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strangest feeling that we haven’t seen the last of him. No matter. And has Williams agreed to another passenger?”
    “Yes. I had to use a little more persuasion than with you, Ashley. He is willing enough now, though.”
    She recalled the conversation she had had with her coachman a little while back. It had been an odd one. Williams had only relented when she had mentioned Sir Nicholas by name. Indeed, now that she thought about it, she was certain Williams had recognized the name.
    She would ask her uncle about it when she arrived in England. If anyone knew anything, he would, and she couldn’t deny that she was developing an interest in Sir Nicholas.

C hapter 4
    Roberta watched Williams from the open doorway of the inn as he checked to see if the horses were properly harnessed. It was always a pleasure to witness his strong, capable hands working in such an expert way.
    “Does everything pass muster, Williams?” she called out.
    He straightened up and nodded. “I’m about finished here,” he replied. “I’ll just go upstairs and see if I can be of any use there. Sommat tells me Henri could use a bit of help.”
    Roberta laughed. “Papa is not that infirm,” she said, finding it difficult to believe that Sir Nicholas would accept the helping hands of two men well into their fifties. He would look far too undignified, and that, she felt, wouldn’t suit his arrogant soul one whit. “But you had best go and check Henri’s handiwork,” she added softly as Williams passed her. “I left him in charge of aging Sir Nicholas. Don’t forget, he is supposed to be my father.”
    “Very good, Miss Roberta. I’ll do as you suggest.”
    Roberta retreated to the parlor to wait. She had long since finished readying herself for the journey, and all she had left to do was put on her bonnet. It was perched on the back of one of the settles, and she eyed it now in delight. It was a gay little thing, all netting, feathers and flowers. She had almost decided against buying it, because it had been expensive, but she was glad now that she had. It suited her present adventurous mood to perfection. She ran her finger down one of the feathers just as Mrs. Ashley joined her.
    “Surely you’re not going to wear that, Roberta,” Mrs. Ashley exclaimed. “It would be such a shame if you ruined it before we got to England.”
    “I can’t imagine why you think I’ll spoil it, Ashley. After all, I shall be sitting in the carriage all day. Anyway, it suits my present mood.”
    “But you’ll only draw attention to yourself,” Mrs. Ashley said, shaking her head. “And that, I should think, would have been the last thing you wished to do, on account of our extra passenger.”
    “Nonsense, Ashley. That’s the very thing I’m striving for. If we are stopped by the comte or any of his men, I don’t want them to look at anyone but me. Now, don’t worry,” she added hastily as a worried look settled on Mrs. Ashley’s face. “We probably won’t encounter anybody, but it is better to be prepared.” She broke off as she heard a noise outside and turned toward the door. “Ah! That must be Sir Nicholas.”
    She placed her bonnet on a side table, then walked into the corridor and watched with amusement as Sir Nicholas made his way slowly down the stairs. He was flanked by Williams and Henri and, in a voice she didn’t recognize, was testily issuing orders to Williams for fresh hot bricks to be placed in the carriage.
    “You can never trust these damned Frenchies to do the right thing, Williams,” he said with a fine disregard for Henri’s feelings. “They have no idea about creature comforts, except when it comes to filling their bellies with wine.”
    The change in Sir Nicholas was miraculous, and Roberta marveled at the transformation. His shoulders, seemingly bowed with age, forced him into a low stoop. A clever stance, she thought approvingly, for it made him appear to be a good six inches shorter than his natural height.