Page 24 of Miss Wylde and the Wynd

“I will take her to the coaching inns and make inquires, but that is all.”

“She cannot travel alone and it was one of our sailors who brought about this current circumstance,” Sterling reminded him.

“Who is going to run Trade Wynd in my absence?”

“I know the company as well as you and it will hardly suffer in your absence.” Sterling dismissed Damian’s concern.

As much as Damian would like to argue, Sterling was correct. They’d been taught, equally, by their father, so that someone would be able to take over without interruption when the time came. And, since his return, Sterling was in the offices daily, or on the docks, or inspecting cargo. He may be an earl by title, but he was a merchant to his bones.

Blast!

He did not want to be away from Trade Wynd, nor did he want to be Georgie’s companion for reasons he did not want to examine too closely. He only knew that if he spent more time in her company, the organized life that he had enjoyed could be disrupted beyond repair.

He did not know how, and it was likely a foolish notion, but everything within warned that she would be a disruption from which he would never recover if he did not distance himself from her immediately.

It was also too dangerous for her to travel to London alone. Georgie was an innocent miss that knew nothing of England, or London, where anything could happen to the unsuspecting.

Bloody hell!

With any luck, they would be able to locate Harold Fisher and Georgie’s sister quickly so that the two could be reunited. He would even purchase passage for both to sail to Carrera and then he could return home. As for Harold, he would be informed that he would never be welcomed at Trade Wynd again.

“I do not need anyone to accompany me,” Georgie insisted. “Besides, I have already prevailed upon you enough.”

Damian ignored her. “If I am to accompany Georgie to London, why take a mail coach when we can take the carriage?”

“That is not possible as we only have one,” Sterling answered.

“That you do not use,” Damian reminded his brother. “You ride your horse whenever you go into town or to the Trade Wynd offices.”

“What of me?” Caroline asked.

“You ride as often as he does.”

“Except for shopping, or when I attend a tea, or when I have Livia with me, or when the weather is poor.” It was true that the carriage had been used more often since Caroline’s arrival, but it still sat for days.

“Very well,” he gave in. “We will ride to London.”

“On horses?” Georgie’s brown eyes widened in surprise.

“No, cows,” Damian grumbled.

“I have never ridden a horse,” she said quietly, much to his surprise.

“Never?” Everyone he knew had ridden a horse at one time in their life.

Georgie shrugged. “There was never any reason to. We walked everywhere and nothing was overly far.”

Blast!

“Besides, it does not matter. I will travel on my own and you may remain here since it is clear you want me gone and no longer a disruption to your schedule.”

“You assume you have a choice,” Damian retorted to which Caroline snorted.

“I most certainly do.” Georgie straightened and glared at him. “And that is the second time you have made such a statement to me. You have no authority over me.”

“Sterling said that to me once.” She then turned to Georgie. “Let him travel with you. It will save much argument because no matter what, Damian will board the mail coach whether you want him to or not.”

“It is not necessary,” she insisted.