“I’m planning to travel with Mr. Walker to Fleming Manor and then on to Crenshaw to visit with Lady Williams.”
“Very good. When would you like to leave?”
“I believe Mr. Walker is packing now.”
The maid went to the armoire and pulled out Olivia’s trunk. “How long do you intend to stay?”
“I don’t know as of yet. Please pack for a sennight.”
“Of course. It won’t take long,” the maid said, pulling items from the armoire.
Within an hour, Miles was handing Olivia and her maid up into the earl’s carriage, and their luggage was strapped down while Vulcan was tied to the back of the carriage.
Noah and Robertson stood in the drive to see them off.
“I will write soon, my darling,” Olivia said, waving to her husband.
“Safe journey,” Noah chimed in.
Robertson waved, and he and Noah returned to the house.
“I do hope Lady Williams isn’t ill,” Noah said once they were inside the foyer.
“As do I, but make no mistake, my wife won’t rest until she finds out exactly what’s going on.”
Miles was beyond happyto finally be returning to Fleming Manor. During the weeks he’d been at Harrison Manor, he’d realized how much he cared for Miss Bent. Given their previous interactions, he was confident Fleming would have no objection to him offering marriage to his daughter, but he was still a bit nervous. Asking any man for his daughter’s hand in marriage was always fraught with uncertainties, although he’d gotten to know Fleming quite well over the summer and liked him immensely and thought the feeling was mutual.
“So, Miles, how long have you carried a tendre for Miss Bent?” Olivia asked.
Miles looked over at Olivia’s maid to make sure she was still sleeping. He didn’t wish for her to hear his most privatethoughts. “Over the course of the summer, she and I had many opportunities to converse. Much to my delight, I found that Miss Bent is an excellent conversationalist. She’s no vapid miss, only interested in fashion and gossip.”
“Yes, I’ve always enjoyed our conversations when I visited with her and Lady Williams.”
“So, do you approve of the match?” Miles asked.
“Oh, very much so. You’re an upstanding gentleman, and I wish you both much happiness.”
Miles chuckled. “Thank you, but first, I must secure her father’s permission, and then the lady needs to accept my proposal.”
“I’m sure both of those things will happen expeditiously.”
They drove for most of the next two days, stopping at local inns along the way. On the third day, they finally stopped at an inn near dinnertime. Miles stepped down from the carriage. “Let me check to see if there are rooms available for us here.”
“Thank you.”
He walked into the common room of the inn and saw the innkeeper behind the counter.
“Sir, may I inquire about the availability of two rooms for the evening?”
The innkeeper looked up. “Good day to you, sir. I’m Mr. Hawkins. You’re in luck. We have only two rooms left, although one of them is small and overlooks the back of the inn. Will that be suitable?”
“That will be fine. I’ll also need my horses taken care of, as well as my driver.”
“Of course, sir. That’s not a problem,” Mr. Hawkins said.
Miles paid for the rooms and went back outside to the yard, where a groom stood by the carriage horses.
“Will you be staying the night, sir?” the groom asked.
