“You’re beautiful,” he said meaningfully as he took her hands.
“Do you know where we can get a box coach that doesn’t have your family’s crest on the door?”
“Yes. There is a place in town that rents them. We’ll drive there and rent a vehicle.”
“Splendid!” She hooked her hand around his arm. “Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
The weather was cooler than she’d wanted. Thick, gray clouds hung in the sky. Under her breath she cursed the foul weather. Then again, tis the season… tra-la-la-la-la…and the rest of the Christmas song. Suddenly, it hit her. Christmas was not too far away. Would she be here to share this special holiday with the Merrick family? This would be the first time in years that she’d not spent it with Samantha and her family.
A pang of homesickness washed over her. Funny how she hadn’t thought of her friends since being here. Hopefully, they were all right and not too worried about her. They would definitely wonder why she suddenly disappeared. She could only hope that they would soon forget about her and get on with their own lives.
Once she and Andrew climbed in the coach, he placed a wool blanket over their legs. “Are you going to be warm enough?”
She cuddled next to him. “I will now.”
During the ride, Andrew told her a little about when he was younger, and how it was like trying to get noticed since Edward was the ‘good’ son. She watched his profile as he talked, and stroked his arm softly. She didn’t know why parents doted more on the firstborn than the others. It was just ridiculous.
When he was finished, he asked her to tell him about her youth. Although it brought back painful memories of living with an unhappy mother, she shared her life with Andrew. He must have been able to see how it upset her because he put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
How she loved this gentle, caring man!
It didn’t take them long to get to the rental stable and move to the unmarked vehicle—the Hansom cab. Andrew grabbed their blanket and brought it with them. He hired a driver so Andrew could stay inside the vehicle with her to keep her warm. She loved how thoughtful he was.
Andrew had given the driver directions to Lord Caldwell’s house. He had the driver stop the vehicle a little ways up the street—far enough away that Agnes wouldn’t be able to see their faces, but not too far that they couldn’t watch her.
“So now what do we do?” he asked as he snuggled against her.
“Well, we watch the house.” She chuckled. “And while we’re waiting for her to come out, we enjoy each other’s company.”
“I definitely like that last part.” He kissed her neck. “But I fear that the way I want to enjoy your company might cause a scandal out here on the street in front of everyone.”
“Ha-ha.” She smiled up at him. “You are very humorous this morning, aren’t you?”
“Not really.” He rubbed his cold nose with hers. “I just love being with you. No other woman has made me feel so complete. Can I help feeling so capricious when I’m with you?”
“I know how you feel…because I feel exactly the same.” She took his gloved hand in hers, then threw a glance up the street toward Agnes’s house.
“Halle, my love?”
“Yes?” she answered without looking at him.
“What is the one thing you want most in the world right now?”
She turned her head and caught his gaze. “The one thing I want most?”
“Yes.”
She didn’t have to think about it. She already knew. “It’s something I fear I will never have.”
“Tell me what it is.”
She frowned and shook her head. “I don’t dare think about it because it makes me sad.”
He relaxed against the seat and looked down at their twined fingers. “Just for today, let’s not think about ‘what if’. Let’s pretend that our thoughts can really happen.”
A smile tugged on her mouth again. He was just so cute. “The pretend game, huh? I haven’t played this since I was a young girl.”
His focus moved to her eyes and stayed. “The thing I want right now more than anything is…” His smile stretched. “Is to become your husband. Halle, will you marry me tomorrow?”
Her heart flipped crazily and tears stung her eyes. Oh, why did this have to be a game? If it were real…if they could really be married, there would be no way it could happen as fast as the next day. But alas, this was indeed just a game.
She nodded. “Yes, Lord Andrew Merrick. I would gladly marry you tomorrow…or tonight if possible.”
“No, tonight just won’t do. Mother has to prepare for our wedding feast, of course.”
“But of course.”
“And, my lovely wife, how many children should we have?”
She quickly blinked back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. “As many as your heart desires, my wonderful husband. But keep in mind that if we have a large family, we will need a big house.”
He gave her a curt nod. “Duly noted.”
Her heart ached so much she thought it would break. If only… She lifted his hand and kissed his knuckles. “I would love nothing more than to grow old with you.”
“As would I, my love.”
She turned her head away from him as a tear slid down her cheek. From up the street, a movement caught her attention. Agnes was leaving the house with her maid.
Sitting up straighter, she pointed in their direction. “Look. There’s Lady Agnes.”
Andrew knocked on the wall of the vehicle and called out, “Driver, follow those women!”
Chapter Twenty
“What are they doing?” Andrew asked in a low voice as he watched Halle peek through the shop window.
She glanced his way, shook her head, then peered back through the window.
Never in his life did he think he would be spying on people…especially women! Yet since he met Halle, he’d been doing things he would never dream about. It surprised him to think he didn’t even mind it at all. Every day with her was an adventure, and he liked the man he became in her presence.
They’d followed Agnes and her maid into a few shops. At each one, he helped Halle down from the vehicle so she could peek in the window. Within minutes, she hurried back to the cab and he helped her inside.
She shrugged and lifted her hands in surrender. “I don’t know what’s wrong with that woman, but it seems all she is doing is going inside to chat with people. Good grief!”
“Hmm…” He tapped his finger on his chin. “Maybe the next shop you should go inside, too. Stay by the door so she doesn’t see you.”
“Do you think she’ll recognize me?”
He lifted the fur-line collar around her cloak. “Put your head down a little.” She did as instructed, and he adjusted her bonnet. “No, I don’t think she’ll recognize you.”
The vehicle crept up the street when Agnes and her maid left the shop and continued on their way. Not too long later, Agnes entered another shop. Quickly, Andrew helped Halle down and she hurried into the building.
Anxiously, he waited for her to come out, and after a few minutes when she didn’t, he snuck closer to the window and peeked inside. Right away he could see Agnes jabbering with the owner of the shop. But he couldn’t see Halle. Perhaps she was hiding behind something and out of his view.
Blowing out a frustrated breath, he turned back toward the vehicle. From up the street a couple strolling down the walk caught his eye. Familiarity struck him like hard fist to his gut. Lucy! She was walking next to the same man he’d seen the morning Andrew had ended their relationship. Lucy’s arm was hooked around the man’s, and they appeared to be in such jovial spirits as they smiled at one another. The man said something to her and she laughed.
Andrew was relieved that she found someone so soon, but then…he knew she would. Yet he’d never seen this man before, and he doubted the man was of noble birth. It surprised Andrew that the man was older; probably middle age
d. But as long as the gent could provide her with the trinkets—and bank account—that she was accustomed to, Andrew was certain the two would make the perfect couple.
When the door to the shop opened, and he saw a flash of blue, he knew it wasn’t Halle, so he quickly turned his back and pretended he was adjusting the bridle on the horse. The clicking of women’s heeled shoes gradually moved in the opposite direction. Finally, when he felt they were a safe distance away, he dared a peek over his shoulder. Agnes and her maid had stopped in front of Lucy and her gentlemen friend to chat.
Confusion filled him and he scowled. How did Agnes know Lucy? Agnes was considered a true lady, and Lucy…well, Mrs. Dinsmore was the kind of lady that maidens did not associate with.
“Andrew?”
Halle whispered from behind, but he still jumped like he’d been caught doing something wrong. He spun around, grasped her hand and pulled her inside the vehicle with him. “Did you hear anything?”
Rolling her eyes, she shook her head. “That woman is loud. I cannot imagine anyone not hearing her. I was hiding in the corner of the room, and although she glanced my way when I entered, you were right and she didn’t notice me.”
“Splendid. So did she say anything?”
“You’re not going to believe this.” Halle took a deep breath and slowly released it. “Lady Agnes is announcing her engagement to your brother!”
Groaning, he rubbed his forehead, knowing a headache would hit him at any moment. “I cannot believe Edward went against Father’s wishes. That’s just not like him.”
“What did you father want him to do?”
He met her gaze. “Father didn’t want Edward to propose until…well…” He wasn’t sure how to tell her. Would she get upset? But it didn’t matter. He and his father believed that she had traveled through time now, when they hadn’t before. “Father didn’t know if he could trust you when you first arrived at the house. At first he thought that you were in cohorts with Uncle Nimrod and wanted money. Father told Edward to postpone asking Agnes to marry him, and asked us if we could watch you closely.”
She frowned, and his heart twisted. Hopefully, she understood and forgave him for not telling her sooner.
“So the reason you and Edward were nice to me is because your father asked that of you?”
“In the beginning, yes, but then I got to know you and well…” He grinned. “You’ve enchanted me, my love.”
Her mouth stretched into a smile once again, making her eyes twinkle. “Then I forgive you.”
He kissed her nose and pulled away. “What should we do about Lady Agnes now?”
“I wish I knew. The timeline has been thrown of badly, so I don’t know what is going to happen next.”
She glanced up the street, and he followed her gaze. Agnes was still talking to Lucy and her gentleman friend. The longer Andrew and Halle watched, the more she leaned forward in her seat as if she was really studying them.
“Oh, my gosh!”
“You’re…what? What does gosh mean?”
“Um, it’s just a word we use in my day.”
“What’s amiss, my dear?”
“That man…he looks familiar.” She narrowed her gaze for a moment, then a loud gasp tore from her throat and her eyes widened. “That’s my father!”
Andrew cussed under his breath and clutched her hand. “The one who kidnapped you?”
“Yes.”
“Are you certain? You said you had never met him before, and yesterday he was wearing a mask.”
“But look at his hair color. And the side of his face. Don’t you think it looks like mine—just a little?”
He glanced back and forth between Halle and the man, and indeed there was a resemblance. “The second day you were here, I saw this man leaving Lucy’s house.”
She snapped her head toward him. “Lucy? As in Mrs. Dinsmore…your mistress?”
“Shh…” He tapped her hand. “Lower your voice, and yes, my former mistress.”
Halle looked back at the group still talking. “Well, I had heard my father’s a lady’s man, so I suppose he knew right where to look.”
“Strange thing,” he mumbled, “but when I’d asked Lucy about this man that day, she said he was a business associate. She gave him money to place bets for her.”
“And isn’t it peculiar,” she said softly looking back at Andrew, “that my father’s after your family’s treasure?”
He stroked Halle’s cheek. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“Do you think they’re working together?”
“That is definitely my conclusion. Lucy has always gone after the man who can buy her the most trinkets.”
“So what about Lady Agnes?” she asked, glancing back at them on the street. “How is she involved?”
“I wish I could answer that.” He shook his head. “But there must be some involvement, because Mrs. Dinsmore isn’t the type of woman innocent girls like Lady Agnes would talk with…especially out in public.”
“That does make what’s going on very peculiar, indeed.” She nodded.
He tore his gaze away from her to look back at Agnes. She and her maid had walked away from Lucy and Halle’s father, and each pair moved in different directions. Lucy and her companion entered the same shop Agnes had just left.
“Now what do we do?” she asked. “Should you follow one group and me the other?”
“I don’t know, but we need to do something.”
Andrew turned to climb out of the vehicle, but Halle clamped her hand on his arm.
“Wait!”
He glanced at her and she pointed up the street toward Agnes.
“Look who just exited that building to talk with Lady Agnes.”
Andrew settled back in the seat and fixed his stare on the people in question. He hitched a breath. “Nigel?”
“Yes, it is. Now my question is…why?”
In silence, he watched along with Halle as Agnes conversed with the man. Yet this was definitely not a pleasant conversation. Nigel’s grip on Agnes’s upper arm appeared too tight, and the woman’s face had lost color. Nigel’s expression turned hard as he spoke to her. Agnes recoiled as she tried to peel his fingers from her arm, but Nigel would not release her.
“Holy crap,” Halle muttered. “This doesn’t look good. Do you think we should stop him?”
Andrew would never understand Halle’s strange choice of words, but he was definitely considering going to Agnes’s aid. “I’ll give him one minute more before I intervene.”
Nigel snapped at Agnes, and immediately the frightened look she had disappeared. Anger coated her face as she scowled, ripping his hand away from her. She said something to Nigel, which made him bark a rude laugh. He then straightened his shoulders and turned back into the nearest building. Agnes’s obvious deep breaths moved her bosom as she placed a hand to her throat. Within a blink of an eye, she had patted her ringlets and made her way back up the street with a bounce in her step.
“Something is definitely going on,” Halle said softly.
“I agree.”
She nudged his arm with her elbow. “I know what we can do. We’ll go into that shop where Lucy and my father are, and while you keep your former mistress busy, I’m going to talk to my father.”
Surprise washed over him and he blinked at her with wide eyes, not certain her heard her correctly. “Why are you going to speak with your father? He doesn’t even know that you know about him.”
“Precisely.”
He climbed out of the vehicle and assisted her down, but before they went any further, he took her in a loose embrace. “My love, will you do something for me?”
The lines of worry around her eyes and mouth disappeared and she smiled. “Anything.”
“Please don’t refer to Lucy as my former mistress again. I’d rather forget the nightmare I had for a couple of months.”
She laughed and gave him a nod. “Agreed.”
“I love you,” he whispered, staring
deep into her amazing green eyes.
“I love you more.” She winked, turned and proceeded ahead of him.
* * * *
Although Halle didn’t want to talk to her father—especially after what he’d done with Nigel yesterday—she must overcome her anger for her absentee parent and confront him. That was the only way to know what Nigel was up to…and why he had threatened Agnes…and especially to know why he was involved with Lucy.
Andrew opened the door for her and she strolled in as gracefully as she could, keeping her back straight, chin up, and meeting the gaze of those who looked her way. Right away the shop clerk gave her a nod before turning back to help Lucy. Mrs. Dinsmore, glanced Halle’s way, but when the other woman noticed Andrew standing behind her, Lucy’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. Her attention bounced back and forth quickly between him and Halle. A hint of sadness crossed the other woman’s face, and Halle almost felt sorry for her. It was obvious that Mrs. Dinsmore must still have feelings for Andrew.
Halle swept her gaze around the shop until she found her father. He had his back to them as he looked at a table lined with men’s accessories. Taking a deep breath for courage, she made her way toward him, hoping the sound of her heart knocking against her ribs didn’t alert him to her presence first.
She still didn’t know if she could forgive him for kidnapping her—knowing she was his daughter. Even now, she didn’t know what purpose they had for kidnapping. They hadn’t followed through with trying to collect a ransom, which told her that this particular kidnapping wasn’t about money. Perhaps she was correct in assuming it was just to get the Merrick’s attention.
Cautiously, she moved up next to him and stopped. He looked briefly her way before putting his attention back on the table, but before a second had passed, he snapped his focus back to her. Just like Lucy’s, Will’s eyes were wide with surprise.
Halle gave him a polite smile—which really was a struggle, and nodded. “Good morning.”
He nodded. “It is a good morning, Miss.”
She pretended to look over the items on the table, but out of the corner of her eye, she spotted him watching her. “These really are fine pieces, aren’t they?” she asked sweetly.
Love Lost in Time (Victorian Time-Travel) Page 25
