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"I’ to London too," he heard her murmur

"No Stay here with your sister I don’t want you to be part of this"

"A bit late for that now, isn’t it? As your fiancee I haveinterest in the outcohtly touching her hair "It will be more difficult for me if you’re there," he said quietly "I need to know you’re safe here in Haht her fingers to his lips and kissed them ardently "Go to the well forto need another five-dollar wish"

Her fingers tightened on his "I’d better make it ten"

Matthew turned as he beca froruntled "It’s procedure for lawbreakers to wear ‘and cuffs while they’re being transported to Bow Street," one of thelance "Pardon, miss, but what did you do with the cuffs that was removed froave theetful She probably ?" the officer asked with a puff of ie as she replied, "I would suggest a thorough search of all the chamberpots"

CHAPTER 19

Because of the hasty nature of their departure, Marcus and Bowht few personal effects aside froe of clothes and thein opposite seats of the faed in very little conversation Wind and rain battered the vehicle, and Marcus thought with concern about the driver and horses

It was foolhardy to travel in this weather, but Marcus was damned if he would let Mattheift…Phaelan…be whisked away from Stony Cross with no protection whatsoever And it was obvious that Wendell Waring’s quest for vengeance had reached an irrational extre, thatsomeone else pay for the cri his son back nor serve hishe could do for his son And perhaps he had convinced hi Matthew in prison would prove Harry’s innocence

Harry Waring had tried to sacrifice Matthew to cover up his own corruption Marcus wasn’t about to allow Wendell Waring to succeed where his son had failed

"Do you doubt him?" Thomas Bowman asked suddenly He looked more troubled than Marcus had ever seen him No doubt this was acutely painful for Bowman, who loved Mattheift like a son Possibly even more than his own sons It was no wonder the two had for uide and htest I found his version infinitely ’s"

"So did I And I knoift’s character I can assure you that in all s with him, he has always been principled and honest to a fault"

Marcus sged, and his mustache twitched with reluctant amusement "Well…extreme honesty can so ca Marcus’s nape to prickle in warning "This is madness," he muttered "They’ll have to stop at a tavern soon, if they can even make it past the Haer than soe, the roads will be impassable"

"God, I hope so," Thohtforced to return to Stony Cross Manor with Swift"

The carriage slowed and caainst the lacquered exterior

"What’s this?" Bowman lifted the curtain to peer outside the , but could see nothing except blackness and water pouring down the glass

"Da at the door, and it renched open The driver’s white face appeared With his black top hat and cloak blending into the glooasped, "there’s been an accident ahead--ye e, a shock of cold rain striking hie lantern fro just ahead

"Christ," Marcus whispered

The carriage carrying Waring and Matthew had stopped on a sie, one side of which had twisted away froonally across the creek The force of the raging current had collapsed part of the bridge, leaving the carriage’s back wheels half-subled in vain to pull it out Swaying back and forth in the water like a child’s toy, the bridge threatened to detach from the other bank

There was no way to reach the stranded carriage The bridge had broken away on the side closest to them, and it would be suicidal to try and cross the current

"My God, no," he heard Thomas Bowman exclaim in horror

They could only watch helplessly as the driver of Waring’s carriage fought to save the teae shafts

At the sae was pushed open, and a figure began to crawl out with obvious difficulty

"Is it Swift?" Bow as close to the bank as he dared "Swift!" But his belloallowed in the crash of the storry creaks of the disintegrating bridge

Then everything seee to the safety of the bank Move, ale eased into the water It half-sank, retaining e lanterns were extinguished, and the vehicle drifted sideways as the raging current swept it downstrea thoughts She had woken repeatedly in the night, wondering ould happen to Matthew She was afraid for his well-being Only the knowledge that Westcliff ith him--or at least close by--kept her reasonably cal the moments in the parlor when Matthew had finally revealed the secrets of his past How vulnerable and alone he had looked What a burden he had carried all these years…and what courage and iination it had taken for hi to be able to wait in Ha She wanted desperately to see Matthew, to reassure hiainst the world if necessary

Earlier in the evening Mercedes had asked Daisy if the revelations about Matthew had affected her decision to marry him

"Yes," Daisy had replied "It’s made me even more determined than before"

Lillian had joined the conversation, ad that she was far more predisposed to like Mattheift after what they had learned about hih," she had added, "it would be rather nice to knohat your futureto be"

"Oh, what’s in a na a piece of paper fro?" Lillian had asked "Don’t say you’re going to write a letter now?"

"I don’t knohat to do," Daisy had admitted "I think I should send word to Annabelle and Evie"

"They’ll find out soon enough from Westcliff," Lillian said "And they won’t be one bit surprised"

"Why do you say that?"

"With your fondness for stories with dramatic twists and characters with one conclusion you wouldn’t have a quiet, ordinary courtship"