Her eyes flew open as a knock sounded at the door. Ridge leapt to his feet beside her.
He put a finger to his lips and motioned her toward the corner. She scrambled up and back away from the direct line of the door.
Ridge stood at the door for a moment, his ear close to the wood as if listening for a clue as to who it was. Finally he cracked it open.
He relaxed visibly and swung the door open wider. He motioned his hand toward the interior of the room and stepped aside as the stablemaster shuffled in.
“Pardon the intrusion, your lordship, but I have some information you might be interested in.”
“Carry on then,” Ridge said with a nod.
“One of our carriages just returned. I know I said we didn’t have anything available but the horses I rented you, but if you are interested, I can outfit the carriage with fresh mounts and call out one of our drivers if you prefer that mode of travel.”
Ridge glanced at India, his eyebrow raised in question. She shrugged, content to leave the decision to him.
Ridge turned back to the stablemaster. “How soon can the carriage be ready to depart?”
“Give me an hour. I’ll send word up if you want to wait here. Or if you prefer, you can take a meal belowstairs. Hilda be me wife, and a tasty cook she is.”
“We’ll wait here,” Ridge said. “My thanks to you, good sir.”
The stablemaster bowed his head and backed from the room.
India returned to her perch by the fire. Ridge walked over and bent to touch their shoes. He shook his head.
“They’re still wet. We may have to wear them anyway.”
She smiled. “I’ve endured worse.”
He cocked his head to look at her. “I imagine you have. I find myself quite envious of your adventures. This is all old hat to you, but I find myself about to jump from my skin.”
She couldn’t even form a response. Not and sound sincere. What could she tell him? That she was about to crush not only his dreams, but his trust in her as well?
She dropped her head and pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers. In all the years of her travels, she had never formed a bond with the people she had met. They were as blurry as the landscapes. Her father, Kavi and Udaya had fulfilled her need for human contact. But most of all, she had been afraid to form an attachment with someone she might never see again.
The idea of not seeing the viscount again was painful, but not nearly as painful as the idea of facing him after her treachery. Perhaps it would be best if she never saw him again once her mission was realized.
Ridge studied India. She was a perplexing woman. He could never gain an idea of what she was thinking. Right now she looked as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders. He wanted to ease the strain he saw in her.
Silence descended on them until, unable to bear it any longer, he leaned forward. “How did you come by Kavi and Udaya?” Perhaps idle conversation would draw her out.
She looked up, seemingly startled by the question.
“They seem so loyal to you, and your devotion to them is quite evident.”
She smiled. “Yes. If you ask them, they will tell you I saved them, but in fact, it is they who have saved me on numerous occasions.”
“Do go on,” he said. “I find your life fascinating.”
She chuckled. “That’s not a word I would have used to describe it.”
She uncurled her feet and stretched her legs. His eyes traveled the length of her legs, encased by the tight-fitting trousers. Her hand crept to her hair, twisting the short ends around her fingertips.
Lovely. She was extraordinarily lovely. No matter how often he looked at her, he could never quite grow used to the effect she had on him.
“Kavi was of the lowest Caste. An untouchable. Udaya was of the highest.”
She looked at him as if that were explanation enough.
