Page 39 of So Wild A Heart

He nodded. “I thought that it was precisely the sort of thing you were marrying me for.”

Miranda chuckled. “Hardly. I can find any number of boring social occasions on my own in New York. I told you, it is the freedom that marriage offers that interests me.”

He looked at her consideringly, then leaned over and kissed her. “And what about this? Does that figure into your consideration of marriage?”

Miranda managed a breezy smile, determined not to let him know that his kiss had sent tingles running all through her. “Should it?” she countered and rose to her feet. “I fancy another promenade. Shall we?”

“Of course.” He rose, saying nothing about the quick way she had cut off the romantic scene.

They strolled once more down the wide corridor between the boxes. This time, as they reached the end and were about to turn to walk back, a man came toward them out of the dark. He was not masked, and Miranda saw his face clearly in the light that spilled from the promenade. But it was what he held in his hand as he rushed toward them that drew a startled gasp from her—a short-bladed knife that glittered in the glow of the lanterns.

Devin saw the knife at the same time she did, and he twisted away from the man, jerking Miranda around behind him as he did so. The man’s knife sliced harmlessly through the extra folds of Devin’s domino. Devin let go of Miranda’s hand and grabbed for the man, seizing his wrist. But the fellow twisted away and took to his heels.

Devin started after him, then glanced back at Miranda and stopped, his face a study in frustration. Miranda knew he longed to chase the miscreant down and punish him, but he could scarcely leave her alone in such a place.

“I think it is time we returned,” Devin said tersely as he took her hand and led her out of the Gardens.

“Does this sort of thing happen to you often?” Miranda asked mildly as they settled into the hansom Devin hailed.

He glanced at her, then let out a chuckle, shaking his head. “Any other woman of my acquaintance would be having hysterics right now.”

“Would you like me to?” Miranda asked politely. “I suppose I could.”

“No. This is far preferable, believe me.”

“You did not answer my question,” Miranda pointed out. “Do you make a habit of being set upon by thieves?”

“Not usually. Perhaps it is something to do with you.”

Miranda quirked one eyebrow at him. “I don’t think you can get out of it that easily. Is it one of your creditors, do you think? We might tell Papa to pay that one off first.”

Devin burst out laughing at her calm remarks. “It would have been more helpful, then, if he had told us who he represented. As it is, I haven’t a clue.”

“Then I suppose it is a good thing that you are going up to Darkwater in a few days.”

“Yes.” He looked at her. “Do you think that you can keep yourself out of trouble while I am gone?”

“My dear sir, I believe so, since it seems that you are the one who leads me into it.”

The Aincourts left two days later for Darkwater. Rachel and her mother had to make sure that the house was put in the best order that it could be for the upcoming nuptials, and a hint dropped in Rachel’s ear made sure that Devin accompanied them. It was part of Miranda’s plan to get him as far away from London and Leona as she could, and the family estate in Derbyshire answered her needs perfectly. Besides, Devin was far too distracting. She needed all her wits about her when she dealt with him, and that was difficult when she had so many things to do. As it was, the fact that thoughts of him kept popping into her mind at times when she should have been concentrating on other things caused her enough problems.

The two weeks that she and her family stayed in London after the Aincourts left sped by. Aside from the time-consuming fittings for her wedding clothes and the numerous shopping expeditions for accessories, there were also her normal business activities to pursue—letters to write, accounts to be gone over—and though Hiram did much of the work, there were things that required her personal attention, especially since her father was often embroiled in conferences with the attorneys over the wedding settlement. Miranda also had to oversee the task of packing up her entire family for their trip to Darkwater, and shop for wedding presents for her soon-to-be husband, both the formal, somewhat impersonal present that was expected, as well as a more personal one that she had in mind.

Two days before they were to leave for Darkwater, Miranda was seated at her desk in the study, going over the final packing list with the butler, when one of the footmen entered and gave her a card on a small salver, saying that there was a gentleman there to see her.

“Who is he?” Miranda asked, frowning down at the card. “Cannot Elizabeth or Father take care of him?”

“No, miss. Mr. Upshaw is out, sir, and Mrs. Upshaw is upstairs taking a nap. She is feeling poorly today.” The young man paused, then added, “He said it was important, miss. I told him you were busy, and he said he would wait all afternoon if he had to. He looks determined, miss.”

“Oh, bother. All right. Show him into the drawing room.”

She walked down the hall to the formal dining room, rolling down her sleeves and fastening the cuff buttons. She had barely walked into the room when the footman appeared again, with another man behind him.

“Mr. Caulfield,” he intoned and backed out of the room, leaving Miranda alone with the stranger.

The two of them stood silently for a moment, studying each other. Her visitor was a man well up in years, with a shock of white hair and hands that trembled. He was dressed well, in the style of an old-fashioned gentleman, and he carried himself ramrod straight, his hat and a gold-tipped cane in his hand. His eyes were blue, and there was a fierce light to them that made Miranda a trifle uneasy.

“Miss Upshaw,” he began, his voice surprisingly firm for his years. “I have come to warn you.”