Chapter 11
The first thing Mary became aware of was warmth. She kept her eyes closed and enjoyed the comfort of the carriage’s gentle rocking and the calming warmth that engulfed her. She listened to the muffledclip clopof the horses’ hooves and the wheels rolling over dirt and gravel, thepitter-patterof rain atop the carriage’s roof, the gentle snore of the—just a moment—snore?
Mary’s eyes snapped open. A frown crossed her brow as she attempted to assess the situation with her mind still in a sleepy fog. She looked at the empty seat across from her and her frown deepened.Is thatmyseat?
Another snore came from above her head and Mary started.Who—Before she could finish the thought, she tipped her head upward to see Gabriel, eyes closed and mouth agape. Further awareness crept up her spine as she realized that Gabe’s arms were wrapped tightly around her.Oh goodness!
Before allowing herself to think on just how contented she had felt, she gently pried his arms from around her and very nearly leapt to the opposite seat. It had been many years since she had felt a blush rise to her cheeks, but she was most certainly familiar with the sensation. She had crept onto his seat—onto hislap—while she was sleeping, for pity’s sake! And he in his shirtsleeves, of all things.
When had that happened? She glanced around the carriage and saw his rumpled coat in a heap upon the floor.
“That won’t do,” she mumbled.
As silently as she could, Mary bent to retrieve the rumpled coat, shook it out, then leaned to drape it across Gabe’s chest.
Just as she stretched her arms out, the carriage hit a rut, jolting her forward and onto Gabe’s chest.
“What?” Gabe sputtered, his arms rising in defence.
“Shh—shh,” Mary soothed. “I’m sorry to wake you.” The blush already staining her cheeks flamed brighter as she pulled away to resume her seat. She adjusted her skirts then folded her hands primly on her lap.
Gabe brushed off the awkward moment by putting on his coat and placing his tall hat on his head. He pulled out his pocket watch and examined the timepiece.
“How long has it been since we last changed horses?” he asked, his English accent impeccable.
“I don’t know. I only just woke, myself.” Mary raised a hand to pat at her falling coiffure. She must look affright.
It was customary for females to wear bonnets whenever they were out of doors, but Mary often eschewed that particular practice. It had been said by many that it was the red in her auburn hair that fuelled the fiery, defiant nature in her. Mary was not so certain. But as she was wont to refuse to wear a bonnet, so was her pseudonym, Miss Mary White. It was daring, bold, improper, and yes, defiant.
“Do not bother to fix your hair,” Gabe interrupted her thoughts.
“Whyever not?”
He scratched a finger over the still-fresh scar along his jaw as he glanced out the window. “I believe we are nearing Kerr House. It works well with our characters that you appear dishevelled. The other guests will assume that I had my way with you on the journey.”
The moment the words had left his mouth, he appeared to regret them. The air in the carriage became thick, forcing Mary to simply nod her agreement and gaze out the window to the sleeting rain. More than once, Gabe shifted his position in his seat.
How were they to complete this assignment if they were not comfortable behaving as man and mistress? Mary was an accomplished actress—if she said so herself—but even moments ago she could not stop the blush that rose to her cheeks at having nestled closely to Gabe so innocently in her sleep. Something must be done. They were nearing Kerr House and had very little time left to discuss it.
She licked at her dry lips and sat straighter in her seat. “This will not do.”
His dark brows met above his crystalline blue eyes. “What will not do?”
“The discord between us. It is palpable!” He appeared stunned for a moment, and she continued. “Do not look so surprised, Gabriel, I know that you do not like me, and believe me incapable of doing my duty to the Crown—about which,” she pointed a finger at him, “I mean to disprove you. But if we are to even comenearto being successful in this scheme, we must be believable as man and mistress.” She raised her hand to stop him from interrupting. “You must become accustomed to being in close quarters with me, touching me…even kissing me. For pity’s sake, you’ve had mistresses, I’m certain, you know what outward appearances would be expected of us at such an event.”
Gabe appeared positively ill.
“Lord, you’re very nearly green, Gabe, are you feeling well?” He gave her a jerky nod and she continued. “Very well. But you understand my meaning, yes? We must push past our hard feelings and act as though we are very thoroughly absorbed in each other.”
The carriage rolled onto the gravelled drive to the estate and Mary hurriedly finished what she wished to say. “You shall call me Mary, darling, dearling, sweetheart, or some other pet name, and I shall call you ‘Tony’ or a pet name of my choosing. Though now that I think on it, is there a name you would wish me to call you?”
* * *
Gabe gazed at Mary in a state of disbelief and partial arousal.
She thought he did not like her? That he believed her unfit to be a spy? She had it wrong. All wrong. It was because hedidlike her that he thought she should not be a spy…and perhaps that was also the reason that he wished to be away from her. Not forlackof esteem, but fortoo muchof it.
And what of her feelings forhim? She mentioned pushing pasttheirhard feelings…
