“Indeed.”
“I don’t think we are dealing with experienced kidnappers.” Lydia wasn’t certain if this realization made her feel better or worse.
“Then with whom are we dealing?”
“I have no idea. Persons in dire need of funds, I suppose.”
“That could include the entire population of England,” Robert said unhelpfully.
“Except the upper ten thousand.”
“Even some of those are hard pressed for blunt.”
“True enough. But perhaps we can leave the royal family off the list.”
“A safe bet … though I have heard that the Pavilion in Brighton is proving to be a heavy burden.”
“So you think the Prince Regent arranged to have me kidnapped to pay for his folly?”
Robert laughed, his breath fluttering the loose hairs at the nape of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. “No. I think it safe to say the Prince Regent is not involved.” Then his tone became serious. “I will find out, though, I promise you that. I’m not quite sure how, but I will, even if I have to send to London for a Bow Street Runner.”
Noticing the pronoun, Lydia corrected him. “Perhaps we can begin with Les.”
“Les?”
“Yes, the thug from the coach, the one who tossed you onto the road.”
“I didn’t know he had acquired a name—one you gave him? It’s not very villain-like, you know. Brutus or Attila might be better.”
Lydia laughed halfheartedly. “Morley called him Les when we arrived at the farm.”
“Ah, I see. Les and Morley. Do they have surnames?”
“I would assume so.”
Robert waited, sighed, and then gestured ahead. “I thought I recognized one, the fellow in black with the stubby nose. He carried himself stiffly. Something about him seemed familiar. Was he your driver?”
“My coachman? Oh, you mean the one I hired. No, it wasn’t Mr. Burgstaller. I wish I knew what had happened to the poor man. I hope he is all right.”
“I would say that he is. Les did not slit my throat when he had the opportunity. He tossed me onto the road. Most thugs would kill you as soon as look at you—”
“Met many outlaw types, have you, Robert?”
“Pardon? Oh, I do work at a law firm, you know.”
“Yes,” Lydia smiled. “You deal in estates and wills. Not criminal law.”
“I see you know the difference.”
Lydia laughed, twisting her shoulder back to nudge him in an overly familiar manner, and then realized what she had done. “Oh, I apologize most profusely,” she said in horror. “I do beg your pardon. I don’t know what I was thinking.… I … Miss Melvina’s Finishing School for Young Ladies did not cover appropriate behavior while escaping from an abduction.”
“I am not surprised.”
“Still, I am almost certain she would frown upon my behavior this evening. I have called you by your given name twice—”
“Five times, but who is counting?”
“Right. Five times, and now, I have treated you with great familiarity.”
“With the familiarity of a friend.”
Lydia cocked her head. “Friend?”
“Yes. After all we have been through, I think we can readily agree that our relationship has undergone a change.”
“I do feel as if I have known you a great deal longer than a couple of weeks.”
“I would agree. So perhaps we might continue as good friends and not worry about the rules of propriety.”
“I would like that … Robert. Yes, I would like that very much. Though, we can only be this relaxed with each other when no one else is around. My mother would faint dead away to hear me talking in this manner.”
“I think Mr. Lynch might object as well. So we shall make a pact—friends at all times, but not obvious in the presence of others.”
“Oh, I do like that.” Lydia nodded, wishing she could drop into a polite curtsy to do this properly. “Welcome to Lydia Whitfield’s social circle, Robert. I will warn you, however, that you are the only gentleman in the ranks until my marriage.”
“Thank you, I appreciate the inclusion—Lydia, are you all right?”
Lydia suddenly felt faint, and her ability to sit astride a horse became a bit of a challenge. Breathing deeply, she waited for the world to stop tilting, and it did, eventually. Though her feet were on the ground now, and Fanny was at her back. Robert was still atop the horse, awkwardly leaning down to support her arm. His grip on her elbow was tighter than necessary, but then again, the road did seem to be undulating.
“Are you all right?” Robert asked again, sounding quite concerned.
“Yes, of course,” Lydia assured him, though it was not entirely true. Her world had just toppled over. The future, her expectations, plans, hopes, dreams … all had dissolved into dust. “I was somewhat overcome by the enormity of what has occurred.” She made her voice sound strong and assured, despite feeling anything but.
“I wouldn’t think acquiring a male friend would be life-changing.” He released his grip and pushed himself off the back of the horse. He moved to be in front of Lydia, arms out, hands hovering near her elbows.
Lydia laughed, although even in her ears it sounded hollow. “No, I was not referring to your friendship. I realized the consequence of this … incident—my abduction. I am very glad the invitations for my birthday ball have not yet gone out. That would be most embarrassing.”
“Embarrassing? I’m confused.”
“My invitations would be unanswered at best, scathing comments at worst. To be in my company … no one will associate with me now. To do so would be to condone what I have done.”
Robert straightened and dropped his arms back to his sides. “But you have not done anything.”
“I have spent the night away without family or a chaperone. A disaster to all polite society.”
“It was none of your doing—you were dragged away.”
“Immaterial to anyone other than my family. No, I am completely beyond the pale now. A pariah. Any invitation I extend will be ignored or rebuffed for years to come. I can only hope that Ivy will not be painted with the same brush. Perhaps if I go abroad … but I do not want to leave Roseberry. Another house, then. Yes, that might serve. I can buy another manor for the family, well away from my taint.”
“I think you are overstating it.”
“No, I don’t think so.” Lydia sighed deeply and looked down the road in the direction of Bath. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Beyond the pale,” she repeated.