A knock sounded on the door. Her maid opened it.
“We’re here to take the trunks down, if you’re ready,” Kenton said.
Elizabeth strolled into the inn yard as the last trunks were being loaded.
A few moments later, Geoffrey joined her. “I can hire three men for a day.”
She let out a frustrated breath. “That is better than nothing I suppose.” Not much. Everyone would have to remain vigilant. “At least we will have an idea of what we are up against.”
For the first time since she had heard his conversation with his father, he pulled her into his arms. It was all she could do to keep her own arms by her side when she wanted so much to hold him as well. If only she had not heard what she had.
But past was past and she could not change it.
After a few moments he released her, and Elizabeth wished his arms were still around her.
“It is time to depart.” He tilted his head, a sly grin forming on his lips, making her want to throw her arms around him and kiss him. “Tell me you know how to shoot a pistol.”
“Well, I will tell you that.” She turned to walk away toward her coach, but looked back over her shoulder. “And I am accounted an excellent shot.”
In three long strides, he was with her. She placed her hand on his arm, and stepped into the coach. “Be careful.”
The one thing she did not want was for him to be murdered before he discovered he loved her.
“I will.”
The coach started forward and, for a time, she gazed at the flat countryside. “It is very different here than in England.”
“It is that, my lady,” Vickers responded. “Reminds me of The Fens in a way, but clouds are higher here, and I can’t see a marsh.”
“I’ve never visited The Fens,” Elizabeth said. “What are they like?”
“Flat like this, but with marsh everywhere. I always felt like the clouds were pushing on top of my head.”
“That doesn’t sound particularly pleasant.” She was glad the clouds here weren’t low.
“They’re not my favorite part of England, but a great many people love them.” Vickers glanced out the window. “I like it better here.”
“I’ll like it immensely if we do not have any problems getting to Brussels.”
Elizabeth placed her pistol in her lap and took out her book, but was unable to read it. The traffic was steady with farmers and a few carriages. Yet, nothing out of the ordinary appeared to be going on. Finally, she was lulled to sleep by the swaying of the coach.
She woke when it was time to rest the horses.
At luncheon, Riddle deemed the roads safe enough for the servants to go on ahead of Elizabeth and Geoffrey.
That evening they stayed in a small town about ten miles outside of Ghent. The day had been pleasant, but, due to the number of times they’d had to rest the horses, it would take another two days to arrive in Brussels.
And Elizabeth was no closer to knowing what she should do about Geoffrey, other than what she was already doing. If he continued to hold her, she would end up kissing him, and that would lead to other things, and before she knew it she’d be back in his bed without ever knowing if he could love her.
She was, therefore, relieved to find that Nettle had once again arranged for separate bedchambers with an adjoining parlor.
After they had washed and changed, she and Geoffrey took a walk in the town. Stores were still open, and no one seemed to be nervous about the coming battle. With luck, it would remain that way for the rest of their journey.
By the time they had dined, all she wanted was her bed. Tomorrow would be another long day.
Chapter Thirty-One
Geoff, Elizabeth, and their small household started early the next morning.
