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Despite having more accounts of Phillip’s to keep track of with his newest ventures, the work did not take her that long. Immediately after she finished, Fyre gathered her things to leave Hawk’s Cove to head home.
Keating appeared as she closed the door to the office behind her.
“Miss Gwen.”
“Have a nice evening, Keating.”
“He would want you to stay.”
“And that is hard for you to say.”
He gave a small frown, to which she gave a very unwomanly snort.
“Worry not. You can tell Lord Edais you offered as he instructed, but I declined.”
She walked away, not bothering to look back. Thunder rumbled as the rain picked up. Only allowing herself one sigh, she stepped out on the porch then down the steps into the deluge.
* * * *
Before Fyre was even halfway home a carriage came up from behind her. One horse, wet and decidedly unhappy, pulled the covered ride. Fyre couldn’t get any farther off the road without being in the ditch and the water it was collecting. She had no desire to be in there. There had been times in the past she had been run off the road by someone on horseback or driving a coach. She really hoped this wasn’t going to be one of those times.
This one stopped. Well, slowed enough to keep pace with her.
Nerves kicked up for an entirely new reason. She kept her narrowed gaze on the road ahead of her.
“Miss Gwen.”
She wiped off the water that streamed down her face and squinted up at the man in the lantern’s flickering light.
Archer.
“Why are you out here?” She pitched her voice over the wind and rain.
“Taking you home.” He shook his head to—she assumed—stop her instinctive refusal. “I will put you in here if I must, Miss Gwen.”
Taking him at his word, she scrambled up as fast and as best she could, her wet skirts, combined with the mud on them, not making it easy. She landed on the seat beside him with a grunt.
That was not ladylike.
Archer didn’t comment on it and, as soon as she had regained her seat, he snapped the wet leathers and got them moving again.
Exhaustion set in and her teeth began chattering, even though it wasn’t all that cold. As if he knew, he asked the horse for a bit more speed, even while making sure to keep them as safe as he could.
She could barely keep her eyes open by the time he stopped before her house.
“Thank you, Archer.”
“I like you, Miss Gwen. I would hate for you to get sick or injured. Get some sleep but make sure you dry off first and have some tea.”
She paused in disembarking from the coach. “Tea?”
“My mother was an herbalist. She always gave us tea on nights when we were out in the elements.”
“Sounds like she was a smart woman.”
“Never let us forget it either. Go on. I will wait until I see a light on inside.”
She hurried off, knowing he wasn’t lying and not wanting him out in the bad weather longer than he had to be. Where he and his brothers were staying while they kept an eye on her, she didn’t know.
Once inside, she swiftly lit a candle and opened the door once more to make sure he could see. The flame flickered and bent in the howling winds, making her trip out there short. Heaving a sigh once she shut the door again, she made short work of stripping off her soaked clothing and drying off before sliding on warm, clean clothing.
She heeded his advice and took the time to fix herself a cup of tea. Seated in her chair, she enjoyed the heated brew while she relaxed and did a bit of sewing as well, determined to finish the quilt she was working on.
Spreading it out on the back of her small couch, she ran her critical eye over it, thinking of the other colors to add in order to make it worthy of the person it was going to be given to.
Chapter Seventeen
Phillip walked down the steps to greet the guests who had arrived. The day was beautiful and people had been arriving all day. Not the woman he was waiting for with bated breath, but others. Smile firmly in place, he finished navigating the final few steps to meet Mr. Caulfield.
The man looked at him, expression still a bit unsure and suspicious.
“Afternoon, Mr. Caulfield. I am glad you were able to make it.”
They shook hands then Phillip pushed his deep into his pockets as he watched his guest.
“I appreciate the invitation. Must say, I was surprised that it came.”
Phillip shrugged like it didn’t make one bit of difference to him. “I thought it a good idea to meet the other business owners and plantation owners in the area.” He gestured with a hand. “All of that will be mentioned at the evening meal. Get settled in and, if you would like, there will be drinks in two hours in my library. I have some other guests to greet.”
