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“I beg your pardon, Mother. I’ll do so and order extra care with the stuffing. For now, I’ll have some pillows and blankets brought down.” Ignoring his mother’s spluttering, half-hearted objections, he summoned a servant. From the corner of his eye, he saw the tiniest smile of approval curl the corner of Eleanor’s mouth.
“Ladies, I leave you in good hands,” he said as the servants began to bring the requested items. Now to ready himself for the next leg of the day’s journey. From the look on Yarborough’s face, it was likely to be an arduous affair. Resigned, he made his way back up front.
“Lady Eleanor is well, I hope?” asked Yarborough.
“Quite.” He took grim satisfaction in the grimace of displeasure that furrowed the other man’s brow. Without another word, he mounted and moved to the fore to join Charles.
“How are things?” his friend asked quietly.
“Perfectly adequate, save for a complaint concerning the relationship between posterior and cushion.”
“I meant between you and Eleanor.”
Sorin stared at him, unsure how to respond.
Charles chuckled. “Come now, I’m not blind. I know the pair of you had a disagreement of some sort. And so does Yarborough, for that matter. I assume it was quickly resolved?”
?
?Oh, that. Yes. Merely a small misunderstanding.”
“You two seem to be experiencing a number of those lately. I certainly hope it won’t impede your ability to keep an eye on her in London.”
“It won’t. In fact, that was the subject of our discussion. I had to tell her.”
“What? I thought we were agreed not to—”
“She objected, of course,” Sorin cut in with a shrug. “But once she understood why you made such a request of me, she was amenable to the idea.” He pinned Charles with a look. “She is very much aware of her friend’s propensity for scandal and agreed that preventive measures must be taken.”
“Well, thank God for that!” said Charles, relief spreading across his face. Then his eyes narrowed suddenly. “I hope this is not some ruse on her part, pretending cooperation now only to lead us a merry chase later. She is most displeased over our plans for her this Season.”
“She’ll be perfectly well behaved, I assure you.” He hoped. “And I will ensure that the gentlemen seeking her company are mindful of their manners as well.” He glanced back to see Yarborough coming toward them, his face as sour as vinegar. He must have gotten quite an earful from his mother. “Speaking of which, here comes our new friend.”
At once, Charles whistled and waved his hand to signal the lead rider to move out before the lad could catch up to them.
Sorin didn’t bother to stifle his amusement this time, either.
Chapter Eleven
Eleanor forced herself not to squirm as the Dowager Countess of Wincanton inspected her. Her gaze was not unkind, but it was penetrating. Just outside, she heard Sorin issuing commands concerning pillows and such. Desperate to escape the intense scrutiny of her new traveling companion, she peeked out from between the curtains.
It afforded her a rare opportunity to observe Sorin’s profile for a moment unseen. Or so she thought. Turning, he caught her eye and smiled. At once she dropped the curtain and looked down at her lap, unwilling to expose her burning face to the carriage’s other occupant. The door opened again, causing her to flinch, but it was only a servant bringing in blankets.
Once everything was in place and the servants gone, the carriage lurched into motion, forcing both ladies to steady themselves until the rocking settled into a more predictable rhythm.
“Thank you for inviting me to join you,” Eleanor said at last, breaking the deepening silence. Her face once more cool, she risked raising it.
“You are most welcome,” replied Lady Wincanton with a brief smile. “I can well imagine how uncomfortable you must have been. Four together in one carriage seems to me unbearably crowded.”
“Yes. It was quite close,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Even more uncomfortable when confined with an individual for whom one has little liking,” added Lady Wincanton, a knowing twinkle in her eye.
Eleanor felt her cheeks again grow warm. Just how much had Sorin overheard? And how much of it had he told his mother? “No doubt,” she finally replied, her voice coming out sounding choked.
The woman’s smile returned, and this time it was warm and genuine. “I think we can agree that a journey may be either lengthened or shortened by the quality of one’s traveling companions.”
“Indeed we can,” Eleanor replied, half laughing at herself. Ironically, it seemed she’d jumped from the boiling pot directly into the fire.
