Eleanor shook her head. “There is no way you could know. Susanna’s mind works in ways no normal person’s would. Like last spring when she fell dramatically into the Thames on purpose to distract everyone from my unfortunate reaction to sailing.”
Miles widened his eyes. “She fell in on purpose?”
Eleanor nodded.
“Or when she decided to switch rowboats mid lake to give me and Daniel time alone to get to know each other,” Charlotte chuckled.
“Was that when the boat capsized and you both fell in?” Miles asked.
Daniel nodded.
“Dear Lord the woman is a menace.” He shook his head.
“Well, she is never boring,” Lucius chimed in.
Olivia leaned forward. “Don’t you see? She is always trying to help one of us with her schemes. It’s the same this time. Miles, she is clearly doing this for you, to save you from your aunt’s matchmaking.”
Was that true? Was Susanna simply trying to help him out? “But she doesn’t need to help me. I am perfectly capable of handling my aunt’s machinations.”
“Doesn’t matter. You are one of her people and she will help you whether you sanction it or not,” Charlotte replied.
Miles shook his head again. “I’m going to have to go fetch her, aren’t I?”
Daniel shrugged. “I would go with you, but I hate to leave Charlotte and the baby alone.”
“My whole family is planning a voyage to Paris to close up the house there. It is a lot of coordination right now,” Max said.
“I would help, you know I love the lunatic like a sister. But I cannot just leave the brewery. It doesn’t run without me at the helm.” Lucius sent him an apologetic look.
Susanna’s three best friends all looked at him with wide pleading eyes. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “Does anyone have any idea where Astley’s troupe is headed?”
Lucius snapped his fingers. “I don’t, but perhaps I know where to find out. I saw several posters for events hanging in the Blue Boar tavern earlier this week. I will go talk with Mr. Cork and see what he knows.”
They were right; it was him Susanna was trying to help, and therefore it should be him who goes to save her from this cockeyed plan of her. “All right. I’ll leave tomorrow.”
Chapter Ten
Luckily the weatherwas better the following day as Miles rode toward Guilford. Clouds covered the sky but no rain fell. He had opted to ride on horseback as opposed to taking the carriage to avoid getting stuck in muddy roads. Roberts had been at sixes and sevens as to what to pack for him in such a small traveling bag. He had to assure the man that he could survive with just a couple of clean shirts and one change of trousers. He didn’t plan to stay more than one night, and if Susanna gave him any trouble about coming home, he planned to abscond with her like one of the highwaymen she read about in those novels of hers.
Lucius had come by this morning with news that Mr. Cook at the Blue Boar had heard that Astley’s circus was traveling west from London and planned to be in Croydon, Guilford, and Salisbury. They had left a flyer with the tour stops in every inn along the route. Guilford was the first of the stops west of Marbury so he was hoping this was the right course. She probably wouldn’t have traveled back toward London to meet them in Croydon? Would she? Miles ground his teeth in frustration. Susanna Ashby was a troublemaker. How the hell had he become her rescuer? Why was she his problem at all?
The wind whipped up and he took hold of his hat to keep from losing it.She is your friend, of course you should rescue her from herself.His conscience chided him.Plus, she is in this mess with the intention of helping you.A few miles farther and he arrived at the outskirts of a small town, a welcome sight after a long stretch of nothing but cows grazing in fields. Miles slowed the horse to a walk, then he pulled out his watch. Four o’clock. He should stop and rest his horse. And he needed to eat, perhaps his foul mood would improve after an ale and a good meal.
He rode into the stable yard of a tidy inn. A young stable hand hurried over to greet him as he dismounted. He handed the reins to the lad and unhooked his travel bag from behind the saddle.
“Good day to you, sir. Will you be staying overnight?”
“No, I plan to have some food and allow my horse to rest. I won’t be more than a few hours. Make sure to give him a good rubdown.” He tossed the boy a gold crown.
“Thank you, sir.”
As the stable hand began to lead his horse away Miles spotted a familiar carriage parked along one side of the stable. “Young man,” he called out. When the lad turned back to face him, he pointed to the carriage. “Whose rig is that?”
“Oh, that be Lady Hawksridge’s carriage. It came in here yesterday with lady herself at the ribbons. Been in some accident with her coachman hurt.”
Lady Hawksridge?Miles shook his head. “Pardon? Did you say Lady Hawksridge?”
The boy shrugged. “Yes, sir. I went and fetched the bonesetter myself. Her coachman’s leg was turned real unnatural.”
