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“Has something happened?” he called out.
The carriage would have jostled slightly if the coachman had descended from his seat, so he thought to see one of the outriders who were accompanying the coach. The last person he expected was the frail form of his solicitor being helped into the carriage by one of those outriders.
A quick glance out the window told him that they’d stopped before the man’s office. John was struck speechless. He hadn’t expected to see Markham again. The solicitor certainly hadn’t mentioned he’d made arrangements for the coach to stop by his office before John quit London.
Markham thanked the man who’d helped him into the carriage and settled onto the seat opposite John, next to the portfolio of paperwork.
“It’s a good day for a journey, is it not?”
The slight twinkle in the man’s eyes told John he wouldn’t like what was coming next. When the carriage began moving forward again, dread settled in the pit of his stomach. Still, he hoped for the best.
“Was there something you forgot to mention yesterday? I’m sure you could have sent me a letter. And where are we taking you?”
Markham’s smile widened, the action telling John what was happening before the words were spoken. “I’m going with you to Yorkshire, of course.”
John barely contained his groan. The man never stopped talking. Would he have any time to even glance at the papers he’d intended to study during the journey?
John’s eyes narrowed. “Is that necessary? I thought you worked for me now, and I certainly don’t recall asking you to accompany me today.”
Markham made an attempt to school his expression, but John couldn’t miss the amusement reflected in his eyes. “I’m being paid handsomely to see to your needs, and there is no better way to ensure you settle in without any issues than to come along and offer my assistance.”
John wanted to insist otherwise, but a grimace of pain on the older man’s face forestalled his complaint.
“These old bones aren’t used to travel, even in a carriage as well appointed as this one. Perhaps it would help if we switched seats and I faced forward?”
John gave up since it was clear the man wouldn’t be dissuaded. He moved to the bench opposite and then offered his assistance to Markham, who made quite a show of wincing as he rose from the seat and shifted to the more desirable location John had just quit.
It took the man far longer than it should to settle in before meeting John’s questioning gaze again.
Markham leaned forward and gave him a quick pat on the knee. “Worry not. I’m sure the hours will speed by now that you have company.”
Chapter 4
Time did not speed by.
John had planned to stop at posting inns along the route to arrange for fresh horses so he could arrive in Yorkshire as quickly as possible. If the coachman was still alert, he’d hoped to make the trip in one day. He wouldn’t overwork the man, but he’d ensure everyone accompanying him on the trip was well compensated for their extra effort.
But after the first hour of travel, during which they’d barely left the outskirts of London, he had to revise that plan when Markham made it clear that he had no intention of staying in the carriage that long. The man insisted on stopping at every inn they passed to stretch his legs and relieve himself—something he’d assured John would happen to him as well when he got older. John said nothing, merely sitting in the carriage and waiting for the solicitor’s return. His patience threatened to snap, however, when he heard Markham instruct the coachman to moderate the speed at which they were traveling. Apparently every small bump in the road caused the man’s bones to ache.
John grit his teeth and said nothing when his solicitor was helped into the carriage after yet another break. He hadn’t realized that England possessed so many inns, but after their third stop in as many hours, he began to wonder if Markham had an ulterior motive for delaying John’s arrival at Brock Manor.
He considered and discarded a myriad of reasons for such a delay between the man’s many monologues and attempts to draw John into conversation. After all, his solicitor had been aware of his arrival in London for some time now. The many letters and requests for meetings he’d received bore witness to that fact. If Markham had wanted to delay John’s departure from London, he wouldn’t have done everything in his power to arrange a meeting as soon as possible.
Which left John with a mystery, for he was almost certain Markham was hiding something. Only time would tell if it had something to do with the estate. John wondered if he would have been able to solve that mystery if Markham stopped talking long enough to give him the opportunity to look through the documents with which he’d insisted John familiarize himself.
When the sun began to set, John welcomed the upcoming reprieve. He’d already come to terms with the fact they wouldn’t be traveling through the night. Markham would never survive such a long journey.
When they exited the carriage to partake their evening meal, John informed the coachman that they’d be staying at the inn for the night.
Markham clapped him on the back. “I hope I haven’t delayed you too much. I know it must be a trial, but I appreciate the consideration you’ve shown.” He nodded toward the taproom. “I’ll meet you there in a moment after I secure rooms for the night.”
John didn’t argue. If there was one thing he needed after the tortuously slow journey, it was a drink.
Chapter 5
It was both a blessing and a cursethat Amelia’s bedroom window faced the front of Brock Manor. On the one hand, it allowed her to keep a vigilant eye on the tree-lined avenue visitors would take to reach the house. That meant she wouldn’t be caught unaware when the new marquess arrived. But it also meant she found it next to impossible to think about anything else.
She’d long since given up even attempting to get any writing done that day. She hadn’t fared better with the book she was in the middle of reading and so had taken up some needlework. There was something about the rote activity that soothed her when her nerves were on edge or when she was having difficulty with her writing.
