As she pulled him with her so they could ready themselves for the trip, a thought prickled at the edges of her mind.
Had she really seen someone in the woods, after all? Could it have been one of these robbers?
Perhaps she should tell Evan.
She shook off the thought. Not yet. Given his behavior, if she did, she doubted he’d let her step foot outside the house again. Not that he’d actually keep her from doing as she pleased, but it would certainly make their trip more pleasant if they weren’t at odds.
But she would tell him when they returned. It could wait.
Chapter 6
Marina
Marinafeltthetensionin Evan’s arm as she held on to him, his muscles coiled beneath her fingers. He hadn’t been himself since they left the house, staring out the carriage window the entire ride as if expecting an ambush. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he had seen something in the woods, too.
They retrieved her packages and sent them with a footman to load into the carriage. Evan barely spoke, his attention fixed on their surroundings, scanning every face, every shadow.
She looked up at him as they walked to see Evan scanning their surroundings, intently focused on each person they passed.
“The baker is just up ahead,” she said, watching him.
“Mm-hmm,” he murmured, gaze trailing a passing man.
“A sweet roll will be just the thing, don’t you think?”
“Of course.” His eyes didn’t even flick to her.
He hadn’t heard a word. She was sure of it. And she would prove it.
“An elephant would make a lovely pet, don’t you think?” she mused. “We’ll fashion a pen for it. I think I’ll get one for Arthur.” She smirked up at the sharp line of his jaw.
Evan patted her hand absently. “Absolutely. Anything you want, darling.”
Marina stopped dead in the street.
He turned to her at last, chest rising and falling, eyes squinting as he searched her face. “What? What’s wrong?”
She might have been touched by his immediate concern if it weren’t so obvious something was going on. And she intended to find out what.
“I don’t know. Is something wrong?”
Evan sighed, adjusting his hat against a gust of wind. “I don’t understand. Is this some kind of riddle?”
Marina folded her arms, tapping her foot. She might kill him. “You just agreed to get our son an elephant.”
“Children like toys. I’m sure we can have one carved,” he said smoothly, far too confident for a man who had no idea what they were talking about.
Her irritation burned hotter. He would tell her what was going on if it was the last thing he did. “Something is wrong.”
“With wooden toys?”
His attention wavered again, and his hand drifted to where his pistol was hidden as another man walked past. Marina glanced at the stranger—just a villager, minding his own business.
“That.” She pointed. “That right there. You look like you’re about to shoot someone for daring to exist.”
“I do not.” He waved her off.
“Evan.” Her voice was steel. She yanked her hand from his arm, fists clenched at her sides. “Tell me what’s going on.” Each word was deliberate, heavy, meant to make him listen.
