With the Duke's Approval by Wendy Soliman

Author:Wendy Soliman [Soliman, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-03-12T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Clarence tapped twice on the roof of the carriage with his cane, the signal for Pierce to drive back to a smarter district.

“Are we not going to get out and make enquires?” Lady Annalise asked.

“You are certainly not going anywhere near the place, nor am I for that matter. We don’t want whoever owns it to know we are on to them, if indeed they are involved in the plot. I shall send one of my people to ask questions later on.”

“Oh, I suppose that would be best.” She sent Clarence a wide-eyed look. “But how will you find it again?”

“I asked Pierce to drive in this direction for a specific reason. Given the amount of time you said the carriage took to bring you here, it seemed as good a place as any to start.” He glanced out the window. “Did you really climb down that tree, in the snow, in the dark with nothing but sacking on your feet?” He shook his head. “Quite remarkable.”

“Certainly I did, and there was nothing especially remarkable about it. I was very adept at climbing trees when I was younger.”

Clarence smothered a smile. “Evidently.”

“I am very annoyed that I slipped and displaced my shoulder. That was careless. How did you know how to fix it, by the way?”

“I was not always a safe distance away from the fighting during the war.” Clarence spoke with a lightness he didn’t feel as he recalled some of the horrors he had seen. “The battle of Chateau-Thierry was a total disaster for the allied forces. I happened to be there. The field hospital was overrun, and I did what I could to make myself useful. A harried doctor showed me how to put various joints back into place.” He shook off the images conjured up by that battle’s name, recalling Prussian forces had played a leading, not especially heroic, role in it. There was no escaping the Prussians at present, it seemed. “Don’t worry. You were not my first victim,” he assured his lovely companion.

“I am very grateful to you. You saved me from a lot of pain.”

“I did not explain in the hope of earning your gratitude.”

“Yes, I know that.” She looked away from him. “How will you find this warehouse again?” she asked after a brief pause.

“We are at New Gravel Lane now and the tree you used as a staircase is in Cotes Gardens. We shall find it again easily now we know where to look. And, if I am not much mistaken, there is an inn along here on the right which must be where you liberated Betty.”

Lady Annalise was quiet as the carriage made slow progress along the busy thoroughfare. Her hands trembled and he instinctively clasped it in one in his, telling himself he had only done so because she required comfort. The fact that he had been fighting the urge to touch her ever since he foolishly agreed to sit beside her had nothing to do with his decision.

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