Page 67 of The Boxing Baroness

“I will stop you.”

“What? You’d grab me and drag me to France in chains?”

“Yes. And your uncle, too.”

Her body vibrated with anger. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“If it’s a choice between my brother and you, my brother will always win.”

She stared at him for a long, furious moment and then said, “Have you ever wondered just why Dominic wants to see me so badly?”

“I have,” he admitted. “Why don’t you tell me?”

“Because I don’t know,” she said through clenched teeth. “I was just as shocked as you to learn he wasn’t dead.” Her eyes raked over him. “But I do know one thing for sure, Your Grace.”

“What is that?”

“If Dominic is going to all this trouble to see me, it won’t be for any good reason.” Her smile was bitter. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to make you use brute force on me. I gave my word I would go, and I don’t lie, despite what you might think.”

“Neither do I.”

“Oh? And what about my uncle? Because it sounds like you just threatened to put a noose around his neck after promising me in London that you would not take action against him about the smuggling if I did as you bade me.”

Sin ground his teeth. After what he’d learned last night, the two of them—uncle and niece—should be drawn and quartered.

“Well?” she taunted.

“My promise regarding your uncle applied to the smuggling of expensive fripperies, Miss Simpson. I will not condone treason and murder. Both you and Farnham will stand trial for your crimes—along with your lover, whom I will bring back in chains.”

“My crimes.” She laughed, the sound without mirth, and turned her mount.

“Where are you going?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not running away. I’m going to ride with my uncle. Suddenly a trip in his rattletrap coach with a woman who despises me is far more appealing than a ride with you.”

“But he’s miles back. This road is unsafe—a man and his valet were robbed and shot here only last week, in broad daylight.”

“What? Are you worried that somebody will shoot me and deprive you of the joy of watching me hang?” She didn’t wait for an answer, but kneed her horse into a gallop, leaving Sin alone in the middle of the snowy road.

Chapter 17

The crossing from Dover to Calais was remarkably smooth. The circus was composed of too many caravans for just one packet, so their group was spread across several.

Marianne hadn’t seen the duke since leaving him in the middle of the Dover Road the day before. She knew that he and his friends must be on this packet because she’d watched as the crew loaded their caravan on board. They had bought their wagon somewhere else—not at the place where her uncle had commissioned the rest of them—and it was a lovely glossy red with black trim and gold lettering on the side. The duke must have spent a fortune on it, but then, Staunton had a fortune to spare.

It was just as well that she hadn’t seen him because she wasn’t sure she could look at his face without punching it.

Cecile came up beside her and leaned against the packet’s high railing. “What is wrong, chérie? You’ve looked like a storm cloud ever since you got to the hotel last night. Were Barnabé and Sonia dreadful on the ride down? I told you that you should have come with me, Nora, and Lucy. They talk, talk, talk—those two—but at least they do not fight the whole way.”

“Josephine didn’t come with you?”

“No.”

“How did she get to Dover?”

Cecile shrugged. “I am not that one’s keeper. I have enough of a job looking out for you.”

Marianne stared out over the water. “You don’t need to look out for me. I’m a grown woman.”