Laurie Brown by Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake Page B

important issues,” he said.
    Josie picked up her list of questions and joined Amelia on the sofa. “Exactly what I was going to say. First question. How
     do you...”
    “Before you start another Inquisition,” Deverell interrupted.
    Josie bit her tongue to keep from responding to his verbal bait and going off on some religious tangent.
    “After tea, I’ve arranged for the carriage to be brought around at four forty-five.We’re going for a drive.”
    “Oh, dear,” Amelia said. “I have the contractor coming to look at the south wing and give a repair estimate.”
    “We can go for a drive some other time,” Josie said. Like maybe never, she thought. She had not been near a horse since her
     riding accident, and she didn’t intend to start now.
    “The horses are in need of exercise. Miss Drummond and I will have to manage without your company.”
    Josie was in the middle of framing her decline using the old standby headache for a reason when Amelia spoke up with a better
     excuse.
    “In the spirit of the Regency, it is highly inappropriate for her to go for a drive alone with a man.”
    Josie could see where the whole chaperone bit might come in handy when a woman didn’t want to do something.
    “Not applicable in this case.After all I am a ghost, not a man. I am quite positive Miss Drummond will use the time alone
     to badger me with questions about my existence just as if you were there, perhaps more so since there will be no distractions.”
    A knock on the door signaled Higdon’s return with tea.
    “And no interruptions,” Deverell added as he faded to a hazy presence.
    Josie glanced down at her list of unanswered questions. Inside the carriage she would have Deverell’s undivided attention.
     “I’ll be ready,” she said before she could have second thoughts about whether that was a good thing.
    If he weren’t still visible to her, Deverell would have rubbed his hands together with satisfaction. Not being able to disappear
     was quite disconcerting. He’d rather gotten used to being an unseen observer whenever he chose. But that was neither here
     nor there. The important fact was that the situation was now neatly arranged just as he had planned.
    He stood and bowed to her before leaving the library. He had a few final details to attend to.
    Miss Drummond would not get the drive she was expecting.
    Josie had second thoughts as she stepped outside. The weather had turned nasty and a wicked storm threatened. However, Deverell
     did not seem concerned as he stood near the horses.
    “Step lively,” he said. “We want to miss the downpour.”
    The coachman, oblivious to Deverell’s presence, stoically held the carriage door open, fighting the wind that not only threatened
     to slam the door shut but also tried to rip the bonnet off her head. Although she would’ve gladly let the darn hat go flying,
     she hurried into the carriage, only to find one seat piled high with boxes and wrapped bundles. What was Deverell up to now?
    Regardless of his plans, she was determined not to miss a moment of this opportunity. She settled onto the rear-facing seat
     and withdrew her list of questions from her reticule.
    Deverell popped onto the seat next to her just as a bolt of lightning sizzled through the air, causing the hair on her arms
     to rise.The flash was accompanied by an earsplitting clap of thunder.The carriage jerked forward.
    “Perfect timing,” Deverell said, slapping his knee.
    Josie reached for something to hold on to, finding a loop of leather next to the door.The window covering flapped in the wind,
     not only allowing in the cold rain but also allowing her to see the coachman running after them down the curved driveway.
    “Oh my God. There’s the driver.”
    “We’ll be fine.”
    The coach picked up speed, jostling her back and forth.“We’re in a runaway coach!”
    “Just for another minute or two and then everything will be fine,” he assured her.
    She held on to the strap with both