Plain and Proper by M J Marlow (beach read TXT) 📕

hair ribbons that are guaranteed to stay where they are put.” He saw her blush. “Run along, child. I am certain you would like to introduce your fiancé around the village.”
Marianne strolled off on Gerard’s arm and entered the dress shop. Clarice was just putting out the ribbons and she smiled as Marianne entered. “There she is!” the woman beamed. “The lady whose lovely hair no ribbon can tame.” She took the liberty of pulling the one struggling for freedom out and made Marianne sit down so she could redo her hair. She nodded towards the man standing nearby to draw the girl’s attention elsewhere as she applied the drug. “Watch dog, my lady?”
“My fiancé,” Marianne told her and watched the woman flinch. She nodded. “My uncle decided it was time I married and Lord Travers is his choice.” She smiled as she saw what Clarice had done. “I wish you could teach Estelle how to do this!” She got up and thanked the woman. “Thank you, Clarice. I am quite grateful.” She turned as the door opened and frowned as she saw Philippe and his wife. “Monsieur D’arboe. Madame.”
“Lady Marianne,” the man bowed his head to her as his wife moved around the displays. “You are looking very fetching this morning.”
“We have an appointment with your aunt, Marianne,” Gerard said stiffly as he held his arm out to her. This man made his blood boil, the way he was eyeing the girl. Well she belonged to him, his eyes told Philippe, and he would kill to protect her. He was gratified to see the fiend back up a step.
“Thank you for your assistance, Clarice,” Marianne smiled as she took Gerard’s arm. “Good morning, Monsieur. Madame.”
The couple waited until the door had closed behind Marianne and then they turned to Clarice. The woman’s smile had completely vanished. She took them in back where she had their orders waiting. Philippe read them through and nodded. He handed them over to Marie and saw her slow smile.
“You may assure him that we will follow his orders with great pleasure,” Marie spoke first. “She trusts you, Clarice, so we shall take her from your establishment.” She took a vial out of her reticule and handed it over. “Three drops in water or tea will suffice. The girl will be quite helpless to resist when we remove her from her guardian and his men.”
“Wait a day,” Philippe told her, “and then send her word that you have something pretty you think she would like. Young girls cannot resist pretty things.”
Marianne bristled at hearing this. Gerard and she had doubled back after leaving and found a place to hide and listen. So he thought her some dim-witted simpleton who could be enticed with pretty things, did he? Well she was going to show him! She left the shop to the sound of their pleased laughter and they returned to Moody, who was speaking to Widow Larchmont. She suddenly felt like her head was splitting and she asked to be taken back to the Manor. Gerard looked at her worriedly as the ride home was silent. That was not like her. She had been upset by what she had heard.
“I know what we overheard upset you, Marianne,” he said as he followed her to her rooms. He saw Estelle sitting in the corner keeping a very close eye on him. “Is there anything I can get for you?”
“No, Gerard,” Marianne answered him truthfully. “I am just tired.” She removed her riding jacket and sat down to pull off her boots. “I think I will take a nap.” He kissed her on the forehead and left her alone. She lay down and when she woke, Madame Bouchard was sitting in a chair by the window, reading. “Madame, is something wrong?”
“I am in hiding,” Dominique told her bluntly. “I do not wish to spend any more time with that woman than I have to.” She set the book down. “Your fiancé was worried. He asked me to look in on you.” She frowned as she saw the girl’s pale face. “Are you quite well? You are looking very pale.”
“I was starting to get a headache as we left the village,” Marianne told her friend. “I was upset about something,” she said softly, her eyes showing her confusion, “but I cannot remember what it was.” She shrugged. “If it were important, I would remember, wouldn’t I?” She looked at the clock on her mantle piece. “It’s almost time for dinner? My nap was longer than I thought.”
“Your aunt didn’t see any point in waking you for tea,” Dominique said softly. She did not like the way the child was looking and acting. It was as if she had been drugged. She felt her blood run cold. “Marianne, child,” the girl looked at her. “Where did you go when you were in the village today? Whom did you speak to?”
“Uncle had Lord Travers escort me to the village so that I could apologize to the Vicar,” Marianne replied, making a face that showed how much she had disliked that particular event. “He gave me a lecture about my behavior,” she continued, “and then…” She frowned as she tried to remember where she had gone then. “We came back home.” She saw Dominique’s worry. “Is it important?”
“Not especially,” Dominique replied. Philippe had mentioned speaking to the girl in the village at tea. She was quite angry now. He had drugged the child right under Gerard’s nose! So Marianne had probably seen or heard something Philippe did not want made known to others. The door opened and Estelle came in. “I will leave you to dress for dinner.” She left the room and went to the guest room. Philippe looked up as she closed and locked the door. “What did you do to that child, Philippe?”
“I have no idea what you are talking about, sister,” Philippe said stiffly as he finished tying his cravat. “I would never harm that delightful child.”
“Then why doesn’t she remember seeing you in the village?” Dominique demanded. “She came home and slept for several hours before she woke. She has no memory of your meeting or the time she spent in the dressmaker’s shop.” Her eyes narrowed. “So I ask again, brother. What did you give her?”
“We did not give the child anything, Dominique,” Marie spoke up from where she was finishing her hair. She turned and looked at her sister-in-law studiously. “You are very attached to your young charge, dear.” Her eyes narrowed. “What would you do to keep her safe, darling?” She pounced and Dominique found herself on her knees with the woman’s hand at her throat. “Would you come back to my collar, sweet, to keep that lovely child from falling into our hands?”
“Take your filthy hands off of me, Marie!” Dominique spat and slapped the woman across the face. She got on her feet and backed away, shaking in disgust. “If you touch that child, I will kill you!”
“She’ll come to heel quite nicely,” Marie laughed as the door slammed behind Dominique. “She will do whatever we ask of her to keep the child unspoiled.” She was quite pleased. “Your sister will become our slave while we wait for our employer to arrive and take the girl to hand. The threat of harm will keep them both in line.”
They went down to dinner and it was a silent affair. No one seemed inclined to speak. When it was time for after-dinner entertainments and drinks, Marianne begged off; claiming headache and the others drifted to their rooms without complaint. Andrew walked out into the gardens and found Dominique in the summerhouse, her lovely face stained with tears. He pulled her into his arms and held her as she sobbed. Their interlude was interrupted as Marianne’s screams rent the air. They entered her room to find Eustacia consoling the poor girl as Estelle prepared a sedative.
“The nightmare?”
“It’s altered this time,” Eustacia frowned as she made Marianne take the sedative and settled her down. She left Estelle to watch over the girl and took the couple out. “This time, she is the one being threatened and beaten.” She took them to her room and sat down. “I don’t like this, Andrew. Something bad is going to happen to my girl and I will not stand for it!” She took out her hairpins and went to comb her hair out. “I want that couple out of this house in the morning. They have a very unsettling effect on my household.” She looked at Dominique. “I just cannot imagine a lovely creature like you being related to that beast!”
“I only have my father’s word for it that I share blood with him, my lady,” Dominique said softly. She went to the windows and looked out, wondering why the sight of the men did not reassure her. “He is planning something. I know it.”
“Then we will be on hand to see his plan does not succeed,” Eustacia assured her. “That is why you are all here, after all.” She smiled as Dominique looked at her in shock. “You all seem to think I am oblivious to the threats swirling around my pretty niece,” she laughed at them. Her eyes narrowed and she looked quite shrewd. “I was the one who contacted Andrew’s superior and asked for his assistance. Lord Pertwee and I are very old friends.” She waved them off. “Go to your bed, you two. I am tired and need my sleep.”
“She is one intriguing woman,” Andrew laughed softly as they made their good nights and went to Dominique’s door. “Good night, Madame Bouchard.”
“Good night, Lord Andrew,” Dominique said softly and stepped into her room with regret. She needed him so badly she was shaking. One more day, she reminded herself, and then they could be together.


Marianne still had a headache when she woke and she was quiet enough to worry her family. They could see she was not feeling at all well, but the trip to London could not wait. Marianne helped her aunt Eustacia into the carriage and took as seat across from her. This was the first time she had left Pumphrey Manor since she had come to live with her aunt and she was excited and terrified. London was a big city, and she would be quite out of place there. Eustacia and Dominique were coming with her, however; so it was not as bad as it might be.
“Are we going to be in London long, Uncle?” Marianne asked, as he made certain all of the ladies were comfortable.
“Yes,” Andrew nodded. He saw her confusion. “Until we end this threat against you, niece.” He mounted his horse and joined the rest of his men. Marianne sank down and accepted the book Dominique handed to her.
“I don’t think Uncle would approve of the reading material,” Marianne laughed as she saw the fashion plates. She set it down on the seat next to her and looked at her companion. “How do you know my uncle, Madame?”
“He saved my life,” Dominique told her bluntly. She saw that she had the girl’s full attention. “That is enough. It is not something I wish to discuss with an impressionable young child.” Marianne saw that Eustacia was in full agreement with this decision. “We will practice our French if you are not up for reading.”
The journey to London took several hours and Marianne did not argue when Dominique suggested she take a nap before dinner. They were staying in the Macalester town home and she was quite pleasantly surprised at the comfortable furnishings. This was a place a family lived in, the place declared. Even the butler, Jemison, was smiling as he admitted them. Marianne woke up and Estelle helped her