Gentleman's Master by Jo Ann Ferguson

Author:Jo Ann Ferguson
Language: ara, eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BelleBooks, Inc.
Published: 2014-06-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

LADY ROSSINGTON regained her senses within minutes after Neville had taken his leave. Or more accurately, Priscilla thought, she regained consciousness. Any good sense seemed to have vacated the baroness’s head. Hysterical tears and shrieks battered everyone’s ears and even woke Miss Verlyn.

After allowing the lady enough time to see that her daughter was alive, Priscilla asked Mrs. Betts to escort the lady to her private rooms where she could recover.

“No,” Lady Rossington said. “I cannot leave until I give you a message.”

“Me?” asked Priscilla. “From whom?”

“Your aunt. I sent a rider toward London with a message to your aunt that you and Sir Neville were unharmed.”

Priscilla forced her hands not to clench in frustrated fists by her side. “That was unnecessary, Lady Rossington.”

“Nonsense.” A ghost of a smile flitted across her lips. “You shall be delighted to hear that the messenger delivered the message to your aunt who was only a short distance from here. She should be arriving with your children on the morrow.”

“Here?” choked Priscilla. Was Lady Rossington mad to bring Priscilla’s family into the middle of murder?

“No need to thank me, my dear. I know they will be so pleased to see you and Sir Neville are fine.”

Priscilla tossed aside propriety and ordered, “Send another messenger. Stop my family from coming here! Tell them we will meet them as planned.”

“I cannot send someone out at this hour.” Lady Rossington regarded Priscilla as if she had taken a knock in the head. “The highwaymen are on the prowl. Do not worry. Your aunt is a smart woman. She will not travel after dark. If she had, she would have been here by now.”

Priscilla sank to sit on a bench. Could this situation grow any worse? She could not warn her aunt and children to stay away. Nor could Neville. Edgar and Agatha would see to that.

“No need,” Lady Rossington continued in her oblivious way, “to thank me when your family arrives and is relieved to find you and your husband well. It was the very least I could do after all you have endured.”

It took every ounce of Priscilla’s self-control not to jump up and shriek at her hostess. Lady Rossington had good intentions, but how many times had Lazarus preached on where good intentions could take one?

Lady Rossington leaned forward to give Priscilla a hug and almost toppled on her nose. Priscilla grabbed one arm and Mrs. Betts the other to keep the lady on her feet.

The housekeeper gave Priscilla a sympathetic glance before saying, “Agatha, help me with Lady Rossington and her daughters.”

A stricken expression widened Agatha’s eyes. To obey meant leaving Priscilla’s side, failing to follow Cross’s orders; not to obey would draw unwanted attention to her.

“Mrs. Betts,” she said, her tone almost as distressed as the baroness’s, “Lady Priscilla needs—”

“She needs to understand that I need your help.”

Priscilla remained silent. What sort of person did Agatha believe her to be? Did Agatha think she would use the night’s tragedy to flee? While Mrs.

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