La Petite Four by Regina Scott Read Free Book Online Page A

than he has?”
    Emily couldn’t wait for them to decide. “There, he’s ducked deeper into the shadows. We’ll lose him!” She turned the brass handle, clambered from the coach, and waved to Mr. Phillips to wait.
    Daphne climbed down behind her. “Oh, very well,” Emily heard her mutter as Daphne caught up. “I’ll come along, but only to give you a proper chaperone.”
    They hurried across the street. Emily peered around the bushes at the edge of the park and over the top of shrubs. Where had he gone? What was she to do, drag Daphne through the undergrowth in search of him?
    Daphne apparently had other ideas. She linked her arm in Emily’s.
    “Lovely day for a walk, isn’t it?” she said in an unusually loud voice, pulling Emily along the pebbled path lined with daffodils that led deeper into the park. “I’m so glad you insisted upon it.”
    What on earth was wrong with her? Had she gone as mad as Priscilla’s aunt? As if Daphne knew Emily’s thoughts by the frown, she offered her a broad wink and waited expectantly.
    Oh, of course! She was using subterfuge. Rather wise, actually. Whether Daphne liked it or not, there truly was a reason they asked her to do things like this.
    “Ah, yes,” Emily said, though she could not manage quite so bright a tone. “A lovely day. Shall we stroll?”
    “I’d be delighted.” Daphne continued at a leisurely pace across the park. Her eyes were narrowed, gaze darting about, as if she could see through the greening shrubbery. Daphne’s sky blue gaze had held the same look when she and Emily had joined His Grace for a fox hunt. She had watched, carefully, from horseback as the hounds coursed across the fields, like streams rushing in the spring. It was easy to spot the moment when they all coalesced, caught the scent, and took off in pursuit.
    “He’s just gone to ground,” Daphne whispered to Emily. “But we shall catch him.”
    Emily kept the smile on her face. “Do you see him?” she whispered back.
    “Not at the moment . . . wait! To your right, behind that laurel shrub.”
    Something was indeed moving there, and Emily fancied she caught a glimpse of russet hair. Excitement coursed through her, sharp and bold, and she could feel Daphne’s grip tighten on her arm. Their footsteps quickened.
    “You could not ask for a finer day,” Emily said as they closed in on him. She hoped Daphne was the only one who heard the tension in the tone.
    “Unseasonably warm,” Daphne agreed, keeping an eye on their quarry. He seemed to have crouched down, as if to spy on them. The bushes rustled with his movement.
    Emily froze, heart pounding. What would he do, knowing he’d been caught? What would he say? Her fingers went to the curls at the side of her straw bonnet as if they needed some anchor.
    Or wanted her to primp.
    “Say something,” Daphne hissed. “You’re so brave. Confront him.”
    Emily knew she should. She was the daughter of the duke, after all. She should stand tall, demand that he come out, order the thief to explain himself. She’d had no trouble telling Lord Robert how she felt in the withdrawing room that morning. Why couldn’t she open her mouth now?
    The bushes rustled again, more forcefully this time, and Emily took a step back. Her fingers clutched Daphne’s arm so tightly, she thought she might break Daphne’s bones. Daphne was just as frozen.
    “I cannot recall Lord Snedley discussing the finer points of stalking a gentleman through the park,” she whispered to Emily. “What shall we do?”
    Something large and powerful shifted its weight, and Emily sucked in a breath. Eyes wide, Daphne removed Emily’s fingers from her arm and dropped a curtsy.
    “Forgive me, sir,” she said to the bush. “Have we met?”
    Emily stared at her.
    Mr. Cropper was not nearly so civil. He growled! Emily took another step back in alarm, pulling Daphne with her. The bushes were shoved aside, and before Emily could cry out, a furry body launched itself at