Leonora frowned.Collect him?She shook her head. “Are you heading toward the Lockwood estate, Mr. Dalton?”
He nodded. “I am indeed and from what I now gather, so are you.”
“Lady Lockwood is my sister. I’m here to spend Christmas with her and her husband.”
“The viscount is a longtime friend of mine,” Philip said. His voice was thoughtful, almost puzzled.
Leonora turned to Mr. Vance. “How did you know when to expect us?”
“I didn’t, but when you weren’t on the five o’clock coach, I decided to check the next one.” He rubbed his hands together. “Shall we be off? It’s not getting any warmer, but I do have a couple of hot bricks waiting for you in the carriage. He pointed to their valises. “Are these yours?”
“Yes.” Philip shook his head as if trying to dislodge an impediment to logical reasoning. “Allow me to help.”
Leonora followed the two men while wondering over the coincidence. What was the chance of her and Philip embarking on a pretend marriage together only to discover they were destined for the same place? Part of her wanted to celebrate while another wanted to scream. If this meant spending two weeks with a man who made her pulse leap every time he looked her way, she wasn’t sure how she would cope. Especially, since he’d made it clear that he would not be pursuing an attachment with her.
She climbed inside the carriage and settled herself in the far corner while the men placed the luggage in the boot. When Philip boarded, he sat down diagonally across from her, near the door.
“This is rather surprising,” he said several minutes into their onward journey to Lockwood Manor.
“I suppose it is.” Would he have refrained from saying she was his wife if he’d known they’d be spending...how long together? “Will your stay be an extended one?”
“I was planning to stay until after Christmas.”
“But now you’re having second thoughts?” Wonderful! Not only did he want nothing to do with her any more, but he wanted to be as far from her as possible.
“It’s not you, it’s—”
“Please stop.” If he said that he was to blame and that she deserved better or some such nonsense, she believed she might hit him with her reticule.
“It is just—”
“Whatever your reasons, I prefer that you do not share them with me at this moment.”
“Very well.” Silence fell between them, allowing her to focus on the soft clopping of hooves and the occasional squeaking of springs. Until, “You never did tell me what Mr. Becker did to incur your displeasure.”
Leonora sighed. If they were to avoid ruining the holidays for her family, they would have to find a way to converse with each other, and this subject was at least one that would redirect her focus and her emotions away from Philip. “He owns the building I am renting on Bond Street.”
“You never mentioned it when we spoke of the Gentleman’s Emporium being there.”
She shrugged. “It had little to do with the subject we were discussing at the time and...” Inhaling deeply, she pulled the blanket across her lap a bit tighter and shifted her feet on the hot brick for added warmth. “Anyway, he only just acquired it, so he came to inform me yesterday morning that he plans on doubling the rent.”
“You think he’s trying to force you out?”
“I don’t know, but I have to find a way to pay it or I’ll have no other choice but to move to a different location, and I think that would be bad for business.”
“Bond Street does offer excellent foot traffic, but so does Piccadilly and a few other places.”
“If there is space available with the necessary room I require.”
He leaned forward slightly, offering her his full attention. “What sort of business do you own?”
“It’s a plant shop.”
“So you need a hothouse.”
She nodded. “I had the dining room changed into one at the current location, which is part of the reason I’m so loath to leave, but I’m still in the learning phase and establishing a loyal clientele takes time. Time I’m not so sure I have.”
“Because of the increase in rent, you would have to double your sales.” He seemed to consider. “What sort of plants are you selling? Flowers or—”
