Davina hummed, fussing with her skirts before moving to slide the coat off. “Keep it,” I insisted.
“How much did he take?” she asked quietly.
“A few pounds. I brought more, but much of it is in bills. Which are more complicated to change out here.”
“It was quick thinking, splitting the money.”
I shrugged off the compliment. “What were you planning? When you abducted me?”
“I think we have established that I did not plan particularly far in advance.”
“Good thing you allowed me to pack, then.”
Tentatively, she pulled a handkerchief from the pocket of my coat. Tucked inside were a dozen or so confections in varying colors. “I got you some candied fruit that they were selling. I wasn’t certain which you’d prefer so I got a bit of everything.”
I settled my hand beneath hers to steady it against the rocking of the carriage. “Thank you, you didn’t have to do that.”
“I am sorry, you know,” she whispered, looking up at me through dark lashes.
“I know. And you’re right, I didn’t have any better idea of what to say.”
I pulled my gaze away from her.
“Which do you prefer?” I asked, nodding toward the candies.
“Pineapple, but they didn’t have it.”
“No, they wouldn’t,” I replied as I plucked and bit into an apple slice.
“Once, Mrs. Ainsley made a fairy cake with pineapple. It was the best thing I’d ever tasted,” she said, eyes lighting at the memory. “She had rum with it.”
The carriage trundled along as we munched on candied fruits, and I tried not to think on Mrs. Lanaham’s location.
“I never had the chance to try that one. She didn’t want to keep them on the menu?”
“Too difficult to get fresh pineapples. She tried a few more times but they arrived rotten.”
Through the window, I could hear thesniktsound as the wheels trudged through the mud. A glance outside confirmed that the rain had been heavier in this area and the roads were caked in viscous muck. The scents of petrichor and sweets drowned out Davina’s spiced notes.
“You should ask your pirate friends to help her out,” I replied with a half grin.
“Do you know, I think I will.”
“That was not a serious suggestion.”
“No, it is too late. Immediately on our return, I shall visit Grace and Annie to see about a pineapple agreement.” She wore her smile in her eyes, teasing.
“My wife doesn’t consort with pirates,” I grumbled.
“She does if she is me,” she countered with a prim little wiggle, straightening her shoulders.
“Well then, it is a good thing that?—”
Crunch!
The unmistakable sound of cracking wood was followed by a disgruntled squeal from the horses up front. Shouts from our drivers joined the cacophony outside as the carriage jolted to the side.
Davina slid into me, elbow colliding with my rib cage. Candies flew about, raining down on us.
