—
Devon watched Bethhurry to the cab, her posture impeccable despite the haste, her hips swaying in a moderate yet alluring fashion…Then he abruptly recalled himself and frowned up at the driver.
“Take us to Canterbury and I’ll—”
“Kill me quick rather than slow?” the boy supplied.
Devon startled. “What? No! I’ll pay you.”
“Cor, that’s even better! Can you give me a black eye, though? Or a cut on my arm, so’s I’ll get a fascinating scar? Nothing attracts the ladies like a fascinating scar, you know.”
Devon just stared in response.
“Fair enough,” the boy said. “But you might want to watch out for your missus.”
“Why?” Devon asked.
“The passengers are a bit—”
“Aaaaahhhhh!”
—
Beth leaped backfrom the carriage’s open door as a hand emerged, pointing a long white finger at her.
“Be gone, you evil felon!”
She stared into the carriage. It held two passengers, one asmall-boned gentleman, the other a woman so rigid she might have been mistaken for a statue were it not for the shrieking voice. Beth attempted a polite smile.
“My good lady—”
“Repent of your wicked crime and leave at once!”was the response.
Beth blinked, her smile fading. “Er…”
“Is something the matter?” came Devon’s calm inquiry as he walked across, the young driver crowding behind him. “Why are the passengers still inside?”
“Brigands! Malefactors! Repent or go to hell!”
“That’s why,” Beth said.
“Fornicators!”
Devon cast a mild look at Beth. “What have you been telling them?”
She might have bristled, but the woman was attempting to whack her with a purse, and it proved an effective distraction. Hauling her smile back into duty, and summoning several nice points of etiquette as reinforcement, she opened the door wider and unfolded the step.
“Thank you for your advice,” she said to the woman. “It’s very thoughtful of you. However, I must ask you to exit the carriage. Apologies, but this is a hijacking, and—”
“Silence! We will not be relinquishing this vehicle to the forces of iniquity!Desist and depart, you vile outlaws!”
“Not happening,” Devon said. “Just get out and we won’t break—”
Beth shifted adroitly in front of him. “I’m afraid we must insist. Tenure is at stake!”
“We’re going to Canterbury on business,” the gentleman piped up, his gray mustache bobbing. “Perhaps instead ofhijacking our carriage, you might simply ride with us? There’s room, and we packed sandwiches for the journey.”
“What kind of sandwiches?” Beth asked.
