5
" Don’t you agree?”
“Indeed,” Robert answered without thought, and then sharply shook his head. “I beg your pardon. You were saying?”
“That Mr. Warner is a thorough investigator, and despite his doubts, I believe he will succeed in ferreting out our master criminal.” She stared up at him from the settee, looking quite at ease.
“Master criminal?”
“Yes, Les and Morley could hardly be accused of the cleverness needed for such a planned endeavor.”
“Yes … no…” With a frown, Robert scanned the room. “Indeed, a master … Where is Mr. Warner?”
Lydia laughed, a delightful carillon. “Robert, my dear friend, you were woolgathering. I thought as much; your expression was rather blank.”
“Was it?” Robert was very glad to know that he did not look the lovesick calf he felt. "
― Cindy Anstey , Duels & Deception
6
" I have come to a conclusion.” Lydia tried to stifle a yawn.
“Have you, indeed?”
“Yes. I have decided that I do not like adventures or surprises. Highly overrated.”
Robert’s soft chuckle drifted through the dark.
“More of a misadventure, my dear Lydia, and certainly not a surprise, which are generally thought of as pleasant things. No, best label today a shocking misadventure and not rule out surprises altogether.”
“My father thought them overrated, too.”
“What? Surprises? No, no. Surprises are unexpected guests, a beautiful flower among the rocks, or a woodland trail that opens up to an astonishing vista.”
“Lovely when you put it that way, but there are some surprises that are not pleasant in the least.” Lydia’s thoughts remained fixed on her father. “Hence my lack of appreciation. "
― Cindy Anstey , Duels & Deception
8
" Robert gestured Lydia ahead of him across the threshold of number nineteen. Once inside, the atmosphere was entirely different from his previous visits. Silent calm had been replaced by chatter, laughter, and scolding that bounced into the three-story entrance from various regions of the house. There was a smell of newly lit fires, and the accompanying puffs of smoke, as well as the enticing aroma of cooking wafting up from the kitchens. It was a bustling, busy household.
Shodster stepped into the hall and rushed toward Robert, hands outstretched ready to take Robert’s hat and cane.
“Thank you, no. Miss Whitfield and I are going for a walk.” Robert took a half step back. “We will be leaving shortly.”
Looking to Lydia for confirmation, Shodster nodded. “I do beg your pardon, Miss Whitfield. I was not here for the door. It will not happen again.”
“Worry not, Shodster.” Lydia shrugged. “I learned how to open a door some time ago. The trick is to turn the handle.”
The butler blinked at Lydia’s lightheartedness. “Yes. That would, indeed, be the trick. "
― Cindy Anstey , Duels & Deception
14
" You do know that Cranford is getting more and more difficult, don’t you?” Robert shook his head as he crossed over to where Cassidy was seated by the fire.
“Told you to shove off?”
“No. Just that you were not here.”
Cassidy laughed. “The man must like you. Sees most of my friends as ne’er-do-wells and slams the door in their faces.”
“After telling them to shove off?”
“Exactly.” Pointing to the seat opposite, Cassidy yawned. “So why, pray tell, did I have to rise so early?”
“It’s almost eleven.”
“Yes, but in order to be ready, I had to be up by the ungodly hour of nine.”
“Unforgivable.”
“I think so.”
“Well, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“You got me up early to ask a favor. I know I owe you—but, really, I would have been in a much more receptive mood had you waited until … say seven this evening.”
“Perhaps, but this favor involves intrigue, betrayal, feminine wiles, and a healthy dose of acting the man-about-town.”
“I am a man-about-town; acting would not be required there.”
“Good to know.… And so, the favor.”
“You have my interest. Tell me more.”
Robert smiled and shifted forward on his seat.
Cassidy did the same.
“Let me give you a little background first.”
Cassidy smiled. “As you wish. "
― Cindy Anstey , Duels & Deception
17
" Robert.” It was a sigh and a call at the same time. She ignored the lump in her throat and called again.
In an instant, her view was obscured. “Lydia!”
They were eye-to-eye, and neither said anything for a moment or two.
Finally, after an audible gulp, Robert spoke in a whisper. “Are you all right?”
“I’ve had better days,” she said in seriousness, and then realized the absurdity of her words and chuckled. “I’m covered in dirt, cuts, and bruises and sporting a lovely goose egg above my ear. One of my favorite gowns is nothing but a ruin, but other than that, I am fine. And now that you are here, I am better.”
“Thank the Lord. I cannot tell you how relieved I am to hear you say so. I have been imagining all sorts … well, let’s talk about this later.”
“Yes, when we don’t have to whisper through a wall.”
“Indeed.”
“So what is the plan?”
“Hmm … well, plans are a little lacking at this moment. I had expected to rush in and simply grab you, but there are three guards by the door. I procured a thick stick, but three to one … well, not good odds. My second idea was to loosen some of these boards and pull you out. I have also acquired a horse. So once out, we can sneak or run, whichever is the most prudent.”
“Yes, but the getting-out part seems to be the problem. For, if I am not mistaken, none of the boards on this side of the barn are loose, and the other sides are too close to the villains.”
“There does seem to be a decided lack of cooperation on the part of the building. I have, however, noticed something that might offer another possibility. It would require a great deal of trust on your part.”
“Oh?” Lydia was almost certain she was not going to like this new possibility.
“Yes. There is a hay door above me. Is there a loft inside?”
“Are you thinking that I should climb a rickety ladder to the loft and then try to escape through the hay door?”
“Just a thought.”
“How would I get down?”
“That would be the trust part.”
“Ahh. I would jump, and you would catch me.” Lydia visualized her descent, skirts every which way, and a very hard landing that might produce a broken body part.
“Yes. Not a brilliant plan. Do you have another?” Robert sounded hopeful.
“Not really. But might I suggest a variation to yours?”
“By all means.”
“I will return to my cell and get the rope that the thugs used to tie me up.”
“They tied you up?”
“Yes. But don’t let it bother you.…”
“No?”
“No. Because if they hadn’t, then I wouldn’t have a rope to lower myself from the hay door. I can use the one they used on my feet; it’s thick and long.”
“I like that so much better than watching you fling yourself from a high perch.”
“Me too. It might take a few minutes as I must return to my original cell—I escaped, you know.”
“I didn’t. That is quite impressive.”
“Thank you. Anyway, I must return to my cell for the rope, climb the ladder, cross the loft to the door … et cetera, et cetera. All in silence, of course.”
“Of course.”
“It might take as much as twenty minutes.”
“I promise to wait. Won’t wander off … pick flowers or party with the thugs.”
“Good to know.”
“Just warn me before you jump.”
“Oh, yes. I will most certainly let you know.” With a deep sigh, Lydia headed back to her cell, slowly and quietly. "
― Cindy Anstey , Duels & Deception
20
" With a quick glance into the room, noting the inquiring faces, Lydia reached out for Robert's waistcoat and slowly pulled him into the shadows. "There is one matter that counts above all else. Do you love me?"
This time, there was no hesitation. "With all my heart, until the day I die, and beyond, if there is an afterlife."
A flood of relief washed over Lydia, leaving her speechless... for all of a moment. "Then, I will marry you, if you will ask."
Before he had a chance to say anything, Lydia leaned forward. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted her mouth to his. She could feel his heart pounding out a quick-time rhythm as he slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
When their lips met, she thought her insides would melt into a puddle of ecstasy. Filled with a delicious, undefined longing, Lydia leaned in closer, wishing that she could stay locked in his arms forever. But all too soon, Robert lifted his head, taking a ragged breath.
"Lydia, my dove?"
"Yes, Robert?"
"I have just thoroughly compromised you."
"Thoroughly...what ever shall we do?"
"We will have to announce our intention this very evening -- before there is any hint of a scandal."
"Excellent idea. What are our intentions?"
Robert chuckled and leaner over to kiss her forehead, but Lydia lifted herself up on her toes, initiating another session of excellent compromising.
"Lydia, my dove?" Robert said again eventually.
"Yes, Robert."
"Will you grant me the great privilege of your hand in marriage?"
Lydia closed her eyes and savored his proposal---the offer of a union for life. Exquisite joy, overwhelming and eternal, filled her to the brim; the sensation was so marvelous that she forgot to breathe for a time.
The air around them stilled, as did Robert. He was waiting. How could he not know her answer? She had encouraged the proposal. And still he waited.
Lydia opened her eyes and grinned. "I would be honored."
The relief on his face nearly brought tears to her eyes. She lifted her hand and cupped his chin. "I would be honored," she repeated. "I love you so very much."
As her future husband lowered his head once again, Lydia sighed dreamily. "We should go in," she whispered, tightening her hold, preventing him from going anywhere.
"Absolutely," he said, nibbling at her lower lip.
All thoughts of ballrooms and inquisitive glances were instantly drowned by the flow of marvelous sensations coursing through her body and a sudden desire to drag Robert deeper into the shadows.
They would go back into the ballroom soon...but not yet. "
― Cindy Anstey , Duels & Deception
