She burrowed even closer. “Yes,” she agreed, “because we are now one.”
In that manner they fell into sleep.
It was close to midnight somewhere in the Midlands on the road to Scotland when the duke almost ran his phaeton into a ditch.
Sarah had been trying to sleep as best as one could on the rickety seat of a sporting phaeton. Why men wished to drive these uncomfortable contraptions was beyond her.
She had suggested while there was still daylight that they find a place to stop for the night. The duke had instead purchased a lamp that he hung from his vehicle as if that would light the horses’ way.
The journey was exhausting, especially with His Grace, Duke of Sour Words, for company.
They’d rarely spoken to each other and she liked it that way—although, in truth, she had been praying for just such an incident as the ditch. Then she would be right about the need to stop and he would be wrong, andthatwould give her great pleasure.
The man was arrogant and far too focused of purpose for her comfort. That he thought the worst of Char upset her, even if what he might be thinking could be the truth.
Charlene had certainly surprised Sarah with her questionable choices. Then again, while riding beside the Bitter Duke, Sarah had started to reflect on what role she might have played in Char’s decisions. Her conclusions were not comfortable.
The vehicle swayed as the wheel rolled along the top of the ditch. The tired horses faltered at the sudden imbalance.
Sarah would have been flung off her seat if not for Baynton’s quick hand grabbing her cloak. He threw both of their weights in the notoriously unstable vehicle to his side. The wheel beneath her found the road and the horses regained their footing.
The duke brought the horses to a halt and released his hold on her garment.
“We almost toppled,” Sarah said, breathless as she realized the extent of the disaster that could have overcome them.
“But we didn’t,” he snapped.
“But we could have.”
“We’refine.”
“Yes, so fine that you’ll kill both of us by weaving back and forth across the road.”
The moment she spoke the words, she wished she could call them back. Baiting the Beast was not in her best interests.
He proved her concern by flicking the reins to urge the horses forward, and then just as abruptly halting them so suddenly, they pranced and she almost fell off the seat that way. “Whatwould you have me do?” he ground out. “You sit there completely critical, judging my every endeavor and find it lacking—very well, what doyouthink we should do?”
Sarah struggled not to answer in kind. She could point out that she hadn’t spoken at all for the last two hours. Instead, she said calmly, “Sleep. We both need sleep.”
“As you can see, we are in middle of nowhere.”
Because of your obstinacy. She forced a smile. “Then let us drive on a bit sensibly and, hopefully, we shall find shelter.”
By the hard set of his jaw, she could tell he’d heard what she’d not said, proof that he could be perceptive if he had a mind to it.
And, as if wishing a tacit truce, the duke stoically moved the horses forward. A half hour later they came upon a yeoman’s cottage. He set the brake and jumped down to knock on the door.
No one answered as one wouldn’t to a knock in the dead of the night in London, but this was the country and along a busy road.
Sarah picked up the lamp to give him some light. “The cottage appears deserted,” she said.
He pounded again on the door and then tried the handle. A moment’s inspection led him to say, “It is nailed shut.”
In the deep night, the ring of light extended far around them. She noticed dark shapes. “There is a barn. Perhaps it is open. I’m certain they won’t mind our sleeping there and caring for our horses for the night. This close to the road, they are probably accustomed to travelers.”
He didn’t respond but went off into the darkness to investigate. A few minutes later, he returned. “The building is open and there is hay. I don’t know where we will sleep.” His words had come out on puffs of chilled air. He had the decency to take the lamp from her and offered his hand to help her alight from the vehicle.
She pulled her cloak around her. “Do you need help bringing the horses?”
