“Well, with that out of the way, let us start the day on a new foot,” she offered.
“I believe ye are right, Miss. I had the innkeeper prepare a meal to break our fast on the road. Well, I asked him, and he tasked his daughter, Rosalie, to do it.”
Lizzie couldn’t stop the chuckle that burst from her lips. “She is the innkeeper’s daughter?” She asked with surprise. “I would ne’er have guessed that.”
“I, too, was quite surprised when I found out this morn.”
He smiled warmly and the gesture transformed his whole face. He was very handsome when he dropped the strict countenance he’d been holding.
“That’s also to say I havena checked the items in the basket, so we may either be pleasantly surprised or expectantly disappointed.”
“Either way, ’tis naught to do with ye. Ye canna control her actions.”
The scents filling the interior had her believing that they would enjoy whatever items were inside, but she supposed she there was always a possibility that she included something untoward.
They enjoyed a pleasant meal, which, surprisingly, only included edible items. Lizzie was delighted as she broke her fast on an array of scones, fruit tarts, and even a boiled egg as the carriage ambled along. Every once in a while, it would lurch them to the right or left and they were careful not to tip their plates.
There was no tea to be had, but Malcolm did offer her sips from his flagon, which was filled with wine. She imagined that wasn’t what it usually held so she appreciated the gesture, even if it was a wee bit early to be drinking wine.
Mary ate in silence beside them, her eyes focused on the trees beyond the window.
“My lord,” Lizzie called after swallowing a bite from a deliciously warm scone. “We have traveled all these miles together and yet I feel we ken verra little of each other. I think it a splendid idea to rectify that for the remainder of our journey.”
He cocked his head as if contemplating her suggestion, and after a sip of wine, nodded. “Where should we begin? What would ye like to ken?”
This was promising. She thought he might turn her down, but this was promising indeed.
“Ye previously said ye werena married. Multiple times,” she added. “Have ye e’er been?” She probably shouldn’t have started with such a personal question, but she was genuinely curious as to what made Malcolm Kennedy take such concerns. Aye, he had his temper side, but he’d also shown her he could be gentle and kind. She wanted to ken whom he learned that from.
“Nay. I have ne’er wed.”
As handsome as he was and an earl, she found that surprising.
“Have ye?”
She snorted. “Absolutely no’. I believe my parents would like to see me wed, but no one has met my papa’s expectations. They are exceedingly high.”
“Do ye want to marry?”
“Och, aye. When the time is right. And the right man comes along.” She ducked her head as she felt her skin flush. Her parents had always been accommodating when it came to marriage concerns. For that, she was extremely grateful.
“Ye are close with your parents? I’ve heard ye mention them a few times.”
She loved them dearly, though she didn’t look forward to her arrival home and them learning of her antics. They would be most unhappy.
“They have been verra kind. I can be trying at times,” she admitted.
Beside her, Mary chuckled, before squeezing her lips shut, trying not to outright laugh.
“Ye dinna say,” Malcolm said dryly. “I’d have ne’er guessed.”
She tilted her head to the side and shrugged her shoulders. “I do try.”
“But sometimes ’tis just hard?” The corners of his full mouth lifted.
“Ye are teasing me. I do my best, but ofttimes it gets me into trouble.”
“Such as attending a party to steal jewelry.”
