The Society had been convened on short notice by Lady Youngstreet to hear a lecture from a Mr. Crisply. Mr. Crisply gave a rather boring talk designed to show quite clearly that there was no way fossil animals could be the predecessors of modern animals. To give credence to the bizarre notion that there might have been earlier versions of contemporary animals was ludicrous, he claimed.
"To accept such an outlandish idea," Mr. Crisply warned in ominous tones, "would open the door to the blasphemous and scientifically impossible theory that human beings might have had some previous ancestors who were far different than the humans of today."
No one, of course, could countenance such an outrageous suggestion. At least not publicly. There was a desultory round of applause when Mr. Crisply finished his talk.
As the crowd broke up into smaller conversational groups, Lord Fry leaned over to murmur to Harriet. "I say. An excellent talk, eh, Miss Pomeroy?"
"Quite excellent," she responded politely. "I was somewhat disappointed he did not mention fossil teeth, however."
"Yes, well, perhaps next time." Lord Fry gave a start. "I say, that reminds me. After the meeting this afternoon, Lady Youngstreet, Applegate, and myself are going to visit a friend who has a most amazing collection of fossil teeth. Would you care to join us?"
Harriet was instantly enthusiastic. "I should be delighted to do so. Does your friend live very far from here?"
"On the outskirts of Town," Fry said. "We shall be taking Lady Youngstreet's carriage."
"Thank you so much for inviting me, sir. I would love to see your friend's teeth."
"Thought so." Fry smiled with satisfaction.
"I shall send a short note to my aunt's house letting her know I shall be somewhat late returning this afternoon," Harriet said. "I would not want my family to worry."
"As you wish," Fry murmured. "Expect Lady Youngstreet can arrange for a member of her staff to deliver it."
Late that afternoon as the last of the other members of the Society took their leave, Harriet was handed up into Lady Youngstreet's old-fashioned traveling coach. Lady Youngstreet smiled benignly as Harriet seated herself beside her.
"I always use this coach for traveling any distance in Town," Lady Youngstreet said. "So much more comfortable than the newer style of Town carriage."
Fry and Applegate sat down across from the ladies on the maroon velvet cushions. Harriet could not help but notice that their expressions were very strained.
"This should be a most enjoyable journey," Lady Youngstreet said.
"I am quite looking forward to it," Harriet said. "I just happen to have my sketchbook in my reticule. "Do you suppose this gentleman with the collection of fossil teeth will allow me to make some drawings?"
"I expect he can be persuaded," Lord Fry mumbled.
The heavy old carriage set off slowly through the crowded streets. When it reached the outskirts of the city, however, it did not slow. Instead, the coachman urged the four-horse team into a sedate canter.
Harriet began to grow uneasy. She glanced out the window and noticed that they were leaving the city and were now in open country. "Are we getting close to your friend's house, Lord Fry?"
Lord Fry turned a dark shade of red. He cleared his throat. "Ahem. I think it's time you were told what is happening, my dear Miss Pomeroy."
"Yes, indeed." Lady Youngstreet patted her hand reassuringly. Her eyes were bright with excitement. "You may rest easy, Harriet. As your faithful friends, we have taken it upon ourselves to rescue you from marriage to the Beast of Blackthorne Hall."
Harriet stared at her. "I beg your pardon?"
Lord Applegate ran his finger around his high cravat and looked more resolute than ever. "We are headed for Gretna Green, Miss Pomeroy."
"Gretna Green? You are kidnapping me?"
Lord Fry frowned. "Not at all, Miss Pomeroy. We are rescuing you. We have been working on our plan since shortly after St. Justin arrived in London. It has become clear he is going to continue to play his wicked games with you. We could not allow it. You are our friend, a fellow fossil collector. We will do what we must."
"Dear heaven," Harriet whispered, stunned. "But why Gretna Green?"
Applegate squared his rather thin shoulders. "It will be my great pleasure to marry you there, Miss Pomeroy. We have decided it is the only way to put a stop to St. Justin's machinations."
"Marry me? Good grief." Harriet did not know whether to laugh or scream. "St. Justin is going to be furious."
"Have no fear," Applegate said. "I shall protect you."
"And I shall assist him," Lord Fry proclaimed.
"So shall I." Lady Youngstreet patted Harriet's hand. "In addition, we have the coachman to aid us. Never fear. You are safe from the Beast, my dear. Now, then, I have brought along a little something to warm the bones. A little nip of brandy always makes a long journey less tiresome, don't you think?"
"I say. Excellent notion, my dear." Fry gave Lady Youngstreet an approving smile as she drew a bottle out of her large reticule.
"Good grief," Harriet said again. Then realization struck her. She frowned. "Does this mean, Lord Fry, that you do not know a friend who has a collection of fossil teeth?"
"Afraid not, my dear," Fry said as he took the brandy bottle from Lady Youngstreet.
"What a disappointment," Harriet said. She sat back in the plush seat of the lumbering coach and resigned herself to wait for Gideon.
She knew it would not take him long to set out after her, and when he finally caught up with the Youngstreet carriage, he would not be in a pleasant frame of mind.
She knew she would have to protect her friends from Gideon's wrath.
Chapter Eleven
Gideon concealed his surprise when Felicity Pomeroy and her aunt were shown into his library very late in the afternoon. Neither lady looked happy, he noticed as he rose to his feet. And Harriet had not accompanied them.
He sensed trouble.
"Good afternoon, ladies," he said as they sat down across from his desk. "To what do I owe the honor of this unexpected visit?"
Effie glanced at Felicity, who nodded encouragingly. Effie turned back to Gideon. "Thank heavens we have found you at home, sir."
"I intend to dine in tonight," he murmured by way of explanation. He folded his hands on the desk in front of him and waited patiently for Effie to get to the point.
"This is a little awkward, my lord." Effie cast another uncertain glance at Felicity, who gave her another brisk nod. "I am not precisely certain we ought to have troubled you. It is rather complicated to explain, you see. However, if what we believe has happened has, indeed, occurred, we are all facing another disaster of monumental proportions."
"Disaster?" Gideon arched an inquiring brow at Felicity. "This is a matter that involves Harriet, then?"
"Yes, my lord," Felicity said firmly. "It does. My aunt is obviously reluctant to explain, but I will get straight to the point. The plain fact is, sir, she has disappeared.»
"Disappeared?"
"We believe she has been kidnapped and is at this very moment being spirited off to Gretna Green."
Gideon felt as if he had just stepped off a cliff. Of all the things he had expected to hear from these two, that had not been one of them. Gretna Green. There was only one reason why anyone went to Gretna Green.
"What in the name of hell are you talking about?" Gideon demanded very softly.
Effie flinched at the harshness of his tone. "We do not know for certain that she has been kidnapped," she said hastily. "That is to say, there is a slight possibility that something of the nature is afoot. But even if she has gone north, it may transpire that she has done so quite willingly."
"Nonsense," said Felicity. "She would not have gone willingly. She is determined to marry St. Justin, even if he has been exhibiting her to Society as if she were an exotic pet."
Gideon scowled at Felicity. "An exotic pet? What the devil is this talk of a pet?"
Effie turned to Felicity before the girl could answer. "She is with Lady Youngstreet, Felicity. And while Lady Youngstreet is known for her eccentricities, I have never heard of her kidnapping anyone."
Gideon held up a hand. "I would like a clear and succinct explanation, if you please I think you had better go first, Miss Pomeroy."
"There is no use pretending or trying to put a polite face on it." Felicity looked straight at Gideon. "I believe Harriet has been kidnapped by certain overzealous members of the Fossils and Antiquities Society."
"Good God," Gideon muttered. His mind instantly conjured up an image of the worshipful glances he had caught Applegate giving Harriet. How many others in the Society had succumbed to her charms? he wondered. "What makes you think that bunch has made off with her?"
Felicity gazed at him intently. "Harriet went to a meeting of the Society this afternoon. A short while ago we had a note from her telling us that some friends were taking her to visit a gentleman who collects fossil teeth, but I have reason to believe that was not the truth."
Gideon ignored Effie, who was muttering something about not being absolutely certain of events. He concentrated on Felicity. "What makes you believe Harriet is not off somewhere viewing fossil teeth, Miss Pomeroy?"
"I questioned the young footman who brought us the note. He said Harriet, Lady Youngstreet, Lord Fry, and Lord Applegate had all gotten into Lady Youngstreet's traveling coach, not her Town carriage. Furthermore, when I made further inquiries, I learned that several bags were put aboard the coach before it left."
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