sure that my presence no longer darkens your family's doorway. Or he will
surely call me out to gain satisfaction if I had any part in
your dishonor. I cannot tell you how dear you and your sisters have become-it is as if you are my own family."
My, he had given this quite a bit of thought.
"It could disgrace us and cause a scandal for both our
families. And I would deeply regret that above all things."
Muriel had not taken quite such serious consequences
into account when she asked him to aid her.
"I cannot imagine how I allowed you to talk me into such
a scheme."
Did that mean Sir Samuel would help her?
"It's not half as perilous as you make out. We shall leave early in the morning and return before I call for my maid after
noon." There really was no chance of discovery. Muriel continued breezily. "The staff, as well as Aunt Penny and Papa,
understand and accept my fatigue after dancing all night."
"Yes, you do participate in every dance, but you do not
fool me one bit." Sir Samuel placed his hands on the arms
of the chair and pushed himself to his feet.
"But I do manage to fool them." Muriel could not allow
Sir Samuel to talk her out of her plan. Furthering her education far outweighed attending silly dancing parties.
"If I do not aid you, then I am certain you shall find another who will," he said with some resignation. Indeed, Sir
Samuel knew Muriel better than she had suspected. He
sounded sage as he proceeded with caution. "The only way I
will know you are not in harm's reach is if I am the one who
makes the arrangements."
Sir Samuel was going to help her!
"This is a map to my aunt's town house just around the corner. I've added a few descriptions to help you find the place."
He handed her a folded piece of paper with his left hand
and dug into a vest pocket with his right. "This is the key to
the garden gate. You may let yourself in and wait for me
there when it is time."
"Where's your aunt? Isn't she at home?" Muriel eyed the
well-worn key and placed it on the crisp, folded paper.
"For these last few years she's closed the town house for
the summer and visits her sister in Somerset."
"Very well. I shall put this to good use." Muriel eyed the
small metal key, turning it over in her hand.
"It shall make me feel better knowing you're in a safe
place and not standing in the street like a hawker."
"Sir Samuel, you are wonderful!" She wanted to leap out
of her chair and throw her arms around him but could not risk the undue attention it would cause. "I cannot tell you
how relieved I am"
"Lord knows what will happen if we are discovered." Sir
Samuel exhaled, clearly concerned over the path on which
they were to embark. "If we are forced to marry because I
have compromised you ..."
"Never fear, I shall make you an excellent wife if that
comes to pass." She gave him a teasing smile.
"Allow me to reiterate my intention to wed a young lady of
my own choosing." He gazed at her with all that was serious.
Muriel made a moue. "I should not tease you, should l?"
"No, you should not." He cleared his throat. "When will
you meet with Signore Biondi next?"
"I'll send word for us to meet tomorrow morning. We shall
leave early, when no one is about and more than half the
town is still abed." Muriel felt quite confident they would
not be discovered.
"But what of the Lady Devonshire's party? Mrs. Parker
will not allow you to refuse."
"I plan to attend. You'll be astonished how happy I will be
to do so" Muriel tended to feel elated after attending her
sessions with Signore Biondi. "However, I might caution you
that we not be overly friendly at Lady Devonshire's party.
Lest we are overheard or give ourselves away."
"That might be best," he acceded with a slow nod of his
head.
"Now, let us join the others, Sir Samuel, and pretend we
have not just cast ourselves into the briars."
If only Sherwin did not need to attend a party every night.
His life was becoming tiresome,
surely call me out to gain satisfaction if I had any part in
your dishonor. I cannot tell you how dear you and your sisters have become-it is as if you are my own family."
My, he had given this quite a bit of thought.
"It could disgrace us and cause a scandal for both our
families. And I would deeply regret that above all things."
Muriel had not taken quite such serious consequences
into account when she asked him to aid her.
"I cannot imagine how I allowed you to talk me into such
a scheme."
Did that mean Sir Samuel would help her?
"It's not half as perilous as you make out. We shall leave early in the morning and return before I call for my maid after
noon." There really was no chance of discovery. Muriel continued breezily. "The staff, as well as Aunt Penny and Papa,
understand and accept my fatigue after dancing all night."
"Yes, you do participate in every dance, but you do not
fool me one bit." Sir Samuel placed his hands on the arms
of the chair and pushed himself to his feet.
"But I do manage to fool them." Muriel could not allow
Sir Samuel to talk her out of her plan. Furthering her education far outweighed attending silly dancing parties.
"If I do not aid you, then I am certain you shall find another who will," he said with some resignation. Indeed, Sir
Samuel knew Muriel better than she had suspected. He
sounded sage as he proceeded with caution. "The only way I
will know you are not in harm's reach is if I am the one who
makes the arrangements."
Sir Samuel was going to help her!
"This is a map to my aunt's town house just around the corner. I've added a few descriptions to help you find the place."
He handed her a folded piece of paper with his left hand
and dug into a vest pocket with his right. "This is the key to
the garden gate. You may let yourself in and wait for me
there when it is time."
"Where's your aunt? Isn't she at home?" Muriel eyed the
well-worn key and placed it on the crisp, folded paper.
"For these last few years she's closed the town house for
the summer and visits her sister in Somerset."
"Very well. I shall put this to good use." Muriel eyed the
small metal key, turning it over in her hand.
"It shall make me feel better knowing you're in a safe
place and not standing in the street like a hawker."
"Sir Samuel, you are wonderful!" She wanted to leap out
of her chair and throw her arms around him but could not risk the undue attention it would cause. "I cannot tell you
how relieved I am"
"Lord knows what will happen if we are discovered." Sir
Samuel exhaled, clearly concerned over the path on which
they were to embark. "If we are forced to marry because I
have compromised you ..."
"Never fear, I shall make you an excellent wife if that
comes to pass." She gave him a teasing smile.
"Allow me to reiterate my intention to wed a young lady of
my own choosing." He gazed at her with all that was serious.
Muriel made a moue. "I should not tease you, should l?"
"No, you should not." He cleared his throat. "When will
you meet with Signore Biondi next?"
"I'll send word for us to meet tomorrow morning. We shall
leave early, when no one is about and more than half the
town is still abed." Muriel felt quite confident they would
not be discovered.
"But what of the Lady Devonshire's party? Mrs. Parker
will not allow you to refuse."
"I plan to attend. You'll be astonished how happy I will be
to do so" Muriel tended to feel elated after attending her
sessions with Signore Biondi. "However, I might caution you
that we not be overly friendly at Lady Devonshire's party.
Lest we are overheard or give ourselves away."
"That might be best," he acceded with a slow nod of his
head.
"Now, let us join the others, Sir Samuel, and pretend we
have not just cast ourselves into the briars."
If only Sherwin did not need to attend a party every night.
His life was becoming tiresome,
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