Rake Beyond Redemption by Anne O'Brien

Author:Anne O'Brien [O'Brien, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460818718
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises Pty Ltd, Australia
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

To Marie-Claude’s mind the atmosphere in Old Wincomlee underwent a subtle change, bringing an air of unease, of waiting. A threatening heaviness in the atmosphere that owed nothing to the sultry heat of the July days.

‘You shouldn’t be going out into the village alone, miss.’ Meggie was at her bossiest. ‘And certainly not along the cliffs.’ She scowled as Marie-Claude selected a day gown of cream-striped muslin, suitable for striding along the cliff top. A charmingly elegant picture.

‘Why not?’ Marie-Claude, who valued her freedom of action in the vicinity of the Pride, looked up sharply. She’d had enough of social strictures on young women who walked unchaperoned in London; she would not give up her independence here without a fight.

‘Miss Harriette would never forgive me if you were caught up in the goings-on hereabouts. A God-fearing place we were,’ Meggie pronounced with dark inference. ‘Our smugglers were a threat to no one, and a more peaceable place as Old Wincomlee I’ve not known. And now a body never knows what she’ll meet…’

‘What’s happened?’ To Marie-Claude this smacked too much like Zan’s strange warning of impending but invisible danger.

‘Nothing as yet. But the warning signals are out. The Fly-By-Nights.’ Meggie sniffed her derision. ‘Out and about round here, God rot them. Up to no good, I’ll be bound. All I’ll say is—take one of the servants when you go out, mistress. Or one of the grooms. George Gadie if you can get him to stir himself from the stables or his fishing boat. I’ll have a word with him.’

Marie-Claude stifled a sigh. ‘I will if I must.’

‘And don’t you go talking to Mr Ellerdine,’ Meggie warned with an arch of her eyebrow.

‘I’ve no intention of talking with that—that reprobate!’ she responded, on her dignity.

True enough. But neither had Marie-Claude any intention of rousting out one of the grooms, or George Gadie, every time she wished to take a walk, but she agreed to be more circumspect. It did not trouble her overmuch. When she sailed in Venmore’s Prize, as was her intention later that day, either George or Gabriel was always with her. How could she come to harm in Old Wincomlee where she knew every face, where the fishermen and their wives greeted her?

She was perfectly safe.

So she lingered to exchange the time of day with Mistress Gadie outside her cottage near the little quay, leaving George and Gabriel to pull the cutter up on to the beach. It was pleasant to stand and talk of her day and her plans for the next. Eventually she waved farewell and threaded through the cottages, deciding which route to take towards the Pride, opting for the village street with its interesting nooks and crannies to investigate. She strolled leisurely, whilst in her mind she registered that it was noisy at the Silver Boat, which was unusual for this time of the day. Horses were tied up outside. And an empty wagon as if a delivery had been made.

The raucous bellow of laughter took her attention.

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