Lady in Shadow: A Tangled Hearts Romance by Rebecca Ward

Author:Rebecca Ward [Ward, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: White Glove
Published: 2014-02-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

“Where could Nigel have got to?”

Impatiently Elisande scanned the village road. “What can he be thinking of, being late today of all days? He knows we must be on our way by eleven.”

“Perhaps it’s as well that you don’t go out riding together,” Constance suggested from her place by the hearth. “I am persuaded that it will begin raining again soon.”

It had been drizzling off and on all morning—a gloomy and unpropitious day for a tryst, Elisande conceded, but there was no help for it. And since it had taken a full week to arrange a time when the colonel would be out of the way, her brother could at least be on time to meet his Sylvia.

Since she had told him her plan, Nigel had been impossible to live with. One moment high in hope the next plunged in despair, he had driven his sister and their cousin wild. Even Parse, who seldom complained, had taken to muttering under his breath that he’d never expected the captain to act so “gormless.”

And then, after everything had been finally arranged and they were to meet in the woods near the Norman Church at a quarter past eleven, Nigel had apparently had an attack of the nerves. Near dawn he had ridden off with Parse and had not yet returned.

“Perhaps he has changed his mind about meeting Miss Hanard,” Constance suggested. “It may be for the best. My cards warn that ‘the way will be difficult,’ so perhaps you will meet the colonel on the road—or the marquess. Truce or no, if he finds his betrothed trysting with Nigel, there will be trouble.”

“Lord Raven has taken his brother to Allford for the day,” Elisande said. “Besides, this is no ordinary tryst. It may help Nigel’s memory.”

“Is that what Lord Raven says?” Constance asked, and Elisande frowned as she recalled his lordship’s reaction to her plan.

“I don’t like it,” he had said bluntly. “This rendezvous is just an excuse for more drama. Sylvia will weep and tear her hair like a tragedienne at Astley’s Amphitheater, and Nigel will return home as sick as a horse. He’ll be as far from remembering as he is now.”

“It does seem a somewhat smoky plan,” Elisande had agreed worriedly, “but I hoped that perhaps—”

“What I’d hoped was that Sylvia Hanard had lent those damned combs of hers to someone or lost them or sold them,” Raven had interrupted. “Then there might have been a new trail to follow.” He had then added somewhat ungraciously, “Well, if you’ve promised to act as chaperon, you have to go through with it. I’ll keep Wigram out of the way.”

Elisande winced at the memory. She herself had several grave doubts about today’s meeting and would have canceled it if she could. But Sylvia had been determined that the tryst take place, and up till now Nigel had been as eager as his beloved.

“Where is he?” Elisande wondered.

Just then there was a sharp rap on the back door. But instead of Nigel it was Harriet Willoughby who stepped through the door.

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