Page 72 of Crash Landing
Hermia miraculously recovered from her fainting spell and sat up now that they were out of sight of Frampton’s house. “He means me.”
Florence smiled at her. “You were brilliant, Aunt Hermia.”
“I know, child. But I think we have rather upset His Grace. Let’s ride in silence, shall we? I think he needs time to recover from what we just did.”
Florence nodded.
“But that was rather exciting, wasn’t it? Quite more fun than I’vehad in years,” Hermia admitted, smiling at Florence.
Trajan said nothing, merely glowered.
Not even a word of admonishment. Certainly no congratulations. Only silence now.
This was what she had lived with all of her life.
This was the very thing she hated.
She glanced at Trajan again and saw that he was still fuming.
A shiver ran through her.
Was he reconsidering their betrothal?
Chapter Thirteen
Trajan’s hands wereshaking because he was so rattled by Florence’s sojourn into the Frampton home. He had been watching through his binoculars and seen Hermia take that dive onto the tea cart, which had conveniently landed atop Rutledge the Ogre, and seen Florence’s aunt flailing atop that pile like an overturned turtle.
He’d almost fallen out of his perch in the tree in his rush to climb down, for that had been his cue to get the pair of Newtons out of there fast.
Gad, this was such an ugly business. He hated Florence being involved in any of it. He did not know which was worse, that she was involved in it or that she wasnotafraid to be involved.
“May we talk? Are you still seething?” she asked once they reached Gull Hall.
He ignored the question, helped both ladies out of the carriage, and ordered them into his study. His cousins, too. He must have sounded harsher than he realized barking out orders, because they all rushed in without a word of protest.
Could they blame him for being livid? He was still overset and his head felt as though it was about to explode.
He must have looked like a savage beast, for Florence’s eyes were wide and her chin began to wobble. “Have you decided you do not wish to marry me?”
He turned to her, startled.
The idea of ending their betrothal had not even occurred to him. Perhaps she thought she had given him reason because what she had done had been reckless and foolish.
But it was also very brave. He loved her all the more for it. She was never going to be a timid mouse of a wife.
He was overset becausehewas the one who should have taken on the risk forher. He should have figured out a way to grab those letters and be the one placed in danger.
Instead, he had allowed her to march into the lion’s den armed with nothing but a maiden aunt and an embroidery basket. He had done nothing to protect her.
He had yet to ask if she had succeeded in reclaiming those letters.
Had she?
Yes, she must have.
Florence was incredible, and she had now saved her brother.
For all the good it would do her, he thought morosely.
