She’d written a note for Fish, then had snuck away from the manor as rapidly and as furtively as she could.
It was always disturbing to bump into a man like Periwinkle. He was determined to hash out the truth about her past. And as to Lord Roland, well . . .
She’d been yearning for a private chat with him, and now, she’d had it. His daughter, Little Henrietta, was dead, so what was the point of anything?
She was adept at fleeing uncomfortable situations. Harry had taught her that neat trick. Whenever circumstances had become too dicey, he’d always had them pack their bags, and they’d tiptoed away from the problem that was plaguing him. His ability to disappear had kept him from getting arrested, from getting pummeled by creditors, from getting shot at by angry husbands.
He might not have been her uncle by birth, but she certainly exhibited many of his worst tendencies.
The sky had been growing darker, and suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. Her horse shied, causing her to frantically grapple for purchase. She tugged on the reins and slowed him to a walk. Sprinkles dampened her shoulders.
Momentarily lost, she peered about, and she was dismayed to find that she was sitting at the gate to Barrett. At the realization, a shiver slid down her spine. Was it a warning or maybe an evil portent?
She glanced down the road, and a rider was trotting toward her. Of course it would be Luke heading to his home just as she was at that very spot. He’d seen her, so she couldn’t whip around and race off in the other direction. If she tried, she was positive he’d chase her down.
As he neared, it seemed as if great fortune was approaching, as if doom was approaching. Which would it turn out to be in the end?
He kept coming until they were side by side, and he leaned over and pulled her close so he could deliver a passionate kiss.
When they straightened, he was scowling like a grumpy nanny. “Why are you gallivanting across the country without a maid or a groom?”
“I had to escape the party for a while. I had to clear my mind.”
“That doesn’t explain why you’re alone.”
“I’m not a fussy debutante,” she said. “Don’t scold me as if I have rules to obey.”
“What if you suffered a mishap when you were off by yourself? What then? How would we guess that you were imperiled?”
“I never have trouble, and if I did, I have my pistol in my pocket.”
“Your comment alarms me.”
“Why? I know how to use it.”
“I’m sure you do, but I am incensed to hear that you believe you’re invincible.”
“Perhaps I am invincible. My history proves I can survive any ordeal.”
“Well, people supposedly have nine lives, and I fear you’ve squandered several of them already. Stop tempting Fate.”
“I’ve always tempted Fate,” she breezily said. “Why quit now?”
He studied her and frowned. “You’re upset. What happened?”
“Nothing.”
It was her typical answer to that question. For much of her life, she’d been anxious or aggrieved, but she’d had to pretend she was fine. Harry had insisted that no one liked a complainer, so she’d proficiently learned how to bury tons of petty grievances and bad attitude.
Luke scoffed. “Liar. Your distress is plain as the nose on your face, so I repeat: What happened?”
“I was accosted by a reporter.” She waved away the remark, as if the encounter had been silly.
“From a newspaper?”
“Yes. What other kind is there?”
“What did he want?”
“He wanted to talk about the shipwreck.”
“My goodness, why?”
“It’s the twentieth anniversary this year—of my being found? I’m trying to ignore it, but he’s been pestering me.”
“What is he expecting you’ll say?”
“He’s tracked down the other two lost girls. Caroline and Joanna? He’d like to print a retrospective, and he asked if he could arrange a reunion for the three of us.”
“Would you like to speak with them?”
“I might—if it was private.” For some reason, tears flooded her eyes, which was embarrassing.
“Don’t be sad.” He leaned over and kissed her again.
“I’m not. I’m just . . . annoyed. I can’t bear to be harassed. I don’t need the sort of publicity he’d generate.”
He grinned, eager to lighten her mood. “Are you certain about that? You’ve thrived on sharing your story with audiences. You might create a whole new crop of admirers.”
She snorted at that. “I have too many as it is. I can’t escape some of them.”
She meant him, and he understood that she did.
“After you were drinking punch in the garden,” he said, “I waited for you to return to the picnic, but you didn’t. I finally bribed Fish to reveal your whereabouts, and she admitted you’d gone for a ride.”
“You didn’t bribe Fish. She wouldn’t have succumbed to blackmail.”
“Maybe not. Maybe she’s simply a romantic at heart, and she hoped I’d find you so we could spend some time together.”
“I doubt that very much. She thinks we’re both mad.”
“She’s probably right.”
“Is that how you found me? You nagged at Fish until she told you where I was? I assumed our meeting was an accident, but apparently, you deliberately sought me out.”
His grin widened. “I might have.”
“Your fixation has spiraled to an outrageous height, and I must inform you that you are dancing on a very perilous ledge.”
“You’ve forced me to realize that I like to live dangerously. I didn’t recognize that trait in my personality, so I must categorically state that you are having an interesting effect on my character.”
“I don’t want to have an effect.”
“What do you want to have?”
“I want sanity to be restored.”
“So long as you are present in my world, there’s no chance of that.”
Thunder rumbled again, so loudly that they instinctively ducked. Then the clouds opened, and a torrent of rain began to pelt them. In an instant, the deluge was so intense that she could barely see.
“Roland is too far away.” He had to shout to be heard over the noise. “Let’s head for Barrett.”
“I can’t join you there,” she replied, but the storm
