Why did he care? Once they arrived at Tolton Hall and he proved her guilt or innocence, his job was done.
Guilty? He turned her in to the authorities and headed home.
Innocent? He left her with her parents and headed home.
Either outcome had him going back to Culzean. Back to his mundane life. That should make him happy. His return home had been blessedly issue free. Unlike his friend Nicholas, who returned home to find his mother had secured him a marriage. Or Alexander, who returned home to find his brother hadgambled away the family estate. And then there was Finlay, who returned to find that he had to marry before his birthday or lose his title.
For that, he was thankful. He’d left Culzean in the hands of his trusted estate solicitor and his loyal and capable staff. He had no doubt he would return home to everything being in the same condition.
And it was. Culzean thrived whilst he was away.
But still. He was bored. Aye he’d distracted himself with several women in the city. They were only too eager to jump in his bed—until he couldn’t promise them a future. Once they found that out, they walked out the door never to return.
They didn’t matter. When one left, there was another there begging to take her place. And who was he to turn away a wanting lass?
After a time, even that got to be monotonous. The nightly dates to the theater, the opera, the endless balls and parties. He’d grown tired of it all.
He longed for an excitement that they couldn’t provide.
At one time his friends mentioned to him that he might look into the Glasgow Police. The idea was tempting. The work they could provide would certainly be interesting. A little more exciting than the various work he’d done for his friends, which almost always consisted of him either finding documents, looking into someone’s background, or actually finding someone.
Once in a while, he picked up a job such as what Viscount Wilson hired him for—security of sorts, but usually they amounted to naught.
At least this one would occupy his time for a week or so.
*
Lizzie kept stealingglances at Malcolm. He’d been lost in his head deep in thought ever since they’d started back on their travels.
“Pence for your thoughts?” She asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.
Snapping out of whatever had his mind preoccupied, Malcolm raised his brows and sighed. “Apologies, Miss. ’Tis naught I’d like to share.”
Well, that was unsuccessful. She didn’t ken why she cared so much whether or not he conversed with her. She enjoyed the sound of his voice. The deep timbre she found somehow relaxing. Much more so than the grind of the rocks and gravel beneath the carriage wheels. The jostling of the reins as the horses pulled them forward to their next destination.
“Is the plan to stop at the same inn we were originally supposed to stay last night or to push forward since we will only have a few hours of travel today?”
Malcolm frowned and tilted his head as he assessed her. “I had thought on that and we will stop there tonight. I think some extended time outside of the carriage would do us all good.”
She nodded. “Thank ye. ’Tis verra kind of ye.”
He winked and her stomach fluttered. Actually fluttered as if butterflies had taken flight within her belly.
“No matter the situation we find ourselves in, I do care about your well-being. ’Tis my duty to ensure ye arrive to Tolton Hall unharmed.”
She bowed her head in thanks and moved her gaze to the window. Her attempt to get him talking again had failed. Malcolm was back to treating her formally. It was as if the closer they got to Stonehaven, the tighter his professional hat came on.
Blowing out a breath, she hoped they would arrive at their destination soon. She didn’t normally like to mope, but yet, thelonger she sat here, in this silent carriage, the more sour her mood got.
When she saw the trees give way to buildings and felt the familiar rumble of cobblestone beneath the carriage wheels, Lizzie breathed a sigh of relief. They had finally arrived in town and would soon be at whatever inn it was that Malcolm deemed appropriate for them to spend the afternoon and night.
As expected, the inn was clean and airy with beautiful decorations. After the accommodations Malcolm had provided previously, she expected naught less. The room she and Mary were assigned was comfortable and spacious. Two beds covered with rose-colored bedding and blue pillows sat on opposite walls. Finally, they each had their own bed. Not that she had minded their shared sleeping arrangements, but it would be nice not to worry about waking Mary if she had another restless night.
Unceremoniously, Lizzie dropped onto one, bouncing on the mattress, her arm covering her eyes.
The bed dipped beside her and Mary patted her leg.
“What bothers ye, Miss? I believe we will arrive home on the morrow. Doesna that make ye happy?”
