“Still—” Rand started.
“This is politics, boy, don’t forget that,” Nigel said sharply. “It’s not as clear-cut as war but every bit as dangerous. You can’t just ride out of here like a band of knights of old. No indeed. Won’t work at all.” He tapped the note thoughtfully. “You’ll need a plan. Possibly even a disguise.”
“Ridiculous.” Alexei snorted. “I am certainly not going to go skulking about the countryside—”
“If you want to save your crown and, no doubt, your hide as well, you’ll set aside that royal pride of yours and pay attention.” Authority rang in Nigel’s voice, and abruptly Jocelyn realized his nephew might not be the only one in the family with an adventurous past. “We have to come up with an idea, a good one, and we have precious little time in which to do it.”
Silence fell over the room and Jocelyn took the opportunity to study the faces of the men around her. She couldn’t help noticing they were rather a handsome lot. Not that their appearances had limited them in any particular way. No, their minds were considered much more important than their looks. It really wasn’t at all fair how men were judged on intelligence and ability whereas women, more often than not, were judged only on beauty. Women were scarcely ever given the credit for even the simplest things and were bound by all sorts of ridiculous conventions about deportment and behavior regarding every aspect of their lives from how they danced at a ball to how they sat a horse to how they traveled ...
“Women,” Jocelyn said aloud. “That’s it.” She jumped to her feet. “That’s the answer.”
“Jocelyn.” Rand shook his head. “I know you are trying to help—”
“Be quiet and listen to me for a moment.” She paced a few steps, trying to organize her thoughts. It was a wonderful idea, if a bit wicked. And she had no doubt they wouldn’t like it at all. Still...
She stopped and turned to face the gathering. “If indeed a band of men would be noticed at once, a carriage of women would be all but invisible.”
“Women?” Alexei laughed. “I scarcely think—”
“I am doing the thinking at the moment and this is a wonderful idea.” Excitement sounded in her voice and she turned to her husband. “You and Alexei will dress as women. Nick can drive the carriage. If it took a full day and night for us to travel here by horseback, how long will it take to return to London?”
Rand nodded thoughtfully. “Three days and nights, maybe less, if we stop for nothing more than to change horses.”
“You’d make it just in time by carriage,” Nigel said.
“Well?” She stared at each of them in turn, her gaze finally settling on Rand. “What do you think?”
He considered her for a moment. “I think I would never fit in your clothes.”
“Of course not, don’t be absurd.” She laughed. “But I suspect between Flora, Rose, and Ivy we can certainly come up with something suitable.”
“That we can, my lady,” Flora’s voice sounded from the hall.
“Grand idea, my dear. I’m damned proud of you.” Nigel chuckled. “Brains and long legs too. You’re a lucky man, Rand.”
“I have already realized that, Uncle.” Rand’s dark gaze meshed with hers and she wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms. “It’s an excellent plan, Jocelyn. No one would suspect two female travelers of being anything other than what they appeared.”
“Oh, not two women.” She shook her head. “Three.”
“Three?” Rand’s brow furrowed.
“Absolutely.” She crossed her arms over her chest and grinned. “I’m going with you.”
———
“Absolutely not,” Rand said without a second thought. “I will not permit it. I won’t allow it.”
Jocelyn raised a brow.
“This is not an order, Jocelyn. It is a ... a demand. You did say you would agree to an occasional demand. I consider that a promise and I’m calling it in. I demand you remain here.”
“I would if I could, dear husband, but I can’t.” Jocelyn shook her head, her gaze brimming with amusement. “You need me.”
“This is not a game, Jocelyn. And not the least bit funny,” Rand said sharply. “Furthermore, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“I’m certain that you are. You are a wonderfully competent gentleman and probably have all sorts of curious skills I can’t even guess at, but”—she shrugged—“you have no idea how to behave like a lady.”
“She’s got you there, boy. And I believe I said all of you had to return.” Nigel studied the letter. “It says right here your presence and your wife’s are required at the ceremony.”
“I do not want—”
“Regardless, those are your orders. I daresay it’s due to her involvement in this mess although there’s no explanation given.” Nigel eyed him firmly. “Besides, haven’t you sworn to protect Jocelyn? You can’t very well do that if you leave her here.”
“She’ll be safe here,” Rand said staunchly.
“Will she?” Nigel asked. “Think about it. If the roads are being watched it’s likely your whereabouts are known. Can you leave her behind knowing that?”
Rand’s gaze slid from Nigel to Jocelyn. Neither his uncle nor his wife was the least bit inclined to comply with his wishes. Not that he really had much choice in the matter.
“When you put it that way, I suppose I would rather have her where I can keep an eye on her. I am not happy about it though.” He blew a short, resigned breath. “Very well, you may come. On one condition.” He fixed her with a firm gaze. “And this is not debatable, Jocelyn. You will do precisely as I say without argument. And that includes following any orders I might issue. Do you understand?”
“Of course.” Jocelyn’s eyes widened innocently. “I will follow your requests—”
“She can scarcely say the word,” Alexei said in an aside to Richard.
“—without question.” She smiled in an overly sweet manner, and Rand knew she didn’t mean a word of it.
“Well, if she’s going, I’m going.” Richard stepped forward.
“Richard.” Jocelyn laid her hand on his arm. “I think it would be best if you stayed here. At least for a few days. With Rand gone ...” She looked at her husband.
Rand understood at once and agreed. “I would rest a lot easier if you would stay, Richard. I daresay once we’re gone there shouldn’t be any problems but I hate to leave my uncle here alone should any difficulty arise.”
Richard thought for a moment, then nodded slowly. “You’re quite right, of course. Certainly I’ll be happy to remain for a bit.”
“Appreciate the thought but I don’t need a watchdog,” Nigel said gruffly. “Will need your help, though. With the diversion.”
“What diversion?” Rand said. He didn’t like the sound of that one bit.
“You don’t think you can drive off just as you please? Sometimes I wonder about you, boy.” Nigel shook his head in disgust. “You’re going to need some sort of diversion. Something to attract attention in one direction while you go in the other. Done all the time in my day.”
“When Arthur was king, no doubt,” Alexei murmured Nigel quieted him with a pointed look. “As I was saying, you need a diversion. Something big. I was thinking we could”—his gaze met Rand’s—“burn down the castle—”
“No!” Rand said at once.
“Not the castle!” Jocelyn gasped.
“Uncle,” Rand moved closer to his uncle. “I do appreciate the offer, but—”
“Nigel.” Jocelyn stepped to the older man’s chair and knelt down on the floor beside him. “Don’t even think it. We would never allow you to make such a sacrifice.”
“This is your home. The home of your father and his father before him.” Rand’s gaze searched his uncle’s. “I know what it means to you.”
“You would lose a legacy as well,” Nigel said mildly.
“That scarcely matters.” Rand shook his head.
“It’s
not important,” Jocelyn said at the same time.
Nigel’s gaze slipped from Rand’s to Jocelyn’s and back. “I expected no less. From either of you. However”—he chuckled—“I was not about to burn down Worthington Castle. I was going to suggest setting a fire in the ruins of the northeast tower. It would scarcely be a loss. There is more than enough wood in the structure of the thing for an impressive blaze. It’s far enough from the castle proper for safety. In addition, unless these old joints of mine have failed me altogether, we’ll have a decent rainfall in the next few hours.”
“It could well work,” Richard said thoughtfully. “If your man will show me to the area, I’ll take a look.”
“Nick.” Rand barely got the word out before Nick was in the room. Quickly he explained the proposal. Nick asked a few pertinent questions, then he and Richard left.
“We have perhaps two hours before sunset. I propose we leave as soon after that as possible,” Rand said, his mind churning with the myriad details that needed to be attended to before then.
“Then we’d best get going,” Jocelyn said brightly and stood.
“This is not a picnic, my dear. It is not an outing in the park.” He didn’t wish to scare her but he did want her to understand the serious nature of what they were about to embark on. Whoever wanted to keep Alexei from returning to London would not hesitate to stop him by whatever means necessary.
“I realize that. I do understand the risks and the possibility of danger. However.” She stepped close and gazed up at him. “I shall be with you and therefore I am not the tiniest bit worried.” She smiled and her eyes shimmered with a far different meaning than her words. “I trust you.”
He wanted to take her in his arms and tell her how much she’d come to mean to him. Kiss her until her toes did indeed grow warm and her senses muddled. Tell her once again he trusted her. With his life if need be, and more important with his heart. Without thinking he reached for her.
“Do keep yourself under control, cousin,” Alexei said mildly.
“He’s right, my boy,” Nigel chided. “Plenty of time for that sort of thing later. Right now you’ve got to get yourself ready. I daresay it’s going to take a while if you’re to be presentable and believable as women. The only thing either of you has going for you is long legs.
“Although in this case,” Nigel snorted, “it’s not going to be nearly enough.”
Chapter 15
Nigel was right.
Rand and Alexei stood before the two cheval mirrors Jocelyn had had the maids set up in her room. She’d thought it would be easier to turn two dashing lords into two passable women here, where she had everything necessary near at hand, rather than another room, but perhaps the chapel would have been a better location. A bit of prayer wouldn’t hurt.
Jocelyn, Ivy, Flora, and Rose studied their handiwork. The two men studied their reflections. Jocelyn wondered if she should make some comment, but she wasn’t certain if she should be honest or tactful.
“Well, I’ll say one thing for them,” Flora said at last. “They’re not pretty.”
“No indeed.” Ivy shook her head.
Rose nodded. “I’d call ‘em ugly.”
“Ugly is such a harsh word,” Jocelyn murmured. “Appropriate perhaps, but harsh.”
Flora considered the two men. “They are fine-looking gentlemen but not even handsome as ladies.”
“I’m not certain if we should be offended or pleased,” Alexei adjusted one of the leghorn hats Flora had found stored with Rand’s grandmother’s clothes. The hats were wide and would hide their faces better than anything else, even if they weren’t quite as fashionable as they might once have been.
“Definitely pleased.” Rand’s voice was wry. “I believe for a man to be called an ugly woman is something to be preferred.”
“We’re not especially stylish either, are we?” Alexei said with a frown of annoyance.
“Humph.” Flora huffed but held her tongue. She had graciously sacrificed her best dresses and was obviously not pleased at hearing they were not the latest stare of fashion. Especially as she and the maids had quickly fashioned wide ruffles for the hems to disguise the fact that these women were overly tall, had unusually large feet, and were wearing men’s boots as well as breeches beneath their skirts. Jocelyn vowed to make certain Flora’s gowns were replaced by something thoroughly up-to-date and even a touch frivolous.
“I doubt we’ll have to fear for our virtue,” Rand muttered.
“Perhaps not but you’ll do, both of you.” Jocelyn struggled to keep the amusement from her voice. She was grateful they’d gotten the two men to come this far and didn’t want to do anything that might make them change their minds now. Neither man was especially thrilled at the thought of their female impersonation, although both agreed they had no other plan. “Besides, we’ll be in the carriage nearly the entire time. With luck no one will get more than a glimpse of either of you.”
“I feel like an idiot.” Rand directed a raised brow at his wife. “An ugly idiot.”
“At least yours fits. Mine binds.” Alexei stretched his arms out in front of him and craned his neck in an attempt to look over his shoulder. “See. Across the back. It’s too tight.
“I think it’s your bosoms.” Rand surveyed him critically. “The dress wouldn’t be as tight if they weren’t so large. I think your bosoms are too big.”
Alexei looked down at his overstuffed chest. “Can bosoms ever be too big?”
“Not real bosoms perhaps, but I think in your case...” Rand considered him thoughtfully. “No question about it: they’re definitely too big.”
“Are you sure?” Alexei studied his reflection. “I thought they were just right for a man of my height.”
“Possibly. Or it could be that they’re simply”—Rand tilted his head—“off-center.”
Alexei adjusted his bust with both hands.
Ivy tittered, Rose snickered, Flora choked back a giggle, Jocelyn’s eyes watered with the effort of holding back laughter.
“I think that’s better,” he said to Rand, “don’t you?”
“Much.” Rand nodded somberly.
“I think you’re both, just, well”—Jocelyn sniffed hard and tried not to choke on the words—“lovely.”
“Oh, you do, do you?” Rand yanked her into his arms and dipped her backward. She stared up in surprise. A teasing light sparked in his eyes. “Lovely, eh?”
“My yes, my lord, you are quite fetching.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “A diamond of the first water, the brightest star in the heavens, an incomparable among incomparables.”
“You just want me because I’m pretty,” he growled.
“Oh no, my lord.” She widened her eyes in an innocent manner. “I am much more interested in your—”
He cut her off with a kiss, firm and fast and full of promise. Just when her toes started to warm, he drew back and grinned. “Never been kissed by a man in a gown before, have you?”
“I’ve never suspected it would ever be a possibility.”
“Nor have I.” He laughed and pulled her upright. “Now then, if you are ready—”
“I need just a minute more to finish packing my bag.” She turned to Flora and the other women. “Cook was going to pack a hamper. Would you make certain that’s been done and it is put in the carriage?”
The three bobbed curtsies and took their leave. Peals of laughter sounded in the hall. Apparently the older women could not restrain themselves anther minute.
“Go on.” She gave Rand a little push. “I shall follow momentarily.”
“Do be quick about it.” Alexei sighed. “The sooner we are off, the sooner we will be in London and the sooner we can remove these ridiculous clothes. Although”— his gaze traveled over Rand in an assessing manner—“I do believe I am the prettier of the two of us.”
“Then you shall, no doubt, be asked to waltz first,” Rand snapped and headed toward the door.
“I didn�
��t say he was unattractive, although one doesn’t always need to state the obvious, just that I am prettier.” Alexei grinned at Jocelyn. “I hope I have not offended him.”
“I’m certain he’ll recover.”
Alexei strode after Rand, and she made a mental note to explain to them both how ladies, even tall ladies with overstuffed bosoms and large feet encased in men’s boots, walked properly.
A cackle of laughter sounded from the hall, followed by muttering male voices. A moment later Nigel appeared in the doorway.
“You’ve done a decent job, girl. As long as they keep their heads down, you travel by night and try like hell not to let anyone get a good look at ‘em, you should be fine.” Nigel chuckled and moved into the room. “I’d like to say I’ve seen less comely women in my time but I can’t seem to think of any.”
“As the wife of one of them I daresay I’m grateful for that.” She grinned and stepped to her bag waiting on the bed. Nearly everything she’d brought originally was back in the satchel. Of course, she hadn’t acquired anything new since they’d been here and she did think it appropriate to leave behind the few gowns of Rand’s grandmother’s she’d worn.
“I see you have plenty of room left in that bag of yours. Good.” He turned toward the doorway. “Rose!”
Rose hurried in, a flat paper-wrapped package in her hand. She stepped to Nigel’s side and handed it to him.
“Better things to do than this at the moment, you know,” she said to him, then turned at once and left, muttering all the while. “Whole house in an uproar. Fires being set. Men dressing like women ...”
Nigel shook his head. “Don’t let her fool you. This evening is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to her.”
Jocelyn laughed. “I can certainly understand that. It’s probably the most exciting thing to happen to me in, oh well, at least since the last time someone shot at me and I married a man I’d barely met. Odd to realize so very much has happened in such a short time.”
“Some of the best experiences of life happen when you’re not looking. The twists and turns that come when you aren’t prepared and you don’t expect ‘em. Love is like that, you know. Comes even when you might not be ready for it and hits you hard.” He studied her sharply. “But I don’t need to tell you that, do I?”
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