Brooke paled a little more. Had she really hoped to hear a less terrifying outcome? But if this woman was Rory’s mother, could she help them? Rory had listened to her and let Brooke go with her. If Brooke could somehow gain her sympathy, maybe...
“Rory is your son?”
“Indeed. Rory’s a good boy who abides by his own code of honor—usually.”
Brooke wondered what that meant but decided not to ask. The woman sat down at the table and indicated Brooke should join her. “You have a nice home. How long have you lived in these woods?”
“Less than a month. We pick a new highway to work every year. With prices on our men’s heads, we can’t stay in one area too long, so we build anew each year far from the roads, but not so far that a well-traveled new highway can’t be reached in a few hours. How long have you and your man been affianced?”
“I’ve only known him a week.” It seemed so much longer!
The woman looked surprised. “And you’re so concerned about him already?”
“He’s a good man, a concerned son. His mother has taken ill. We were on our way to London in a tearing hurry because he’s so worried about her.”
“But you want the marriage?”
“I do, but he doesn’t.” Brooke sighed.
Matty pointed at her emphatically. “I always tell a girl who believes she’s found herself a fine fellow, seduce him if you want him to love you. And you’re dealing with a proper lord who wouldn’t fail to marry you after he’s bedded you.”
Brooke had started blushing at the wordseduce.Alfreda had had the same idea, which is why she’d given Brooke the potion that she had in her valise. But even if she wanted to, how could she now when they might not even be alive come morning?
The woman tsked. “Rory is too unpredictable. It would be a shame if you was to die without knowing what it’s like to lie in the arms of such a handsome, virile man as your fiancé. Maybe I can get Rory to agree to let you talk some sense into the lord, convince him to pay Rory his due. Don’t worry, dearie. At least, I can arrange for you to spend your last night with him.” Matty turned to leave.
“I’ll need my valise!” Brooke called out, in case the woman really could do as she’d just said.
But as hours passed, Brooke began to suspect Matty had only given her false hope. Dusk came. She’d been standing at one of the two windows that faced the campfire, and she hadn’t caught a glimpse of either Rory or Dominic the entire time. But she could see two guards keeping their eyes on her hut. Was Dominic coming to terms with Rory in one of the other huts? Or was he being beaten now that he was restrained? She was terrified by what might be happening to him and what might happen to her soon. But what if the mother did have enough sway to bring Dominic to her during the night?
Hungry, tired, she still stood vigil at the window, too afraid not to.
Chapter Thirty-Six
“HE WANTS THE MOON,” Dominic said angrily. “I offered him several alternatives, even sanctuary in Rothdale village for him and his friends—against my better judgment.”
Brooke had leaped at Dominic the second he walked through the door and was still hugging his waist fiercely. “Did he agree?”
“He still wants the moon. And if he keeps us here too long waiting for it, I won’t have anything left to offer him. The Regent will have taken it all.”
Embarrassment overtook her when she realized what she was doing, though Dominic was so frustrated he probably didn’t even notice. She stepped back. “Did you explain that?”
“Thatis none of his business. Then that old woman called him away. I could hear them arguing behind the hut they had me in, though I couldn’t make out what they were saying. But then I was untied and escorted here to you. Do you know why?”
“She’s his mother. I think she wants me to convince you to give Rory what he’s demanding. She made it sound like this would be our last night if you don’t.”
“Last?”
“She seems to think the matter will be settled one way or another in the morning.”
“Then we need to escape tonight.”
“How? The door and the windows face the campfire where there are guards watching this hut.”
“I’ll break the boards in the back once most of this camp is asleep.”
The hut was newly built. She didn’t think he could break any freshly cut boards without making a lot of noise that would alert the guards. She didn’t see any way out of this if Dominic couldn’t come to terms with Rory. But he was here with her now. Rory’s mother did come through on that! And Brooke had dug the potion out of her valise as soon as it had been brought to her. But it wasn’t going to do her any good if Dominic didn’t have a drink she could surreptitiously pour it into.
She could make the suggestion, but she didn’t think he would be open to an early wedding night when he was still so determined that there would never be a wedding. But the man excited her in myriad ways, and being alone with him in this small room, with a bed nearby, was affecting her. God, she wished he weren’t so handsome. She wished she could be indifferent to him. She wished she could figure out some way to bargain with him so this marriage could be more palatable forhim,but all she wanted to do was kiss him again. How shameful, but that was certainly his fault for being so adept at it. Yet there wouldn’t be a marriage if they couldn’t get out of this camp of criminals alive. So this might indeed be her last and only opportunity to find out what it would be like to go beyond the kissing with him.
