Chapter 32
Gabe turned from the door with a tray of food in his hands and a smile on his lips.
“Tha’ was a maid. Are ye hungry?”
At the sight of the tray, Mary realized just how ravenous she was. She had not eaten since yesterday’s luncheon.
The loud rumble of Mary’s stomach filled the room, and Gabe grinned, the motion pulling at the scabs forming on his lips. Mary sheepishly placed her hands over her middle and Gabe laughed.
“I will take your stomach’s word for it,” he said, winking an amused blue eye at her.
He brought the tray to the bed.
“Shall we use our imaginations?” he asked. “It will be an alfresco meal, but inside and atop a dishevelled coverlet.”
Something about his willingness to try for humour brought a pleasing warmth to her chest.
She clambered onto the bed.
“I sent the curricle away this morning with an elderly man from Brighton.”
The bed dipped with his weight as he sat atop it, the tarnished silver platter placed strategically between them.
Mary settled her skirts around her ankles and gazed eagerly at the array of cheeses, meats, breads, and fruits. The scent alone was enough to have her salivating uncontrollably.
“This man knows not to give your direction?” she asked.
He motioned for her to eat and she reached enthusiastically for a piece of cheese and bread and took a bite of both.Oh heavens!What deliciously fresh bread.
“As a matter of fact…” Gabe selected a handful of berries and began popping them in his mouth. “I spoke at great length about my plans to ride west. I knew better than to trust him to keep information to himself, so I gave him incorrect information in the hopes that Lady Kerr, her brutes, and the other traitors will believe him.”
Mary ate a succulent slice of roasted ham, then followed that with a plump grape.
Gabe cleared his throat. “I must apologize to ye, Mary.” His blue gaze rose to meet hers. “I didnae believe ye when ye suggested Lady Kerr as a possible suspect. I shouldae trusted yer instincts and watched her fer suspicious activity as well. I apologize fer nae listening. I was verra,grievouslywrong.”
Mary’s chest swelled with gratitude. “Thank you, Gabe.”
She unfolded a napkin and laid it on the mussed counterpane.
“I hate to cut our ‘alfresco’ meal short, but we must go.” Gabe dabbed at his mouth with his napkin. “It will take us at least ten hours te reach London from here and it is already half of nine. We must report t’ Hydra and find a way te disappear until the ball, else our identities may be compromised.”
Mary placed several chunks of cheese, two rolls, and slices of meat into the napkin and folded it up.
“Excellent thought.” He filled his own napkin and tucked it into his pocket. “Shall we go?”
“No.”
“No?” He imitated her accent.
“No,” she said. “I wish to have a look at your wounds to ensure they are sufficiently clean and bind them once more before we leave.”
“Ach, Mary, donnae fash yerself. They are nae as deep as they appeared.”
“I will not have you get infection while in my care, Gabriel Ashley.”
He sighed. “Verra well.”
He quickly rose and removed his clothes down to his breeches, stockings, and boots. Mary watched in awe and, she was slightly ashamed to say, with rapidly growing desire. His body was rippled and sculpted, hard and sleek.
