Secrets of the Heart Read Free

countess.
    â€œAnd,” Richard went on, with a smile to Gabriela, “there is someone else who has been eagerly awaiting your arrival. Lady Ravenscar’s sister, Miss Veronica Upshaw, is here visiting, and she is just about your age, fifteen last month. Veronica…”
    The girl stepped forward, smiling at Gabriela. She was a pretty thing, with light-brown hair and blue eyes, though there was little about her that resembled her sister Miranda. She was, Rachel knew, Miranda’s stepsister, rather than any blood relative, the daughter of the woman whom Miranda’s father had married when Miranda was in her teens. Mr. and Mrs. Upshaw lived much of the time in London, Miranda had told Rachel, but all had agreed that Devin’s country estate was the best place for the young girl. There would be time enough for London in a few years, when she had her coming out.
    Rachel smiled a little, thinking that these two girls would probably have their coming out in the same year. The Ton, she thought with unabashed delight, would doubtlessly reel under the joint assault upon it by the formidable team of the duchess and the countess. Rachel intended not to miss a party that Season.
    Laughing and talking, the group went inside. The girls retreated to Veronica’s room upstairs, both of them thrilled at finally having someone their own age to talk to, while the adults returned to the music room, where the two couples had been wiling away the evening before Rachel’s arrival.
    Their conversation turned first to polite inquiries as to Rachel’s trip. With studied calm, Rachel replied, “It was all right, really, except for being stopped by a highwayman.”
    The four other people in the room stared at her speechlessly for a long moment. Then Devin sprang to his feet, his ready temper rising. “What? Are you joking?”
    â€œNo. Not at all. It was the most peculiar thing.”
    â€œPeculiar!” Dev exclaimed. “That is hardly how I would describe it.”
    â€œOh, yes, you would, if you had been there.”
    â€œRachel! Why didn’t you tell us immediately?” Miranda cried, getting up a little awkwardly and coming over to her sister-in-law. “Are you all right? You weren’t hurt, were you?”
    â€œNo. I just lost a few coins, that is all. He did not threaten me at all.”
    â€œWhat the devil was he doing all the way up here?” Cleybourne asked. “Have you heard anything about this chap before, Dev?”
    â€œNo, not a bit. I can scarcely think it would be profitable patroling the byways of Derbyshire.”
    â€œI’m not at all sure that profit was his primary motive. He indicated that he was taking the money mostly for show—so his men would not suspect.”
    â€œWhat? Suspect what?” Dev looked at Rachel suspiciously. “Are you sure you aren’t having us on?”
    â€œNo, I promise you. I told you it was most peculiar. He seemed—well, he apparently thought Michael was in the carriage. He said he saw the coat of arms on the door. I’m not sure if he meant he was lying in wait for his carriage—I cannot imagine how he would know that it would be coming by any time soon—or if he was traveling to Westhampton and just stumbled upon us.”
    â€œA highwayman was meeting Michael?” Miranda asked. “Whatever for?”
    â€œHe said he wanted to warn Michael. So he told me to give Michael this message—that someone wishes him ill, that Michael is ‘too close,’ and there are people who mean to stop him.”
    Her words were met with another stunned silence.
    â€œAre you sure you heard him right?” Dev asked finally.
    â€œYes. Ask Gabriela. She witnessed it all. That is what he said. Then he said he was sorry, but he would have to take something to make it look right, or something like that. And he wanted my emerald studs, but I protested and said they were a bride’s