Page 54 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
She zeroed in the stationery store and strode decisively towards it. The slate slits of the humped roof were near and she had nearly reached it when she crossed a small alley and saw the same man from before. Only this time, he was leaning on the wall with a foot up and using a rather large knife to sharpen a stick.
Their eyes met for a split second and the angle he held the knife sent fear through her like a river. She bolted.
Fear was her fuel, pumping her legs, and thankfully the walkway was deserted so she managed to dash to the shop without bumping into anyone or amassing more censuring gazes. At the door, she braced a hand on the handle and gasped in deep breaths to calm the fear running through her veins.
Sagging for a moment, she tried to calm her spinning mind.How can I be sure he’s fromhim? He didn’t approach or do a thing to me. Am I just making things up in my head? Am I fearing a phantasm?
The door was suddenly tugged open and Caroline nearly fell in only to be grabbed by Mr. Bucklers. The elderly man’s face did not hide his concern and his words mirrored it.
“Again, are you well, Miss Robins?”
She had no clear answer to his query, and before she could form one, she took a hasty look over her shoulder. The man wasn’t there, which only served to make her even more frazzled.
Her furtive look must have made a mark on the stationer as he tugged her in and towards the nearest chair.
“Miss Robins?” Mr. Bucklers said, with a deeper frown this time, “Should I call someone for you? His Grace, perhaps?”
Shaking her head mutely, Caroline managed to speak, “No, Mr. Bucklers, I just had a fright. It is nothing to concern the Duke with.”
“Are you sure?” the older man replied with a mix of denial and admiration. “He was all in arms when he came to me looking for you the other night.”
It took a lot for her to stop the blush at the memory of being in Moses’ arms, but she managed to stomp down on the instinct to redden. “I am sure, Mr. Bucklers. I just need a few items and then I’ll be on my way.”
Scrounging in her bag for the list, she retrieved it, and as she held it up it was lightly snatched from her grip. “If you don’t mind, I would prefer for you to sit and gather yourself. I can easily get these for you.”
With no objection to the man’s offer, that sounded more like an order, Caroline sat and did exactly what she was told to do. It was hard to gather her faculties as they felt scattered to the four corners of the Earth.
Had she seen what she had? Was what she had seen what she suspected? Hadhesent the man to harm her? Or…had it all just been an untimely and decidedly disturbing coincidence? Was she projecting her fear onto the innocent men around her?
“Miss Robins,” the stationer said while handing her a parcel of her requests, “It’s all inside, here you go.”
With her wits now about her, Caroline stood, took the parcel in one hand and dropped the exact amount of money for the goods in the man’s hand, “Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Bucklers. I think it’s time for me to leave now.”
The man barred her as soon as she was about to step off, “Are you sure I cannot call someone for you?”
Smiling sweetly, Caroline replied, “His Grace’s buggy is just around the corner. I will be safe with the coachman. Thank you for your concern.”
The warm sunlight cosseted her form benignly and Caroline straightened her spine, squared her shoulders, and walked on. Just as she had told Mr. Bucklers, the buggy was coming up and she sighed in relief.
“Miss Robins,” Mr. Collins called with light brevity as he stepped down from his seat to assist her in. “Have you gotten all you came for?”
Feeling immensely relieved, Caroline thanked God for the driver’s unsuspecting nature. “I have, Mr. Collins, thank you for coming so quickly.”
She sagged in the seat and pressed a hand to her eyes, “I am fine…nothing happened to me. Perhaps it was all my imagination.”
Her assurances felt hollow to even her but she tried to believe them anyway.
Chapter 21
“She ran, My Lord.” The man, a paid mercenary who went only by Mr. White, reported to the Baron of Rowe who was eagerly digesting the news about Caroline. “There was fear in her eyes,” the man continued before frowning slightly. “But I think she was afraid for much more than her life.”
Pouring himself a measure of wine, Albion smiled nastily and sipped the drink, “That fear is because she knows her little charade has a perilous chance of being uncovered. My letter might have sent her the first inkling of unease.”
The air in the Baron’s study was dimming as the sun was sinking and soon enough, he would have his butler light the lamps as only he was allowed in what Albion considered as his sacred space. A few days ago, he had sent a man to find the villager who had carried the anonymous note to him but still had no luck. Albion needed to find this third party as he had a sense that this fellow knew much more than he had let on.
Reaching into his drawer, the Baron took out a large stack of money. “Twenty-five pounds, like we discussed. I will send for you when I need your services again.”
The Baron kept a close eye on the man as he left. Prior knowledge of the man’s nefarious activities had him holding his primed flintlock pistol on his lap and under his desk. He was not going to allow a man who had killed a viscount and a distant cousin to the Regent any avenue to do the same to him. One false move and Mr. White would have a gaping hole in the center of his forehead.
