If tonight’s attack is related to your work, that means the French know your identity and you will not be safe until the war ends. If that is the case, then I’m not sure what we will do. Undoubtedly, your work will come to a halt. You need to prepare yourself for the possibilities.”
Lily felt herself nod. For the first time, she realized just how much her life had changed over the past few hours. She might have to stay in hiding until the war ended. She couldn’t picture it.
“You’ve been through more tonight than any young woman should go through in a lifetime,” he continued, his tone subdued, “and you will be forced to endure even more over the next few weeks. You’re a strong girl. Right now your very life could depend on that strength. Can you be strong for me, Lily?”
She nodded again.
“Good. Now I want you to go upstairs and pack no more than one trunk. You will take the morning mail coach to Brighton, and more than one trunk will attract undue attention. Dress in something black with a veil that covers your face. The mourning clothes you wore to Great-aunt Amelia’s funeral should do nicely. I think it will be best if you appear a recent widow, too overcome by grief to engage in polite conversations.”
“The Brighton mail coach? A
widow
!”
“Sending you in a Crofford carriage emblazoned with the family coat of arms would hardly keep your location a secret. Hired coaches are notoriously slow. They rarely make a trip without breaking down at least once. Think, Lily. The mail coach is the fastest, most reliable means of making this journey in secret.”
“I’m to go alone?”
“Not completely, my dear. Every respectable lady travels with a servant. Take along your maid, Gretchen. She doesn’t seem the talkative sort. Considering the events of this night, she’ll go along readily enough with the widow story.”
“You won’t go with me?”
“No, Lily. I must stay here. I’ll make sure everyone thinks you are here as well, stricken with an illness of some sort that has you bedridden. If the fiend breaks into the house again, this time we’ll be prepared. I won’t risk your life so foolishly by having you here within his grasp.”
“Come with me, Papa. You mustn’t endanger yourself.” Lily reached across the desk to grasp his hand, but he eyed his daughter’s other hand, the one that rubbed her throat. He shook his head.
“I’ll be in little actual danger. The men I’ll send for are not from Crofford Hills. They’ll be Bainbridge’s men, all more than capable of handling… the situation. I can cover your absence, but the man will not show himself again if we both leave.”
“Why can’t I stay with Sophie and the Bainbridges?” she asked. “Close by where you can reach me if I’m needed?”
“Staying with the Bainbridges would be like leading a fox to the henhouse. The only thing you need to do now is hide. I want you to promise that you will do nothing to endanger yourself. I will worry enough for your safety.”
Lily looked ready to continue the argument, but at last she nodded. “I promise, Papa.”
“Excellent. Now go pack your things. I don’t want you to miss the coach.”
Lily packed her trunk as quickly as possible. She sent a sleepy Gretchen off to her quarters to do the same. Less than half an hour later, two haggard-looking footmen carried her trunk down the stairway followed by Gretchen who toted her own bulging satchel. Remmington’s man, Digsby, still lingered in the foyer. The library door stood open and her father emerged at the sound of her arrival.
“Digsby reminded me that my carriage is missing at the moment. It will be almost impossible to find a hired hack at this time of night. Digsby feels certain the duke would insist that his driver see you safely to the Two Swans, and he graciously offered the use of Remmington’s coach in his employer’s stead. I told him you plan to stay with Great-aunt Amelia in West Wycombe until this
Lily felt herself nod. For the first time, she realized just how much her life had changed over the past few hours. She might have to stay in hiding until the war ended. She couldn’t picture it.
“You’ve been through more tonight than any young woman should go through in a lifetime,” he continued, his tone subdued, “and you will be forced to endure even more over the next few weeks. You’re a strong girl. Right now your very life could depend on that strength. Can you be strong for me, Lily?”
She nodded again.
“Good. Now I want you to go upstairs and pack no more than one trunk. You will take the morning mail coach to Brighton, and more than one trunk will attract undue attention. Dress in something black with a veil that covers your face. The mourning clothes you wore to Great-aunt Amelia’s funeral should do nicely. I think it will be best if you appear a recent widow, too overcome by grief to engage in polite conversations.”
“The Brighton mail coach? A
widow
!”
“Sending you in a Crofford carriage emblazoned with the family coat of arms would hardly keep your location a secret. Hired coaches are notoriously slow. They rarely make a trip without breaking down at least once. Think, Lily. The mail coach is the fastest, most reliable means of making this journey in secret.”
“I’m to go alone?”
“Not completely, my dear. Every respectable lady travels with a servant. Take along your maid, Gretchen. She doesn’t seem the talkative sort. Considering the events of this night, she’ll go along readily enough with the widow story.”
“You won’t go with me?”
“No, Lily. I must stay here. I’ll make sure everyone thinks you are here as well, stricken with an illness of some sort that has you bedridden. If the fiend breaks into the house again, this time we’ll be prepared. I won’t risk your life so foolishly by having you here within his grasp.”
“Come with me, Papa. You mustn’t endanger yourself.” Lily reached across the desk to grasp his hand, but he eyed his daughter’s other hand, the one that rubbed her throat. He shook his head.
“I’ll be in little actual danger. The men I’ll send for are not from Crofford Hills. They’ll be Bainbridge’s men, all more than capable of handling… the situation. I can cover your absence, but the man will not show himself again if we both leave.”
“Why can’t I stay with Sophie and the Bainbridges?” she asked. “Close by where you can reach me if I’m needed?”
“Staying with the Bainbridges would be like leading a fox to the henhouse. The only thing you need to do now is hide. I want you to promise that you will do nothing to endanger yourself. I will worry enough for your safety.”
Lily looked ready to continue the argument, but at last she nodded. “I promise, Papa.”
“Excellent. Now go pack your things. I don’t want you to miss the coach.”
Lily packed her trunk as quickly as possible. She sent a sleepy Gretchen off to her quarters to do the same. Less than half an hour later, two haggard-looking footmen carried her trunk down the stairway followed by Gretchen who toted her own bulging satchel. Remmington’s man, Digsby, still lingered in the foyer. The library door stood open and her father emerged at the sound of her arrival.
“Digsby reminded me that my carriage is missing at the moment. It will be almost impossible to find a hired hack at this time of night. Digsby feels certain the duke would insist that his driver see you safely to the Two Swans, and he graciously offered the use of Remmington’s coach in his employer’s stead. I told him you plan to stay with Great-aunt Amelia in West Wycombe until this
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