She closed the door after him and placed the chair at a precarious tilt against it.
Yes, her dreams would be very sweet because of him.
Since Gwenys had rolled back onto her own side of the bed, Miranda slipped under the covers to reclaim her spot and drifted off with dreams of Solway.
The sun was particularly bright and the air already warm the next morning, promising to be an excellent day for travel. Gwenys was the first to rise, since she had slept like a log, and was seated on the bed beside Miranda, coaxing her to open her eyes.
Miranda realized she must have overslept because of their little adventure and wondered whether Solway had done the same.
“I thought the duke wanted to get an early start,” Gwenys said.
Miranda yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “Yes, he did. Let’s go knock on his door. Oh dear. I wonder if he came by earlier to wake us and we simply did not hear him.”
“He didn’t. I’ve been up for a while and all has been quiet. Did you sleep well? I hope I did not toss and turn too much.”
“You were perfect, as always,” she said, giving Gwenys a hug.
Miranda donned her robe and slippers, and then the two of them made their way to the adjoining guest room. They were about to knock lightly when the door suddenly flew open and Solway loomed before them. “Ah, perfect timing. I was about to see if the two of ye were awake.”
“What happened to your eye?” Gwenys asked, frowning.
“Och, I happened to run into a book,” he replied, no doubt confusing her all the more. “It’s nothing.”
Gwenys tsked. “Aunt Miranda, you didn’t…”
“No, I would never harm him. Well, not after that first night.”
“All right, as long as the two of you are not fighting,” Gwenys said, now sounding like a prim governess berating her charges.
Solway chuckled. “Get yerselves ready. I’d like to be on the road within the hour. Shall I have breakfast sent to yer room?”
“Yes,” Gwenys said at the same time Miranda responded, “No.”
“Breakfast in yer room it is,” he replied, deciding Gwenys’s opinion would hold sway.
No doubt he was not in any humor for a confrontation with Lady Trowbridge—not that Miranda expected the harpy to be awake at this hour. But the woman had already shown herself to be vindictive, so she supposed Solway was right to keep them away from any possible confrontation. “Yes, breakfast in hiding is fine for me, too.”
Miranda had just finished washing up and getting dressed when a maid wheeled in a cart containing several silver salvers and a teapot with steam wafting out of it. “His Grace said that he would join you shortly.”
She smiled at the girl, who then bobbed a curtsy and bustled off.
“Shall we finish packing while we wait for him to arrive?” she suggested.
“Yes, that’s a fine idea,” Gwenys said. “There isn’t much for us to put away, just those gowns we wore last night. I’ll fold them carefully and stow them in our trunks.”
They had just closed their trunks when Solway strode in, looking even more magnificent than he had last night. Perhaps it was that bruise above his eye that made him appear quite rugged, although he was already appealingly rough around the edges. “Eat up, lasses. The innkeeper’s porters will be here in a moment to carry yer belongings to our waiting carriage.”
“I’ll be glad to be away from here,” Gwenys muttered, raising the lid on the first salver and breathing in the aroma of smoked fish. “Hmm, kippers. My favorite.”
Miranda noticed only two plates had been set out and frowned. “Are you not joining us?”
Solway shook his head. “I ate with Montrose and Gwenys’s father in the dining room. They wished ye a most pleasant journey, and yer father had a kiss for ye, Gwenys.” He leaned forward and gave the girl a light peck on the cheek.
Miranda’s heart tugged, for Gwenys looked so happy. It was such a small gesture. However, Miranda wasn’t certain her father had thought of his daughter at all or ever said any such thing to the duke. Well, she would leave it alone for now and ask Solway later, once they were gone from here.
She was eager to leave York and these Lawsons. The mere thought of them made her ill. It did not matter that their day spent in York had been delightful or that their inn was beautiful and they’d had excellent accommodations during their stay.
She finally breathed easy once they climbed into their carriage and the journey was underway. Before long, they were passing over the old York bridge and rolling southward to London.
