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Distrust and hope.

He never took his focus off her as he dismounted, tied the mare to the back of the vehicle, and opened the coach door.

“Where to, Lord Cassius?”

Farrel didn’t even pretend to hide his amusement.

“Home.” Where Cassius and Beatrice would marry by special license as soon as feasible.

“Have I no voice in this decision?” Beatrice asked, clearly miffed.

Cassius placed a dusty boot on the step. “Of course you do.”

She had no choice but to scoot over, which she did with admirable speed.

Once inside, he knocked on the roof and the coach slowly turned around.

Teddy and Nala wasted no time in greeting him with eager doggy kisses and wagging tails.

“I missed you too.” Laughing, he nudged Nala aside so he could sit closer to Beatrice.

Lifting her nose with an Almack peeress’s regal air, Beatrice regarded him cooly.

“I do not appreciate your highhandedness. I am on my way to Brighton. I have arrangements to make for Millborn and my animals.”

“I suspected as much.” He gathered her gloved hands into his. “But that can wait a few more days.”

Her eyes grew round, and she released her breath in a rush. “Oh, I’m a selfish dolt. What news have you of Captain Westbrook?”

Cassius sighed. “We still haven’t located him, but my brothers and cousin are following a strong lead.”

“I feel responsible.” Her eyes grew misty, and she dropped her chin to her chest. “Especially as we now know my uncle was behind his abduction.”

“You did not cause any of this, Beatrice, and there is nothing you could have done to prevent it.” Cassius nudged her chin upward until she met his eyes. “I missed you. Very much.”

She formed a tremulous smile. “I missed you too.”

He shook a finger at her.

“However, I’m not happy that you did not take a few more days to recover.” Glancing at her emerald muslin-covered thigh, he asked, “You are healing well?”

“Yes. As you know, I was merely grazed. Fletcher’s expertise in cleaning and stitching my wound no doubt also contributed to my swift recovery.” She patted her leg. “I barely have any pain at all. Just if it’s bumped, or if I move too quickly.

“I’m relieved to hear it.” Cassius slipped an arm around her shoulders and when she didn’t object, drew her nearer.

“Why did your brother give up practicing medicine?” Beatrice searched Cassius’s face. “He’s a talented doctor.”

“That he is, but he couldn’t abide the darker side of medicine. Specifically dealing with children dying.” Cassius traced his fingers up and down her shoulder. “For all of Fletcher’s outward sternness, he’s a very compassionate man. It drove him to the bottle.”

She laid her head on his shoulder, and if Cassius hadn’t already given her his heart, it would have flopped at her feet. “It is heartbreaking when a patient dies, although mine are only animals.”

He kissed the top of her head, and a feather tickled his nose. “I believe people can love animals as much as humans.”

“Cassius?”

“Hmm?” His eyelids grew heavier with each passing clip-clop of the horses’ hooves.

“Why did you come after me?”