She glanced at Owen and took in the heightened color dotting his cheeks. “And your father was going to “throw” Owen away due to this transgression?”
That didn’t seem likely. Rebecca doubted the duke would allow his cousin such an egregious action. “Forgive me my doubts,” she said with a wry twist to her tone.
Oliver’s features turned as earnest as she’d ever seen. “It’s true, Lady Rebecca. Papa yelled at Owen and said he was…” his head dropped, and pain emanated from him.
“He was what?” she asked softly.
He lifted tear-filled eyes. “Useless,” he whispered.
Rebecca blew out a breath, surprised at the anger reverberating through her, trying to keep in mind how clever and cunning these two were. “Just what am I supposed to do when we reach Dorchester?”
“We’ll just sneak back to Papa’s. He’ll never know we’ve been gone,” Oliver spoke with matter-of-fact disgust. His solution did nothing to reassure her. Ryleigh would have her head for her deception in the debacle. She thought about that for one tenth of a second. Perhaps her father’s advocacy for Mr. Babbage’s difference machine wasn’t such a bad notion after all, she allowed with a large helping of sarcasm.
What did it matter, besides? It wasn’t as if the duke didn’t already think the worst of her, she thought, still bristling with his dunderheaded suggestion of passing her off on his cousin. A sharp bark of bitter laughter erupted from her. And that wasafterthe duke decided a liaison of intimacy—because, he surely hadn’t meant anything different—between Ryleigh and herself had run its course.
The pressure in her heart threatened to explode with the ferocity of her anger. It took several deep breaths to bring her erratic pulse to something near normal. Aware, all the while, of the two boys quietly watching her.
Clearly, the squire was not only a maligning degenerate, but a neglectful one as well. But that was neither here nor there. These boys needed a champion, and she would uphold her promise to fulfill that role. Ryleigh could go hang himself.
The most disgusting thing about the whole debacle was the duke’s willingness to pawn her off on some other man. Unrequited love was a fine thing once its hold had been completely severed.
She’d deliver the children, visit with Gabriella, and as soon as Barrett returned with her rig, she would make her escape to Exford. London be damned.
~~~
The rain came down in torrents. “I believe we shall have to stop for the night,” Sebastian told his companions.
He sensed the twins’ relief and Rebecca’s irritation. How degradingly petty, the pleasure he took. He felt as if he were in the midst of a power struggle, only she refused to acknowledge the play. She ignored all the rules, effectively rendering their battle unsatisfyingly neutral. She hadn’t spared him a glance, let alone a word, since their return on the road. The boys were also uncharacteristically quiet—well, not Percy—he was always quiet.
Two hours in the confines of the carriage were getting to everyone. Sebastian had blundered badly when he’d suggested her for his cousin. It wouldn’t be a horrible match for her. The man owned a considerable amount of lands. Outside of Sebastian, Thomas Lynnwood was the richest man in the county. He and Rebecca both had children. They both despised the city.DidRebecca dislike the city? He wasn’t certain. Still, they had other things in common like… like… Hell. What difference did it make? She needed a keeper. By suggesting his cousin as a possible match,hewas doinghera favor. Yet, somehow that solution, a perfectly viable one, did not sit so well.
He forced himself to redirect his attention. His gaze landed on the dog who seemed the only contented one, sprawled across his boots and Rebecca’s slippers. Duke—the dog— had a full stomach and slept the minutes away with no concerns to the tension building inside. The damp air heightened the mongrel’s desperate need for a bath. It was chokingly malodorous.
Rebecca stared out the glass. Percy took her hand and she glanced down at him surprised. She wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
Peter’s lips tightened.
Though heartened by the sight, Sebastian felt chagrined to admit, his feelings aligned with Peter in the twinge of envy—twinge?—a mild word for the deep forest green hurtling through him—over a child clinging to his mother’s hand.
Thankfully, the carriage slowed. Then made a shaky turn into a muddied yard. The vehicle shook with Daniel’s descent. The steps would be useless in this muck. The door opened and Sebastian jumped down. His booted feet sank ankle deep. The ground was no match for Rebecca’s or her maid’s shoes. “Daniel, see to Serena. I’ll manage the others.” He looked at the dog. Despite his faith in Daniel, Sebastian didn’t think the boys would be as trusting. “And the bags.”
Rebecca glanced out the carriage and frowned.
Hiding a grin, Sebastian didn’t give her a chance to argue, sweeping her up in his arms and making a dash inside The Hanging Moss Inn before she had an opportunity to protest. The bout of lavender hit him and his knees nearly buckled beneath him. With bracing effort, he made it inside and dropped Rebecca to her feet, left her sputtering with outrage as he went back for Duke.
After depositing the beast in Rebecca’s capable arms—a thought took him aback—shedidhave very capable arms, didn’t she? “See about securing a couple of chambers,” he told her. Shaking the water from his head, Sebastian hurried back out for the twins.
“Come on, boys. Your mother awaits.” He swooped them both up. He passed Daniel in the yard on his way back. “Take care of the carriage,” he told him. “Then get something hot to eat, and rest. You’ll need it.”
Back inside, Sebastian set the boys down. Again, he shook the water from his head, and apparently whatever it was clogging his ears. The sound of a fishwife.
“I insist, sir.”
“We don’t allow mongrels to be bathed inside, my lady. Kindly remove that beast to the stables—”
Sebastian glanced over to see, yet again, Rebecca nose to nose with a man thrice her size. What a magnificent creature she was with her shoulders thrown back and her chin lifted, even holding that mixed breed hound.
“I will not! I told you, I requiretwochambers. Immediately, if you please.”
