Free Amanda Scott by Dangerous Games

coaxing voice, “You give me too much credit, Papa. I am dreadfully unhandy, and I’d prefer to have her assistance. I’d like some hot water as well.”
    “You are not going to bed yet, I’m afraid.”
    “I-I don’t understand. Do you want me to await your return before retiring?”
    “No, Melissa. You are going with me.”
    She said in dismay, “You cannot mean to drag me all over town while you search for Yarborne!”
    “I have no intention of giving you a second chance to escape.”
    “I won’t,” she said desperately. “I’ll give you my word if you like, but please don’t force me to go with you. What on earth will people think?”
    “I don’t care what they think, but perhaps Yarborne will have returned to the White Hart by now. Under the circumstances, no one could think it outrageous for me to present his betrothed to him there.”
    “But they would. At such an hour as this, the very idea is outrageous.”
    “Not if I say it is not, Melissa.” The grim note had returned to his voice, and the look he gave her dared her to contradict him. When she remained silent, he said, “That’s much better. Now, if you are going to brush your hair, do so at once.”
    Obediently, she dragged the brush through her tangled hair, but though she would have drawn the process out as long as possible, he soon took the brush from her and wielded it with energy enough to bring the tears back to her eyes.
    “There,” he said at last. “Now, pin it up or whatever you do, but do it quickly if you don’t want me to do it for you.”
    Stepping away from him without a word, she twisted the silken strands swiftly into a knot at the nape of her neck and pinned it in place. Then, seeing that he held her cloak ready for her, she did not point out that her only gown was wrinkled and needed both washing and pressing, but allowed him to drape the cloak around her shoulders. When he opened the door she said, “My gloves, Papa?”
    “Yes, yes, put them on.”
    “Must you not order horses saddled for us, sir?”
    “We’ll walk.”
    “But—”
    “We’ll walk, I said. It is no more than a few blocks, and if you don’t want to suffer another lesson in obedience before we leave, you will hold your tongue. In fact, don’t utter another word until we find Yarborne.”
    Believing he would do what he threatened, Melissa pressed her lips tightly together. Downstairs, when they encountered a surprised look from the landlord, Sir Geoffrey said, “Going to take my daughter for a little stroll up the street. Been cooped up here all evening, you know. She will be the better for a breath of air.”
    “To be sure, sir, but you won’t want her walking along the public street. You’ll find the small garden behind the stables much more to your liking. You won’t see my rib’s flowers a-blooming in the dark, but there’s a moon up, so you’ll see the path well enough without needing a lad to light your way.”
    “Thank you,” Sir Geoffrey said, giving a clear impression that he intended to take the advice. In the yard, however, he did not so much as turn toward that garden behind the stables, urging Melissa forward to the High Street. She put up her hood to hide her features from passersby, knowing that no one who saw her walking there at such an hour would take her for a gentlewoman. Fifteen minutes later, when they arrived at the White Hart, she kept her face down and her hood up as Sir Geoffrey hustled her inside.
    When a porter approached to ask how he might serve them, Sir Geoffrey said, “Has Lord Yarborne returned yet?”
    “Oh, it’s you, sir. Well, the fact is, he ain’t back and most likely won’t get back yet a while. Even with the sweepstakes tomorrow, many gentlemen won’t leave the tables before dawn. Not that his lordship generally stays out so late, but as I said before, I doubt we’ll see him before midnight. Do you want to wait for him? I cannot offer you a private parlor, for they’re taken, and without