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“Of course I am coming,” he snapped. “There needs to be a driver and an escort for each carriage. I can’t drive all the way to Rutland on my own without stopping. I need sleep, you know.”
Happy again, Cecily nodded and fell silent.
Jacob stepped forward and waved her toward a waiting carriage before an argument could develop. He knew that look on Reg’s face, but wondered what the seemingly charming young woman had done to put his colleague out so much.
“Take care. We will see you back at home,” Tahlia said quietly.
She didn’t move as she watched Cecily clamber inside the vehicle. Reg sat on the coachman’s bench while Jacob sat on the footman’s seat at the back. Minutes later, they disappeared into the night.
Once it had disappeared, she turned her attention to Oscar, who was now standing beside a man called Ryan.
“Have a safe journey,” Oscar muttered. “If you get back before me tell Alice to get the ale out. After this, I need a stiff drink.”
Ryan grinned and tugged his hat low over his face as he waited for Oscar to climb aboard. Once he was inside, Ryan slammed the door and waved casually to everyone before Ben slapped the reins and they too began their journey.
“He is behaving like he is out for a Sunday afternoon drive,” Tahlia mused aloud.
“That’s because Ryan is probably the best carriage driver we have. There is no speed he won’t go, and no corner he can’t take at speed. If anyone can get Oscar home safe it will be Ryan,” Connor assured her.
“Excuse me,” a big, burly man piped up from beside them. It was clear from the joviality on his face when he looked sternly at Connor that he was teasing.
Connor grinned and winked at Tahlia. “This is the second best carriage driver we have. This is Andrew.”
“Ma’am, I am afraid your man can’t drive a carriage so Barnaby had to call in a professional to take you home. Please, climb aboard. If you promise to keep him inside and out of my way, I promise to get you home faster than Ryan can,” Andrew teased.
Connor chuckled as he lifted Tahlia into the carriage. Once inside, Tahlia took a seat and glanced at the interior in amazement. It was luxurious. The thickly padded seats were covered in the finest material she had ever felt. Two small lamps gave the inside a cosy glow that was just as inviting as the heavily laden basket of food. Overall, she could see no problem with having to spend the next several days somewhere like this.
“Do you want to take some of this food before we head off?” Tahlia called as she lifted the lid of the heavily laden basket and peered inside.
“No, thank you,” Andrew replied. “I have my own box up top.”
As soon as Connor was inside, Andrew slammed the door shut and leaned in through the window.
“I am not going to stop for anything. I hope to be able to get you two to Rutland sometime the day after tomorrow,” Andrew advised. He stood back and tapped the door. “Stay inside.”
Connor slid the window up and closed the shutter. Rather than settle back against the seat, he remained motionless while Andrew climbed up top and guided the carriage out of the woods.
“What about sleep? Surely he won’t try to drive all that way without getting some rest will he?” Tahlia was horrified at the thought.
“No. Matthew is coming with us. He will ride on the footman’s bench, and will swap with Andrew when he needs a rest.”
“What if he falls off?”
Connor burst out laughing. “These are men who usually get to nap standing upright. Both of them will hunker down and will remain with us, I don’t doubt.”
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“How often do you do this sort of thing?” Tahlia asked curiously.
Now that she came to think about it, this was the first time she and Connor had been alone to really talk without hiding or being in danger. She was practically bursting with questions. So much so that she didn’t quite know where to start.
Connor did, though. As soon as they turned onto the main road, he tugged her out of her seat and settled her down beside him.
“Do you want something to eat?” he asked.
She shook her head. She wasn’t hungry right now, she was more curious.
Connor kissed the top of her head. “We are used to going long distances in dangerous conditions. Sometimes we have had to transport witnesses of crimes we have had to keep out of sight. It helps to be able to keep moving and have someone keep watch at all times. That way, the stop-overs we have to take are just to change horses. It can be done in less than ten minutes, and reduces the risk of the danger we are in. It has all been carefully planned so that we are not likely to meet any problems along the way. This carriage is black and almost identical to hundreds of carriages in use every day. Not only that, but the horses will change frequently, and so will the coachmen. Both Matthew and Andrew will use a box of disguises I am sure Andrew has stashed on the carriage here somewhere.”
