“Perhaps weshouldtake rooms at the inn, Reeves,” Bridget suggested. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea for us to be on the road so late at night. We don’t want any more trouble, and I’d feel much better traveling by daylight.”
“If that’s what you want,” Reeves agreed mildly. He’d intended to get them back on the road because he had assumed everyone would want to be home as soon as possible. But Emma didn’t seem in any hurry to leave, and now that Gareth was gone, therewas no reason not to stay at the inn. “I’ll see how many rooms they have.”
“Will the three of us share a room again?” Emma wanted to know.
Reeves laughed. “You’ll have to ask Bridget.”
“You’ll say yes, won’t you, Bridget?”
Bridget’s cheeks were pink, but she was smiling, and it was a smile that reached her eyes. “I think we know one another well enough now for that to be all right,” she said.
“And then we can get a second room for Norman and Jasper,” Reeves said. “That ought to do.”
“Or, if you want, you can share my room, Lady Bridget,” Jasper said, giving her a little bow and a smirk. “I wouldn’t mind a bit. Having such a lovely companion by my side…”
“That’s enough,” Reeves barked. “Don’t insult the lady, Jasper. She has only just met you. She doesn’t know anything about your character.”
“I know his character is good enough to come to Emma’s rescue,” Bridget said. “Even if he does seem to be a bit of a scoundrel.”
“Jasper Fitzroy, professional scoundrel, at your service,” Jasper agreed, giving her a little bow. “And it’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Bridget. I could tell my old friend here was very fond of the lady he kept talking about, of course, but I didn’t know you would besofair. If you want my opinion, you could do a bit better than him!”
“She didn’t ask you for your opinion,” Reeves growled. “Keep it up, Jasper, and you’ll be paying for your own lodgings tonight.”
“This is the thanks I get?” Jasper laughed. “Forgive me, Lady Bridget. It’s just that I’ve heard so many complimentary things about you, and truly, you do not disappoint.”
“Jasper, why don’t you take Emma into the inn with Norman and speak to the innkeeper about how many rooms might be available for the night?” Reeves suggested, eager to be rid of his friend. “If there are two, please let him know we’ll be wanting both of them.”
Jasper gave Reeves a knowing look. “Whatever I can do to help you, of course, Reeves,” he said.
Norman gave a short huff. “Come on, then,” he told Jasper. “You won’t catch me standing out here in the cold any longer than I have to, that’s for certain!”
He took Jasper by the back of the neck and steered him away.
Bridget watched the two of them go, then turned back to face Reeves. “He’s something else,” she said. “Is he always that way?”
“Often,” Reeves chuckled. “He was pleasant to have around during wartime, believe it or not. The man is incapable of taking anything seriously, and sometimes things weresoserious that it was good to have someone around who forced you to laugh. I do wish he’d show a bit more respect, of course.” He frowned. “He shouldn’t have been speaking to you the way he did.”
“Oh, I think it was the same thing you’re referring to,” Bridget said lightly. “Tonight has been so awful. There have been so many dark and dismal things that none of us will ever really forget. Maybe he just wanted to lighten things up and make us all laugh before we turn in for the evening.”
“You’re not offended by the things he said, then?” Reeves asked.
“I would be offended if I thought he had really meant them, I think,” she said. “But it didn’t seem that way to me. I think he was teasing, and that’s all right. I’m just glad it’s all over now.”
“So am I,” Reeves murmured, and he drew her into an embrace and held her.
It wasn’t like every other embrace the two of them had shared in the past. It didn’t hold the same strange thrill. Reeves’ heart didn’t beat faster at the excitement of having her so close to him, and it didn’t feel full of intoxicating danger.
Instead, it was steadying. Comforting. Having her in his arms today was like having a warm cup of tea. It settled his nerves and made him feel more at ease than he had since all this had started. Bridget was warm in his arms, solid and sure, and he was able to reassure himself that nothing had happened to her. And nothing would.
Everything is going to be all right now. The danger is finally over.
“It’s so lovely to hear Emma talking again,” she murmured. “I’ve never heard her sound as confident as she did today.”
“Well, it was knowing that you were in danger that seemed to bring it out in her at last,” Reeves said. “I wouldn’t have let her find out what was going on if it had been my choice, but the child does like to eavesdrop. She came upon me reading the note that Gareth sent back to us.”
“I don’t know about any note,” Bridget admitted. “Gareth said he was sure you would be coming to get me, but he never told me how he knew that.”
“He sent the carriage driver back with a note to let me know what had happened,” Reeves explained. “And a demand that I come and bring Emma to exchange for your safety.”
