Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

The moment Evangeline awoke behind her closed eyes she knew something was amiss. It was too bright. Blinking her way out of sleep and adjusting her skewed cap, she found morning light flooding into the room through the curtains, only half covering the window.

Alarm shot through her. The rest of the guests were coming today. How could she have slept this late? Where was Dobbs?

She looked over to Georgie's bed. Her cousin lay stretched out on her stomach, the gentle rise and fall of her back telling Evangeline she was still in a deep sleep.

A shiver ran through her, and she glanced at the fireplace. Cold. No scullery maid had been in to even light a fire. June it may be, but Evangeline rushed over to the wardrobe and hastened to wrap her dressing gown around her. She then went to the window, threw back the coverings and gasped at the brightness. It was later than she thought.

Outrage mingled with urgency. The very day she needed to be up and about, ready to receive Lord Fernsby's guests, and the servants failed her by sleeping in. Even Dobbs! Evangeline's face darkened. She would deal with this sluggishness later, but now she must fly.

She went over to Georgie and shook her awake. "Georgie. Georgie! Wake up. We are late, we must rise."

Georgie opened her eyes and inhaled sharply. "Hmm? What?"

"Get up. We were not wakened. The servants did not come in." Evangeline went over to the bell pull and gave it four vicious tugs.

Georgie sat up and scratched her forehead underneath her night cap. "The servants did not come? But—" her eyes widened as she looked about the room, realization hitting her. "What is the time?"

Evangeline looked around, desperately trying to find a clock. "Why do you keep no timepiece in your room? Never mind. I daresay it is late enough that we only have an hour or two before they start arriving. Make haste!"

"No! It cannot be," Georgie gasped and hurled herself out of bed. She dashed to the bell pull to tug it herself while Evangeline set about looking for her clothes, which Dobbs usually had laid out before she was even awake. After pulling the bell three times, Georgie groaned and placed a hand against the wall, hunching over as her other hand went to her stomach.

Evangeline's eyes widened in sympathy. "Oh darling, I'm sorry."

Georgie waved a hand. "Keep on, I just—oh—" She ran back to her bed and made use of the basin kept on a side table for such purposes.

Evangeline went to the door to call out for a servant. The shrill cry she had ready in her throat would wake the whole house. She turned the doorknob forcefully and pulled.

The door remained where it was.

Cocking her head, she tried again. The door only moved slightly before slamming back in place. She checked the knob, a small thing, delicately designed like a leaf. It was not locked. She could turn it. She just could not open the door.

Something was holding it in place.

"What is going on? Hello?" she called through the sturdy wood. "Someone come help me."

She tried pulling again. The door moved enough so that a crack appeared. She tried to peer through it, but when she maneuvered herself into a position where she could eye the hallway, the door shut.

"What is it?" Georgie asked behind her.

"Someone has locked us in."

"Locked us in? But why?"

"I don't know. Has your staff mutinied against us?"

Georgie made to come over to join her with tender steps.

Evangeline held up a hand. "No, stay where you are and sit down. I have this well in hand."

Out in the hall, a muffled sound came to her ears as if someone was trying to hush their laughter and did not care that it was utterly unsuccessful.

"Hello? Whoever is there, let us out immediately," she cried.

The door could move. If she applied enough strength, she should be able to pull it wide enough to see what was keeping them trapped. Lifting her leg, she braced her foot against the wall and grabbed the doorknob with both hands. A stout breath in, and she pulled with all her might. The space created between the door and the frame was only an inch wide and would certainly close if she tried to look through it. She could not do both at once. But she heard another noise beyond the door. There was no mistaking it this time. It was a laugh. A poorly hushed one.

Her eyes narrowed into slits fit for a basilisk. "Basil…" she hissed under her breath.

A movement behind her brought Georgie next to her. "Keep it open just a moment more," she said, putting her eye to the opening. A few seconds passed as she took stock of their predicament. Her outraged gasp a moment later triggered a raucous chorus of laughter from two deep voices in the hall.

"What it is? What is going on?" Evangeline asked, though she was fast coming to her own conclusions.

"They tied string to the doorknob!" Georgie said above the laughter. "Tied one end to the door and the other end to a table, and they are both sitting on it, laughing at us!"

"Fernsby and Morley?"

"Yes."

"Oh!" Evangeline seethed and let go of the door, causing it to slam shut. "The audacity. The impudence!"

"Fernsby, you wicked creature," Georgie called through the door. "Let us out at once."

"I only felt you needed more beauty sleep, my love," Lord Fernsby called back.

Evangeline growled out a furious, audible breath which only set the men off laughing harder.

"This is not your husband's doing," she said to Georgie. Bracing herself again, Evangeline tried to pull the door open wider, but she was no match for the resting bulk of two grown men.

"Basil!" she shouted. "You are worse than Puck himself. Let us out!"

"Did you hear that, Fernsby?" Basil said beyond the door. "She called me Basil! My given name. A true sign of affection if I ever heard one, do you not think?"

"Ay," Lord Fernsby replied. "I do believe I hear wedding bells in the distance."

That set them off again.

Evangeline fumed. "Mark my words, you will pay for this. Let us out, now ."

"Your release is entirely within reach," Basil said. "Look down."

Evangeline and Georgie looked at each other, then to the ground. There, at their feet, was a pair of scissors halfway under the door. Evangeline bent and picked them up.

"And what are we supposed to do with this, pray?" Evangeline asked.

"Cut the string, of course, if you can," Basil replied.

Evangeline bent again and shoved the scissors under the door. "Oh, no. You cut the string and let us out. Or at least our maids in ."

The women heard movement, their hopes rising for a fleeting moment. A second later, the scissors flew back to them. "No, you must free yourselves. Fernsby says you can't do it in under fifteen minutes, but I say you can. Ten guineas are riding on your endeavors, so get to it."

"They made a wager on this?" Georgie said, eyes wide open.

"Of course they did. A curse on the heads of all men!"

Evangeline kicked the scissors under the door as they spoke. They returned a second later. Basil's fingers slid between the space and twiddled at them, disappearing before Evangeline could raise her foot to crush them. "Good luck," he said.

Evangeline looked at Georgie, wrath running wild in her eyes. Georgie stared back at her for a moment before her lips twitched. "Georgie," Evangeline said. "This is not f—funny?—"

But Georgie's shoulders were already shaking. She covered her mouth with her hands. "I'm sorry, E," she whispered. "But to think that two grown men would play such a juvenile prank on their own wives?—!"

Evangeline opened her mouth, shocked. " Wives? "

Georgie shook her head. "I am sorry. I misspoke. I meant my husband pulling something so stupid on his wife, me. It came out wrong, do forgive me. I see you and Mr. Morley having such a jolly time together so often when you are in town, it just slipped out. But you cannot deny the humor in it. It makes me quite like him."

"Who, Morley?"

"No, my husband. He is always so serious and burdened with his political aims. You should see the two of them on that table, laughing and swinging their legs this way and that as if they were two little boys. To see him having a bit of fun—it is rather attractive. Even if it is at my expense."

Her last words were the beginning of a groan, her smile turning into a grimace.

Evangeline hastened to her and knelt at her side. "The basin?"

Georgie shook her head. "No, just the usual wretchedness. It will pass in a moment."

Evangeline's anger flared again at the sight of her poor cousin in so much discomfort. "To play such a trick on us when you are so ill. It is beyond abominable."

Georgie shrugged and smiled again. "I would be feeling ill with or without the prank. This surprise will keep me laughing for days. But I should think I will not be so soft-hearted the next time." A light shone in her eye. Her smile turned impish. "Shall we get them back, somehow, do you think?" she whispered.

"Oh, my dear, we will certainly have our revenge. And it will be sweet, I swear it."

Evangeline set to pacing about the room. She would not lower herself to the offered method of escape with the scissors. But how to get out? Begging would only amuse Basil more. Lord Fernsby might be prevailed upon if she threatened to relinquish her hosting duties and return to Amsbrook. But that would upset Georgie. What to do? How to escape?

A moment later, Georgie rose from the floor and walked to the door. She picked up the scissors and called out, "Fernsby? This is all well and good, but I cannot have our guests coming without the house ready to welcome them."

"All's well on that end," Lord Fernsby said. "You've plenty of time to escape our little trap."

Satisfied, Georgie turned to Evangeline. "Come, help me try. I am not strong enough to pull the door. You pull and I will slip the scissors through and cut the string. It should be simple enough."

With a sigh, Evangeline went to the door and resumed her position. She did not have time for obstinacy. "This is humiliating," she whispered.

"Never mind that now. We will think of some way to pay them back," Georgie murmured. "Now, pull."

Evangeline pulled back with all her might. The door opened a crack and Georgie slipped the scissors through, snapping them open and shut while the men laughed at the sight .

"I cannot reach it," she said. "I need to get my hand through the door a little bit. Can you pull harder?"

"I'll try."

Three efforts later, Evangeline's grip was failing her. "Your fingers will be crushed if I slip. Let us think a moment," she said, opening and closing her sore hands.

While Georgie pleaded with the men to scoot the table toward them to give the string more slack—receiving a firm ‘no' in response—Evangeline looked for other ways of escape. The dressing room! How could she have been so stupid?

Rushing over, she opened the door that connected the two rooms and rushed to the door leading to the gallery. She tried the handle.

Locked.

"You cannot have thought I would have forgotten that, could you?" Basil said through the door.

Crying out in frustration, she cried out, "Oh, I will get you for this, Morley. I promise you, you will pay for this childish lark. And roping Lord Fernsby into it as well? Are you mad?"

"What happened to Basil?" he asked, his voice plaintive through the door. "My name on your lips is the most resplendent sound to ever fall upon my ears."

Evangeline cast her eyes to the ceiling. He would play this prank out until he'd had his fun. She must think of some other way. Coming back into the bedchamber, she looked all around her and finally rested her eyes on the window. She went over, opened the casement, and stuck her head out.

"What are you doing?" Georgie asked.

Georgie's rooms were situated on the second floor. Evangeline leaned out and looked to the right and left of her. No creeping vines. No drainpipes or gutters to aid her descent. Jumping was unthinkable, especially in her best dressing gown. It seemed her only hope was to try the door again until she caught sight of a manservant, a gardener.

She hissed a call out to him and waved her arms to catch his attention, nearly falling out the window as she did.

"E!" Georgie cried, grabbing at her as Evangeline caught herself on the windowsill.

"I am well," she said, though she felt a little shaky from the sudden scare. She looked at the man again. Good. He was coming over.

"Yes, m'lady?" he asked upward. "Are you all right?"

Evangeline brought her finger to her lips and looked back to the bedroom door. She could hear the muffled voices of Basil and Lord Fernsby speaking in the hall. She turned back to the gardener. "We need a ladder," she hissed.

The gardener took his hat off and stepped closer, putting a hand to his ear. "I beg your pardon?"

"A ladder!" she said again, leaning out as far as she dared.

Georgie nudged her way through the window to see the man. "Oh, it's you, Joseph."

"Yes, my lady."

"Do as Lady Ramsbury says, and bring us a ladder this instant."

Joseph stared up at them. "A ladder, my lady?"

"Yes. Right under here, you see. Make haste!"

Joseph hesitated, obviously confused at such a strange request.

"Yes, hurry," Evangeline urged.

"Yes, your ladyship." He ran off but turned and touched his hat. "Your ladyships."

Georgie looked at Evangeline. "You are not seriously thinking of going down that way, are you?"

Evangeline pushed herself off the window and back into the room. "It may not come to that. We shall see." She paced the length of the room again, impatient. Georgie went back to the door and began pleading, not without amusement in her voice, to be let out. The men refused, still enjoying their joke.

"Give Lady Ram a moment to think," Basil's voice said, carrying through the door. "She always rises to the occasion. Fernsby, do you think I should ask her to marry me right now? I would let her out straight away if she said finally said yes. But no. I could never do anything so coercive. Never mind."

Evangeline dropped her jaw at his words. That was the last straw. Jest or no jest, friend or not, Basil Morley needed to be taught a lesson. She had been too permissive of his gaieties over the years, and now his words showed a disrespect that she would not allow to go unpunished. He thought to win her hand by trapping her? A part of her knew he would never seriously think of such tactics, but his levity had gone too far. She would teach him a lesson.

Striding to the door, she pounded on it with her knuckles, ignoring the sharp pain that accompanied her passion. "Morley, can you hear me?"

"I can and am awaiting your pleasure, my lady," Basil replied. With the chivalry that accompanied his words, she could almost see him bowing outside the door.

"Then listen well, Puck. This is your last chance. Cut the string and let us out, or else."

Murmuring, deep and hushed, met her ears.

"Should we end things, Morley?"

"End them? Why?"

"Well, she seems to have had enough of the fun…"

"Nonsense. She is just getting started. She knows a good jest when she sees one."

"And my wife does have responsibilities before everyone gets here. I say, Georgianna?" Lord Fernsby called out. "Are you well in there?"

"Yes, perfectly," Georgie replied from the window, on the lookout for the gardener's return.

"There, you see?" Basil said. "No need to end things just yet…"

Evangeline shook her head. In her most dangerous tone, the one she only used on the rare occasion that her children brought down her wrath upon them with their mischief, she said. "Very well. I know what I must do."

She went to the window and spotted Joseph and another man setting the ladder in place under the window. "Excellent. Georgie, you stay here. I will handle this."

Georgie eyed the ladder with misgiving. "E, you will be careful? But you must change first. I can help you with that."

"No. This ends here and now." She carefully climbed out the window and stepped onto the ladder with ginger feet. "I will teach that man a lesson if it is the last thing I do. Keep them distracted at the door, will you?"

"What are you going to do to him?"

Evangeline looked up, fire sparkling in her eyes. "Make him fall in love with me in earnest, of course. You, down there. Hold the ladder steady and avert your eyes!"