“I suppose so. Is that so very bad?”
“It can lead you into trouble.”
She had no reply to that. It was a distinct possibility.
Hours later, at dusk, they drew into the Blackbird posting inn, where they would spend the night.
“Are you traveling far, sir?” the innkeeper asked after Harry ordered a private parlor and two chambers.
“Holyhead,” Erina answered him. “I am visiting my family in Ireland.”
“That is a long way.”
“My cousin has kindly offered to escort me.”
He flicked a glance at Harry. “You are fortunate, indeed, to have such a good relative.”
“I am.” Erina smiled warmly at Harry.
“Do you think the proprietor believed our story?” Erina asked when she and Harry sat waiting for their dinner at a table in their private parlor. She had washed off the travel dust and changed into a white, sprigged muslin with rows of green, satin ribbon at the hem and sleeves. She gazed approvingly at Harry, who wore a fresh shirt and crisp cravat, as well as a handsome, dark-blue silk waistcoat with cornflowers in black satin beneath his Spanish blue tailcoat.
He shrugged. “He will have heard many such stories from his guests.”
“It is notthatmuch of a stretch of the truth. It isn’t as though we are… we are…” She fell silent.
“Eloping?” Harry offered unhelpfully.
“He wouldn’t think that!”
“Who cares what the fellow thinks? As long as we get a hearty meal and a comfortable bed.”
“Well,Icare.”
Harry cocked an eyebrow. “Do you? If you truly did, you wouldn’t be here.”
Her spirits lowered. “Tomorrow you can be rid of me.”
He scrutinized her. “Who says I want to be rid of you?”
“You’ve made it quite plain.”
“I shall take you all the way to Ireland. Right to your cousin’s front door. Have no fear.”
“You will?”
“I just said I would, Erina.”
“But you don’t want to.”
“Do I want to go to Ireland? Not particularly. Do I want to see you safely to your destination? Yes, indeed, I do.”
“Why?”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “You have a low opinion of me, don’t you?”
“No, of course not. It’s just that you’ve never said you would take me to Ireland, so I assumed…”
“Please stop assuming. And stop worrying.” He reached across and stilled her hand as she arranged the cruet set in the exact center of the table. “I rather fancy a sea voyage.”
