The Earl's Dangerous Assignment by Ginny Hartman

Author:Ginny Hartman [Hartman, Ginny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Published: 2018-05-06T05:00:00+00:00

Frantic knocking on her door caused Sophia's heart to beat rapidly as she was pulled at once from her dreamless sleep. Had Samuel returned? Who else could it be? Pulling herself from the warm cocoon of her bed, she hurried to the door and pulled it partially open while her eyes adjusted to the dark.

“Let me in,” Lydia said as she slithered into the room, pushing the door closed with her back. In a hurried whisper, she continued, “I've found it.”

“My letter?” Sophia asked incredulously.

Lydia grabbed Sophia's wrist and dragged her deeper into the room where the low fire burning in the grate offered a measure of light. Shadows flickered across her face, which looked more pale than usual as she held the missive out towards Sophia, her hand shaking slightly.

“You'll never believe who had it.”

Panic swelled in Sophia's breast as she nervously took the letter. “Who?”

“Lord Coldwell.”

Sophia gasped. “That can't be. How'd you discover it?” Her mind swirled with so many thoughts. If Samuel knew of her plans to run away, why hadn't he said anything about it tonight? Why hadn't he told her how foolish she was, like the Samuel she had come to know would be expected to do?

“In his bedchamber. I just came from there, in fact,” she said proudly. “I'm not certain where he is, but he's not there. I snuck in to investigate, and as luck would have it, I found exactly what I was looking for. I'm not sure how long he's had it, for it was tucked away in a secret drawer in his nightstand.”

A golden brow arched high on her forehead as Sophia looked curiously at her friend. “Precisely how did you know about this secret drawer?”

“I didn't initially, but I discovered it during my search. My father had a similar one in his study, which I became quite adept at picking the lock with my hairpin.”

“You amaze me, Lydia. I daresay The Crown should consider enlisting you as a spy.”

A large, pleased smile spread across Lydia's face. “You know Levi would never allow it.”

Yes, and that's precisely why I will never wed, Sophia thought to herself.

Returning to her present predicament, Sophia turned worried eyes on Lydia as she asked, “What am I going to do Lydia? Samuel has the power to thwart my plans.”

“Indeed, he does, but that is why I came here so late instead of waiting until the morning. You must leave at once. We cannot afford to wait a few days for you to depart.”

“But I'm not ready,” she pointed out, feeling panicked at the thought of fleeing so soon.

“Ready or not, it must be done. You have your disguise, as well as plenty of money to see you through. You will leave for Channing House tonight, and on the morrow, I will tell everyone that you have taken ill and cannot participate in the entertainments of the day. That will buy you some extra time before anyone becomes aware of your absence.”

Doubts filled Sophia, but she didn't know how to voice them all.

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