Page 38 of The Gentlewoman Author

Was she? Was anyone? Poor, stupid Louisa. This single foolish use of agency would lead her to harsher confines than ever. Saddled to a reckless gambler or abandoned by him, Louisa was ruined.

“Why not tell me one of Eliza Haywood’s stories to pass the time?”

In that moment, Mary could only think of Fantomina, wherein the heroine disguises herself several times to seduce the same man. One did not speak of such things. She put her hot cheek against the window and shook her head.

“You must forgive me. I lack presence of mind,” Mary said. She chanced a look at him and then could not tear her eyes from his. The gravel in her stomach turned molten, and she became aware of each place his body pressed against hers. The shoulders that overlapped; their elbows, hips, and knees pressed and jostled together in a sudden rush of heat. Rain poured faster, creating a curtain around them.

He leaned toward her. He parted his lips, licked his lower lip, closed his mouth. He was going to kiss her, but then he dropped his eyes to his lap. “Perhaps you should know…I overheard a conversation some weeks ago between Miss Thorpe and Mr. Savage, and I failed to tell you of it. I believed that speaking with Savage would be enough. I was mistaken. I…I am sorry for it.”

“What did they say?”

Daniel knitted his brow. “Some nonsense about Savage wanting to become a farmer, take a wife, and live quietly in the country.”

“That seems innocent enough.” She wiped her forehead, collecting herself from the assumption of his kiss.

“It does now that I say it, but at the time it seemed suggestive, as if he were on the verge of inviting her to join him. His estate neighbors mine, but I would hardly call it a farm. It’s expansive.” Daniel’s eyes lit. “Although, he does have a hunting box. He told me about it, spoke of it the same way he told Louisa about the farm, his place of refuge.”

“Do you think…”

“It’s a possibility. Either way, it is on the road to Scotland. If they are there, it will save us a journey.”

Air ballooned in her chest, and she swallowed the overflow that might become a sob. It wasn’t much, but it was more hope than she had two minutes ago. “I am very grateful. And that is not a strong enough word for what I feel. Thank you for your help.” She put her hand on his forearm and pressed her appreciation.

Thunder rumbled in the not distant clouds, and with it the rain fell in deafening droves. The carriage stopped, and the valet rapped the window before shouting that the roads were too muddy to proceed and they must stop at an inn. Mary nodded her assent to Daniel. If they were stopping, Louisa had also stopped. Until there was nothing left, Mary would choose optimism.

In a few minutes, they arrived at an inn and were dripping puddles on a clean floor.

“Good morning,” Mary greeted the innkeeper, noting that the clock on the wall marked the time. It was early, and disappointment at the meager distance they’d crossed fell heavy. “My little brother and I⁠—”

“Little brother?” Daniel scoffed close enough to Mary’s ear that she shivered.

“—would like refreshment by the fire, if you please.” She would pay for all the expenses of the travel and so had made a point of entering the inn first and putting herself in charge.

“We may need rooms if the rain continues,” Daniel said.

“Yes. For my brother and me,” Mary said. What a useless thing to reiterate. She pinched her lips together.

That seemed to catch the innkeeper’s attention, and he examined them with narrowed eyes.

“You’re not the first brother and sister to come here today,” the innkeeper said with a touch of incredulity.

“Aren’t we?” Daniel said.

“The first pair had no resemblance either.”

“We are following our siblings. Perhaps it was them. Do you recall their names?” Hope fluttered in Mary’s chest.

“No.”

“What did they look like? A fair-haired man and a young lady with blonde curls?” Mary asked.

“Perhaps. They wanted to change horses, but the pair they arrived with was badly treated. Run practically to death. I chastised the man and told him to go elsewhere. He’d not ruin my horses.”

Daniel leaned forward. “Is there another place nearby where they may have changed?”

“Only one. Down the road a half mile.”

With a meaningful look at Mary, Daniel said, “I’d best go and see if that pair is in the stables.”