“Of course.” He nodded.
Liberty had a feeling that he was lying and wouldn’t come to her at all, but she said nothing further, and allowed Helen to finish cleaning her head.
They then ate a small meal in heavy silence, which even her maid did not try to break. Liberty wished he would leave, and when he had eaten everything on his plate, she said as much.
“As you can see, I am safe, and my carriage wheel is being fixed as we speak. There is no further need for you to stay here any longer, Lord Corbyn.”
He studied her for long seconds. “I am not leaving yet. Excuse me, I wish to speak to the innkeeper.”
“Thank you,” Liberty made herself say as he regained his feet. “For helping me today.” She could be gracious. After all, without him she would have been sitting with a sore head on the side of the road for hours.
He turned with a hand on the door and faced her. “You are welcome.”
“Well,” Helen said when it had closed behind him.
“Well?”
“There was so much tension between you it nearly choked me.”
“That was not tension, it was animosity. As you heard on the carriage ride here, we are no longer friends,” Liberty said.
“I never understood what happened between you.”
“Everyone changes when they grow up,” was all Liberty wanted to add to that. She then closed her eyes and slept again.
Chapter Six
“Ineed toreturn to my family,” Liberty said when Toby walked back into the parlor. “My head is steadier, and there is no need—”
“The wheel will not be fixed until the morning, and you are not fit to travel for another four hours to London, my lady,” Toby said wishing it were different. Wishing he could put her into her carriage and send her on her way, so he could do the same.
“I have secured rooms for you and Helen, and your driver and footman will have lodgings in the stables. I have also sent word to your family that you are safe, and what has happened.”
“How dare you make decisions on my behalf without consulting me,” she said, every inch her father’s daughter in that moment, even if she looked like a stiff wind would blow her over. “I don’t need you looking out for me. I am more than capable of doing that.”
“Yes, I can see how strong you are,” he drawled. Exhaustion was in every line of her face. “Come, I will show you to your room.”
“I will hire a carriage, Lord Corbyn.”
“There are none for hire. I asked,” he lied.
“Then you leave and I will stay, my lord.”
“If I leave now, I will not return until late, and have no wish to rouse my staff from their warm beds. Therefore, I will do so in the morning,” Toby said.
She couldn’t fight him over that. Liberty was always championingthe staff in her father’s houses, or had once. He watched as she rubbed her temples.
“I will ask if the proprietor has a powder for your head.”
“Thank you, that is unnecessary, as not much will help it, and my medicine is in London.”
“Medicine?”
She waved his words away and rose. He steadied her as she wobbled, and that she let him told Toby just how tired she was.
“What if someone were to see us?” Liberty said as they climbed to their rooms.
“I have checked who is here and recognize no one.”
