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The manor was dark when Aurora slipped out the back door and through the trees She'd mentally mapped out her route five tirateful she had a new escape route the guards had yet to discern
That was because she'd only just discovered it
She'd co about with Tyrant He'd raced off, thereby leading her to the s with some surprise that the path wound its way to the southern tip of the estate She'd stored that knowledge away by sheer force of habit, never expecting to use either the information or the route Her perpetual attempts to escape the prison Pe with Courtney's arrival
But today's decree called for drastic h water, she intended to take them
Inching through the fine layer of snow that clung to the grass, Aurora made her way to the narrow section of trees behind the conservatory, then slipped through them, careful not to disturb the branches or iven the current circu on her whereabouts First, because they were keeping vigil, looking out for intruders And second, she thought with a grin, because her restlessness had so thoroughly vanished they'd beco an eye on her All the better
Clearing the branches, Aurora's grin widened The rear gates of Pembourne loomed just ahead Beyond that, she knew, lay the dirt road which led to the village Thus, the first part of her plan was coathered up her skirts and sprinted forward
Dawlish Tavern, as the pub's chipped sign identified it, was dark and smoky Aurora's eyes watered the instant she entered, and she paused in the doorway, i them as she tried to see
Perfect, she thought a overnesses would have referred to as riffraff, clusters of ill-ke loudly as they tossed off tankards of ale and flung playing cards to the table
The ideal spot to be ruined
She didn't have much time Already it was a quarter hour since she'd struck her deal with a local street urchin, having sent him on his way three pounds richer First, as expected, he'd snatched up the one-pound note she'd offered in exchange for directions to the village's sole tavern Then—also as anticipated—he'd pocketed the two additional pound notes, swiftly agreeing to deliver Aurora's missive to the Altec estate
Aurora wasn't stupid She ell aware the boy could sie before it had ever reached its destination and rendered its i promise of a five-pound note for the lad—if he returned to Dawlish Tavern with a written reply
A chuckle rose in Aurora's throat, its sound drowned out by the tavern's raucous laughter She could envision Lady Altec's face when the old biddy read the scandalousthat Lady Aurora Huntley was consorting with sailors at a coossip—would probably jump into her phaeton and race down there posthaste, still clad in her nightrail, just to be an exclusive witness to the juicy scene
Mentally, Aurora gauged her time It would take the lad a solid half hour to travel to the dowager's estate, a few minutes to await a reply to the supposedly anonys, then another half hour to return That gave Aurora a little over an hour to find the right man to ruin her
Abruptly she became aware that all activity in the room had stopped, and a dozen and a half pairs of eyes were fixed on her She glanced down at herself and frowned Despite her dust-covered gown and worn slippers, she still looked altogether too much like a lady Well, her actions would soon disprove that notion
"Wonderful—a full house," she pronounced, her tone shockingly faathered up her skirts and marched boldly over to a table