Suddenly, an idea jumped into her mind. “Indeed?”
He shrugged. “Possibly. I’m certain that if you keep a boy’s identity, nobody will know you are a woman, unless they are up close to you, of course.”
Slowly a smile spread across her lips. Whether the captain knew it or not, he had just given her a way to stay and continue to help Nash. He might not like it at first, but after the ship sailed without her, he would have no other choice but to allow her to remain to help him.
Two people working together were better than just one person. Hadn’t she taught the children that as their governess? Now was the time to prove her theory.
Chapter Sixteen
Nash stayed inhis room until the early-morning hours. The sun had not yet made its debut, and this time of the day gave him a great head start over his uncle’s men. The first thing on Nash’s agenda was to search for his governess. Mrs. Jackson’s knowledge of Matthew’s estate would assist Nash greatly.
He dressed all in black, knowing this would help him move freely through town without being noticed much. In haste, he removed his clothes from the trunk and stuffed them in a small satchel with a long leather strap, perfect for carrying. If, by chance, his uncle’s men searched this room, they would find an empty trunk.
As he made a last inspection, a garment hanging over a chair caught his eye. The cloak belonged to Maxey. Her sweet jasmine scent drifted from the material to his nose. He inhaled deeply, sparking memories of their time together. Her love for him showed in every touch, every kiss, and every caress.
His heart twisted, and a knot formed in his throat. He missed her already, and it hadn’t even been eight hours. Then again, this was the longest they had been apart since they first met, and his arms ached to hold her. Holding her one more time would make him want to keep her there, where she belonged.
Cursing his weakened state, he folded the garment and gently placed it in his satchel on top of his clothes. First, he would get the information needed from Mrs. Jackson. Second, he would search through Matthew’s manor and find the ring. Third, he would do everything in his power to get the ruthless man arrested. And last, he would hurry to his dead brother’s estate and take the woman he loved in his arms, never to let her go.
He smiled.
And then he would ask her to marry him.
Instead of using the room’s door to leave, he opened the window and climbed out. The peaceful predawn morning made him hesitate; he did not want to disturb the chirping crickets or belching frogs near the seaside.
As his feet hit the ground, he stilled, listening for anything out of the ordinary. Once the early-morning sounds picked up again, he crept along the shadows, glancing over his shoulder to see if anyone followed. After about a mile, he relaxed, knowing his uncle’s men had not been hiding near the inn. And if they had been, they were most likely still there.
Cautiously, he walked along the road, watching closely so he didn’t step on anything that made a noise or kick a rock by accident. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted an old farmer’s hat lying on the side of the road. He stopped, glanced both ways to see if anyone watched, then bent and picked it up. After close inspection, he dusted it and placed it on his head. This would help to shield the glare when the sun rose higher in the sky.
As he passed an orchard, he spied fresh red apples dangling from the trees. His mouth watered and his stomach growled. He had skipped breakfast, and the last meal he ate was with Maxey.
He jumped the fence, hurried to the nearest tree, and snatched the fruit. Sinking his teeth into it, he sighed while the sweet juice trickled down his chin.
It was a long time since he’d resorted to fence-hopping in orchards to steal food. As a boy, he and his brother would sneak away from the estate and rob their neighbors of whatever fruits were in season. For some reason, their fruit tasted better than what was growing in the family’s orchard.
He chuckled softly from the memory and picked a few more apples for later, stuffing them into the pockets of his jacket before he continued on his way.
The farther he walked, the greener the land became. A rush of contentment overwhelmed him, and he smiled. He had some pleasant memories of living in Devonshire after parting ways with his family. Of course, he hadn’t really known how terrible his uncle was at that time, and Nash found friends easily. No matter where he traveled, Devonshire would always feel like his second home.
From his calculations, the next town was a few miles away. If his former governess lived in the same place he remembered, he was within hours of finding her. He yearned to see her once again.
The sounds from farm animals in the pasture he passed intensified as the sun hovered in the sky, announcing its awakening. It had seemed a lifetime since he enjoyed the refreshing sounds of farm life. He observed the large barn, the owner and his two young sons wearily moving about the yard, throwing feed to the animals as they hid yawns behind their hands. They glanced at him as he passed. Nash acknowledged them with a wave.
It seemed strange when one of the boys kept moving his attention to something behind Nash. The little boy stretched his neck to get a better look. Curious, Nash glanced over his shoulder in hopes of seeing what caught the boy’s interest. At first, he didn’t detect anything out of the ordinary, but soon he noticed the shadowy figure hiding behind a tree.
Nash’s gut clenched, and he balled his hands into fists. Had someone been following him since he left the hotel? If so, why hadn’t he noticed it before now? Prickles danced over his skin, making the hairs on the back of his neck rise in alarm.
Acting as if he didn’t see, he continued walking but took a different path, where there were more trees. This time, his ears alerted him to the different sounds surrounding him.
Once he passed the farm, he slowed his pace, hoping to give the stranger enough time to catch up. The loaded pistol anchored in the waistband of his trousers eased him slightly. He patted the weapon for reassurance. He would not hesitate to kill any man that stepped in his way.
His uncle would pay dearly. Nash would see to that.
The clump of trees to his left was the perfect place to hide. Without hesitation, he quickened his step and crept through the thicket, searching for a tree large enough to hide behind. When he found one, he flattened himself against it, listened, and waited.
Leaves rustled on the ground, teased by the light wind that had picked up since this morning. It was more difficult to hear footsteps now. Even the birds’ singing gnawed at his nerves. Couldn’t they keep quiet for five minutes?
A twig snapped, alerting Nash to the intruder. Slowly, Nash drew his pistol. Unease washed over him, but he kept calm, ready to pounce at the first chance. When the crunch of leaves disturbed the field, his scalp tingled with fear. The sound grew closer.
