Saving Lord Berkshire - Laura Beers Page 0,56

the waltz without causing a scene.”

Knowing the Bow Street Runner had a point, he replied, “I appreciate your discretion in the matter.”

“I suspect that they are heading towards Gretna Green,” Mr. Follett stated.

Edward grunted. “That is my thought, as well.”

“Would you like me to go with you?”

“No,” he replied with a shake of his head. “It is better if I go alone to retrieve my sister.”

Mr. Follett tipped his head. “I wish you luck, my lord.”

As Edward started walking through the crowded ballroom, he noticed that Miss Blackmore was following closely behind him. He didn’t bother to wait for her as he left the townhouse and walked down the long line of coaches. Once he found his, he started barking up orders at his driver before he turned back to face her.

“You should go back inside,” he ordered, pointing at the townhouse. “I will go and retrieve Kitty.”

She squared her shoulders with determination. “I want to go with you.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Because I can’t help but think I am partially responsible for Kitty’s decision to elope.”

Opening up the coach door, Edward growled, “Make no mistake about that. If you had let me lock her in her bedchamber like I had intended, then none of this would have happened.” He eyed her closely. “Are you sure you want to go with me?”

“Yes,” she replied. “We need to stop Kitty from making a big mistake.”

He put his hand out. “Fine, but the trip may be grueling, especially at the pace I intend to travel.”

“That doesn’t concern me,” she responded, slipping her gloved hand into his.

“It should,” he replied. “I don’t intend to stop until we have overtaken Mr. Kendall’s coach.”

“Then let us hope that we overtake them quickly,” she remarked before she stepped into the coach.

Edward turned towards a footman and ordered, “Go inform the Blackmore sisters discreetly that Miss Blackmore is accompanying me on a trip. Inform them that she is under my protection, and no harm shall come to her.”

The footman tipped his head and went to do his bidding.

As Edward stepped into the coach, he couldn’t help but wonder if this night could get any worse.

14

Katherine stared out the window as the debate within her continued to rage. She felt a responsibility for Kitty, compelling her to act, but to be alone with a man in a closed coach would ruin her reputation, assuming anyone found out. Why had she made such a rash decision? She never was this impulsive. She always took the time to evaluate her next step, carefully considering both sides of an argument. But there was something about Lord Berkshire that caused her to act irrationally.

Lord Berkshire’s voice broke through her musings. “I can’t help but notice you seem conflicted with your choice to come along.”

She shifted her gaze to meet his. “Is it that obvious?”

“It is,” he replied with a hint of a smile, “unless something is really interesting just on the other side of that window. After all, you have been watching the countryside for hours.”

“This may surprise you,” she admitted with a weak smile, “but I am usually not this impulsive.”

“That does not surprise me in the least,” he commented. “Frankly, I am surprised you wanted to come along.”

“As I said before, I can’t help but feel partially responsible for Kitty.”

“Well, for what it is worth, I am glad that you decided to come,” he remarked.

“You are?”

He nodded. “It will be nice to have someone to talk to since I don’t know how long it will be until we overtake Mr. Kendall’s coach, if at all,” he shared. “There are many roads that travel to Gretna Green.”

“How did you know which road to take?”

“I instructed the driver to take the fastest, most reliable road, hoping that Mr. Kendall had the same sense to do so.”

“And if he didn’t?”

Lord Berkshire frowned. “Then we shall arrive before them.”

“Is it safe to travel these roads at night?”

“There is always some risk associated with traveling at night, but we don’t have the luxury of time at the moment.”

She held up her right arm, revealing her green reticule. “I do have an overcoat pistol in my reticule.”

Surprise flickered in his eyes. “Do you know how to use a pistol?”

“I do. Quite proficiently, I might add,” she answered. “My father taught me how to use one when I had my first Season. He felt it was an important skill for every debutante to know.”

“I must admit that I am impressed.”

She lowered her arm. “It brings me great comfort knowing