Chapter 73

“When I got to the back gate, Mr. Esmond was—oh, thank you, Mr. Deverell,” she said as Nick enveloped her in the greatcoat as well. “He was there waiting and he wouldn’t allow me to return to the house. I saw Charlotte—I vow, I’ve never been so glad to see her, but when I called out to her, Mr. Esmond pushed me into his phaeton and climbed in before I could get back out.”

Violet hardly looked like a woman who had just escaped abduction and a possible forced marriage. She was upset, naturally, but hardly hysterical, and there wasn’t a swoon in sight.

“Mr. Esmond said the most dreadful things to me,” Violet continued. “But I suppose that was because I kept trying to take the reins from him. When the horse ran off the road, I was able to jump down from the phaeton and I just began to run.” She glanced up the road. “He hasn’t followed me. Oh, Nicky, I amso glad to see you. I thought I’d have to walk all the way back to London and I’m only wearing dancing slippers.”