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He started. Has she run away? But why would she depart without her companion?

“She would not leave me behind, Sir Sebastian,” she said, as if reading his thoughts, and she wrung her hands.

“I sent her to explore the manor during the day so she might familiarize herself, and that was two hours ago. I have not seen her since, and I am worried that she has either gotten lost in the grounds or some harm has befallen her.”

He rested his hand on her arm. “Have no fear, Miss Vale. I know every inch of this estate. We shall find her.”

She lifted her hand to her flushed cheek. “Thank you, sir. I should have come to you sooner, but I did not wish to cause a scene over naught. She sometimes gets caught away in her musings whence puzzling out her book in progress. However, she can always be found easily.”

“Set your mind at ease. You did the right thing in coming to me. You search the grounds, and I shall start with the house before moving out of doors. I have not seen her exit the house, and I have been out of doors most of the afternoon, save for a few moments. We shall find her,” he promised, more to himself than to the companion.

He raced inside. He searched the length of the house on the ground floor and checked each room, to no avail.

He climbed the stairs to the first floor, checking every room.

His door was at the end. She wouldn’t be in there though.

However, he could not leave any room unchecked.

He flung open the door and cast a glance about, his gaze resting on muslin skirts hugging shapely hips that protruded from the panel in the wall.

His jaw slackened. “Is that you, my lady?”

“Oh dear Lord, it is the end then,” came her muffled reply.

He squatted beside her, averting his eyes from her posterior. Apparently, her hips were stuck in the narrow doorway. “Are you hurt, my lady?”

“In body? No. In spirit?” She whimpered. “There is no recovery.”

He swiped his hand over his mouth and sat back on his heels, his laughter bubbling out.

“This is not a laughing matter, I assure you.”

He threw his head back and laughed again. “I beg to differ, as I am heartily looking forward to your no doubt interesting explanation of your predicament.”

“I suppose I couldn’t ask you to simply trust me.”

“And miss out on your rationalization? No.”

She sighed. “Then would it be possible to keep this a secret between us?”

“I shall take it to the grave, my lady.” He knelt, studying the panel. “I see the flaw that is keeping you wedged. I believe your hidden pockets under your gown have created an issue.” He tugged at the bunch of skirt, but it barely moved. “What do you have stuffed in your pockets?”

“What I always carry when I have a leisure hour—a pocketbook of poetry and my small notebook and pencil.”

“That would cause the issue. I am surprised they are not visible under your skirts while you stand.”

“They are, but again, it is for my leisure hour.” She grunted. “Could we possibly continue this conversation when I am unwedged and preferably face-to-face?”

“A knife should see you free in a matter of moments, but I think you would wish for an alternative solution, even if it takes a few moments longer.”

“As I’m rather fond of this gown, let us try another means.”

With a few tugs, he at last drew Evie through. She sank onto the floor, red-faced and hair askew, dirt marring her mottled cheeks.

He crossed his arms, sitting back on his heels as she dusted off her hands.

“I trust you are awaiting an explanation.”

He grinned. “That would be good.”

She cleared her throat and looked to her filthy skirts. “I have had some time to consider what I was going to say should you be the one to discover me.”

“The truth would be a good place to start.”

“Yes, well, the truth isn’t always the easiest to convey, as you and I well know.

” She looked at him, her eyes filled with regret.

“You should know that I was born with an extra dose of curiosity. It has never been kind to me, and no matter how hard I try to tame it, I fail when it matters most. I was exploring and wanted to be better acquainted with the whole of the house, a-and …”

“And when you came to my room, you decided to see what I was hiding behind closed doors?” What excuse could she possibly have for going through my belongings? He stifled a grin as she stiffened.

“Not necessarily. I wished to better acquaint myself with the man who is my pretend husband.” She grimaced. “It may not have been my wisest means of doing so, but—”

“That is fair.”

She sighed, relief flooding her smile. “I thought so too. It is not as if you wrote books for a living and I might read those to see what type of personality you possessed. It really isn’t fair.

” She rushed onward. “As to how you found me, I tripped on the carpet.” She pointed beside them.

“Which led to me discovering the priest hole, and I’ve always wanted to see one in person.

Once I managed to open it and examine it up close, I heard noises in the hall and decided the best course of action was to hide. ”

“You hid in the priest hole … while I was in the room?” His gaze skidded to the discarded linen shirt on the bed and back to her, sucking in his cheeks and raising his brows.

Her face turned red. “Yes. But once I saw you draw off your shirt, I turned away! I vow it.”

“You saw me with my shirt off?” He crossed his arms, unable to resist puffing out his chest.

She buried her face in her hands. “Please, I assure you, I have learned my lesson against curiosity.”

“That bad of a view, huh?”

“Oh no! You are very well sculpted—” She halted, narrowing her eyes at him. “You are teasing me.”

His shoulders shook as he laughed again. This time Vivienne cracked a smile.

“I haven’t laughed so much in many a year until I met you, my lady.

” Her gaze flickered at the name. He needed to quit calling her as he did when the highwayman.

It was almost as bad as calling her Evie.

He cleared his throat and held his hand out.

“Now, let’s return you to your quarters without the servants catching sight of you leaving my chambers looking so.

I would hate to be caught by a pickthanks, even if we are pretending to be man and wife. ”

“You are aware that the maids put me in the bedroom with the shared dressing room,” she blurted out.

“I am quite aware. Pardon the charade, my lady. On my word as a knight, I have not and shall never enter your chambers through our shared door.” He held out his hand to her. “Do you trust me?”

She slowly grasped his hand. Her hand felt so right in his.

“I do not really have a choice.”

She was right on that score. “I suppose the real question is if your curiosity will keep you from opening the shared door yourself when I am away from the house.”

She lifted her hands. “My curiosity shall stay tucked away for the duration of my time at Lark Manor.”

We will see about that. He led her to the door, peeked out, and seeing no one, pushed her out, grinning as she raced across the carpet to her door and darted inside. He would have his hands full with Evie Poppy under his roof.