Shrugging, he walked to the coach. “Suit yourself. My uncle taught me never to argue with a woman.”
“Wise man.” She chuckled.
Emmie hurried to the handsome stranger, admiring the way he looked in the beige shirt and cravat once he had removed his coat. His wide shoulders captured her attention first, and as her gaze slowly slid down his lean waist and muscular legs, her throat turned dry. Although it was most improper to admire the way he looked so masculine in his clothes, it was hard to stop.
She wanted to wave her hand in front of her face to cool herself from such wicked thoughts, but then he looked over his shoulder at her and smiled, which nearly melted her legs right from underneath her.
“If this is too much for you, Miss Emmie, please don’t push yourself. I would hate for you to get injured.”
She wanted to chuckle at his remark. Not many people knew that she did things an earl’s daughter should not do—and her father had scolded her several times in the past year because of her stubbornness. She rather liked being her own woman. “I assure you, I know my limits.”
He nodded, turned, and grabbed a section of the vehicle. Together the three of them lifted, pushed, and set the coach aright. Immediately, Emmie studied the space where theoverturned vehicle had lain. Thankfully, her driver had not been trapped underneath. Yet the thought remained… where had he gone?
The nice man placed his hands on each wheel, pulling to ensure they still were in working order. His driver had found where the horses had wandered off, brought them back, and hitched them up. Then the two men lugged the trunks up the hill and lashed them back to the vehicle.
“It appears everything is in working condition, except for the broken door.”
“We shall drive without a door, then.” Emmie smiled.
The handsome stranger stepped to Anna and offered his hand. “My lady, let me help you back into your coach. I shall have my driver take you to Mr. and Mrs. Crampton’s estate.”
“What about you?” Emmie asked. After all, he was a gentleman of means, she was certain, so didn’theneed a driver?
He glanced her way for a second before leading Anna to the coach. “I shall have no problems driving my vehicle, thank you.”
“Oh, sir… What about our driver?” Emmie shook her head. “I didn’t see him anywhere. He couldn’t possibly have been thrown so far from the coach, could he?”
He glanced at her over his shoulder. “If you wait here, I shall go up the road a bit and try to locate him.”
“Would you like me to help?” Emmie offered.
The man shook his head. “I fear if he’s lying broken or bleeding, that is not the sight a young lady needs to see. Wait right here.”
As the man hustled up the road, Anna clutched Emmie’s hands. Both of them had been through so much within the past little while, and Emmie prayed the good Samaritan would find their driver. During their wait, the man’s driver tried to fix the broken door to their carriage, but there wasn’t much he coulddo without tools. Nevertheless, they could travel without a door, just as long as they didn’t have much farther to go.
Soon the helpful stranger returned. A frown marred his handsome face, and he shook his head. “I couldn’t see him. When I return to town, I shall summon the authorities and have this investigated posthaste.”
Sighing, Emmie nodded. “You are extremely kind, sir. I thank you for taking the time to look anyway.”
He helped Anna inside the coach, and she offered a shy smile to the man. “I thank you, sir.”
Emmie bit her lip to keep from grinning. Her maid was certainly acting out of character. Usually, her servant flirted outrageously with handsome men. Perhaps Anna was thinking about her new role and remembering an earl’s daughter wouldn’t be so bold, even though sometimes Emmie was.
Emmie walked to the door, waiting for him to step aside so she could climb in. “Pardon me, but what is your name? How do you know Mr. and Mrs. Crampton?”
“Most everyone around these parts knows of Mr. and Mrs. Crampton. They own a large piece of land and live in a beautiful estate.”
“You did not tell me your name.”
“I’m Broderick Worthington.”
She smiled. “Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Worthington. We certainly appreciate your assistance.”
He took her hand and helped her inside. After Mr. Worthington walked back to his vehicle, Emmie looked at her maid and sighed with relief. So far, their disguises had worked.
Anna shook her head. “Lady Sarah, I really don’t know what your father was thinking to have us switch roles.” She spoke low. “I feel as if I have to think about every word before I say it.”
Emmie arched an eyebrow. “But Anna, you told my father you could play this role without any instruction.”
