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“You are—”
“We need to leave, Lady Raplan.” Lord Lockford’s words were cut off by Rune stepping directly between them and grabbing her elbow, ushering her to the left to the waiting carriage.
She leaned to the right to look past Rune’s arm. “I apologize, Lord Lockford, I apparently am holding up our progress. Be sure to try the trick on that pile of geodes, but close your eyes. Slivers of rock in your eye are never pleasant.”
Lord Lockford tipped his hat to Elle. “I will try it first thing when I arrive at my estate. My sister will find me a hero if we finally crack them open. God speed.”
She waved to him. “To you as well.”
Rune stepped sideways, blocking her once more from Lord Lockford’s view.
Her look went up to him. “Really, Rune, that was incredibly rude.”
“We have a long journey today, Lady Raplan.”
His hold on her elbow tightened, close to shoving her up the step and into the carriage. With an exasperated sigh, she moved into the carriage and sat on the rear cushions, settling her skirts about her legs. Her fingers smoothed rogue lines on the muslin—her clothes were getting dreadfully wrinkled, but there was nothing for it.
Rune climbed into the carriage, slammed the door closed and sat down on the opposite cushion with his hands by his sides, his right forefinger digging against the cushion’s faded black leather. The line of his mouth had shriveled into a tight, hard thread.
Moments ago in the coaching inn, he had actually smiled at her when she descended the stairwell. It was the slightest smile, but she saw it. She’d gotten so accustomed to looking at the scowl on his face it was easy to discern the tiniest change in his demeanor.
And now his countenance had definitely changed—all the more to the worse.
What in the heavens had happened when he went to fetch the carriage?
Ignoring the glower on his face, she pointed at him. “You’re sitting inside on this leg of the journey? Two days of riding is enough for your sea legs?”
He hadn’t said much about his time at sea, just that he’d spent many years on the water and that he’d met Des and Weston during that time. Nothing she didn’t already know from the report from Jules.
“It’s been some time since I’ve been on the ship.” He didn’t look to her, his gaze fixed solidly out the window. “It’s easier to protect you if I ride in here, aside from the fact that I apparently cannot trust you on your own.”
Her shoulders stiffened. “Not trust me? What is that supposed to mean?”
The carriage started, moving past the coaching inn, and she caught a glimpse of Lord Lockford moving into the building.
He refused to look at her. “Nothing.”
“If you have something to say, just say it, Rune."
His hand flickered into the air. “I know you. I know your kind.”
“You know my kind?” she bristled. He truly wasn’t going to start in again on the class of people with which she moved, was he?
“Yes.” He looked directly at her. “You flit about like a beautiful, bright little finch from bloom to bloom—party to party, man to man—never landing on one thing.”
Her head jerked back, her brow furrowing as she stared at him. “What do you know of it? What could you possibly know of me and how I conduct myself?”
“I’ve seen you. I happened to be at several of the parties you attended in the last year.”
“No—I never met you or saw you at any parties. You, I would have noticed.” Her head flew back and forth. “No. The first time I ever saw you was at Seahorn when you offered to accompany me to the Isle of Wight.”
“Look outside your tiny world, finch.” His head inclined toward her. “I said I wasatthe parties. You never saw me because I am very good at staying in the shadows.”
Her arms crossed over her ribcage. “I find that hard to believe.” Her forefinger flicked out and waved about his body. “You—this—it would have drawn quite a stir in certain circles.”
“Why?”
“I imagine in formal wear you couldn’t help but draw attention to yourself.”
