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“We are leaving just after noon,” he whispered. “I have just had confirmation from the coachman. The snow on the road ahead is cleared, and the storm is gone. It is safe to continue.”
She sagged against him with relief. “It is almost over. Thank the Lord.”
He nodded, taking her by the shoulders, staring intently into her face.
“Listen to me carefully, Delia,” he said. “Baldwin might leave before we do, which would be the best outcome for us.” He paused. “But if he doesn’t, we must get you into the coach as quickly as possible before he sees you. Preferably just before we depart.”
She nodded. Her breath caught in her throat. “Of course. I will stay in here until you send word for me.”
“You must be ready to leave quickly,” he whispered. “I will make sure that your trunk is on the coach first, and then I will come and get you. You will walk straight out to the coach. You must not linger inside or outside at all. Do you understand?”
She reached up to caress his face. He was clearly so anxious on her behalf and trying his hardest to ensure that this Baldwin man didn’t sabotage her effort to begin a new life. Her heart was aching with love for him and the need to express it.
But she couldn’t. Apart from the fact that it was neither the time nor the place to declare love, she couldn’t predict how he would react to it. She wanted to cling to this intimacy between them as long as possible before it ended, as it surely would.
“I understand,” she said in a faltering voice. “Thank you.”
He nodded. He looked like he wanted to say something else, but then changed his mind. He kissed her quickly on her forehead before slipping out of the door. She was alone again.
She sat down on the bed, gazing out the window. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the rising panic. Waiting was always the hardest thing. In lifeandin love.
***
Two hours dragged by. But then it all started to happen quickly. Ambrose came up for her trunk. She watched through the window as it was loaded onto the top of the coach with all the others. She saw Sister Mary Majella talking with Miss Tilney as they waited to board. She couldn’t see Mr Hawkins or Mr Giles from where she was standing.
Ambrose was back. “Ready?”
She took a deep breath. “As ready as I will ever be.”
“Make sure you keep your head down,” he said. “Do not look up or around.”
He took her arm, leading her swiftly down the hallway and the staircase. But before they were even out the front door, a man walked quickly out of the main room towards them, bumping into them. He almost knocked her over. She was so surprised that she didn’t think and turned to look at him, staring him straight in the face. The man’s eyes flickered over her. Ambrose gripped her hand.
“Baldwin,” he said in a tight voice. “How could you be so clumsy?”
Her heart lurched with fear. It was the man. Hastily, she looked down at the floor, hoping that the rim of her bonnet shielded her face from further scrutiny.
“Oh, I do apologise,” said Baldwin. “And who is this young lady? I have not seen you at all around the inn.”
“This is Miss Parker,” said Ambrose curtly. “She has been feeling poorly. I am helping her to the coach. If you would excuse us, Baldwin? She is in danger of fainting.”
“Heaven forbid,” said the man, stepping back. “Of course.”
Ambrose gripped her hand tightly, almost pulling her towards the door.
“Miss Parker,” said the man. “You have lost a button off your coat.”
Delia froze. She had no choice but to turn back and retrieve it. It would look odd if Ambrose did it. The man stepped forward, holding out the button in the palm of his hand. She snatched it, trying to keep her gaze down. The man would think her impossibly rude, but that was the least of her worries.
“Thank you,” she muttered.
She breathed a sigh of relief as Ambrose whisked her out of the inn. He was almost dragging her to the coach. She climbed inside, taking deep gulps of air. The coachman waylaid Ambrose before he could climb in beside her, pulling him aside.
The other passengers had all embarked and gazed at her curiously.
“How are you feeling, my child?” asked Sister Mary Majella in a kind voice. “I do hope you are not seriously ill?”
Delia took a deep breath. The fear was starting to subside a little now she was in the carriage. She could feel her heart start to slow. That had been a very close call, but she was confident that Baldwin hadn’t seen her face long enough to put two and two together and think she was the missing lady. And she had barely spoken to him.
