Prelude to Love by Joan Smith

Author:Joan Smith [Smith, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1983-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Miss Simons rattled on for a long time on such irrelevant topics as choices for a honeymoon spot, and where the trousseau should be made up. It left Vanessa free to worry and plan in peace. She was only twenty-five miles from Ipswich. It could not be impossible to get there safely, if she used her wits. The great danger was that Kiley knew her destination, would be laying traps for her along the way. It seemed safer to dart off in some other direction, to fool him.

As much as she disliked to strike out alone, she was coming to think it would throw him off the track. If she could find a good disguise, then go in some other direction than Ipswich, she might evade him. But what direction? London was farther, but it was still within a day's travel. There was the whole Foreign Office there that could handle the matter for her.

Yes, she would buy or steal some man's clothing, hire a hack, as Kiley would be looking for her in a carriage, and ride to London, with Gretch and his pistol for company. Or should they go on a public coach? The mail coach was fast. He would not dare to assault her in front of half a dozen travelers, and on His Majesty's Mail Coach.

"But you must not breathe a word of it to Henry," Miss Simons terminated her speech, looking sharp to see this was understood.

"Tell him what?" Vanessa asked, shaking to attention.

"My dear, you have not heard a word I have been saying. Your head is full of Harvey. It is only to be expected, at such a romantic time. Of course he will make a proper offer later, after speaking to Henry."

Nessa smiled, to encourage Elleri to chatter on in this harmless way. When should she make her departure was the next question she posed herself. Not in the dangerous darkness of night, yet daylight was too revealing. He could be belowstairs at the crack of dawn, watcing out for her. When—when—when?

"Something old, something new—I shall buy you a new veil, Nessie. Your mama's is perfectly yellow, practically brown, in fact. I had it out of the trunk last week. Is not that a strange coincidence?"

Elleri's mindless chatter disturbed her concentration. She must get her to go to her own room and close the door, to allow her to ring for a servant and arrange the purchase of clothing for the masquerade. She would not take breakfast in the morning. She would leave at dawn, down the back stairs, disguised as a boy, send word to have the groom awaiting her.

No, she would open her window and leave by the balcony that ran around the rear wall of the inn. Kiley had spies, some boy he hired to report on goings-on in the stable. She knew that from their stop at Tilbury. She would not go to the inn stable here, then, but hire a mount at another hostelry in town.

In fact, it would be safer in the long run not even to take her groom with her.

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