A Lady’s Secret Read Free Page A

sure.”
    Her expression turned wry. “You are beautiful and wicked, Mr. Bonchurch, and used to women falling into your hands like ripe fruit, but I assure you it won’t happen with me. I want no complaints when we arrive in London with your lust unsatisfied.”
    “Not a one,” he promised, drowning in delight.
    “But you do realize that constitutes a challenge?”
    “One I’m bound to win. As you said, you can’t afford to cuckold God. You have a carriage?”
    “A chaise. I need only order horses put to.”
    “Excellent. But even better if I get into your chaise now, don’t you think?”
    “You’re a conspirator after my own heart, Sister, and you’re right. Your Lady Sodworth’s next step will be to have the whole inn searched.”
    As if to confirm his thought, the harassed innkeeper popped his head into the room. Robin pulled out a gold coin; the man saw it, nodded, and hurried on. Robin opened the casement window and looked out at a lane alongside the inn. “All’s clear.” He moved a chair beneath it.
    She hesitated, but then hurried over and climbed nimbly out, showing him sandals and bare ankles. He replaced the chair and followed, grinning. “This way,” he said, gesturing toward the back of the inn.
    They entered the yard close to Robin’s post chaise, which sat axle down, awaiting a new team of horses. He hurried his adventuress to it and handed her inside. Another touch, another frisson. Her position was awkward in the slanted coach, but she managed.
    “I’ll order the horses.”
    But she suddenly clasped her hands and raised them to her lips. “No, I can’t. I need my possessions, my traveling trunk.”
    “I will buy you anything you need.”
    “I will not be so indebted to you.”
    He shrugged. “Where is your trunk?”
    “It was in the boot of the coach, but it might have been carried inside.”
    Robin turned to study the Berlin. Baggage was piled on top of the big, four-wheeled coach, but that was not being disturbed. The boot was open and already half empty. As he watched, a man came out of the inn, grabbed two bundles, and carried them inside. Bedding? Robin could have told Lady Sodworth that the sheets at the Tête de Boeuf were clean and aired, but from the sounds of her, she wouldn’t listen.
    “What does your trunk look like?” he asked.
    “Plain wood with black straps. A brass plate with a cross.”
    “I’ll see to it. Stay out of sight.”
    He lowered the blind on the inside of the chaise window and began to close the door, but realized he still had Coquette. He put her on his nun’s knee. “Discuss desire,” he said, and shut the door. He scanned the area but saw no danger, so he strolled over to the Berlin. There inside was the sister’s small trunk.
    Two men came out and unloaded a fancier, leather-covered trunk, carrying it between them. Robin decided he needed his men, anyway, and went into the inn to beckon them. When they came over, he explained the situation and gave them their orders.
    Fontaine—sighing because they were leaving—lurked to distract any porters, while Powick, sighing at Robin’s new game, pulled out the small chest, hoisted it on his shoulder, and carried it over to the chaise.
    A nun or not a nun, that was the question. That was a very plain, nunlike box, but even if Sister Immaculata was genuine, she was still up to something odd. In two days’ travel he should be able to uncover all her secrets.
    Powick was making room in the boot for the box. Robin turned to tell Fontaine all was clear.
    “You there!”
    He turned to face a furious woman. It had to be Lady Sodworth, but she didn’t match her harsh voice, being petite, beribboned, and even pretty in a bad-tempered way.
    “Have you seen a nun here?” she demanded in her bad French, not seeming to recognize that he was a gentleman, never mind an Englishman.
    Robin looked around in puzzlement. “Here, madame?”
    “Anywhere here, you fool!”
    He gave a mischievously Gallic shrug.