Feeling excited, not only to be going somewhere special today, but at the slightest lengthening of their time together, Aubrey scooped Mr. Dog into the carriage, and watched while Mr. Bateman had a few words with Mr. Daniels.
The driver scowled at first, shaking his head. Within moments, however, he’d come around to Mr. Bateman’s way of seeing things. Mr. Bateman climbed in beside her and after a bit of maneuvering, Mr. Daniels pulled them onto the road again.
“Have you made this excursion before?” Aubrey couldn’t contain her curiosity completely.
With his feet resting on the bench opposite them, Mr. Bateman leaned back and closed his eyes. “I did some traveling one summer, before the war.”
“With school friends?”
“Yes.” He smiled.
“With the bully,” she smiled. “Hollis?”
“Have you been taking notes,Princesse?” He laughed at her, even with his eyes closed. But then he reached out and pulled her into his arms, tucking her head onto his chest. “I doubt you slept much better than I did. We’ve plenty of time before we get there. Be comfortable and hush so I can get some sleep.”
Torn between annoyance and exasperation, Aubrey chose amused indulgence instead.
She wanted to be offended at his bossiness, but that was quite impossible with his musky, smoky manliness assaulting all of her senses and his powerful body cushioning her protectively.
So instead, she lifted her feet onto the seat beside her, and burrowed a little deeper. He was right. Sleep had not come easily the night before. How could he make her feel so protected and comfortable sometimes, and so utterly off kilter at others?
Before she could examine the question much closer, she put one hand on his chest, took a deep breath, and allowed the motion of the carriage to rock her to sleep.
* * *
Rubbing her eyes,Aubrey sat up and then stretched. Mr. Bateman had managed to exit the carriage without waking her and was outside talking with Mr. Daniels. She wondered how long they’d been stopped.
They seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. Nothing but green fields, dappled with a few cows in all directions. Where had he taken her? Just as she was about to open the door she paused. Mr. Bateman had taken hold of Mr. Daniels by one shoulder and seemed to be conveying instructions, nothing of which she thought ought to require such intensity. He then reached into his coat and removed a handful of money which Mr. Daniels took possession of without hesitation.
She frowned. Why was Mr. Bateman giving Mr. Daniels money?
The driver turned away from him and Mr. Bateman brushed his hands together, as though he’d satisfactorily completed an irritating task.
Aubrey pushed the door open. “Where are we?” She wasn’t sure she wanted to ask Mr. Bateman about the money. She wasn’t sure she even wanted to think about it.
Especially when Mr. Bateman swaggered in her direction, looking quite pleased with himself. “You finally decided to wake up. We are a few miles from the small village of Amesbury where Mr. Daniels will change out the horses and return for us shortly. But as for our destination, you and I, and your son will walk the remainder of the way. That is if he’s able.”
She hopped onto the ground before he could reach her. She was well rested and the cool air felt delicious on her face but… “Walk where?” She’d never heard of Amesbury. “We’re in the middle of nowhere.”
But instead of answering, he took hold of Mr. Dog’s leading string and reached out his other hand for hers. “This way,Princesse.”
She had no resistance at all when presented with yet another opportunity to touch him—to allow him to touch her—and so she let her small hand be engulfed by his and wondered if she might be so besotted that she would follow him anywhere.
“Won’t you give me a clue?”
“See there?” He pointed in the distance. She could barely make out a blackish gray cluster rising up from the green. “Have you never heard of Stonehenge?”
Her eyes opened wide. “The mysterious field of stones? Is that really so near?” She had, in fact, heard about it, but had never paid much heed to where it was. She’d certainly never imagined she’d see it. “How did you know it was here? Oh, but you have been before, with that bully boy.” She could hardly contain herself and skipped a few steps. Now that she realized where he was taking her, she couldn’t continue walking along at this sedate pace.
She’d read about the circle of rocks and as they drew near the unusual landmark, was not disappointed. Mr. Dog enjoyed himself as well, sniffing and marking various debris on the ground along the way. She made a note to herself that she’d have to take the dog for several walks once she arrived in London. Poor thing was doing wonderfully riding inside for so long.
“The tall ones are the sarsens and the smaller one’s bluestones.” Mr. Bateman squeezed her hand in what she thought might be enthusiasm.
As they neared, he articulated some of the legends of the configuration’s origins in a manner that not only informed her, but entertained; magical, mythical, astronomical and religious. “But no one really knows.”
“Perhaps that’s what they wanted.” Aubrey stepped inside the outer circle and then ran her fingertips along the large wall of stone beside her. “They wanted to keep everyone guessing.”
“But they wouldn’t put so much effort into bringing them all this way and then moving them into position for no reason.” He too reached out to touch the stone. “To accomplish something so monumental, they had to have purpose, something to motivate them. Otherwise, why go through the pain of it? Why put forth the effort?”
