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“A d-duchess,” she said between laughs. “Sitting in a puddle of mud, on an empty road.” She raised her hands, looking at her dirt-covered palms, and continued laughing.
“Well.” Gabriel chuckled, finally managing to get up. “At least you are in good company.”
He extended her a muddied palm. She took it, and he pulled her to her feet. She was covered in dirt from feet to waist, her hands dirty up to her elbows. Some spatters had even got on her shoulder. She pushed a lock of hair from her face without thinking and got some dirt on her nose, cheek, and hair. Evie looked at her hand in frustration and then at Gabriel.
“Do I look as awful as I think I look?” She bit her lower lip in uncertainty.
Gabriel smiled at the picture she made. Pure innocence completely ruined and covered in dirt. And all it took was for her to elope with him.
“Yes,” he said, nodding in confirmation. “Bright side? No bandits are going to attack us now.”
She sputtered a laugh and pushed at his waistcoat with her dirt-covered hands. Then she bent down, took some more dirt, and threw it at him playfully. Gabriel tried to duck, but she got him in the neck and his chin.
“Now,” she said, looking completely satisfied with herself, “you look just as bad.”
Gabriel laughed out loud. “You,” he said, coming close to her and taking her by the shoulders, “are beautiful. Even covered in mud.” One side of his mouth kicked up in a sardonic smile. “I, on the other hand, must look like the devil.”
He looked at his palms and shook his head.
“You look like you always do.” She smiled broadly. “Like an angel. Albeit fallen. In the dirt.” She sputtered a laugh again. A beautiful, infectious sound.
Gabriel looked at her in amazement. Any other lady he knew would have been swooning about fifty miles ago, even before they reached Scotland. And here she was, with no close relatives other than her terrifying guardian, married to the most notorious rake in London, covered in mud in the middle of the road next to the overturned curricle, laughing like she had no care in the world.
“As much as I am enjoying your attitude….” He looked at the horizon and tipped his head toward the dipping sun. “We need to get moving.”
“Right.” She took a deep breath, visibly holding back another spout of laughter. “How do you propose we do that? Do you want me to pull on the carriage or push?” She raised her brow, her eyes dancing in merriment.
“No.” He put his hands on his hips. “I want you to ride.” He tipped his head toward the horses. “Astride.”
Her mouth fell open in astonishment. Then she ran an appraising eye over her gown and shrugged. “I suppose I can’t do any more damage than has already been done.”
Gabriel smiled. Would she ever stop surprising him?
He boosted her on top of the nearest horse and went toward the other one that had slightly wandered away. In the meantime, Evie had hiked up her skirts to her thighs, so she could sit comfortably astride. She let her skirts fall when she settled in, but he could still see her slim legs up to her knees. He shook his head.What a tease.
“So,” she said conversationally when he mounted his horse and caught up with her. “Do you have any idea where we are going?”
Gabriel thoughtfully scratched his chin. “No, unfortunately, I don’t have any clue.”
Evie laughed and threw him a whimsical look. “If it doesn’t rain, we can sleep under the stars.” She shrugged and looked at the clear sky. “The stars are beautiful.”
“You’ll freeze.” He looked her over, taking in her light summer gown and mud-covered half-boots.
She shrugged again. “I used to spend nights under the stars with my grandfather when I was little.”
“You did?”
She made a sound of acquiescence. “I loved watching the stars. Of course, Grandpa would bring me home and tuck me into a warm bed after I fell asleep.” She smiled slyly.
“He doesn’t sound like a regular duke to me,” he said thoughtfully.
“I never thought of him as one. He was just my grandfather.” She paused in thought. “He worked a lot. I remember that clearly. Especially when I was a small child. But he always found time for me. He used to climb the ruins with me, swim in the lake, and show me an old tower on our estate. He told me a tale about it.”
“Let me guess. A princess lived imprisoned in the tower. Then one day, a handsome prince saved her?”
Evie laughed. “No. Actually, not quite like that. You got the beginning right, though. A princess was imprisoned in the tower. But once she grew up, she escaped. And then took over the kingdom and ruled forever.”
Gabriel snorted a laugh. “Well, I am not surprised you grew up as fierce as you did, with stories like that.”
