The carriage trip from the train station to the count’s estate was less exciting and more bumpy. The uneven road caused the carriage to shake and jolt so hard he hit the roof with his head a couple of times.
“Bloody hell,” he muttered, rubbing the top of his head. “Where does the count live?”
“Not a smooth beginning—” The rest of her sentence was cut short by yet another jolt that shoved Violante straight into his arms. Not that he’d complain.
She let out a whoop that would be comical if his mouth didn’t suddenly fill with the feathers of her hat.
“Ouch,” he mumbled as her elbow dug into his ribs.
“I’m so sorry.” She started to scurry away from him, but another jolt had them both jumping on the seat.
He shielded her from hitting the wall by wrapping his arms around her. She was practically sitting on his lap in a froth of skirts, fluttering feathers, and her flapping cloak. Her lips parted in mute shock. Lips that were an inch from his. She must have applied a layer of rouge because they were rich, full, and shiny with a glossy hue. If he tilted his head a little, he’d kiss her as it’d happened years ago. He wondered if she tasted the same. He wondered if she’d let him.
He ought to release her, but if he held her, she wouldn’t get hurt, would she? Her breath came out faster. He didn’t know if it was a good or a bad thing. Perhaps a bad one.
He released her and inched away from her as much as the damn seat allowed. She stared out of the window, straighteningher dress and hat. Between her reddened cheeks and his dishevelled clothes, they looked exactly like a couple madly in love, who had dirty-puzzled in the carriage. Good. Or maybe not.
“I prefer the train,” she said, swatting a wayward feather away from her face.
“You might change your mind after you see the world. Once, I took a train to Wales that derailed because of the mud. It was raining so much that half of a hill slid down the railway with a terrifying rumble. Not enjoyable, believe me.”
She stared at him as if he were a hero. “I do envy your travel experiences. I haven’t seen anything of this world. I’d like to live an adventure.”
“My offer still stands.” He braced himself when the carriage bounced up and down along a steep road going downhill. “As my secretary, you’ll travel with me. Think about it. Besides, you’re living an adventure right now, which is a fancy way of saying a miserable, horrible trip.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Then I might change my mind about adventures.”
He laughed as well, hoping she’d decide to stay with him.
It was a relief to arrive at the count’s estate both because the rocking and jolting ended and because Keith would get away from Violante’s intense presence and the temptation to kiss her. Except that he was supposed to be her loving husband. Their closeness was expected and inevitable.
He climbed out of the carriage and offered her his hand. He acknowledged the quickening of his heartbeat as she slid her soft hand into his.
“What a journey,” she said, glancing up at the tall building.
“Indeed.” It was just the beginning.
