Page 165 of Harpy of the Ton
Bella’s gut twisted with nausea.How dare they!Dunton and her aunt had abandoned her so that they might take her fortune for themselves.
“The greedy, despicable…”
“Hush, miss!” Connie said. “Do you now see why you must go to London? Mr. Stockton might be your best hope for sanctuary.”
Bella stared at her maid. How could Connie—the creature she’d dismissed as having no worth other than to dress her and fix her hair—possess such insight? And how could she, in her pride and arrogance, have overlooked it?
“Come with me, miss,” Connie said. “Come and claim your freedom.”
Bella stared at the open door, beyond which a world existed outside the realm ruled by a vindictive, vile pair who’d delight in bending her to their will.
“Yes, Connie,” she said. “Quick, before my courage fails.”
The maid helped her into a gown, followed by a thick woolen cloak, then looped the reticule over Bella’s neck. She led her into the hallway, pausing at the top of the stairs to check the house was clear before descending and shepherding her out into the night.
At the rear of the building, a horse stood tethered to a gatepost.
“There!” Connie said. “I knew Luke wouldn’t let me down. Do you need help to mount?”
“No, I’ll be fine.”
“Good. Now, Thomas will be in the forest at the front of the house—that’s where Luke’s told him the poachers are. You must ride across the fields at the back. When you come to the London road, don’t turn left—that’s the way to Ilverton village. Turn right and head for Ancombe Mills. It’s an hour’s ride away, and you can hide there. The inn’s called the Boar. The London coach stops there twice a week, and they’ll have plenty of rooms free this time of year. The duke won’t think to look for you there.”
“Connie, why?”
“Because he’s a dim-witted fool, and his men doubly so.”
“No, I mean, why are you helping me?” Bella asked. “I’ve not been an easy mistress. I blush with shame at the thought of how I treated you.”
“I always knew you had a kind soul,” Connie replied, “even if you had to imprison it to survive the life you’d been born into. But you’ve had the privilege of living a different life now, and you deserve to have the freedom to choose the life you want. There’s precious few of us able to follow our hearts, and I’ll take comfort from knowing that you’re following yours.”
“Come with me,” Bella said. “The horse can take both of us.”
“I can’t, miss.”
“You cannot stay here. What will they do to you when they find I’m gone?”
The maid grinned. “They’ll blame Thomas—he was supposed to be guarding your door. Besides, I’d only slow you down. You’ve a better chance of reaching London without me.”
“Oh, Connie! Forgive my past rudeness—I never knew I had such a treasure in my life. I promise that as soon as I’m able, I’ll send for you.”
“Lady Arabella, there’s no need for—”
“There’severyneed,” Bella said. “The harpy of thetonis no more. In a world devoid of true friendship, you’ve been a true friend—and I’ll not forsake a friend.”
She embraced her maid, then mounted the horse and set off toward the fields.
The moon was almost full, which enabled Bella to see, but also made her prone to being spotted. The polished metal of the bit and bridle gleamed in the moonlight, and even her breath seemed to shimmer in the cold night air each time she exhaled. She steered the mare around the perimeter hedge to keep to the shadows.
An owl screeched close by, and her mount startled, letting out a soft whinny.
“Hush.” She patted the mare’s flank. “There’s nothing to fear.”
Was she trying to convince the horse—or herself?
She froze as she heard the crunch of footsteps on frost.
“Who goes there?”
