Conquering the Countess by Em Brown

Author:Em Brown
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781607773320
Publisher: A Ravenous Romance™ Once Upon a Time™ Original Publication
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The driver of the post-chaise had given Gertie a skeptical look when he realized she was traveling sans an abigail but seemed somewhat appeased when she named her destination, figuring there was ample pay to be had. Lowry House could not spare a maid for her trip to Dunnesford, and Gertie preferred to be alone. The weather seemed to know her mood and matched it with grey skies and drops of rain.

Sarah had seemed out of sorts the past few days as well, Gertie recalled. Her sister-in-law was crosser than usual and seemed to turn a frequent and suspicious eye towards her. Gertie had no desire to speculate what she had done this time to merit Sarah’s hostility and had kept her head down as if she was not aware of Sarah’s scrutiny.

“Have you heard from Sir Barclay?” Sarah had finally asked after aimlessly viewing the latest edition of The Lady’s Magazine.

“Wh—why should I have heard from Sir Barclay?” Gertie had responded. She had not even ventured to visit the orphan asylum for fear of running into the man.

The Dowager raised an eyebrow from the sofa where she sat with her embroidery. “I ask because you were seen in his company.”

“He—he insisted on escorting me home,” Gertie replied, hoping Sarah was not referring to that night at Vauxhall.

“Why are we discussing that man?” Belinda inquired.

“I heard the servants say that he has sent many a correspondence to Gertie,” Sarah offered.

But I have not lifted my skirts beneath him, Gertie thought to herself.

Belinda turned her disapproving eye upon Gertie. “Why are you corresponding with such a man?”

“It was my refusal to grant him an audience that prompted him to write me so often,” Gertie explained. “The Barclays wished to confer upon our properties.”

Belinda snorted. “We will have nothing to do with that horrid family. They are a menace to polite society.”

Gertie had professed to having a headache and retreated to her room. Not able to obtain the intelligence she desired, Sarah became even more irritable. Only Alexander had seemed to be in good spirits, having secured an offer for Sarah’s hand from Mr. Rowland. Sarah had burst into tears at the announcement, but when Gertie attempted to console her, she had bared her fangs and thrust Gertie aside.

The rain came down in heavy sheets. The chaise lumbered awkwardly through the mud. It would take thrice as long to reach Dunnesford in these conditions. Gertie wondered if her portmanteau would survive the rain for she could not remember the driver covering her belongings. She heard the man curse as one side of the carriage sunk into the mud. The driver cracked the whip above the horses, but the mud clung tenaciously to the chaise. Gertie shook her head. Fate was having no pity upon her.

The whip cracked once more. This time the chaise lurched forward but without one of its wheels. The vehicle tipped towards its side, tumbling Gertie into the window. The driver let out a string of oaths. Shaking off the knock to her head, Gertie managed to climb out the carriage door and into the pouring rain.

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