Page 27 of A Dangerous Engagement

Felicity stood and went to the window. “No, that man is much too thin to be Father.”

“He has gone inside now, but his hair was very like your father’s.”

“It was probably one of the stable workers.” Felicity laid her hand consolingly on Auntie’s shoulder.

“Felicity, you did write to your father, did you not? He is coming to take us home, surely.”

“Truthfully, Auntie ...” How could she tell her aunt the truth? That she had written a letter and that Mr.Merrick had burned it? “The truth is, it is too dangerous to write a letter home. I am unsure how to get word to Father. But you must not worry about it. We are both safe.”For the moment.

“Too dangerous to write a letter.” Auntie’s eyes had a glassy look. “What is to become of us?”

“Auntie, please do not fret. All will be well. You must just pray and expect that God will keep us safe.” Should she tell her aunt that they had a champion in Mr.Merrick? Perhaps it was best to give Aunt Agnes as little information as possible.

“Would you not like to go for a walk in the garden to take our minds off things? Some fresh air will do us good.”

Felicity closed her book and fetched Aunt Agnes’s bonnet and brought it to her.

“Do you think it’s safe?”

“Of course! No one will bother us in the garden. Besides, Mr.Ratley will not allow anything to happen to us. He’s my fiancé, remember?” Felicity nearly burst into hysterical laughter at this assertion. She did not intend to marry a revolutionary, but if she could turn him from his insurrectionist beliefs and save him from joining in with the plans of Lady Blackstone and her group, would she want to marry him then?

Strangely, Mr.Merrick came into her thoughts. She could not feel any attraction to Mr.Ratley when Mr.Merrick was lurking in her mind. How fickle she was.

Her situation was making her addled.

“Come, Auntie. It is not terribly cold today. Tomorrow may be rainy. We should take our exercise while we can.”

Auntie obediently put on her bonnet and heavy cloak, and Felicity did the same, and they went arm in arm down the stairs and out into the garden.

They took a turn around the first bend in the hedgerow, not seeing anyone else, and headed toward the less formal area, which was rather overgrown with bushes and vines.

“Look at that lovely mass of flowers there.” Felicity pointed them out. “I predict there will be many more of them soon, when the weather gets warm. And there’s a new bird’s nest over there.” She pointed again. “Shall I see if there are any birds inside?”

“If you wish.” Auntie’s voice was a bit distracted as she stared down at her boot. “My lace has come undone.”

Aunt Agnes crouched to tie her lace. Mother sometimes needed Felicity’s help to tie hers, as she had grown quite round in the middle in the last few years, but Auntie was small and delicate and as yet only thirty-five years old.

Felicity continued to the tall bush where she’d spotted the bird’s nest. She was just standing on tiptoe to peek into it when Aunt Agnes screamed. Felicity spun around.

Auntie cried out again and then made a sound like an anguished moan.

Felicity ran to her aunt’s side. She followed her aunt’s gaze and saw a man’s hand stretched out from beneath a bush. It was not moving.

Aunt Agnes’s hands flailed about. Felicity touched her aunt’s shoulder. “It’s all right,” she said, talking as much to herself as to Aunt Agnes. Felicity embraced Aunt Agnes and held her arms to her sides, but her hands continued to shake.

She stared at the lifeless hand on the ground. She should go get help. Her heart was pounding, and her breath seemed to stick in her throat. Someone should come and look closer at this man, whoever he was, to see if he was still alive.

Oh, good heavens. What if the man was Mr.Merrick? Had they somehow discovered he was a spy and killed him?

Felicity let go of her aunt and stepped forward, pushing aside some branches. She fought through the dense, prickly limbs until she found the man’s face. He had dark-brown hair. It was not Mr.Merrick. But his eyes were open, his lips were ashen, and she was certain he was dead.

Auntie must have seen his face, as she screamed and then collapsed to the ground, moaning.

Felicity felt strangely calm, almost numb. She would have to leave her aunt and get help.

And quickly. Because someone or something was crashing through the bushes nearby, coming toward them.

As Philip was saddling his horse for a short ride, a scream erupted from the direction of the garden. He ran from the stable toward the sound. The scream was shrill and piercing, as if the person had just been attacked. Could it be Miss Mayson? Was she being murdered in the garden?