Free Temptress in Training by Susan Gee Heino Page B

explained. “The man is a woman; an actress. Any information on her would be helpful, as well.”
    â€œMind if I take Tom?”
    â€œBy all means. Whatever you need,” Lindley replied, then made sure to meet his servant’s eye. “This one’s important, Feasel.”
    â€œThey all are, sir.”
    â€œYes, but this is more so. If Miss Darshaw does not come out of this house, find some excuse to get her out. She cannot be here when Fitzgelder returns. Things have gotten too risky.”
    â€œI’ll take care of it, sir.”
    That was enough. He knew his man wouldn’t let him down. Lindley nodded and climbed up inside his phaeton. He heard Feasel give one sharp call and Tom hopped off his post on the back of the carriage. The boy was a good help. It had not been easy finding servants he could trust to carry out his clandestine efforts, but Feasel and his son, Tom, had proven invaluable. They’d follow Miss Darshaw. She might think she was disappearing into the night, but Feasel would find her.
    And then he would report to Lindley what she was about. She’d not seen the last of him, no indeed. Lindley would find Miss Darshaw at some point and the girl would tell him all and would enjoy doing it, too. He knew ways to make women talk. Rather pleasant ways. And despite the lies he’d told Fitzgelder just moments ago, Lindley suspected she’d be more than competent.
    But first things first. Not only did he have the rest of tonight to endure, he had a wedding in Warwick to attend. He’d best leave first thing in the morning for that. Fitzgelder’s men were already on their way to lay the trap. In less than two days’ time Rastmoor would be returning on the very road where those killers awaited him. Lindley would have to get there first and convince Rastmoor that London could wait. It could be the only way to prevent Lord Anthony Rastmoor from being murdered by his own cousin.
    Lindley’s anticipated meeting with Miss Darshaw would simply have to wait. He could certainly use his time to plan an attack, however. Indeed, he would contemplate long and hard the many things he might do to encourage the girl to talk. Among other things.

Chapter Four
    Sophie was too tired to even speak. They’d managed to get away from Mr. Fitzgelder’s house, but the night had been long and nerve-wracking. Sophie simply could not get over the feeling someone was following them, lurking in every shadow around them, though of course it could not be. Miss Sands promised her they were quite safe, taking refuge in the storeroom of a shop belonging to a couple who she claimed were friends of the family.
    Unfortunately, these friends had gone home for the night. Miss Sands and Sophie were trespassing. It was a most dreadful, anxious feeling.
    But even worse was the feeling Sophie had when she pulled her aching foot up onto her lap to rub it. Something fell from the pocket of her apron. Something metal. Something shiny. Something very much like the locket she had seen Mr. Fitzgelder holding when she mistakenly walked in on him in the linen cupboard that evening.
    â€œWhat’s that?” Miss Sands asked, seated on a box of potatoes and trying in vain to yank off her left boot.
    â€œMr. Fitzgelder’s locket!”
    â€œWhat? His locket? By heavens, you did steal jewelry from him!”
    Sophie grabbed up the glinting object and balled it into her fist. “No! I swear, Miss Sands, I don’t know how it came to be here.”
    Her companion merely laughed at her panic. “I’m not condemning you, Sophie. I think it’s marvelous, actually. Serves the ogre right.”
    â€œBut it’s true, on my mother’s grave! I didn’t take it. It must have fallen into my apron on accident when he…when we had a disagreement.”
    â€œWhen the rutting brute blackened your eye, you mean.”
    Sophie couldn’t help but put her hand to the place.