“Excellent. I’m so pleased. We leave in two days.”
For the next hour, the two women talked about a number of things, and Olivia told Bett the latest updates regarding her tenants. Quite a few babies had been born so far this year, and she always enjoyed visiting them. She worked well with the steward, and between the two of them, they kept the estate running efficiently and the tenants happy. The new ViscountArmstrong preferred to live in London and had no issues with Olivia living in the main house. That would all change when he decided to marry. She would definitely need to move to the dower house by then, especially if his new viscountess preferred country living to residing in London.
All the while they talked, Olivia was thinking she’d made a terrible mistake by agreeing to attend the Fleming house party.
Chapter 4
The constant jostling of thecarriage finally awakened Robertson from his self-induced stupor. He had no idea how much he’d drunk last night and only barely remembered getting home and climbing into bed. It seemed he’d only slept an hour before it was time to get up and get on the road for the house party in Guilford. Now he was suffering from that overindulgence.
He groaned and cracked open one eye. Noah was smirking at him.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Noah said. “Just wondering how you’re feeling, that’s all.”
“You’re an arse, you know that?”
Noah chuckled. “Oh, I absolutely know that, but it’s your own fault. I told you to stop, but you and Mileswere determined to finish that whole bottle of whiskey. Who was I to stop your fun?”
Miles evidently was also feeling the effects of too much whiskey, as he lay slumped against the side of the carriage. “Could you two argue a little quieter? My head is about to explode,” he whispered.
“There’s an inn not too far up the road. I say we stop and get something to eat. I’m famished,” Noah said.
Robertson could only move his head a fraction because it hurt too much to do anything else. He wasn’t sure he could eat, but he’d agree to just as long as the jostling stopped and he could get out and stretch his legs.
Noah pounded on the roof, and the driver opened the trap door. “Yes, my lord?”
“Kindly stop at the next inn.”
“Of course, my lord. It’s only a few miles ahead.”
It didn’t take long before the carriage pulled into the yard of theWhite Swan Inn. A few other carriages were already there, but there was still plenty of room for theirs. When the carriage stopped, Noah opened the door and jumped down.
“I’ll go see about getting us some food while you two rouse yourselves,” he said, striding away.
“I do hate how chipper he is,” Miles mumbled before stumbling out of the carriage.
Robertson followed and walked to the front of the carriage. “Make sure to grab something to eat after you take care of the horses.”
The driver nodded. “Of course, my lord.”
Robertson needed black coffee and lots of it. Tea wouldn’t be enough to help the massive headache he had. He made his way into the common room, and Noah waved him over to a booth in the corner.
“Coffee is on the way, and the owner tells me his wife has made a delicious lamb stew today.”
Miles soon joined them after visiting the necessary, plopping down on the bench as one of the serving girls brought over a pot of coffee and three mugs. “Your food will be out in a moment,” she said.
Noah gave her a brilliant smile. “Thank you, miss.”
It always amazed Robertson how women flocked to Noah. He had an easygoing personality and loved to flirt with any female in his vicinity. Noah made every woman feel like a queen and serving girls were no exception. If Robertson were honest, he was a little jealous of him. No one would ever call him easygoing.
A blush stole up the young woman’s neck before she curtseyed and scurried away.
“Charming the serving girls now, Noah?” Miles said.
“Of course. Every woman deserves to feel special, and besides, someone has to be pleasant. Otherwise,one glimpse of the grumpy looks of you two, and we’d be lucky to get any service,” he said, pouring coffee for the three of them.
Robertson perked up a bit at the smell of the strong brew and took a sip. It had the rich flavor he preferred and it warmed his insides.
