Lady In Disguise (The Langley Sisters) (3 page)

“Yes, that was a horrid moment,” Phoebe agreed. “Until then we had no idea that our cousin had stopped paying them.”

“A Langley has always lived in the village of Twoaks and we will not be the first forced from it. Our parents were well respected and I will do nothing to change that.”

“And yet if we were caught tonight, our name would be sullied beyond redemption,” Phoebe added. “And if we continue with this, we could be imprisoned.”

 
“This was your idea, Phoebe, I just worked out the finer details,” Livvy reminded her sister.

“I merely said ‘why don’t we steal the money we need to pay our debts’. How was I to know you would actually take my suggestion literally? Although in all honesty, it’s a good plan because who would believe genteel Lord Langley’s daughters capable of such a deed?”

“Had Lord Langley cared more for his genteel daughters he would have ensured they were provided for before his death,” Livvy snapped.
 

“He was a good father, who loved us all very much, but he was not in his right mind towards the end,” Phoebe said softly. “Grief over mother’s death and the pain of his injury changed him; furthermore he did not know he was going to die.”
 

Yes he did
, Livvy thought but kept it to herself. How their father died was a secret she would never share with her sisters.

“I fear that you will be shot by someone.”

“We will do this only a few times, Jenny,” Livvy soothed the housekeeper, hearing the fear in her voice. “Just until we have enough money for Bella’s treatments and some of the household bills. I have no wish to become infamous for the wrong reasons.” Livvy heard the door open and close behind her as she finished speaking and knew it was her youngest sister.

“Does it hurt terribly, Livvy?”

“You should be in your bed, Bella, this does not need to concern you.” Livvy wanted to shield her little sister from tonight’s events. Wriggling, she tried to look over her shoulder, but could only see the faded blue curtains that were closed against the cold night air.

“Stop moving, Miss Olivia!” Jenny scolded.

Subsiding she rested her cheek on the backs of her hands and concentrated on taking slow, deep breaths.
 

“Don’t try to protect me, Livvy, I am part of this family. Therefore I insist on knowing what is taking place within it,” Bella said.

“You are in pain,” Livvy whispered. “And I do not want you upset further.”

Bella’s sigh was loud enough for everyone to hear.

“As I told Jenny, I have been in pain lately with the cold weather, but my tonic helps and I am not about to die, Livvy.”

“Well I am pleased about that little sister, however we did just rob a carriage at gunpoint on the strength of your illness. A whimper or two will ease my conscience,” Phoebe said which made Bella giggle, as she had intended.

Livvy knew Bella was lying, Jenny would not have told them her leg was worse had it not been the truth, but she said nothing further.

“I have no wish for you both to do this just for me,” Bella said as she softly rubbed Livvy’s foot in comfort.
 

“It was not just for you, Bella, we need the money if we are to survive.”

“Yes, Livvy, I understand that. However, it is also because your pride will not allow anyone to see our circumstances. Could we not simply ask for help?”

“An excellent question, little sister,” Phoebe said.

“I have asked for help from the only person capable, our cousin, and he will not give it. Therefore, we are forced to steal,” Livvy said, her words muffled in the pillow she had buried her face in. “And I will speak no more on the matter.”

Livvy knew by the silence behind her that her sisters and Jenny were giving each other pointed looks, thankfully, however, they chose not to continue the discussion.

“Does it hurt?” Bella asked again.

“No,” Livvy lied. Closing her eyes she tried to push the pain aside, but instantly her head was filled with visions of him, William, Lord bloody Ryder. Why did he have to return now of all times, when the pain of his leaving had finally begun to ease to a dull ache?

“Isabella is sixteen, not stupid,” Phoebe said. By the clink of coins, Livvy guessed she was now counting the money they had stolen from Lord Ryder.
 

“A little sympathy if you don’t mind, Phoebe. I am in some degree of discomfort you know.”

“Don’t be such a baby. It’s only a small wound.”

Livvy felt the bed dip as Phoebe delivered these heartless words and then her face appeared before her as she crouched beside the bed.
 

She was the beauty in the Langley family. Delicately arched brows rose as deceptively soft, sleepy, brown eyes studied Livvy. Long, dark lashes brushed her cheeks as she blinked. If only all those men who worshipped at her feet, spouting badly-written poetry knew what she was really like, Livvy thought eyeing the innocent look in her sister’s eyes with trepidation.

“If you’re too pathetic to get out of bed then I get to eat your supper.”

“Witch!” Livvy spat as Jenny set in the first stitch.
 

“Oh, come now, sister, surely you can do better than that?” Phoebe scoffed, her perfect lips forming a pretty pout.
 

“Were there any justice in this world!” Livvy hissed. “Your face would mirror you shrewish temperament!”
 

“And yet here I crouch, still the muse to many a man.” Phoebe looked anything but contrite as she flicked a golden curl over one shoulder. “I would also like to point out at this stage, sister, that we have stolen a nice amount of money tonight, which will see us in food for quite some time and get us half way to Scotland.
 

“Really?” Livvy said.
 

“Really, and there is enough to pay some of our bills. It seems Lord Ryder carries a great deal of money on his person when he travels.”

“Lord Ryder? Was it he you robbed?” Bella gasped. “Dear Lord, he must have been returning home from his travels.”

Livvy groaned and buried her face in the pillow once more. They had robbed him and he had only just arrived in England, what must he be thinking? Not that she cared, the cad, he deserved some suffering for the pain he had inflicted upon her.
 

“Yes, it is not an auspicious homecoming, I’ll give you that,” Phoebe said. “Still I’m sure a few coins will not see him in the poorhouse.”

“Ouch, Jenny! Must you torture me so?” Livvy cried as the housekeeper stabbed the needle, with some force, through her skin.

“If you kept still it would hurt less,” Jenny said, sounding unsympathetic.

“Was Luke with him?” Bella asked softly.

“I think so, but it was hard to see in the dark, however if it was him driving, then it was probably he that threw the knife,” Phoebe added.
 

“How did you feel upon seeing him, Livvy?” Bella appeared beside Phoebe so their eyes were level.
 

Livvy could see the pain Jenny spoke of now. The pallor of Bella’s hollowed cheeks and the dark smudges beneath her green eyes told their story. The weight of responsibility suddenly felt heavier as Livvy chastised herself for not seeing what was before her.
 

Bella had grown up over the last year and lost the last traces of youth. She was maturing into a young woman and should have the love and support of her mother and father, not her elder sisters, as she navigated the treacherous journey into womanhood. Livvy would do everything in her power to make her well again; even if she had to rob every bloody night to ensure it happened.
 

Phoebe met Livvy’s eyes and knew they shared the same thoughts. The elder Langley sisters were feeling guilty for what they had not seen.

“Who, Luke?”
 

“No, Lord Ryder silly.”

“It was a shock seeing him of course, Bella, but no more so than had it been anyone I had not seen for a number of years,” Livvy said.

“But you did not love just anyone, Livvy, you loved him,” Phoebe said.

“I did not love him!” Livvy swiftly denied the claim.

“Oh please, both Bella and I heard you wailing into your pillow for weeks after he left without a word.”

“I did not!”

“Of course you did. We used to watch Mama and Papa decide which one of them would comfort you that night. When it was decided, Jenny made the tray and filled it with tea and cakes and then whoever was designated would go into your room and sit with you, Bella and I were quite envious.”

Livvy remembered those nights. She had cried long and loudly into the comfort of her parents’ arms. She did not realize that her little sisters were listening, however.

“Could you not have just left me with my pride? I believed neither you nor Bella knew.”

 
Phoebe laughed. “Livvy, you used dance around the house sighing and giggling and hugging yourself after you had spent time with Lord Ryder, it was fairly obvious.”

“Yes, and when you and he were together it was as if everyone else ceased to exist.” Bella sighed. “I had always believed he felt as you did, Livvy.”

“Apparently not, as he left without a word,” Livvy tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice.

“I’m sure he had his reasons, sister. Lord Ryder may have been a spoilt, indolent nobleman, yet he was always a gentleman with you,” Phoebe stated.

“Well it matters not, as all that is behind me now,” Livvy said briskly. “We are both different people since last we met.”

“He looked more handsome though, don’t you think?” Phoebe added and Livvy wanted to stuff something into her sister’s mouth to get her to stop talking. “Bigger and more distinguished,” she said, using the bedcovers to mop up the tears that Livvy hadn’t realized she was crying. “In fact, it appears the black sheep of the Duke’s family has returned, and looking nothing like the spoilt nobleman who left so suddenly five years ago.”

“He wasn’t spoilt,” Livvy protested. “He was just misguided and misunderstood.”

“He was a spoilt brat, who got into many disreputable scrapes that caused his family no end of angst, Olivia, you just couldn’t see his faults through your love-dazed eyes,” Phoebe added.

She had been blinded by love, Livvy conceded, yet that would no longer be the case. After kissing her, he had walked away and she would never forgive him for ripping her heart from her chest and stomping on it. When he had stepped from that carriage at her urging tonight, Livvy had nearly fallen from her horse. She had recognized him of course; after all he was the first, and possibly last, man she would ever love.

“Do you remember that day when Lord Ryder told Livvy she was uglier than old Mr Boswell’s one eared, toothless dog?” Bella laughed, which made her look like the carefree young girl she had once been.

“Yes,” Phoebe giggled. “She had walked straight up to him and jumped into the air and punched him on the nose, and from that day forth they had been inseparable. He resembles his brother the Duke more now,” Phoebe added. “Especially that fierce scowl.”
 

“We shall have to be careful to keep Livvy away from him until she is healed,” Bella said. “As they were very close before he left.”

Yes, they had once been very close, so close that Livvy had believed he would one day be the father of her children.
 

“He will not connect a highwayman with the Luscious Langley Ladies.”      

“Don’t use that name, Phoebe, it makes us sound like women of loose morals,” Livvy scolded.

Even her laughter was appealing, Livvy thought sourly as Phoebe giggled.

“Oh, to be sure we are not woman of loose morals, sister, merely dashing highwaywoman who will fleece the rich to give to the poor… namely us.”

“Is it just me?” Livvy said, looking at Bella. “Or is she getting more annoying with age?”
 

“I like being a Luscious Langley.” Phoebe pouted. “It suggests we’re not boring like most of the other women of our acquaintance.”

Ignoring her sister, Livvy patted Bella’s hand. “I’m sure we shall see nothing of Lord Langley, Bella, don’t fret.” She sincerely hoped that was the case because, for some reason, from the day she had been old enough to take note of Lord William Ryder, he had drawn her like a moth to a flame, and although she believed her heart now healed, the flutter in her chest when she had seen him had unsettled her. It had been shock, of course, Livvy reminded herself, she would never allow herself to love him again.

“Almost done now, Miss Olivia,” Jenny said, pulling Livvy from her thoughts. She would have to make sure to keep away from Lord Ryder in the future, and not because, like Bella had said, he would connect her to the highwayman. She would keep her distance because his sudden departure from her life had nearly destroyed her, and she never, ever, wanted to feel that kind of pain again.

CHAPTER THREE

“I hope I am not imposing on you,” Mrs Popplehinge said, settling herself in a chair in the Langley front parlour, which was the only room in the house Livvy took great pains to keep tidy. It had the best drapes and pieces of furniture collected from the other rooms so that no one would suspect the household was, in fact, struggling for money. Windows ran along the entire wall and let in plenty of light even on a grey winters day like today. A fire blazed in the hearth and Jenny kept the flowers fresh and the rugs swept, and even to Livvy’s critical eye it was a lovely room.