Frederica and the Viscountess by Barbara Davies

Author:Barbara Davies [Davies, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: 9781934452486
Publisher: Bedazzled Ink
Published: 2010-07-01T05:00:00+00:00

Frederica and the Viscountess

87

Joanna nodded her thanks. “I have no details about their carriage, but the gentleman is in possession of a magnifi cent thoroughbred bay. There may also be a valet with them.”

“There is,” said the man with the whiskers.

Frederica took an involuntary step forward. “Are they here?”

“Alas, ma’am, no longer. They availed themselves of lunch and then drove away.”

Disappointment surged through her, and she took herself to task. Joanna had been proved correct so far. She must hope she was correct in the other particulars.

The landlord examined Frederica’s face. “You are like your sister,” he concluded. Then, frowning, “Are they eloping?”

“If marriage were indeed the gentleman’s aim, I would be more sanguine,” said the Viscountess bluntly. “Ay, you may well look shocked, sir.” She took fi ve guineas from her reticule and pressed them on him. “You have already been most helpful. If there is anything more?”

He pocketed the money, his manner becoming subtly more deferential. “They are in a phaeton, ma’am. They left around three o’clock and seemed in no great hurry.”

Joanna gave Frederica a signifi cant glance. “Then they are not planning on reaching Dover tonight. They intend to put up somewhere on the road. That is good news indeed.”

“Let us hope so,” she murmured.

When it became clear that the landlord could offer little more in the way of information, they took their leave of him and made their way out of The King’s Head. Joanne repossessed their refreshed horse and handed Frederica up into the dogcart.

“Courage, Frederica,” urged the Viscountess, as she drove them back out onto the turnpike. “They will soon be within our sights.”

Dusk was falling when they reached The White Hart, a prosperous coaching inn fi ve miles further on. Joanna made Frederica wait in the dogcart while she enquired within. She emerged wearing a grim smile.

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