“And with only a glance you ascertained this, and these things make you believe I am a nobleman? Do men who are untitled not have fine horses and clothes, then?”
She had no answer to that.
Suppressing a shiver, Joseph thought about his bed. He wanted to lie down and sleep for a day. His toes were going numb, and the cold was seeping into his bones. He should simply get on his horse and leave, instead of conversing on this silly topic with this silly woman.
He looked down as he felt two paws on his leg. The ugliest dog he had ever seen was staring up at him. Its face was pointed like a weasel’s, one ear was bent forward the other back, and its eyes were small and beady. The little body was round, and it was wriggling the small stump that Joseph presumed was a tail.
“Down, Daisy.”
Joseph could find no resemblance to the pretty, open-faced little blooms that scattered the countryside for several months of the year in this animal.
“Is that a dog?”
“Of course it’s a dog.” The woman bristled.
“Surely Mugwort would have been a more suitable name,” Joseph added, still studying the ugly beast. “She can never hope to live up to the name Daisy with a face like that, whereas Mugwort is a plant that has little beauty but many uses.”
“That is insulting, sir.”
Joseph watched the young woman hang the large bag from her wrist, and then bend to pick up the dog and hug her close so the creature’s face obscured hers. Unfortunately, this was followed by several small dog grunts which did nothing to change his opinion.
“The truth is rarely pleasant, Miss…?”
“Please continue with your journey, as Daisy and I need to make our next appointment.”
Her words were muffled in the dog’s fur.
“My mind is agog to wonder what appointment you could have at such an hour, madam.”
“That is my business, sir.” She clutched the dog closer, which caused it to grunt again. Her lisp was really rather sweet.
“Come now, tell me why you are out here alone with no companion? Your voice suggests you are a woman who should have accompaniment, and I would hazard you have seen twenty summers at least, suggesting you should have more sense than what you are currently displaying.”
“Twenty-five, and I would thank you to keep your opinions to yourself, as you have no notion of why I’m here or what I am about.”
Her attitude went some way to confirming she was no mere servant. None he knew would speak to him the way she was. Although, in fairness, she did not know who he was... or did she?
“Tell me why you are here, madam?”
“I-I was waiting for the coach.”
“You’ll have a long wait, as it doesn’t come down this road.” Joseph rose up on his toes to stretch his calves. Riding had made them tight.
“What are you doing?”
“Stretching,” he said, doing so again.
She was nervous and frightened, and he suspected frozen to her toes. He could understand the latter, as he had no feeling in his.
“I wish to help you. My name is Lord Ellsworth, will you tell me yours?”
She inhaled, as if his words had been a shock. But why would they be? This entire situation was piquing his interest.
“Are you all right, madam?”
“No.”
“No, you are not all right?”
