What was with these people always ordering her into their carriages?
Her eyes went to the driver, who she’d shared a pot of tea and cake with in the kitchens before. He gave her a steady look and then nodded to the carriage.
“Sam is showing a great deal more sense than you, Ruby,” Mr. Howarth said, looking at his driver.
“Thank you. I will accept the ride home.”
“There now, that wasn’t difficult, was it?” He opened the door and waved her inside.
Ruby sat in the corner of a seat, and he took the opposite.
“Drop me at Hammers Park, please.”
“I know where you live, Ruby, and it is nowhere near Hammers Park.”
She didn’t huff, but it was a near thing. “You are very forceful.”
“You need to be, in that family.”
The carriage rolled on, and she kept her eyes on the window. What was she to do now? Perhaps she and Adam could run away again. If she did that, she would not need to spy on this man or his family, and hopefully that horrid man would have no more leverage over her.
“Tell me what that man wanted with you.”
“Nothing. He was asking directions.”
“That’s a lie.”
She remained silent.
“The Duchess of Yardly wanted me to give you these.”
The change of subject had her looking at him. He was getting something from beneath the seat. Two walking sticks. They were taller than Adam’s and had long handles she could tell would fit under his arms.
“The duchess said she no longer needs them. They were made when she damaged her ankle. Do you think Adam would make use of them?”
Ruby looked at the two canes and then up at his face. It held only kindness. Tenderness too, and it was that which had her bursting into tears.
She heard him drop them to the floor, and then he was there. On the edge of his seat across from her, reaching for her hands.
“I did not mean to make you cry.”
She sniffed, sobbed some more. He released one of her hands and took out his handkerchief. She took the white square of linen he handed her. Tugging her other hand free, she buried her face in it, mortified.
“Will you tell me what is wrong, Ruby? Tell me what that man wanted? Tell me why you have been sad, and why you had been crying when Dimity, Beth, and Freya took you home in their carriage.”
She sniffed, drew in several deep breaths. Only then was she under control and dared to look at him. He was close now. If she reached out, she could stroke the line of his cheekbones, and run a finger over his mouth. She curled her hands into fists to stop them reaching for him. Reaching for the man that she cared far more for than she should. His long legs were now on either side of hers, surrounding her.
“Talk to me, Ruby. I want to help you.”
“I need no h-help. Thank you, Mr. Howarth. I will wash and return your handkerchief to you.” Ruby inhaled and his scent filled her lungs. The heady combination that was his alone and often lingered in the nursery after he’d visited.
“I don’t care about a bloody handkerchief, Ruby. Tell me what is wrong. Why you run away every time I see you. Why that man scared you, and what you are hiding?”
“I-I have no idea what you speak of.”
“You are not telling the truth, Ruby.”
“I am!”
