The carriage dipped, and I rested a hand on my middle.
“I almost forgot.” Damon reached into his pocket and pulled out a small brown bag tied with twine. “This is for you.”
I eyed the bag. A trick?
When I made no move to take the little bag, he untied the twine and tilted the bag so I could see inside.
Amber-colored candies. Perhaps they were made from bugs or were excessively spicy or—
“It’s candied ginger. Sailors use it to curb seasickness,” he explained. “I thought it might help you.”
Oh. He was being thoughtful.
Lady Winfield’s gaze moved between Damon and me with curiosity. An emotion I also felt.
My fingers brushed over his palm as I took the candied ginger, and I apprehensively placed the confection in my mouth. The smooth, sweet candy had a bit of spice, but it wasn’t hot, only pleasantly warm. It melted in my mouth until only a pleasant taste remained.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“Very much. Thank you.”
The carriage suddenly jerked, and I flew forward and landed in Damon’s lap. Luckily, Lady Winfield had been resting her arm on the window ledge, and she braced herself in her seat. The carriage came to an abrupt halt, tilted at an extreme angle.
Damon gripped my waist, his eyes searching me as if looking for injury. “Are you all right?”
I hardly knew. Everything had happened so fast, so violently. But nothing hurt. “I think so.”
His grip loosened, but only slightly. “You needn’t throw yourself at me to get my attention,” he whispered, his breath tickling the sensitive skin of my ear. A pleasant shiver ran down my neck and arms. “I assure you, you already have it.”
My lips parted, but no words escaped my mouth.
He finally released his hold, and as I sat back in my seat, I risked a glance at Lady Winfield. Thankfully, she was preoccupied with something outside.
“It seems we are stuck in a rather large puddle of mud,” she said.
The footman confirmed as much a moment later, and after some discussion between him and Damon, it was decided we needed to evacuate the carriage if we were to becomeunstuck. Only one wheel was trapped, so the two men should have been able to dislodge it without further assistance.
Damon alighted from the carriage first, and his Hessian boots sunk deep into the fresh mud. He carried his mother to the side of the road first and then returned to help me.
He held out his hand, but I searched for another way to the side of the road that would not involve Damon carrying me. I was having trouble thinking straight today, and Damon’s nearness wouldn’t help matters.
But there was nothing for it; it was either risk a ruined hem or be carried.
“I won’t drop you if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Thatwas not my worry at all. “I’m sure you will not. At least not with your mother standing watch.”
“It’s true,” he said. “I would never tempt that woman’s wrath.”
I laughed a little. Lady Winfield was the epitome of kindness and grace. There was not an unkind bone in her body.
Tentatively, I placed an arm around his broad shoulders. Damon slid one arm behind my back and the other under my knees, cradling me against his chest. Warmth radiated through his coat.
“See?” he said. “You can trust me.”
“Can I?”
Damon held my gaze as he set me gently on the ground. “Always.”
