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“Just grab his boots, Artie,” Hannah said, carefully placing Lucas’s neckcloth on top of the other garments she’d laid out and then sliding her hands under them all to lift them. “And let’s be off. Tomorrow will arrive sooner than later, and I’ve a mind to sleep before then.”
“I’ll accompany you so you don’t have to return alone, Hannah,” Lavinia said. She opened the door, allowing Artie and Hannah to precede her out into the corridor, leaving Delia in the room to prepare for bed.
“That Mr. Jennings, he’s a clever one; you mark my words,” Hannah murmured as they walked down the corridor. “He’s taking in all we say and sorting the wheat from the chaff.”
“I agree with you, Hannah, but so far, he has also kept a respectful distance. His presence can provide us protection and even respectability if we remember to play our part correctly. I don’t agree with Delia’s tactics—my own actions were purely a result of finding myself recognized and in need of a quick escape—but I can forgive her motives.” Having a strong male presence around had given Lavinia a brief respite from the responsibilities she felt for the others, a chance to breathe before they encountered the next challenge upon their arrival at Primrose Farm.
“He’s going to put the puzzle pieces together, and soon. You need to decide what you’re going to tell him when he does,” Hannah said.
“He most likely already has,” Lavinia said. “But hopefully he’ll be well onhis way before he discovers he was playing escort to The Darling of Drury Lane.”
“It’s a right good thing I took my supper with you ladies,” Artie grumbled as they approached the room, pointing to the serving tray on the floor outside the door, its dishes thoroughly emptied of their contents. “What if I hadn’t? What if I’d returned to the room expecting to find my share of food, and it’s gone? What then?”
“Then we would have sent to the kitchen for something more, Artie,” Lavinia said soothingly.
“Still, you’d think a fellow would know it was a sharing thing we were about. And he ate every morsel.”
“Never mind about that, Artie,” Hannah said. “You aren’t hungry now, are you? Open the door. These clothes is getting heavy, what with me trying to hold them careful-like and keep them from wrinkling.”
Artie did as commanded and then stopped in his tracks just inside the doorway. “Well, would you look at that!” he exclaimed under his breath.
“No, thank you, Artie, considering Hannah has the man’s clothes in her arms,” Lavinia whispered back.
Artie shushed Lavinia and tiptoed into the room. “It’s all right, Livvy. It’s safe enough, after all,” he whispered and proceeded quietly into the room.
Lavinia maintained her distance, despite Artie’s assurance. She’d nearly given herself away when she’d been in the room earlier. She would be extra cautious this time.
Hannah peeked around the doorjamb and then followed Artie inside.
If cautious Hannah was willing to go in, it must be safe. Lavinia warily stepped inside. “Well, goodness,” she whispered.
Lucas had taken a blanket and pillow from the bed and had made a place to sleep on the floor, and he was sound asleep, his torso and legs covered by the blanket, one muscular shoulder exposed by the light coming through the open door from the corridor. He lay facing the door‚ undoubtedly more evidence of that soldier training he’d mentioned to her, although it had failed him this time, as he hadn’t moved a muscle at their entrance.
He’d left the bed for Artie to use.
“Come, Hannah,” she whispered. “We have a long day of travel ahead. Let’s get some rest.” They bid Artie farewell and returned to their room.
Lavinia didn’t know what to think. Lucas Jennings was proving more and more that he was different from all the other men of her acquaintance. Seeing him on the floor, leaving the bed for Artie, had stirred something inside her, and she found herself truly wanting to trust him.
If only she hadn’t learned so early in life that wanting didn’t necessarily make it wise.
