Page 69 of A Lady's Guide to Scandal

‘What on earth is going on, Captain?’

‘It’s Archie. It’s just as you said – or worse – he’s fallen into a bad crowd. I’ve been asking around, and I believe Selbourne has duped him into joining a high stakes game. The devil did the same thing to the Egerton boy, and young Mr Cowper. Word is he gets young men of fortune quite doped on spirits, and then fleeces them of all their fortune with a rigged deck. It’s how he plans to regain his fortune – man is up to his ears in debt, you know.’

‘Dear God,’ Kitty breathed, going quite pale. ‘Radcliffe must be told at once!’

‘He left for Devonshire today!’ Hinsley said miserably. ‘Told me so last night – and Pattson said he made his goodbyes to the family this morning. I don’t know what is to be done. I don’t know where Archie has even gone. I don’t know where to start.’

A recollected scrap of memory was swimming to the forefront of Kitty’s mind.

‘But I do …’ she said slowly, trying to capture the thought. ‘I think I know where they have gone, for the toad tried to invite me.’

‘Did he? The scoundrel. What did he say?’ Hinsley said urgently.

‘I can’t quite remember – I wasn’t properly listening,’ Kitty groaned, racking her brains. ‘In Wimbledon, certainly …’

She turned to look at Pemberton, who waved an impatient hand at her. She should surely go back to him. Let him propose. Accept. That was the right thing to do, she knew. It was simply one of those terrible moments where the right thing was also the selfish thing. And though it pained her to leave Mr de Lacy to such a fate, she could not risk her family for his sake, she just couldn’t.

Yet, unbidden, her mind strayed to Radcliffe: halfway to Devonshire by now no doubt, cursing her name, most likely – and entirely unaware of the danger his brother was in. He’d never forgive himself if something happened to Mr de Lacy, that was certain. Kitty bit her lip.

‘I’m sorry,’ she called, her voice barely audible over the wind. ‘I must go.’ Pemberton gaped at her, but she turned resolutely back to Hinsley. Her heart was beating fast – so fast – and she was almost certain this was a mistake, but she had to do it.

‘I’ll remember on the way,’ she said. ‘I’m sure of it – let’s go now.’

They dashed through the hall, Kitty retrieving her cloak as they did so, and fled down the front steps towards the carriages, where a groom was watching Hinsley’s hastily abandoned curricle. She spared a moment to glance around, to make sure no one of their acquaintance was watching, but the driveway was blessedly empty and she leapt in after him.

‘Are you quite sure?’ Hinsley asked Kitty, even as he was directing his bays out onto the road. ‘I’m not sure Radcliffe would approve of this—’

‘Oh, who cares what he thinks,’ Kitty snapped. ‘You just drive – I’m trying to remember.’

Gusts of wind whipped through her hair relentlessly, tugging her curls free from their pins. She supposed they were lucky it was not raining, for they would surely be quite soaked through already – but the gale alone made managing the horses difficult enough.

‘Give them their heads,’ she told Captain Hinsley, as they rattled down Worple Road, watching his hands critically.

‘Don’t tell me what to do,’ he said through gritted teeth, though he loosened the reins anyhow.

‘I wouldn’t if you didn’t seem in such desperate need of instruction,’ she snapped back. It had not been long before the two had dropped all pretence at manners.

‘Are you sure this is the right way?’ he demanded.

‘Yes,’ she said, more certainly than she felt. ‘He definitely said Hill-something, off Worple Road.’

‘We can’t be far, then.’ Hinsley’s eyes squinted into the darkness.

‘What kind of evils are we to expect there?’ Kitty asked – repeating herself, louder, when he couldn’t hear over the wind.

‘I don’t know,’ he said grimly. ‘I have heard stories – crooked tables – opium – women – private prizefights. We just need to get Archie out before he commits himself too fully. Selbourne always plays this the same way, I’m told – he tempts away young bucks, lets them win their first ten games with him, so they’re addicted to the feeling, then turns the tables. Archie is in full possession of his fortune now – and Selbourne will have his eyes upon it, you mark my words.’

‘Gracious,’ Kitty breathed out.

As if summoned by Hinsley’s description, a set of iron bars suddenly rose ahead of them – tall, steel, and imposing. The main gates were shut, but a smaller, person-sized opening stood ajar to their left.

‘Right,’ Hinsley said, pulling up sharply. He handed her the reins.

‘Stay here,’ he instructed. ‘Walk the horses. I shall return in fifteen minutes.’

‘I’m coming in with you,’ she said indignantly.

‘You are not,’ he said firmly. ‘I absolutely forbid it; it is far too dangerous.’