CHAPTER 3
THE CARRIAGE WINDOWreflected Colin’s frown back at him, rain running rivulets down the glass. The nice welcoming weather had not lasted. Of course not. This was more in line with what he had expected of his return to England. Now his arrival would be delayed as they slowed their pace.
He sank back onto the carriage cushions with a weary sigh. The confinement within this slow-moving carriage smothered him. If only the rain had stopped long enough for him to ride.
Wang was in another carriage, following at a slower pace as it led several carts conveying all his paraphernalia. The book he had tried to read to distract himself was not holding his attention. It now laid face down on the opposite seat. At least they were close to arriving. He never thought he would look at that with anticipation.
The carriage slowed to a stop, and he straightened in surprise. Surely they were not there yet? The reason for the pause became immediately apparent. Through the rain streaked glass, he saw a woman ineffectively trying to pull a pony cart out of a rut created by the muddy roads.
His lips pulled into a smile. At last, some excitement to break the monotony of this trip. Retrieving the carriage umbrella, he jumped out and walked towards her.
“Hey!” he called over the noise of the rain. “Do you need a ride?”
She turned her head towards him and ran the sleeve of her gown over her eyes. He approached her and covered her with the umbrella.
“I would really appreciate it, sir. But I can’t leave Teddy here by himself.” She replied, motioning to the pony.
“Of course not. The coachman will see to it.” The man was already jumping from his perch on the coach, going to unstrap the pony. “We can send for the cart once the weather improves. Let’s get in the coach and out of the rain, for goodness’ sake!”
She still did not move. Staring at him with wariness. The foolish woman. The rain coming down at an angle pelted them, despite the meager protection of the umbrella. Why was she hesitating when offered a ride in this weather? She finally approached the carriage slowly, but instead of getting in, she asked suspiciously.
“Who might you be, sir?”
Ah! She was leery of strangers. As she should be. But he was no threat to her. He inclined his head mildly. “The Earl of Hartfield at your service, madam.”
He thought he heard a gasp from her, but he couldn’t be sure over the roar of the rain. At least she finally took the first step to get into the carriage.
He extended his hand, and after a brief hesitation, she placed her small hand in his. It was cold and wet. The delicate fingers fluttered nervously inside his giant paw. And the contact shot a frisson of awareness up his arm. Had she felt it too? He helped her into the carriage, climbed back in after her, and shut the door.
Now that they were out of the rain, he took the opportunity to study her, and his breath caught at the beauty of her face. Even soaked and bedraggled, with her dark hair plastered to her head, she was a sight to behold. Dark arching eyebrows, small and slightly upturned nose. Bow shaped upper lip that begged to be kissed. The wet dress clung to her chest, revealing a wonderful, womanly figure. He swallowed against a wave of improper desire.
She was dripping wet and shivering by now, huddling in the farthest corner of this carriage, trying to snuggle into her drenched cloak.
He silently retrieved his overcoat from where it laid on the seat, and draped it over her. She was staring at him rather fixedly, and he couldn’t help staring back. Their eyes connected and in that brief moment, before she looked away, he had the strangest sense that he knew her. She looked familiar.
“Where are you going, madam? We can drop you off at your destination.”
“If you are the Earl of Hartfield, I daresay your destination and mine are the same, my lord. I’m going to Hartfield Park.”
