Page 19 of Swindled By a Spinster
“Middleton deserves every moment of misery in return for his callous remarks.” Lillian stood, linked her arm through Ruth’s, and the pair began to pace the perimeter of the room.
It was a circuit Phoebe had traversed often since her return to London.
Heat flushed her cheeks at the memory of having to face Lord Archbroke and his team the morning she’d experienced the exquisite pleasures a husband and wife shared in bed. While Torrance had fielded the majority of the Head of the Home Office’s questions, Lord Archbroke had made it a point to draw attention to her and direct pointed questions her way. On one hand she appreciated the way Lord Archbroke had gone about obtaining the missing pieces of information he needed and not making an issue of her and Torrance’s late descent from above stairs, but on other hand she could feel the knowing gazes of the other agents every time she was asked to speak.
“Phoebe?” Ruth and Lillian were standing in front of her with their hands held out for her to take.
She placed her right hand in Ruth’s and her left in Lillian’s and allowed the pair to pull her to her feet. “Is it time to leave already?” she asked.
“If you wish to make it to your own wedding on time, the answer is yes,” Lillian answered.
From the moment Lillian had learned that it was Lord Middleton who was tasked with the job of finding Lady Margaret, her behavior had been temperamental to say the least. Phoebe let herself be escorted to the awaiting carriage that was to take her to the church where she’d finally be able to see Torrance. She hadn’t seen her fiancé in forty-eight hours. Which wasn’t per se an extended period but it felt like an eternity to Phoebe. She’d been so preoccupied with wedding preparations and packing her belongings to be moved to Kilman’s residence that she hadn’t managed to sneak away to spend any time with Torrance. Consoling herself that she’d have the rest of her days to spend with him, she’d focused on the multitude of tasks required of a bride.
Lillian and Ruth stepped up into the awaiting vehicle, and Phoebe shot Danny a quick glance. Her footman gave her a reassuring smile which bolstered Phoebe’s confidence. She hoped that once she was married to Torrance, the persistent unease that had settled in her chest would abate.
Gaze affixed upon Phoebe, Ruth asked, “Are you nervous?”
“I don’t believe it’s so much as a case of nerves, but I can’t deny that I’m worried.”
“Worried Kilman will jilt you at the altar?” Lillian asked.
Ruth hit Lillian with the back of her hand on the arm. “Why would you say such a thing?”
“It was simply the first thing that came to mind.” Lillian rubbed her arm. “I’m sure Kilman with be at the church. After all, he waited six long years for Phoebe to agree to marry him. What could go wrong in the last few hours?”
Phoebe twisted her hands in her lap.
What if he were in a carriage accident along the way? Or kidnapped again? What if… Torrance’s voice echoed through her racing mind.Breathe.
Phoebe inhaled deeply and her racing mind calmed. If only the disquieted pattern of her heart would settle into a nice stable rhythm, Phoebe would feel more at ease.
The carriage rolled over the cobbled stone road and with each rotation of the wheel, a sense of dread intensified within Phoebe. She ran her gloved hands up and down her thighs. Her intuition was rarely wrong.
Lillian stared at her hands and said, “Please stop. You are beginning to make me worry.”
Phoebe stilled her hands. “I’m sure it’s merely pre-wedding jitters.”
Ruth and Lillian glanced at one another and then Lillian asked, “What are you not telling us?”
“I’ve not kept anything from the two of you.” Phoebe raised her gloved hands up in the air, palms out. “I swear.”
“Interesting.” The glint in Ruth’s gaze meant the woman's keen mind was recalling every conversation they’d had over the past few days. Ruth’s ability for excellent recall was both a gift and a curse, in Phoebe’s opinion.
The carriage rolled to a stop and Danny appeared as the door swung open. Phoebe rose first and took Danny’s hand to alight from the vehicle.
When Danny gave her hand a light squeeze she turned to face him. “What is the matter?”
The footman’s gaze swept the area and then he bent down to say, “Lord Archbroke wishes to speak to you before the wedding.”
She blurted, “Now?”
What could the Head of the Home Office wish to discuss…with her?
Danny's gaze flickered to her friends and then back to her.
Phoebe turned around and addressed Ruth and Lillian. “I’ve been summoned by Lord Archbroke. I’ll join you in a moment.”
Lines of worry filled both her friends' foreheads but they didn’t delay her with questions. Instead they nodded and proceeded toward the church entrance.
