Solway extended his hand to assist Gwenys into the coach, then did the same for her. Miranda felt jolts of heat coil through her as his arm momentarily wrapped around her waist to give her that extra bit of assistance she needed because of her sore ribs.
Oh, this was so bad.
She settled beside Gwenys and immediately peered out the window to keep her gaze off Solway while he settled across from them. However, she cast him surreptitious glances while his carriage rolled out of the inn’s courtyard because she seemed unable to keep her eyes off him.
His shoulders were marvelously broad and took up almost the entire breadth of the soft leather back of his seat. The carriage she had hired to bring them up to Aberdeen and return them home immediately after the stepsister’s wedding was following behind them and carried their trunks.
She had wanted to ride in that carriage and leave Solway to his own, but Gwenys objected vehemently, and so did he. They were right, of course. The hired conveyance was nowhere near as comfortable as Solway’s ducal carriage.
They all remained lost in their own thoughts when leaving Edinburgh and while rolling through the Scottish countryside that was lush and green from recent rains. Fortunately, it had not rained in the last several days, so their journey would not be hampered by their carriages having to slog through mud.
The roadways were now starting to fill with carts, mail coaches, and conveyances of every ilk, but it was nothing as bad as the crush of London traffic. Their horses were sturdy, obviously bred for endurance, and they made fast time southward.
In a stroke of good fortune, they had excellent weather for the next few days. It remained dry and sunny for most of the ride, so they took advantage and put as many miles behind them as possible.
Miranda expressed her relief when they reached York a day earlier than expected.
Her ribs had taken a beating with the fast pace their carriage had made, but she was too stubborn to admit that she was in any discomfort. In truth, she was in a surprising amount of pain and silently prayed heavenward in an offering of gratitude when they reached the Old Norse Inn, a little oasis located within the heart of York.
When she stumbled getting down from the carriage, Solway insisted on their remaining here an extra day. “Dinna bother to protest. Ye’re hurt and it shows.”
Miranda huffed, even though he was right. Had it not been for his fast reflexes, she would have taken a bad tumble. Fortunately, she had landed clumsily against his chest. But even that soft stumble had evoked a whimper out of her.
Her ribs were now on fire from the impact that felt as though she had just run into a stone wall. Tears welled in her eyes, and this did not help her cause either.
No one believed her when she insisted that she was fine.
“Enough, Miranda,” Solway said, wrapping her in his arms. “Ye’re no’ convincing anybody.” He frowned at her to emphasize his point, his resolve obviously firmed. Well, he wasn’t really frowning but looking fiercely concerned. “Ye’re to rest today and tomorrow. We’ll take it day by day after that.”
“It will take us forever to reach London,” she grumbled while attempting to slip out of his arms, which felt far too comfortable for her liking.
“I hardly think an extra two or three days qualifies asforever. I asked ye to be honest with me about yer injury, but it seems ye will do anything to get yerself home and be rid of me. Too bad. We’re staying on for an extra day…or more if I deem it necessary.”
She frowned at him. “That is ridiculous. I’ll be fine.”
He rolled his eyes. “Do ye hear yerself? I might believe ye if yer arms were no’ wrapped around yer ribs as ye stand there glaring at me.”
Nor did it help that her body was trembling, although she attributed that to Solway’s nearness and not her pain.
He drew her close again, placing an arm around her waist to draw her up against his body, his intention obviously to keep her warm. He also offered a comforting hand as he escorted her into the inn. “Remaining here an extra day actually works for me, too. I have some business in York that will take me at least a day to address.”
“You do?”
He nodded. “I would have had us stay on whether or no’ ye needed to rest. But ye need to take care of yerself. Ye’re no’ on a military march in the midst of a war. Give yer body the respite.”
She opened her mouth to continue the argument, not even understanding why she was being so obstinate.
Well, it was Solway. She had not stopped thinking about kissing him since the possibility entered her head.
“Och, now ye are shivering.”
“I am not,” she said, and shivered again.
“Then are ye burrowing against me because ye fancy me?”
“Do not be ridiculous,” she grumbled.
He let out an exasperated breath. “We’re staying and that’s an end to it.”
