We continuedin a similar vein for several miles. Her staring out the window in irritation. The various causes of my nausea warring for prominence while I struggled to keep my accounts where they belonged.
The rain dripped slowly but steadily overhead. If I were any sort of gentleman, I would have switched seats with Davina. And if I were less stubborn, I would have asked before my insides rebelled. But I wasn’t a gentleman, I was a solicitor, and an obstinate one at that. At least she still wore my coat.
Davina was right, I hadn’t a better idea. But, Christ, hers did complicate my life. This wasn’t one of her usual mishaps, easily solved with a few bank notes or a handful of documents. And I wasn’t separated from it.
In a time that was either an eternity or only a few minutes, we arrived at the next coaching inn. A glance out the window told me what I’d already known. Ancaster, we were in Lincolnshire. We were less than five miles from Lizzie’s. And Mrs. Lanaham was barreling toward her home, ready to share my “wonderful news” with anyone and everyone. Including my mother.
“Do you want anything inside?” Davina asked, tentative as Alfie unbuckled the door. She shuffled out, then peered back in at me, dwarfed in my coat.
“No, thank you. But there are a few shillings in the pocket of my coat. Help yourself to whatever you’d like.”
She slipped her hand in the pocket and pulled it out empty. Then the other. And then her eyes met mine, wide, and I knew.
In a flash, I remembered the precise moment it happened. So quick and so subtle at the last inn when the boy ran between us. Damn it all to hell and back.
I dragged a frustrated hand through my messy curls, keeping the litany of curses silent. It wasn’t everything, I wasn’t that dimwitted. But it was enough to miss, certainly.
My head hit the wall with a solid, satisfyingthunk. I repeated the process for good measure.
“It’s all right. I-I have pin money,” she stammered, holding up her reticule as I slid off the seat and out of the carriage.
Wordlessly, I yanked my portmanteau out from under the seat and tugged it open. I dug through it, found the hole in the lining, and handed her a few shillings with a sigh.
“You don’t have?—”
“Take it,” I growled, shoving it in her palm. I had to forcefully clasp her fingers around it then grasp her by the shoulders and spin her toward the entrance with a gentle push before she moved. I put a few more shillings in my waistcoat pocket.
Alfie wandered off to tend the horses and I decided to take the opportunity to freshen up while the carriage was my own.
Just as I was yanking a clean shirt over my head, I heard a soft, “Oh,” from the doorway. A quick glance showed the back of Davina’s thin frame, her neck flushed.
“Apologies,” I grumbled as I pulled the fresh linen into place and tucked it into my breeches. “I thought I had a few more minutes.”
“No,” she answered in a strangled tone. “No matter, I was trying to be quick. I didn’t think…”
“You can turn around now,” I said, settling the waistcoat on my shoulders.
She did so slowly, hesitantly. Her cheeks were flushed when I finally saw them.
“I didn’t intend to scandalize you.”
“No, I know.” She clung to the last syllable, her lips pursed in a perfect O. When the expression finally abated she straightened her spine and pulled her shoulders back. “And as your wife, I’ve certainly seen more scandalous parts of your anatomy,” she added with a hesitant smile.
Against my will, a chuckle escaped, her bright laughter joining in a moment later.
I clambered out of the carriage, then gestured for her to go in first. “I need the window, if you don’t mind.”
“You could have said.”
“I was being stubborn.”
“And grumpy,” she added, settling primly in my former seat.
“I’ve been reliably informed that I’m always grumpy.”
“I really do think it will all turn out.”
“We’ll have to agree to disagree on that,” I retorted, while Alfie buckled the damned door again. The rain had slowed to a dreary drizzle during our stop, which was something of a relief. Outside, I could hear the horses snort, eager to set off.
