Free The Riddle of the Deplorable Dandy by Patricia Veryan Page B

will be on our way.”
    Freda emitted another shriek as Valerian instead sprang up the step.
    Abraham Coachman, brandishing a large horse-pistol, shouted, “Now, then, sir! You can’t go frightening of my ladies like this. I must ask you to get out of there.”
    â€œAsk whatever you like, and I’ll ask you to stop waving that damned pistol about,” retorted the Dandy. “You can’t fire it with the women in here, you fool. Put it up at once!” Turning his back on the coachman, he went on harshly, “Your destination is assuredly my concern, madam, since you will carry my friend with you, and there are a number of villages in the vicinity.”
    â€œOh.” Bowing to the logic of this, Elspeth said, “We go to Fleetwell Village.”
    Obviously taken aback, he exclaimed, “Good God! Whatever for?”
    â€œFor my own personal reasons,” she said angrily. “Which are most decidedly none of your affair, Mr. Valerian. Be so good as to remove yourself from my coach at once. I can delay no longer!”
    â€œNor I.” Turning to the wide-eyed Freda, he commanded, “You. Out!”
    â€œOw! Miss!” wailed the abigail.
    â€œDo not move, Freda!” Her heart beginning to beat very fast, Elspeth called, “Abraham!”
    The coachman, who had drawn back during this argument, came up again, his pistol ready. “I can’t nowise stand by and let you kidnap my ladies, sir,” he growled.
    â€œIf I thought ’twould serve, by Jupiter, I would. As it is—” Valerian whipped around and his fist flew out in what Elspeth recognized as a sizzling right jab.
    Abraham Coachman howled and reeled back, dropping his pistol and clapping a hand to his nose.
    â€œOh! You wicked brute! ” cried Elspeth. “You have hurt him!”
    Valerian looked at Freda and jerked his head. “Don’t make me say it again!”
    â€œNot without me lady,” sobbed the maid, clinging to Elspeth’s hand.
    â€œExactly so,” he agreed, and without ceremony pulled Elspeth from the coach, Freda scrambling after her.
    Infuriated, Elspeth raged, “You are no gentleman! Faith, but you’re no better than a highwayman! A common criminal! I shall lay an information ’gainst you for—”
    â€œVery likely.” He shouted, “Hey! Herbert! Stir your stumps, man!”
    Elspeth saw that his coach stood beside the road, leaning at a crazy angle, one wheel buckled. The coachman was beside the vehicle, talking with someone inside who now hurried to join Valerian. She recognized him for the same young man who had been with the Dandy when she and Joel Skye had encountered them in the park. With a troubled glance he raised his tricorne to her respectfully, then asked, “What’s to do, coz?”
    â€œI’m borrowing this coach,” said Valerian. “Fetch Mistress Hoylake.”
    â€œIf you do so,” advised Elspeth angrily, “you will be aiding in a kidnapping, and just as guilty as this insufferable creature.”
    The new arrival gave a gasp. “Gervaise? You cannot—”
    â€œOh, for Lord’s sake! Will you move? Pay no attention to Milady Huff-n-Puff here. I’ll send a coach for her and the rest of these people as soon as we reach the village. Come on, Herbert! He’ll not wait!”
    Herbert gave Elspeth an apologetic glance, then ran back to the other coach.
    â€œIt makes no never mind to you, Mr. Valerian, that the world does not revolve around you!” cried Elspeth. “Or that my own case is desperate, and I am far more pressed for time than you are. ’Tis a matter of life and death that—”
    â€œShe won’t let me carry her, coz,” called Herbert.
    â€œWomen!” snarled Valerian, taking the leader’s bridle and walking the team over to his own coach.
    Elspeth exclaimed, “My reticule! I dropped it when that villain dragged me