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thing, at least. She was tired and dirty, and her clothing was cold and wet. The beautiful gown of white net that she had worn to the ball was little better than a rag. She was even more miserable than she might be if she removed it.
    She glanced around the wagon. What was she to wear instead? Did he mean to bring her replacements? Or was it just an elaborate ruse to make her bare herself? She was shivering as she fumbled with the closures on her ball gown. She dropped it and the muddy, torn petticoats into a heap on the floor, and then bundled them up, and opened the door a crack, pushing them out toward the Gypsy.
    His hand appeared in the crack in the door, and he opened it wider, but did not look in. “The rest, as well.”
    “Most certainly not.”
    “The stays, the shift. Stockings and shoes–” he paused, “–shoe, rather. You left one behind already. Remove them, or I shall.”
    She slammed the door, and shouted through the wood. “Bastard!” And was surprised by the sound of her own voice.
    He laughed in response. “An accurate assessment of my parentage. But unusual to hear it from such ladylike lips. Perhaps it was the gown alone that gave you the air of gentility. Who knows what you shall be like, when you wear nothing but skin?”
    “ You certainly shall not.”
    He laughed again. “You are right in that. I must leave you alone for the day. And I will not have you thinking that, when I am gone, you can turn my people against me or make a daring escape cross country. You will find it difficult to do, if you must walk through the camp dressed as nature intended, with not even shoes for protection.”
    “You mean to leave me…” She swallowed.
    “Better than not leaving you alone, while in that condition. Unless you prefer…”
    For the second time in her life, she cursed aloud.
    He laughed again. “I thought not. You will be perfectly safe, shut up in the wagon. No one will trouble you. No one would dare.” There was a darkness in his tone that made her sure of the truth. And then, the smile was back in his voice. “And if you are good, and behave yourself in my absence? Then I shall return some of your clothing to you this evening.”
    “You will return my own things to me as a reward?” She cursed him again.
    He laughed again. “Not if you act in that way. Now, remove the rest. Or…” He let the last word hang in the air, and she reached for the laces. When she had another small pile of clothes before her, she hid herself behind the door, opened it a crack and forced the things out of the wagon, then quickly slammed the door again.
    There was a moment of silence, and then the Gypsy said, “All seems to be in order. My bed might not be to your liking, but it is the best I mean to offer. I suggest you avail yourself of it. I will return later in the day.”
    And then, she heard no more.

Chapter Three

    Stephano stood perfectly still in the bedroom of his London home on Bloomsbury Square, under going the transformation from Gypsy back to gentleman. His valet, Munch, cast aside a wrinkled strip of linen and started with a fresh cravat. “If you insist on starting again…”
    Stephano muttered, eager to be getting on to his appointment. He had wasted hours in the night, traipsing around the countryside to befuddle the Carlow girl as to their location. And now, the delivery of the ransom demand had been complicated by Robert Veryan’s unexpected flight to London.
    “If you are going to Keddinton’s office, then the knot must be perfect.” Munch’s flat voice came out of an equally flat face, and often left people expecting a man of limited dexterity or intelligence. But his thick fingers did not fumble as he tied the fresh knot, nor did his perception of the situation. “You cannot expect the man to take you seriously, if you treat him otherwise. And you cannot afford to show weakness, even something as small as a wilted cravat.”
    “True, I suppose. But damn the man for spoiling my