Maggie MacKeever (37 page)

But Jynx had realized what Innis’s presence in Lennox Square must portend, and who must be responsible. She swooned delicately into Innis’s arms. “My darling!” he cried.

“No!” uttered Shannon, who at that moment walked into the room.
“My
darling! And I’ll thank you to remember it, Ashley!”

“I told him to unhand her,” remarked Sir Malcolm, who was regarding the open window thoughtfully. Then he looked at Innis in a very speaking way. “Bring her over here, to the bed. I trust, Shannon, that you did not enter my study?”

“No. Eulalia was in the oddest manner barricading the door.” Shannon bent over his fiancée. “Jynx, speak to me!” Sir Malcolm, in an unprecedented excess of paternal solicitude, bent over her also, and added his own pleas.

“And do it quickly!” he added, when she showed no signs of renewed life. “I know perfectly well you’re shamming it, and Innis has gone.”

Lord Roxbury glanced over his shoulder at the empty room and open window, and swore. “You see that I cannot, Papa,” remarked Miss Lennox, her eyes still tightly closed. “Shannon is going to scold.”

“No, he won’t!” declared Sir Malcolm, despite strong evidence to the contrary. “Not when he realizes that you were very nearly abducted and that there is a very irate Bow Street Runner downstairs.”

Jynx’s eyes flew open.
“Not
William Brown?” the viscount groaned.

“One and the same.” Sir Malcolm looked harassed. “How I am to explain all this I do not know; he already thinks I’m queer in the attic! And if he lays eyes on you in that rig, child, we’ll all end up in gaol. Therefore, if I may suggest—”

Lord Roxbury and Miss Lennox were already at the window. Chivalrously, the viscount allowed her to go first. “May a father inquire,” said Sir Malcolm, watching with a very unpaternal eye as his daughter hitched up her skirts, “where you mean to go?”

Jynx cast an inquiring glance at Shannon, whose appreciative gaze was fixed on her shapely legs. “To find a parson, I think.” She exited.

“With your permission, sir?” Lord Roxbury extended his hand.

Sir Malcolm shook it vigorously. “Definitely! I would suggest a very long honeymoon. We still may brush through this well enough, if Innis can manage to bribe his way out of the country.”

“I think we may all count on that.” Jynx’s voice came softly and irritably through the window. “The wretch took my betrothal ring again!”

Chapter Thirty

Without mishap, Lord Roxbury and Miss Lennox gained the safety of the viscount’s traveling coach, and were safely underway. The berlin was a large and comfortable conveyance, which could seat six passengers easily; its interior was lined with red cloth, and fitted out luxuriously; its exterior was both elegant and thoroughly inconspicuous, which admirably suited it to flight from the law.

A peaceful silence reigned within. Miss Lennox had assured herself that Lord Roxbury was not angered by her part in the escape of Innis Ashley, that Lord Roxbury was not angered even by the loss of her betrothal ring; and Lord Roxbury had assured himself that Miss Lennox did not regret embarking upon her bridal journey without attendants, or a trousseau, or even a nightdress. Miss Lennox was heard to say that she wouldn’t mind marrying the viscount without a stitch of clothing to her name, in response to which the viscount promised her any number of betrothal rings. With a sigh of pure contentment, Miss Lennox tucked her feet beneath her, rested her head on Lord Roxbury’s shoulder, and fell fast asleep.

So they proceeded out of London, at a spanking pace. Shannon’s coachman was a first-class whip, who could spring his horses and gallop them along in a way that would have upset the coach if guided by less steady and talented hands. Shannon had no fear that such catastrophe might occur. He chose his servants with an eye to their ability, and Watkins was up to all sorts of horses, even the nervous chestnuts, and additionally possessed a great deal of courage. Lord Roxbury rested his chin on Miss Lennox’s tousled curls, and contemplated the bizarre occurrences of the past few days. He, too, was almost asleep when the coach drew to a halt, and his valet—who had ridden behind the coach as might befit a lowly footman, and whose sensibilities were consequently offended grievously—appeared at the door.

“I beg your pardon, but there seems to be some trouble ahead.” From March’s gloomy tone, he might have expected as much, and might have been pleased to have his expectations fulfilled. “A collision of some sort, and bodies strewn all over the road.”

Thusly roused from rosy visions of matrimonial delights, Shannon swore. “What is it?” Jynx inquired sleepily, and blinked. So charming did she look in her newly wakened, still-dazed state that Shannon would have taken her in his arms without preamble, had not March been regarding them with such glum disapproval. Midnight flits, in March’s opinion, were not at all the thing. “Shannon!” Jynx was fast achieving full possession of her senses. “Listen!”

Lord Roxbury obeyed. “Dashed if it’s
my
fault,” came a familiar voice, “if I don’t know the way! I’ve never
been
to Gretna Green! And I don’t see why I must be blamed if your carriage got in my way!” “That is very true,” came another voice, “and it is not kind of “you to rip up at Percy!” And, “Oh, dear!” came a third. Just then, a fourth and less familiar voice broke in, with strident laments over damages incurred, and an even more strident request to be paid.

“Shannon!” Jynx’s eyes were wide. “Isn’t that—” But Shannon was already out of the berlin. Jynx followed, and was in time to see the viscount grasp the shoulder of the hackney driver—the same hackney driver who had left them stranded in St. Giles—and deliver to that astonished individual a masterful blow on the chin. The man crumpled to the ground.

“Excellently done!” cried Jynx and clapped her hands. By so doing, she brought herself to the attention of the small group of people who were clustered, arguing, in the road.

Cristin was there, and Percy; as well as Lord Erland and Adorée. Nearby stood Tomkin, a large bundle clasped to his chest. Jynx cast him an inquiring glance. “The silver plate, miss,” he explained, “as was buried in the garden to preserve it from the ghouls!”

“Very prudent,” said Miss Lennox, as Lady Bliss rushed forward and enfolded her in a fragrant embrace. “But
you
are not, my dear!” said Adorée. “Whatever are you about with Shannon at this late hour? It looks decidedly queer! And it is not a good idea for a young lady of your station to make free of her favors until
after
the knot is tied. You will forgive me for speaking so frankly, I know—well, you always have! —but after all the trouble I have had on your behalf, it would be very ungrateful of you to queer my plans!”

“Enough, Adorée!” interrupted Shannon, as his coachman and valet gawked. “I promise you we will be wed. As to the hour, that was brought about by an earnest desire
not
to be taken up as accomplices to a crime.”

“What crime?” inquired Lord Erland.

“You didn’t tell him, Adorée?” Shannon looked slightly scandalized.

“No and that is a perfect example of why you and I dealt together in only a lukewarm way! You must always have everything aboveboard. Beside, Jynx told me to tell Nicky as little as possible, and she was obviously right, for here we are! I hope you realize, Shannon, that you are marrying a girl with a great deal of sense, and value her accordingly!”

These words, which had rendered Jynx inarticulate, and Shannon incensed, roused Lord Erland to an awareness of Jynx’s presence. “Miss Lennox!” he said, and came to take her hand. “You look the most complete romp! I must apologize to you for misunderstanding the situation; Adorée tells me that Percy is not to marry you, but her niece. But I will
not
apologize for stealing a kiss.”

Lord Erland’s cool remarks fanned sparks in several breasts. “Marry Jynx!” cried Cristin. “Marry
me?”
gasped Percy. “You kissed
Jynx!”
demanded Adorée, “Nicky, how could you?”

“Pooh!” said Miss Lennox. “It was nothing. Don’t make a piece of work of it, Adorée! Shannon didn’t mind.”

“He didn’t?” It was clear from Lady Bliss’s expression that she did not consider this forbearance an encouraging sign.

“Good God, Adorée!” uttered the irritated viscount. “Have you any idea how many men have been kissing Jynx lately? If I minded, I’d probably have gone off in an apoplexy! Now, may I point out that things are in a bit of a tangle here? And may I suggest that we straighten matters out so that we may proceed?”

With the invaluable assistance of Lord Erland, straighten things out Shannon did. The hackney driver, when he regained consciousness, was instructed to deliver the merchandise that still rested beneath the coach’s seat to Sir Malcolm Lennox, and promised for his efforts a handsome reward. Since the hackney coach had suffered the least damage of the two—perhaps because, as Cristin unkindly suggested, it had been capable of movement in the first place due to nothing short of a miracle—and since the driver was eager to remove himself as speedily as possible from this group of lunatics, he was first to depart the scene. Lord Erland’s carriage, which was in far worse condition, was dragged off the road, and his horses unharnessed, and the matter of its restoration was left in the capable hands of Tomkin, and the far less willing hands of March. The small party then arranged themselves in Lord Roxbury’s berlin, and were once more underway.

“I say,” said Percy, “this is a first-rate turnout!” He pointed out to Cristin the chandelier that hung from the ceiling, the seats that could be used for sleeping, the portable stove and wine cellar, the table with drawers and clock. “We’ll have one, shall we? You’d like that!”

“No, I wouldn’t,” replied Cristin. “Because I daresay it cost a great deal of money, and I mean for us to be beforehand with the world.”

“That’s the dandy!” Percy was of unabated good cheer. “You must keep reminding me, because I’m sure to forget.”

“I don’t believe it!” remarked Lord Erland. “That from an Ashley! No, no, Percy, don’t fly into alt. You have my blessing. Furthermore, when my carriage is fixed—
if
my carriage is fixed; you should never be allowed to drive anything larger than a pony cart! How did you persuade that man to let you take the reins, by-the-bye?—you and Cristin will go to my mother, who will see to it that you’re married with all due ceremony and as little fuss as possible. There! Aren’t I generous?”

For a gentleman of legendarily choleric temper he was very generous indeed, proof of which caused Lady Bliss to burst into tears. “Oh, Nicky, I have misled you grievously, and I am very sorry for it! I shall never forgive myself if you are taken up by Bow Street!”

“Bow Street?” The earl cast an inquiring eye at Shannon, the only other sensible member of the party—Miss Lennox had propped her feet up on the silver plate and once more fallen asleep. Shannon explained it all—the thefts, their own involvement, the death of Eleazar Hyde and Innis’s escape. Lord Erland’s expression changed from disbelief to astonishment to frank amusement. “This surpasses all belief!” said he.

“Then we are safe!” cried Lady Bliss. “Dead men tell no tales, and Innis is free! Why, we could even turn right around and go back to London if we pleased.”

Shannon disagreed. “You forget that I assaulted a representative of the law, and one who can not only identify Jynx and myself, but Cristin and Percy. Prudence dictates that all of us, er, lay low awhile. Beside, I have other plans—to be precise, a marriage ceremony.”

Lady Bliss was not one to interfere with romance, but she thought this belated hour an odd one at which to be wed. Shannon pointed out the brightness of the moon, which made the roads as easily distinguished as if in midday, and assured his companions that wed he would be, even if he had to drag the vicar out of bed.

That matter was settled. Adorée returned her attention to the earl. “I wish you will forgive me, but I fear that is past praying for! I can only assure you that I meant it for the best—which I should have known would not serve, because look at Jynx! She has always meant everything for the best, and look what has transpired!”

“We’ll wrap it up in clean linen; don’t disturb yourself!” said Dominic, as Shannon stated rather belligerently that Miss Lennox had greatly bestirred herself on behalf of the Ashleys, and that he would not bear another word against his exhausted darling.

“Darling!” echoed Lady Bliss. “You
do
love her, Shannon!” The viscount said, acerbically, that it must be apparent as the nose on his face that he did. “And does she love you?”

Thus applied to, Jynx stirred sleepily. “Ever since I was five years old and he beheaded my favorite doll. Didn’t you know, Adorée?”

Naturally, Lady Bliss had known; there was precious little Lady Bliss didn’t know about matters of the heart. Her only doubt had been whether Lord Roxbury and Miss Lennox were aware of where their true affections lay. “Because if you
did
know,” she concluded sternly, “you have both behaved with a great deal of foolishness, and so I take leave to tell you, even if I am generally held to be bacon-brained!”

Miss Lennox had embarked upon an incoherent explanation about the difficulty of learning what lay within someone else’s heart when the coach once mote rumbled to a standstill, before a sleeping vicarage. It did not remain quiet long. Lights sprang up the dark windows, and a dazed gentleman appeared to see who caused the unholy commotion at his front door.

Lord Roxbury brandished his special license and explained his purpose in a few terse words.

Things still might have gone awry—the vicar was disinclined to perform a wedding ceremony so late at night—had not Lady Bliss dragged her bemused eyes from the earl’s swarthy face to observe the cause of the delay. “Why, if it isn’t Peterkin!” she exclaimed, with every evidence of delight. “I have not seen him since he was at Oxford! And quite a rip he was! I must tell you——”

“Please!” The vicar did not seem at all delighted to encounter this old friend. “You had better come in.”

“But, Peterkin!” Adorée swept into the vicarage. “You may trust these people; they are my friends. I vow, they would be highly fascinated by your——”