte distracted him.

“I shall go with Giles,” she announced. “Emily will need a chaperone on the way home.”

“But my dear, in your condition!”

“I am very well, Roland, and it will do me no good to stay here fretting. Our carriage is excessively comfortable, since you were so clever as to have it built with the most up-to-date springs. Indeed I shall come to no harm.”

“Liverpool!” said Roland again, helplessly. “It is at least two days journey. What can Emily and Thorncrest have been thinking of?”

“Young people in love are notorious for not thinking,” Giles pointed out. It was no time to let Roland think either. He hurried on, “I must let Harry know of the change of plans. You agreed that he might go to Waterstock on the way home from Bristol, to experiment with your lightning rod. I hope you will be kind enough to let him go straight there now?”

“Yes, yes, of course. I shall write to my steward immediately directing that Lord Font be given every assistance, and you may send it to him with your own message. But Charlotte dear, do pray go and dress.”

“At once, Roland,” said Charlotte meekly.

She did go and dress, but in a travelling costume not an evening gown. She managed to convince Roland that it was his notion to go as far as St. Albans that night, in order to shorten the morrow’s journey. By the time they finished dinner her efficient household had everything ready, the carriage was at the door, and off they went.

~ ~ ~

My lord and lady Faringdale, accompanied by coachman, footman, abigail, and a generous purse, travelled swiftly. With frequent changes of horses, they reached Northampton on Thursday in time for luncheon at the Red Dragon.

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