After a few more minutes of walking, they stopped to relieve themselves. Above them, the leaves which had started to turn color, rustled around them.
“Shall we make our way back, Miss? We dinna want to keep the earl waiting.”
Lizzie sighed. Of course, Mary was right, but she wished to stay in the trees just a little longer.
“Let us sit for a moment.”
Mary shifted on her feet, her eyes trailing to where Malcolm would be waiting. “Miss…”
Patting the ground beside where she sat, Lizzie waited for Mary to join her. “The longer ye stand there indecisive, the longer we will be here. Sit. ’Twill be fine.”
Finally, her maid settled next to her.
Lizzie wrapped her arms around her knees, resting her chin atop them. “Isna it beautiful, Mary? ’Tis so silent and peaceful here. No sounds of carriage wheels, or horses, or people calling out to one another. Just the trees swaying to and fro. The birds tweeting to each other. ’Tis most lovely.”
Mary, who remained silent beside her, just nodded as she looked warily toward Malcolm.
The minutes passed and she wondered if Malcolm was growing restless. Would he think they ran? It would be stupid of them to do so. She had no idea where they were. Running would surely lead to death. Either from exposure or to whatever or whomever they might cross in these woods.
And Malcolm still held her grandmama’s earrings. Still, she enjoyed the serenity.
Until a very angry Malcolm appeared before them making her yelp in surprise. Damn him. How was he so silent? She swore his boots mustn’t actually touch the ground. That was the only explanation for him to make his way through the woods without a sound.
“’Tis time we continue,” he said gruffly. “Have ye had time to…” He waved his hand in the air instead of finishing the question.
Mary jumped to her feet. “Aye, my lord. We were just on our way back.” She dipped into a curtsy and then tugged on Lizzie’s hand.
He narrowed his eyes on her as she still sat stubbornly on the ground.
“It doesna appear that ye were about to return.”
“We were, my lord. Miss Lizzie gets so tired sometimes, she just needs to sit and rest for a bit. She’s rested now. Are ye no’, miss?”
Bless Mary. Her attempt at excusing Lizzie’s behavior was appreciated. But her maid didn’t need to fib on her account.
Lizzie stood, brushing the twigs and fallen leaves from her gown. “Aye, Mary. We were just returning.” She pushed past Malcolm, kenning that the move was entirely improper, but trudged forward anyway.
“Lizzie,” his low voice called from behind her and she cursed herself as she stopped.
Mary stopped as well.
“Ye can go on to the carriage, Mary. We willna be far behind.”
Her eyes darted from Malcolm to Lizzie, and back again, unsure of what to do.
Lizzie smiled reassuringly. “’Tis fine, Mary. We will be along shortly.”
The maid nodded and headed back to the road.
“Why were ye sitting in the woods? Were ye hoping I would forget about ye and leave?”
She huffed. “Nay. Why would I do that?”
“To get away,” he answered.
“Sir, that would be the most absurd idea. If I had thought it,” she added. “Surely, ye think I am daft if that is what ye thought I was doing. Ye have my grandmama’s jewelry and ye ken where I live. ’Twould be most stupid of me to attempt an escape when ye would just find me anyway.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Besides, I’ve naught to run from. As I’ve stated before, I am no’ a thief and that jewelry is mine. Now that I’ve found it, I willna leave it.”
His eyes darkened like storm clouds on a rainy night. “Let us get back to the carriage and continue this godforsaken journey. Ye are trying my patience, Lass,” he warned.
