Nicholas hoped Eliza slept.
The sun was riding high as they approached Alconbury and the rain had stopped. The road was riddled with ruts, mud and puddles, a poor sign for their future progress. Eliza left the coach to relieve herself and in her absence, Nicholas took the brick, now cold, to have it heated at the inn. The request gave him an opportunity to speak with the innkeeper. Here, he had a more definite report, though that man believed the young woman traveled with an older female relation. There had been a young gentleman, too, but the innkeeper fancied he had been on his own.
Nicholas reported the details to Eliza as he replaced the hot brick in the carriage. She looked as puzzled and concerned as he felt. “Do you think we gain upon them?”
“They are hours ahead,” he said, despondent. “Unless they halt at a coaching inn, it is unlikely that we shall reach Helena in time.”
“And if they do, we will be too late to save her reputation,” Eliza whispered with frustration. She did not wait for a reply, but granted him a look. “You must be chilled,” she said and moved from the middle of the seat to make room, her expectation clear.
His sister was ruined. His aunt was impoverished. That he alone seemed to have experienced Fortune’s smile made Nicholas fear that all was about to change and for the worse.
Why not share the tale of Badajoz? It seemed he had little left to lose.
Nicholas stepped back to speak to Tupper, already in his seat with the reins in hand. “I will ride with Mrs. North for a while,” he said. “And endeavor to see her entertained.”
“As you wish, Captain.”
Nicholas could not help but be charmed by Eliza’s triumphant smile when he took the place opposite her and the coach began to move. “You will have your secret, Mrs. North, though you may not be as satisfied with it as you anticipate.”
“I suspect you may be wrong in that, Captain Emerson.” She beamed at him then, and he could only hope that his confession did not disappoint.
Helena was hungry and she had need of a chamberpot. When they halted at Colsterworth to change horses in the late afternoon, she insisted upon leaving the carriage after Mrs. D and her daughter.
“But you will be seen!” Ethan protested.
“I assure you, Mr. Melbourne, I know no one in this proximity.”
Helena did not wait for his assistance, but simply leapt out of the carriage. The ground was muddy and the inn was humble, to be sure.
Still, it felt like heaven to stand up.
Mrs. D. had already claimed her bag and was marching toward a waiting cart with a single horse. Flora ran ahead of her and the driver, obviously awaiting them, bowed to her. He stepped forward to claim Mrs. D.’s bag and heft it into the cart.
Helena hurried after her, starting to remove the heavy cloak. “Mrs. Dawlish! I still have Flora’s cloak.”
The older woman smiled at her. “You keep it, miss. It will not get any warmer.”
“But I could not take it from you or Flora.”
“Then you can return it to me at your convenience.”
Helena smiled. “Mrs. Dawlish, wife of the solicitor at Carting Corners.”
“The very one.” Mrs. D.’s glance flicked to Ethan, who was evidently following Helena, her sober expression clearly revealing her thoughts. “I wish you luck, my dear. I fear you will need it.”
Helena spun to face Ethan, who caught her hand and leaned closer. He smiled for her, the smile that previously made her heart flutter, but in this instance, it had no effect at all. “Let us not loiter here. We must hurry onward to Scotland! I cannot bear any delay in making you my wife.”
“I am hungry,” Helena repeated.
“I have an apple,” he offered, producing a sad specimen from the pocket of his jacket.
Helena eyed the offering, thinking it required no comment. “I want something hot, a bowl of soup or a cup of tea. I am chilled to my very marrow.”
And he did not care. Helena saw the truth of it and the sight hardened her heart.
“But any delay will slow our journey,” he appealed, then looked over his shoulder. He feared that they would be pursued.
Why did he want to wed her so badly? It could not for her own merit, or he would have been more concerned about her comfort. He had not seen the pearls and could not know about the money she had stolen—and even if he had, it was a paltry sum to fund a lifetime.
