And up came the chin once again. She really was becoming quite adept at silent defiance.
“I do not need your protection, my lord. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. And besides, the only one I need protecting from is you.”
Och, that hurt. But he could appreciate its origins. She needed to tell him what was what, and he could not fault her for it. In fact, he’d welcome it as long as she was on speaking terms with him.
“I understand, my lady. In the meantime, there are several other large riders approaching, and I believe you might find it prudent to be inside and situated properly before that lot demands the best table.”
The look of concern that crossed her face gave him just enough comfort that she now realized how dangerous traveling alone could be.
He reached out his hand again, and this time she took it and exited the carriage.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she withdrew her hand and walked on ahead of him.
Alexander could not help but grin at her stubbornness. She had every right to be vexed with him and he would take every shot she threw his way. He deserved it and he would be sure she was fully and completely free to speak her peace.
He ducked as he entered the inn, and his grin broadened when he spied her directing the innkeeper as to where she would like to sit. This was a place well known to him, and when the innkeeper spied him and made to leave her to dote on him, Alexander shook his head.
Once they were seated in the corner, she finally turned to him.
“You know you really hurt me this morn. There was no need of that.”
“I know it and I am very sorry.”
“Thank you. But I am still returning to my home.”
“Aye, I know it and I understand.”
“I trusted you. I thought we trusted one another. But the moment something went awry, you shut me out.”
“Forgive me, Lady Marion. That is all I ask. I am unaccustomed to sharing responsibility when it comes to family matters.”
“I believe we have very different views of what marriage is, my lord, and as such I am almost glad this instance has occurred to illustrate those differences.”
“Lady Marion, you have made many incorrect assumptions this day and this latest is the largest of them. I feel we should not continue this conversation at this time as I would not wish things to be said that we cannot retract.”
He could see by her pursed lips that she was none too pleased by his declaration. So much for letting her have her say. But she was going down a road that would lead to an impasse and he was not prepared to go there.
“If you do not oppose, my lord, I shall take my meal in my chamber and turn in early. I expect we shall be on our way at daybreak?”
If he could keep their driver out of his cups this evening they would, but he couldn’t promise it.
“I will knock at your door when we are ready and will have a meal prepared for you to take while we journey.”
“Very well, my lord. I bid you a fair eve.”
With that she left the table, checked with the innkeeper, and went up the stairs to disappear around a corner to go to her chamber.
Alexander sat back in his chair and downed his goblet of ale. The barmaid brought him a steaming bowl of some sort of meat stew hewas grateful for and devoured before asking for a second, along with a pitcher of ale. It would be a long night with thoughts of her crooked as sin stewing in her bed chamber and not working through this with him as he had hoped.
By God, she was stubborn.
The entire time they’d traveled that day, she had not tapped on the carriage once to ask to relieve herself. Not once, though they had stopped a few times to water the horses and for him and his rider to do the same. His driver had asked, but she’d refused. How does one go several hours in that state? He couldn’t fathom. In any case, she was safe and secure in a locked chamber, of that he had secured, and he supposed he’d see how she fared after a good night’s sleep.
Or so he hoped.
Chapter Fifteen
She awoke tothe sound of a man coughing and sputtering outside her chamber window. She got up and looked out the window to find him relieving himself on the ground with no interest in trying to find a modest location. Marion grinned to herself. What would her mother think if she knew her daughter was in such a situation? The woman would wail and make such a spectacle, demanding the man be chastised and Marion avert her gaze. Which she did, of course. There was nothing of interest to her in that man, though she did find humor in the situation and the fact that he did not know a lady had seen him.
