The Reluctant Reformer Read Online Free PDF

obvious. This was a mistake. She had been mistaken for someone else, one of Madame Dubarry’s girls, of course. Perhaps even the famed prostitute Lady X, she realized with dismay. She still wore the red mask Maisey had given her.
    â€œOh, dear,” she murmured somewhat faintly, drawing her abductor’s attention. Forcing a smile, though she wasn’t at all sure that the man could see it, Maggie sat up as straight as she could. Attempting an air of confidence, she explained, “There has been a dreadful mistake.”
    â€œWhat mistake would that be, Lady Wentworth?”
    His address managed to knock some of the wind out of her sails, and Maggie couldn’t hide her surprise. “You know my name?”
    â€œOf course.”
    Well, that blew her theory to kingdom come, Maggie realized with distress. Good Lord, he knew who she was. There was no mistake. She had been deliberately kidnapped. But why, for goodness’ sake? Before shecould ask, her kidnapper, apparently noting her fear, tried to reassure her.
    â€œThere is no need to be alarmed, my lady. The secret of your exploits shall remain safe with me. I have no more desire to unmask you to the world than you yourself must have to be unmasked. In fact, if I have my way, there shall be no chance of anyone ever finding out the games you have been playing. But understand: your alter ego dies this night. You shall not be returning to your previous employ.”
    Maggie bit her lip, holding back any protest she might have wished to make about her lucrative career as G. W. Clark. There was no sense in annoying her captor until she knew his identity and just how much of a threat he was.
    â€œNow,” the man went on gently, apparently pleased that she had made no argument. “You should rest. We shall be traveling for several more hours.” Having given that order, he raised a cane to rap on the ceiling of the coach, which drew to an immediate halt. With a nod in her direction, he disembarked from the carriage. Seconds after the door closed, the carriage rocked slightly, as if he were mounting it to sit beside its driver; then the coach jolted back into motion.
    Once the conveyance had settled back into its previous monotonous rhythm, Maggie let out a small moan. She had been kidnapped by some madman who knew of her secret doings as G. W. Clark! Of course, there had always been the chance that someone might discover those pursuits, but she had never considered that up on discovering them, that someone might wish to kidnap her and force her to stop! Her real fear had been that they would reveal her and destroy her reputation.
    She wearily leaned her head back against the cushioned seat. It seemed she had gotten into a true pickle this time. Not that such was strange for her; as a child her life had often seemed like one calamity after another. The fact had been something of a family joke. “Only you,” her family had said. “Only you, Maggie, could end up in such a fix. Only you, Maggie, could land yourself in such a mess.” And she had to agree. Just look at how she had ended up tucked into the armoire of a brothel. And how she’d been forced to climb out the window to escape an education she’d not been seeking. And now this kidnapping!
    Maggie silently cursed herself for not allowing Banks to accompany her to Dubarry’s. The butler often served as a bodyguard of sorts during her adventures, accompanying her and staying as near as he could without ruining her disguises. Old, thin, and fragile, the man wasn’t really much of a deterrent to anyone wishing to do her serious harm, but his presence had always made her feel a little bit more secure—and she couldn’t help now but wish he had been there tonight.
    The butler had wished to accompany her, but Maggie had explained that, as she was simply going to interview women, she had no need of his protection. Madame Dubarry was a friend, she’d added,