None of it mattered.
“All is well, Mrs. Nichols. You had no way of knowing that I’d been detained.” He turned and resumed toward the mews, suddenly craving the isolation he’d have while traveling home.
“Is there anything I ought to tell her, if she returns, Your Grace?”
Chance paused again. Was there anything left to say between the two of them?
“Tell her that… “ He paused. She would not return. She’d made her decision. “Tell her I wish her happy.” And with those words, he walked away from love.
He saddled his horse, strapped on his pack, and turned Guinevere toward home.
Chapter 24
Chance
Two days later, as darkness fell, Chance road into one of the familiar villages where he’d often stayed while traveling between his estate in Trequin Bay and London. He’d not made great time but he wasn’t out to set any records. Since he was unwilling to change out his horse, he stopped for longer periods than usual so that Guinevere could rest.
The first night he had slept under the stars. Tonight, however, Chance looked forward to a warm bed and perhaps a bath.
He’d best eat too, despite having lost his appetite.
Unlike the journey he and Aubrey had made together, plenty of rooms were readily available to rent. Chance paid the inn keep, took the key, and returned outside so that he could tend to Guinevere. She’d been carrying him for long periods through the height of the summer heat and deserved a good rubbing down.
He might as well take care of the one lady who actually did love him.
“I can do that for you Mister.” A young boy looked up at him eagerly. “For some coin.”
“I take care of my own mount, but this is yours if you fetch me a bucket of water and a cup for myself.” Chance flashed a penny and with an eager nod, the child, who looked to be no more than the age of eight or nine, burst into action and disappeared to the back of the stable. By the time he came back, Chance had hung his saddle over the gate of a stall and had located a brush.
“Here you go, Mister and thank you! Do you mind if I watch?’ The blonde little urchin climbed atop one of the stalls and looked on eagerly. “Your horse is big. Bigger than normal horses. And I know that she’s a girl. I’m not ignorant, you know. Gosh, I saw the strangest thing behind the inn; this dog, a lady was carrying it. She said it was asleep even though his eyes was open and his tongue hanging out.” The boy made a face, sticking his tongue out and lolling his head to the side. “And the dog was a he, for certain. I know that too. Like I said, I’m not ignorant. But this lady, she was real pretty mind you. And she smelled like flowers. I’ll bet she’s a nob, that’s what I’ll bet. And—”
“Hold up.” Chance interrupted the boy’s monologue. “You say you saw a lady, with a dog. Was he red, and had short legs?”
“You saw him too?” The kid’s grin took up half of his face.
Chance swallowed hard and tossed the brush toward the kid. “You’ve done this before?” And at his nod, “Do your best! I’ll return shortly. Stay right here though, don’t take your eyes off of her.”
“Okay Mister! You can count on me!” But Chance barely heard the boys high pitched and excited response because he was already halfway around the back of the inn.
The sight that met his eyes could not be real.
Holding a leading string, Aubrey followed Lancelot as he meandered in circles around a small patch of grass. Chance halted and just stood there, staring at her. Wondering if he’d finally lost all semblance of his sanity.
The setting sun caught the lights in her hair, making it glow, and the breeze was just strong enough that her dress clung to her feminine curves, reminding him of secrets he’d done his best to forget.
Chance didn’t move an inch, he just stood there, watching her as she cajoled the pup to do his business. Why was she here?
It was Lancelot who noticed him first. In one motion, he jerked the leading sting out of his mistress’ hand and bounded toward Chance, ears flopping alongside his head and his tongue lolling out of his mouth.
“Hey there, Old boy.” Crouching, Chance allowed the dog to lick his chin and ears for a moment but didn’t take his eyes off of hisPrincesse.
She froze, her shock mirroring his own from a moment before. “Chance?” One hand flew to cover her mouth. The green vibrance of her eyes sparkled.
“Why are you here? Is Cline with you?” Hell and damnation, he’d never stopped to ask her exactly where Cline’s estate was. God must have one hell of a sense of humor if the happy couple was traveling the same route.
She shook her head though. “No. No. I’m alone. Except for my maid, Kelly, and Mr. Daniels as well as an outrider, of course.” She blinked several times in a row and then tipped her head to the side. “I came looking for you. I need to ask you something.”
Chance felt his heart lurch, but he’d felt optimistic too many times already, merely to have his hopes shattered into a thousand tiny pieces. He gestured toward some crates where they could sit down, and then dragged Lancelot along with him.
