Bailey came to the table with a huff of annoyance.
“You’re to stay here until it’s time for the mail coach to leave. The innkeeper said it would be thirty minutes.”
“Oh?” Mail coach? But they’d arrived here in Mr. Miranda’s conveyance. She assumed they’d take a room for the night. But perhaps Daisy should have guessed they wouldn’t want to spare the expense, but to put them on a mail coach. She’d never been on a mail coach let alone traveled overnight. It wasn’t safe, wasit? That was what she’d always been told. But it must be all right. Mrs. Miranda wouldn’t put them in danger.
“Very well. I’ve ordered a meat pie if you’re hungry.”
“With what money?”
“My pin money.”
“Let me see how much you’ve got.”
Daisy chewed her lip as she opened her reticule and dumped out the rest of her pin money. It wasn’t much.
“I’ll take it,” Bailey said.
“Why?” Daisy asked in confusion.
“To keep it safe.”
“Oh, very well.” Daisy handed it over even though her instincts told her not to. Her meat pie and tea arrived. Bailey sat in the other chair. “How long will it take to get to London by mail coach?”
“Just overnight,” Bailey said. She picked up the teacup and drained it. Then she took a bite of the pie and stood.
“Stay here. The bell will peal three times before the coach leaves. Here’s your ticket.” Daisy took the ticket and tucked it into her sleeve.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll be outside. Eat your meal and do as I say.” Bailey left Daisy, and she devoured her pie in silence, curiously observing the other patrons.
This was a nice, respectable inn, The Oat and Oak, but it was now fully dark, and Daisy had never traveled without a group of people to protect her. Once she finished eating, she remained seated until she heard the three distinct rings of a bell. Daisy stood with a mixture of excitement and fear. She stepped outside the inn, looking for Bailey. She spotted her trunk being loaded onto the large carriage. At least that was sorted. She drifted closer, scanning the area for Bailey.
“Are you coming aboard, miss?” a man asked.
“Um, yes.” Daisy showed him her ticket and he waved her toward the door.
“You’ll want to claim a seat inside. Are you alone?” He eyed her, one eye narrowing.
“No, I have a travel companion.”
“You should get inside, now.”
“Should I not wait for her?” Daisy asked in a panic. She did not see Bailey anywhere. Would they leave without them? Should Daisy stay?
“No. You don’t want to miss the coach.”
“She has my money,” Daisy murmured, more to herself than to the man.
He gave her a sad half smile. “What did your companion look like?”
Daisy licked her lips, trying not to panic. She couldn’t travel alone. Daisy had never doneanythingalone. “She’s tall and slender, with brown hair and silver at the temples. She has a mole just above her eyebrow and a gray cloak.”
He nodded, his sympathetic frown setting off alarms. “She left ye here alone, she did.”
Daisy skidded to a halt as she put a hand on the carriage and turned back toward him. “She left me?”
He nodded. “Take care, miss. Try to sit between the two ladies for your safety.”
