“Exactly.”
“Very well,” she said louder, wanting the coachman to hear. “I suppose our ruse did not work. This gentleman is much smarter than I had given him credit for. Let us go, dear.” She grabbed Robert’s arm, turning him around with her.
“That was a bit far,” Robert said flatly. “No need to flatter the man.”
“Believe me. Flattery will get you everywhere and anything.”
“I have not found that to be the case.”
“Yes, I am an exception. But what are we to do now, Robert? Head back and see if we can find our own carriage?” They stopped walking, and Robert sighed again. Carriage wheels clattered down the street and people milled about, bumping up against them without a care.
“I don’t think that’s smart.” He furrowed his brow, looking above the heads of everyone walking around them.
“Then what are we to do?”
“I suppose the only choice we have is to walk.”
“Walk? Stonemoore is on the other side of town! And what if, as we get closer to home, someone recognizes you in that awful jacket?”
“You didn’t think it was so awful earlier.” He turned a wicked grin toward her.
“It smells horrendous.”
He lifted the collar up to his nose, giving it a sniff. “It isn’t so bad.”
Her mouth fell open. “I cannot believe you just did that.”
“Why? I’ve been wearing it for nearly a half hour. You think I haven’t already smelled it?”
“And we cannot buy you another because we have no money.” Her shoulders sagged. “So now what?”
“This is a disaster. I need to get you home.” Robert closed his eyes as he massaged his brow. “I could really use a finger of brandy.”
“We do not have money, otherwise we could get you one right over there.” Louisa pointed across the street at a pub, and Robert’s eyes followed.
“My mouth is salivating at the thought.”
At the mention of salivating, Louisa’s stomach gave a decidedly rude and horrendously loud grumble. Robert swiveled toward her, his gaze dipping to her belly. She wrapped her arms about herself, scoffing. “What?”
“Hungry, Duchess?”
Goodness, was he going to keep calling her that? It had the unfortunate side effect of making her weak in the knees.
“Yes, if you must know. But I am a grown woman and can wait until we find a way home.”
Robert braced his hands on his hips, chewing his lip as he looked her up and down.
“What?” she asked hesitantly.
“I am only trying to figure out if we can sell something.”
“Me?” she asked, her voice shrill.
He tilted his head, rolling his eyes. The man was a treasure chest of reactions today. She was unsure if she had ever seen him roll his eyes before.
“Of course not. But perhaps something you have on you could be of some value.”
She scoffed. “What about one of your things?”
