Page 46 of Denying the Duke (Lords and Ladies in Love 3)

“Wake up, sleepyhead,” Alex’s deep voice whispered in her ear, bringing her to consciousness with a delicious feeling of comfort and safety. She wiggled around, and stopped at Alex’s groan. “Don’t do that sweetheart. Please.”

She sucked in a breath when she realized his manhood was fully erect and pressing into her lower back. “Sorry,” she mumbled and moved forward, then turned, knowing her face was quite red.

Alex was kind enough to ignore it as she resumed her prior seat. She just then noticed the carriage had stopped.

“We’re stopping to change horses. I thought you might enjoy a cup of tea, since you missed your breakfast tea this morning.”

“Oh, that sounds wonderful.”

He stepped from the carriage and helped her down. She took his arm, grateful for the support, since she was so stiff from the ride. “You don’t seem to be troubled by sitting for that long. Why am I the only one stiff?”

She didn’t understand the humor in his eyes or the smile on his lips. “Oh, have no fear, sweetheart, I am definitely stiff.”

“Well, you certainly walk better than I do.”

This time he burst out laughing and pushed open the door to the inn and escorted her through. The common room was warm and full of men drinking and eating some type of stew, which smelled wonderful. Her stomach growled again at

the smell.

“It sounds as though we should have a meal as well as tea.”

Patience nodded. “I believe you are correct. Is it near luncheon?”

Alex pulled out his timepiece. “A bit past noon.”

A short, well-rounded man hurried up to them. He bowed at Alex. “Your Grace. And Your Grace,” he said to them. “Thank you so much for allowing us to serve you.” He waved in the direction of a door at the back of the room. “Please follow me to the private dining room, and my wife will attend you.”

They entered the room which was chillier than the air outside. “I apologize for the cold, Your Graces, but I will warm it up in no time. The dampness, you know.”

“That is all right. I don’t expect you to keep the room warm unless we were expected.”

“Thank you, Your Grace. You are so kind.” The man bustled around the room, starting the fire that had already been laid out. Before they even sat, a woman, obviously the innkeeper’s wife, came through the door and gave them a curtsy. She had a tray with tea things on it that she placed on the table in front of them.

“We have a fine mutton stew today, Your Graces. And bread that is just out of the oven.”

“Thank you, ma’am. My wife and I would enjoy a bowl.” Alex smiled at the woman, and she blushed. Patience saw again the young man she’d fallen in love with years ago. His kindness to the merchant class was extremely rare among his rank. It was nice to see that part of him hadn’t changed with the assumption of his title.

The fire had begun to warm her, and within minutes, they had the fragrant stew in front of them, along with the promised fresh-out-of-the-oven bread. They both dug in, light conversation along with expressions of approval over the fare keeping them busy.

Patience wiped her mouth with her napkin just as the innkeeper’s wife entered the room. “Your Grace, if you wish to use the facilities before you leave, I will be happy to direct you.”

“Yes, thank you very much.” Patience followed the woman across the room, then turned to say something to Alex, but stopped. He was striding quickly through the door to the common room, a look of anger on his face.

The same look he’d had at their wedding when he’d abandoned her. Strange.

…

His heart pounding, Alex wended his way through the common room and around the tables filled with patrons eating, drinking, and shouting to each other over the noise of the crowd. He wasn’t completely sure, but it appeared Loverly had been in the common room. If it was him, he had scurried out as soon as Alex had laid eyes on him.

Having his wife with him, it was probably not a good idea to pursue the man, but if it was him, it was obvious they were being followed, which made for a dangerous situation for Patience. He stepped outside, but the only thing in front of the inn was his carriage standing there, along with his driver.

“Did a man come out of the inn right before me?” Alex asked as he approached John Coachman.

“Yes, sir.” The driver waved in the direction they were headed in. “He jumped on a horse and went that way.”

“Do you still have your pistol on you?”

“Yes, Your Grace. I always carry two, and the footmen have two pistols each as well. You can never be too prepared on these roads.”