“Of course he does,” Sebastian said. “He is always thinking two steps ahead.”
“Not always,” Trajan muttered, but hehadgiven this eventuality considerable thought. “Andrew, I am leaving you in charge of Gull Hall in my absence. Florence and I will leave for London just before dawn tomorrow.”
“What of my aunt?” Florence asked.
“Hermia stays here,” he said, turning back to the aunt in question. “We have to move fast. As brilliant as you were today, I don’t think you will be able to keep up. My cousins will look after you. Is that all right?”
“Of course, dear boy. I never expected to travel with you to London. I am in no fit condition. I shall be fine right here.”
“Not fit?” He grinned. “You are an acrobatic marvel, Hermia.”
She winked at him. “I was rather limber in my younger days.”
The saucy comment went completely over Florence’s head, but this further warmed Trajan’s heart toward her. She was so innocent when it came to men.
Her mind was already lost in thoughts of their escape. “Oh, then you and I will be traveling alone.”
“Yes, it cannot be helped. You need to get those letters to London and in the hands of the Princess of Wales as fast as possible. We cannot travel with an entourage. Where are the letters?”
“I have them hidden in the secret pocket of my gown.”
Trajan arched an eyebrow in surprise. “There’s a secret pocket even in that pretty gown? Well done. I never would have guessed.”
“And he’s been looking closely,” Sebastian said with a snicker that earned him a frown from Trajan and a knock on the head from Andrew.
“Dolt,” Andrew muttered.
Florence clasped her hands together. “Um, I would need a moment of privacy to withdraw them.”
Nathan cast her a leering grin. “I would offer to assist, but I think Trajan would bite my head off if I dared.”
“Bloody right, I would. Andrew, give Nathan a knock on the head, too.”
“Gladly. Dolt,” Andrew muttered again, this time aimed at Nathan.
Trajan crossed to the window to peer out of it. “Florence, leave it hidden in your gown for now. Do you have secret pockets in any of the other gowns you plan to bring along?”
“All of them,” she admitted. “They are quite useful.”
“Of course,” he mumbled, but the notion amused him. This wassuch a typical Florence thing to do. But this was her, eccentric and also very clever.
However, he did not dwell on all the things he liked about her. He was still on edge, and could not shake off the feeling that something bad was about to happen. Perhaps because their plan had gone off so smoothly.
He continued to stare out the window.
“What has you so engrossed?” Florence asked. “Surely Frampton is at home gloating over what he believes is my failed attempt. He has no idea I have the letters.”
Trajan turned back to her and frowned. “Do you not understand the nature of this beast? He isn’t finished with you. He’s a bloody bastard—pardon the profanity.”
Nathan frowned. “Do you think he will do something out of sheer malice? Even though he believes those letters are still in his possession? Shouldn’t he be satisfied that he won? Well,thinkshe won.”
Sebastian was also frowning. “Perhaps he will simply gloat and open a bottle of champagne to celebrate.”
“He may do that, but it will not be the only thing he does. He is vindictive by nature,” Trajan said.
“Would he be so foolish? He knows I will soon be your duchess,” Florence remarked. “He wouldn’t dare.”
Trajan arched an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t he?”
