“Right,” he agreed, swallowing.
“And I won’t tell anyone because I have no interest in marrying you or anyone else.”
“And you think your brother will just accept that.”
“I do,” I said simply. “Xander would never force me to wed, even at the expense of my reputation.”
“I suppose we had better both pray that you’re right.”
“You seem to be feeling better,” I observed.
“Facing forward helps.”
“Even though it’s improper?”
His eyes slid shut in that way they did when he couldn’t decide whether he was annoyed or amused by me. “Even though it’s improper. Don’t suppose you can tell me where we’re going?”
“Not yet,” I said, peering around him and out the carriage window. The streets of London were thinning out, but we weren’t nearly far enough for me to be certain he wouldn’t put an end to this entire scheme.
“And what we’re doing?”
“You’re helping me with a legal matter.”
“The abduction charges?” he asked, one corner of his mouth ticking up in a half smile. It was one of his better ones.
“Otherlegal matters,” I corrected in a prim tone.
He huffed once with a note that could have been a chuckle.
“Besides, it was hardly a crack abduction. You knew it was me the entire time.” I pouted.
“You used a sword,” he whined, nudging it with his foot where it rested under the far seat.
“Not a very sharp one.”
“Well then, charges dismissed,” he retorted.
“Are there?” I asked. My stomach flipped unpleasantly at the sudden recognition of the severity of what I had done.
“Are there what?”
“Charges?”
He huffed a laugh. “Not for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You do realize you’re an heiress?” he asked.
“No! It had escaped my notice!”
“The daughter of a duke with a dowry to make most men blush goes missing, later to be found dressed in ill-fitting men’s clothing. She is traveling northward in a dilapidated carriage with a solicitor. Who do you suppose they’re going to believe abducted whom?”
“But I?—”
“There’s not a soul alive, save perhaps your brother, who would believeyouabductedme. Especially not if we’re heading where I think we’re heading.”
“Where do you think we’re heading?”
