Will was running before he even made sense of the words, blasting through the stable and into the weak morning sun.
Adelaide had to be well, shehadto be. The thought of her lovely face contorted in pain sent his insides twisting. He crashed through the front door of the inn and heard a plaintive sob coming from above. His stomach coiled and blood thrummed as he darted up the stairs, around the corner, and—
Almost slammed into Adelaide.
She shrieked as he grabbed her shoulders to keep her from falling backwards, barely resisting the compulsion to wrap herin his arms. His ribcage unknotted, and he felt the most peculiar urge to laugh in relief. Their eyes held, and he thought he saw her lips twitch up at the edges.
But if Adelaide wasn’t ill, who was?
“Mrs. Bumbletwit,” she whispered, as though she anticipated his question. “She started griping hours ago, and it’s only gotten worse. The innkeeper summoned the doctor, but…” Adelaide winced as she trailed off, glancing through the open door into a bedroom that seemed to be the source of the cries.
“He’s a fraud, he is! A quack!”
Will stepped away from Adelaide as a gentleman carrying a dark leather medical bag stormed from the room and slammed his hat on his head. Mr. Bumbletwit followed close on his heels, shaking his fist. “A fraud! Won’t do a thing for my poor wife, wants to see her suffer!”
The doctor stopped in front of Adelaide and exhaled sharply. “The woman is suffering from kidney stones. Relatively harmless but painful. There is nothing to be done but keep her comfortable until they pass.”
Adelaide’s brows furrowed. “How long will that take?”
“A few days, perhaps as much as a week.”
“Aweek!”
Mr. Bumbletwit drove his fingers through his thinning hair and bellowed like he was on stage on Drury Lane. “You’re leaving while my poor wife continues to suffer!”
The doctor shot the man a glare. “Good day, sir,” he ground out before departing for what Will hoped was a better end to the day than the start of it.
Adelaide stepped in front of Bumbletwit, stopping his wild pacing. “We can’t wait a week.”
Bumbletwit held his hands out to the sides. “I’m sorry, Miss Kimball, but I cannot continue, not when my wife is in such a grievous state.”
“The arrangement you made with my father,” she interrupted, her cheeks red, “was to have me at Barrington Hall by Friday. He won’t pay if you don’t get me there in time.”
Something unpleasant shifted in Will’s gut. “In time for what?”
Adelaide’s eyes lit up as they transferred to him. “Youcan take me.”
Will shot a glance at Bumbletwit, whose expression similarly brightened. “I’m not going to Barrington, only Saltford.”
The man waved this aside like an errant insect. “Saltford is at least a day’s ride away. There must be a telegraph office somewhere nearby, and I’ll arrange for someone to take her the rest of the way.”
“Someone?” Nothing about this felt right, and he was ready to wrap Adelaide up and carry her away from this imbecile. “You know a reputable chaperone in Saltford?”
Another wave of his hand. “I know people everywhere, son, everywhere.”
“But I don’t—”
“Just get her to Saltford. I’ll have everything arranged when you get there. And I’ll give you this.”
He dug into his jacket and withdrew a heavy purse, then poured a handful of coins into his palm. Will’s breath caught.
“Aaah, now I have your attention.” Bumbletwit grinned as he made a show of dropping the money in Will’s waiting hand. When had he extended it? “There’s always a price. You seem like the honorable type, so I know you won’t toss her on the side of the road.”
Will attempted to object, but he couldn’t find words as his fingers wrapped around his sudden wealth. He would have taken her somewhere safe for nothing, but now a day’s drive would nearly double what he’d tucked away to start his new endeavor, his newlife. But could he withstand her allure withouta chaperone reminding him to keep his distance? His attention shot once more to Adelaide, who stared at him with wide, eager eyes.
“Miss Kimball,” he started, but she’d grabbed his hands.
“Please, I need—” She stopped, inhaled sharply. “It’s imperativeI’m in Barrington by Friday, and I might not make it if we don’t leave now. Will you help me?”
