Chapter 10
Well, doesn’t he look ready to explode?
Seraphina hid a smile as she hefted Phineas’s cage and the bag with her things more securely in her arms. She had not planned on being delayed in meeting him, especially after she had been so adamant that they meet before dawn. But Phineas had balked at being secured in the brass cage and had required a bit of bribery—and more than a bit of cuddling—before he could be persuaded to enter the contraption. She could not blame him. He was hardly ever secured in such close quarters, after all, typically given full freedom to stretch his wings and move about at will. She eyed the black lacquer carriage with trepidation, an equipage she would be confined to as surely as her bird would be confined to his cage. “I know how you feel, darling,” she murmured in commiseration.
But if the delay had been the thing to put that ferocious scowl on Iain’s face, she decided with smug satisfaction ithad been well worth it. After the last two days, dealing with her sisters’ hurt and her own anxiety over this upcoming trip, she was in no mood to be kind to him. No, not at all.
“It took you long enough,” he grumbled, shifting from foot to foot in agitation.
Ignoring him, she made her way to Bronwyn’s side. Her friend took her bag and tucked an arm through hers.
“You are certain?”
“Yes, of course.” She forced a smile. “Don’t fret. I shall be back before you know it.”
“You had better,” Ash muttered, casting Iain a dark look before moving forward to kiss her on the cheek. “If you are not, you can be certain I shall come after you. And believe me when I tell you, there are plenty of ways I learned to deal with blackguards while running a gaming hell back in London. Some of them are quite imaginative.” He grinned. “Or perhaps you would like me to implement those particular talents now?”
Despite the strain of the situation, Seraphina smiled. “That shall not be necessary. Though I do appreciate the offer.”
“I havenae got all day,” Iain barked from his place by the carriage, aggravation plain in his grumbling tone.
Ash’s grin melted away, dark shadows falling over his face that would have been terrifying if Seraphina had not known him better. “You’re certain?” he asked her as he glared at Iain.
“It is tempting,” Seraphina drawled, “but yes, I’m certain.”
Bidding him a fond farewell, she walked with Bronwyn toward the carriage—still pointedly ignoring Iain. She was going to be cooped up with him for the next four days or so; she would delay interacting with him as long as she possibly could.
“You will take care, won’t you?” her friend asked, looking at Iain askance.
Before she could answer, Iain was beside them, his outraged gaze snagged on Phineas in his cage.
“You are nae bringing that creature with us.”
Fury sizzled along her skin. “I cannot leave him behind.”
“You certainly can.” He cupped his ear as if to protect it from further damage. “I’ll nae have pieces of me nipped off at every turn. That bird is a menace.”
“Now listen here, Mr. MacInnes—” Bronwyn started, her small frame vibrating in anger.
But as much as Seraphina would have loved to have seen her friend rail at Iain, she was too incensed to sit back and let another do it for her.
“I refuse to leave Phineas behind. He has dealt with enough in his life, and I shall not have him anxious over my leaving when he cannot understand that I will return.” And then, in case he did not quite understand what she was getting at, she said, clearly and distinctly, “There is no bargaining in this matter. Phineas comes with us, or neither of us does.”
His eyes sparked with his ire, and even Bronwyn, brave and fierce Bronwyn, made a small sound of alarm. But Seraphina was not about to be cowed. She stood straighter, leveling a return glare his way.
Finally he pressed his lips tight and nodded sharply. “Verra well,” he grumbled, before adding, “but if it takes one more bite out of me, I shall have it put into a stew.”
Rolling her eyes—there was no doubt in her mind he was all bluster—Seraphina turned back to get her bag from Bronwyn. Her friend handed it over readily enough, a fair amount of admiration in her gaze as she kissed hergoodbye. “Never mind then,” her friend murmured. “I see you have things in hand.”
Seraphina gave her a surreptitious wink before, ignoring Iain’s outstretched hand, she passed her bag to the waiting groom and climbed into the carriage, settling Phineas in his cage on the seat beside her. Her pet gave a low trilling, his nervousness apparent as he took in the dark interior of the equipage.
“It’s all right, darling,” she cooed, focusing her entire attention on the bird—though whether that absolute focus was completely due to her concern for Phineas, or partially due to wanting to distract herself as Iain entered the carriage, she did not wish to know.
But that did not stop her sharp awareness of Iain as he stepped up into the vehicle. Though the interior was spacious—incredibly spacious, really—that did nothing to detract from how utterly and completely his presence filled it. This trip, she thought a bit wildly as he settled himself across from her—and his bare knee came indecently close to her own—was going to be the longest four days of her life.
This was going to be the longest four days of his life.
Iain shifted in his seat as the carriage trundled down the clifftop road. It had been several hours since their departure from Caulnedy, and with the ferry trip to the mainland now behind them there was nothing to do but sit back and wait for the next stop on their journey. The sun had crested the horizon some time ago, and warm golden morning light spilled into the carriage, bathing Seraphina’s forest-greencovered lap, highlighting the bright auburn braid that circled her head, glinting off her delicate spectacles, bringing life to the smattering of freckles across her pert nose…
