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went on his trips. Lyon, I really don't want to answer any more of your
questions."
"Just one more, Christina. Will you let me escort you to Creston's ball on
Saturday? It will be very proper. Diana will be with us."
"You know my aunt won't allow it," Christina protested.
The carriage came to a halt in front of Christina's home. Lyon opened the
door, dismounted, and turned to lift Christina to the ground. He held her a
bit longer than necessary, but Christina didn't take exception. "Simply tell
your aunt that arrangements have already been made. I'll call for you at
nine."
"I do suppose it will be all right. Aunt Patricia need never know. She's going
to the country to visit a sick friend. If I don't mention the ball, I really
won't have to lie. It isn't quite the same if the Countess believes I mean to
stay home, is it? Or is it still a lie by deliberate silence, I wonder."
Lyon smiled. "You really do have trouble telling a lie, don't you, sweet? It
is a noble trait," he added.
Heaven help her, she really mustn't laugh. Lyon would certainly grow
suspicious then. "Yes, it is difficult for me," she confessed.
"You don't know how it pleases me to find a woman with such high standards,
Christina."
"Thank you, Lyon. May I put a question to you now?"
Elbert opened the door just then. Christina became distracted. She smiled at
the butler, then waved him inside. "I shall see the door closed, Elbert. Thank
you."
Lyon patiently waited until Christina turned back to him. "Your question?" he
gently prodded.
"Oh, yes," Christina said. "First of all, I would like to ask you if you will
be attending Sir Hunt's party Thursday evening."
"Are you going?"
"Yes."
"Then I shall be there."
"There is one more question, please."
"Yes?" Lyon asked, smiling. Christina was acting terribly shy all of a sudden.
A faint blush covered her cheeks, and she couldn't quite meet his gaze.
"Will you marry me, Lyon? For just a little while?"
"What?"
He really hadn't meant to shout, but the woman did say the damnedest things.
He couldn't have heard her correctly. Marriage? For just a while? No, he had
misunderstood. "What did you say?" he asked again, calming his voice.
"Will you marry me? Think about it, Lyon, and do let me know. Good day, sir."
The door closed before the Marquess of Lyonwood could summon a
reaction.["chapter_8"]
Chapter Seven
["#Contents"]Contents- ["#chapter_7"]Prev| ["#chapter_9"]Next
It took over three weeks before Mylala was able to find a captain willing to
take the risk of helping us escape. I don't know what I would have done
without my loyal maid. She put her family and her friends in jeopardy to aid
me. I listened to her advice, for she had been in my husband's household for
several years and knew his ways.
I had to act as though nothing had changed. Yes, I played the loving wife, but
every night I prayed for Edward's death. Mylala suggested that I not take any
possessions with me. When the call came for me to go, I would simply walk away
with only the clothes on my back.
Two nights before word came from the captain, I went to see Edward in his
quarters. I entered by the side door again, very quietly, as a precaution
against finding Nicolle with him again. Edward was alone. He was sitting at
his desk, holding a large, sparkling sapphire in his hands. On the desk top
were over twenty other gems. Edward was fondling them in much the same way he
fondled Nicolle. I stood there, in the shadows, watching him. The madman
actually spoke to the jewels. After another few minutes, he wrapped the gems
in a cloth and put them back in a small black lacquered box.
There was a false panel built into the wall. Edward slid the box into the dark
crevice.
I went back to my rooms and related what I'd seen to my maid. She told me
she'd heard a rumor that the treasury was barren. We came to the conclusion
that the revolution was closer to reality than we'd believed. My husband had
converted the coins into jewels, for they would be much easier to carry with
him when he left his country.
I vowed to steal the jewels. I wanted to hurt Edward in any way that I could.
Mylala cautioned me against such a plan, but I was past caring. The jewels
belonged to the people. I promised myself that one day I'd find a way to give
the jewels back.
God, I was so noble, but so very, very naive. I really thought I would get
away with it.
Journal entry September 1, 1795
~
The early morning hours belonged to Christina. It was a peaceful, quiet time
of day, for the Countess rarely made an appearance or a demand before noon.
Christina's aunt preferred to take her morning meal of biscuits and tea in
bed, and only broke that ritual when an important visitation couldn't be
rescheduled.
Christina was usually dressed and finished with her duties before the full
light of dawn warmed the city. She and her aunt shared a lady's maid between
them, but Beatrice had quite enough to do filling the Countess's orders. For
that reason, Christina took care of her clothes and her bedroom. In truth, she
was happy with the arrangement. She didn't have to keep up a pretense when she
was alone in her room. Since Beatrice rarely interrupted her, Christina didn't
have to wrinkle the covers on her bed every morning to give the appearance
she'd actually slept there.
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