“Would you like that?” She cocked her head. “To be grieved?”
He frowned. “I’m afraid that’s happening now. My sister—we aren’t close in terms of interests or hobbies—but we get each other. And it kills me to think she’s worrying. And then there are my parents. I was sick earlier this year. Nothing serious. Well, it was, but I’m fine now. I just prefer to do the worrying about the people who matter to me and not the other way around.”
She held his gaze. “You are a good man.”
“Sometimes.” He cracked his knuckles. “Thank you.”
“I am honored to pretend-marry you.”
He raised his head. “Thought this was going to be legal.”
“You know what I mean.”
There was a knock on the dining room door. Robbie entered, hat in hand. “Sir? The mistress asked if you’d be available to come meet her at the stables.”
“I think we are both finished with breakfast?” Lizzy gave Tuck a quick glance. “We can go out together.”
“Sorry, miss.” Robbie twisted his cap. “The mistress said only the gentleman was to come. You’re to begin packing.”
“Very bossy of her.” Lizzy shrugged. “She probably wants to show you something with the dogs, as you mentioned an interest. I am quite sure she knows she has maximized all my goodwill on the topic.”
Tuck nodded and gave her a convincing smile, even returning her wave as she exited the room.
As soon as her footsteps disappeared down the hall, he squared off with Robbie. “Okay. What’s really going on?”
Robbie dropped the submissive pretense. “Mistress is in with the dogs, but she’s not throwing Goliath a bone. She’s polishing a pistol. Sorry, sir.”
“That’s all right. It’s about what I was expecting.”
Lizzy was clearly doted on as the younger relative. The gamble that Georgie and Jane were making was considerable. There was the potential this would all work out exactly the way they hoped. But he got it. They were protective. And it was time to face the music.
He walked out into the backyard and nearly into a goose, who honked at him like he was the rude one. “Excuse me,” he muttered.
“In there.” Robbie pointed down toward a small white-painted outbuilding. “And good luck, sir.”
Tuck crossed his arms. “You reckon I’ll need it?”
“Oh, very much.” Robbie’s rapid nods punctuated the sentence.
“Well, cover me,” Tuck quipped. “I’m going in.”
The stables were dark and shadowy compared to the bright morning light outside. Tucker looked around, waiting for his vision to correct; he heard Georgie rustling around somewhere.
“Thank you for taking the time to talk to us.” She stepped from the back stall, a massive dog flanking her on either side. “Jane and I are grateful that you’ve agreed to this wild plot to take our Lizzy and travel to Gretna Green.”
“Jane? Is she here?”
“Of course.”
“Jesus!” Tuck jumped at the soft voice in his ear. He didn’t startle easily, but this had gotten weird. Behind him was Jane in a dark dress, no cap, no smile. Was she holding a shovel? He glanced down. Yeah. That was a shovel. And a rusty one at that.
“You leave for Gretna Green tomorrow.” Georgie didn’t acknowledge she was holding a gun. The giant dogs weren’t growling, but they didn’t have a warm expression either. “We secured you a stagecoach from Salisbury. It’s a long journey.”
“Four nights,” Jane murmured. “Four nights in inns without a chaperone.”
“Easy.” He held up his hands. “I know what you’re thinking...”
“Do you, though?” Jane didn’t move.
