Nunnelly looked over at Julia in her lads trousers, rough shirt and cap. Thank the Lord he didnt make it up here, miss, or that would have been the end of all of us.
Stonehaven wouldnt have recognized me, Julia replied confidently. Hes never seen me. That time he came to see Selby in the country was when Mama was so dreadfully sick, and I never ventured downstairs.
That may be, miss, but your disguise wouldnt ha lasted ten seconds, and hed a known ye were a colleen. He shook his head. Tis too dangerous, yer comin with us like this.
Where would you two have been tonight if I hadnt come? Julia retorted. Besides, its my plan. I have to be here.
This was an argument they had had many times before, and Nunnelly knew he had no chance of winning it. Julia had always been the most headstrong person hed ever knownman or womanand she had been able to twist him around her little finger since she was a mere slip of a girl.
Nunnelly sighed and shook his head. The truth of it is, Miss Julie, it dont look to be workin.
Julia sighed. I know, Nunnelly. Youre right.
This was the third time they had attempted to seize Lord Stonehaven, and he had been too quick and too good for them every time.
Hes a fighter, miss, and a good one. Ive heard he works out with the Gentleman himself. His voice deepened in awe as he mentioned the most renowned pugilist of the day, Gentleman Jackson. Its strong, he is, and quick. Some of the gentlemen can box, ye see, but in a real fight, theyre more useless than Jasper there. But this onefilthy poltroon though he ishe cuts a fine figure in a fight. He paused, then added thoughtfully, There are some men I could get to help. Even he couldnt take on four or five of us and win.
No, Julia responded quickly. I dont want too many people to know about this. You and Jasper are different. Both Nunnelly and the groom had worked for her family for years. They couldnt have been more loyal if they had been actual members of the family. But strangersit would never do for word of this to leak out.
No, miss, the coachman agreed fervently. He was silent for a moment as they drove through the dark streets of London. They were almost home when he cast a speculative look at Julia and began tentatively, Maybe we should forget it, miss.
Julia whirled around, her eyes shooting fire. What? Forget about Selby? Do you not care anymore about him? Do you not care if his name is cleared or if Gilbert has to live under the shadow of scandal all his life? Dont you care about getting the man who did it to him? Or are you scared?
Stung, the coachman replied, Theres no man alive can call Mike Nunnelly a coward, miss, and get away with it. And theres no call to be tellin me I dont care about yer brother. Its jist that Im thinkin of you, Miss Julia. Maybe its time ye did something else, time ye got on with your life, thought of marrying and babies and such.
A lesser man would have quailed before the fierce light in Julias eyes. Marriage? Babies? she replied scornfully. Are you saying that I should tend to my knitting and let men do the work? Besides, how do you think I shall get a husband with the world thinking my brother was aa thief! Her eyes filled with angry tears.
Now, dont ye go tryin to change the subject on me. Its this plan were talkin about, not your brother, God rest his soul. The coachman crossed himself and continued. The fact is, we did our best, miss, and it didnt work. Weve been here three weeks now, followin him around, watchin him go in and out, chasin women and playin cards and goin to that club of his. Why, its a miracle to catch the man alone. Always with friends or some fancy piece on his armswhich, beggin your pardon, miss, you shouldnt even be seein.
I know. Julias expression turned thoughtful.
Three times weve managed to take him by surprise and alone, and hes got clean away, every one. If we dont be usin more men, then whatre we to do? I ask you. Its suspicious he is nowdid ye hear what he said to me? He knows it was us before, maybe not the first timebut some stranger tryin to knock ye over the head three times, it cant be jist bad luck. Theres no sneakin up on him again.
I realize that. You are right. Obviously this plan isnt going to work. But I am not going to give up. Not after what he did to Selby.
Three years earlier Julias brother, Selby, had been accused of stealing money from a trust fund of which he was a trustee. The man who had accused him, and who had proven to the world that Selby was guilty, was Deverel Grey, Lord Stonehaven. Though Selby had insisted he was innocent, public opinion had been hard against him. Indeed, the evidence had been compelling, convincing almost everyone except Selbys wife and sister. In the end, Selby had shot himself while he was alone at his hunting box. People had called it suicide and taken it as further proof of his guilt. Even Phoebe, his wife, thought he had killed himself, driven to it by despair over his inability to make anyone believe him. Only Julia had clung to the belief that the shooting had been an accident, but she had placed the blame for his carelessness on the despair and frustration he had felt. The ultimate blame, she believed, lay with the man who had hounded Selby to his death, Lord Stonehaven.
Julia turned to Nunnelly, her chin jutting out in the stubborn way he knew so well. We will simply have to come up with another plan.
Another plan? The coachman frowned. Have ye hatched another one, then? The workings of Julias mind awedand often alarmedthe stolid Irishman.
Yes, one just came to me.
What is it, then?
Julia glanced at the loyal servant. There was no way that she could tell him the truth. Lets wait and see.
Nunnelly grumbled at her answer, but Julia ignored him, settling back in the high coachmans seat and contemplating the dark houses around them. It was a daring plan. But it was, she thought with swelling hope, a plan that could work.
They had been studying Lord Stonehaven for weeks now, and she knew his weaknesses. She would use those weaknesses against him, and this time she would succeed.
She would bring Lord Stonehaven downby seducing him.
1
Julia, no! Absolutely not! Phoebe, Julias petite blond sister-in-law, jumped to her feet at Julias words, her hand flying to her chest as if to keep her heart from leaping right out of it. You cannot. You must not. You dont know what you are saying!
Julia sighed. She had known that Phoebe would react like this to the announcement of her new plan. Seduction was simply not something a well-bred young lady of 1811 set out to accomplish. I do know what Im saying. And I dont intend to actually sleep with the man.
Phoebe let out a strangled cry and sank back into her chair. Julia!
I should think that would please you, Julia stated practically.
Well, of course I dont want you totoyou knowbut, Julia, dear, you show such a want of propriety! To even speak of such a thing! Her cheeks flamed at the thought.
How else can I explain it to you? Julia had little use for many of the conventions of Society. Because of her mothers long illness, she had not made her debut when she should have, and then there had been the tremendous scandal around her brother, after which she and Phoebe had been ostracized by the ton. So she had never lived through a stifling London Season, her every word and action examined and criticized by the leading lights of the fashionable world. That, Phoebe was sure, was to blame for Julias lack of conventionality.