Page 49 of Eight for Losing, One for Loving

Leo scanned the room and suddenly saw the note on the mantelpiece over the fire. Frowning, he unfolded it, reading with astonishment.

Mr Hunt,

If you ever wish to see your cat again – come and get him. Be warned, the ransom is one you will pay for many years to come, for you will be forced to marry a woman long past her prime, but one who has loved you since she was a girl. If this is truly what you desire, you had best find her and bring the means of performing a marriage. There is no time to waste. Be warned, I do not want a dull, well-behaved man of impeccable good sense, but the adventurous, fun-loving, wicked fellow I have needed for so many years.

If you wish to find me, you must cast your mind back to a day, long, long ago, and a girl with braids who followed you where she ought not and got a scolding from her maid when she returned soaked to the bone.

Don’t let me down.

Vi x

Leo let a bark of startled laughter and sat down heavily on the bed, hardly daring to believe his eyes. She had kidnapped Mau!

Before Leo had time to get his befuddled brain around this astonishing information, Lady Trevick came bustling in, with the reverend close behind her.

“Leo, really, I am tired of waiting about when I’ve been in that carriage since early this morning and… and where is Vi?”

“You’d best read this,” Leo said, grinning broadly as he handed the note to Lady Trevick. The countess took the note and read quickly, her face brightening as the words registered.

“Oh!That’s my girl!” Kitty cried in delight, running to Leo and hugging him tightly. “Well, what are you still doing here? Go after her!”

“I… I will, but the means of performing a marriage. How am I to—”

“Leave that to me,” Kitty said firmly. “I shall fly to Doctors’ Commons and demand a special licence. Reverend, I don’t suppose you would care to accompany me? I’m sure things would go easier with you to help things along. If we hurry, we might catch the midday train to town and then we shall be back here in time for supper.”

“I should be delighted to, Lady Trevick,” Harbottle said at once, clearly thrilled by the possibility of further excitement to come.

“Wonderful! Now, don’t you worry about a thing, Leo. Just you bring her back here and then the reverend here will marry you and everything will be perfect!” Kitty said, clapping her hands together in delight.

“That sounds wonderful, ma’am,” Leo said, smiling. “And I think I remember the place she is speaking of, but how—” He fell silent as he considered the question. “Oh, no.”

“What—?” Kitty began, but Leo ran for the door, not waiting to listen.

He took the stairs two at a time, rushing out to the stable yard and getting the attention of the nearest groom.

“Where’s my tilbury?” he demanded, realising at once it was not parked in the corner of the yard where it had spent the night.

“Mrs Huntington took it, sir,” the groom said, his face paling as he realised he might have made an error. “I beg your pardon, but she said you told her to, and she seemed competent with the ribbons, so—”

“Dash it!” Leo muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration. Vi was a capable whip, but she had never driven a tilbury before, and certainly not with such a strong horse in harness. Plus, the horse would be fresh and excitable after its rest. He only hoped she did not come to any harm.

“Sir! Sir!”

Leo turned to see Norton hurrying back into the yard. “It’s gone, sir!” Norton said in dismay. “The tilbury is gone.”

“Wh-Whatever is the matter?” Kitty asked breathlessly, as she and the reverend arrived beside him.

“My wife has taken my tilbury,” Leo said crossly. “So how the devil she expects me to follow her—”

“Faint heart, Mr Hunt, faint heart,” Harbottle said jovially. “I’m afraid you’ll have to carry on to a bigger place to find a carriage and horses for hire. Tadlow is a sleepy place, but as I am going on a little journey with your delightful mama-in-law, I should be happy to lend you Nipper and my dog cart.” Harbottle gestured to where the fat little pony was chewing contentedly on the hay provided for it and Leo stifled a groan.

“You’re… You’re not thinking of going about the countryside in… in that?” Norton said in absolute horror.

“I am,” Leo said firmly. “But settle your feathers, Norton, I will not ask you to come along with me.”

Norton managed to look at once indignant and relieved at this information, which Leo quite understood. He’d look utterly ridiculous tooling about the countryside in that getup, but… but Vi had set him a challenge and he was damned if he would back out of it. His goal was in sight, and no matter what he had to do, he would win her.

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.” Leo said to Harbottle before turning back to his soon-to-be mother-in-law and colouring a little, as he was forced to admit to being low on funds. “Do you think you could lend me some money, Kitty? I only expected to take Vi on a jaunt around Hyde Park and I’m running short.”