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Gabriel scoffed. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like there’s a place here.”
“There’s a space in the stables—” The coachman grimaced and clamped his lips shut.
Gabriel stifled a bitter laugh. With how things were going, they might just have to spend the night in the stables.
“You take the stables.” Gabriel patted the coachman on the shoulder. “And I shall see if I can procure a place for the duchess and me.”
He walked to Evie and plastered as optimistic a smile as he could to his face. Apparently, he failed because Evie blinked at him, looking worried.
“There’s no room here,” he said and rubbed his hand over his face.
“What do you mean, no room?” She looked at him in misery.
“I mean, they are full. There is no extra room, no bed, not even a bloody closet.” He heaved a long-suffering sigh. “There’s a place in the stables. I offered it to our coachman, but if you decide you want it instead…”
Evie looked out the window at the gray wall of rain and shuddered.
“Bloody hell, you’re freezing,” Gabriel said and put his hand on her cold and sodden sleeve. “Come.”
He led her to a small reception area and sat her on a chair next to a fireplace.
“I’m thinking a night in the stables is not such a bad prospect if the alternative is to freeze to death in the rain,” Evie said, settling into the chair.
“During the thunderstorm.” He smiled his wicked smile at her.
“Preying on my weaknesses. It’s not charming,” she said.
“You sit here. I’ll see what I can find for us for the night.”
He beckoned the coachman to join them in the room. “Look after her, will you?” He flipped him a coin and walked away.
Gabriel wrapped his coat closer to him and walked out of the inn into the heavy rain. What a brave little duchess he was taking for a wife. Any other lady would be having conniptions by now. Yet, she didn’t cry; she didn’t scream in frustration, and he would wager his future inheritance that she would have gone through the storm if he said this was her only choice. She who flinched with every sound of thunder. The thought was ridiculous.
Gabriel looked around at the dull scenery. He didn’t have a plan, so he did the only thing he could. He went knocking on people’s homes and telling them their unfortunate story, exaggerating here and there, omitting a few facts, and using his considerable charm in order to find a dry, warm place to spend the night. The cottages were small and didn’t have any room. The third house he approached had six inhabitants, and they only had enough space to sleep on the floor. They directed him to a small shabby cottage a few houses past, at the edge of the village. The widow Jane’s place.
Gabriel knocked on the door and was greeted by a tiny elderly lady. She was wearing a gray gown, gray slippers, and a gray shawl about her shoulders. Because of their proximity and his tall form, she had to crane her neck all the way back in order to look him in the eyes.
“A handsome devil, aren’t you?” she said in lieu of greeting and cocked a brow. “Did they send you to seduce me out of my house?” She gave a low cackle of laughter as she looked him up suggestively. “If I were a few years but younger.” She huffed. “These days, all I am interested in is a dominoes game and a cup of honeyed tea. Do you play?”
“Erm…” For once, Gabriel didn’t know how to answer. Perhaps all of his charm and wit were frozen by the icy rain or jostled out of him by the horse. “I would love to engage you in a game of dominoes,” he finally said. “But we’d need lodging for a night as well. I’ll pay you.”
She huffed again. “Pay me?” She looked him up and down again. “With what exactly?”
“I’m sure we can work this out, ma’am,” he said with a crooked smile. “But you see, my lady wife is waiting at the inn. They didn’t have a spare room, and I don’t think she can travel any farther… in her condition. I am begging for your kindness to let us spend the night.”
The old lady’s eyes widened at that, and she sobered. “Well, why didn’t you say so right away? Standing here, flirting away.” Gabriel pursed his lips so as not to laugh. Widow Jane waved her hand in the direction of the inn. “Go get your lady now, will you? I’ll prepare a clean bed for you two.” With that, she disappeared inside the house, and Gabriel was back in the rainy street.
He hurried through the drizzling rain toward the inn. Once he reached it, he opened the inn door with a crash. Gabriel was cold, hungry, and tired. All he wanted was a dry bed, dry clothes, and possibly a nice hot bath. He was irritated and angry at the weather, at this damn trip, and most of all, at his father. If he hadn’t cut him off, none of this would have happened.
He entered the small reception area where he’d left Evie and froze at the door, a sense of peace assailing him. She was sleeping curled up in a chair by the fire. She looked so innocent, with such a peaceful look on her face that he wanted to cuddle up next to her and fall asleep beside her. Forget the hot bath and dry sheets. Just a snuggle with this fiery angel was enough. He sighed and stepped inside quietly. He needed to wake her, or she risked catching a cold.
