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She was safe. She was truly safe.
But before she could reply, a large black dog suddenly lunged at the carriage door, startling her. She let out a small cry of alarm. The dog was growling in a menacing way, clawing at the door, trying to get to her.
Then Baldwin’s face was there, staring into the coach.
“Down, Apollo,” he scolded the dog. “I do apologise, Miss Parker. He has been cooped up because of the storm and has an abundance of energy now.”
Delia nodded quickly, staring straight ahead. “It is quite alright,” she muttered stiffly.
“Where are you from?” asked the man in a friendly tone.
Delia baulked. She felt beads of sweat trickle down the back of her neck. Why wouldn’t he just go and leave her alone? Why was he insisting she talk to him?
The other passengers were staring at her. She had no choice but to reply. The man had asked her a direct question, and she could hardly ignore him, could she?
“London,” she said quickly, glancing at him before gazing down at the carriage floor.
She knew the other passengers would wonder why she had told the man that. As far as they knew, she was from Surrey. But she didn’t want to tell the man that. Surrey was where Lady Cordelia Pelham lived.
The man nodded. “Well, have a good trip.”
She smiled weakly, turning her head in the opposite direction. Her heart was pounding painfully, and her mouth was dry. She just wanted Ambrose to get into the coach and be on their way. She just wanted to leave this man and the danger he represented far behind.
She closed her eyes. The world was starting to spin a little. She truly did feel like she might be coming down with some sickness. WherewasAmbrose? Why wasn’t he getting into the carriage?
Ten minutes dragged by. And then fifteen more. She almost leapt up to embrace him by the time he finally got in the carriage, settling himself beside her. But then, her heart lurched with fear again at the tight look on his face.
“Baldwin is travelling with us,” he said in a curt voice. “His carriage is broken. Apparently.”
Chapter 37
Delia’s jaw dropped. For one stunned moment, she couldn’t speak. At the same time, she heard the crack of the coachman’s whip. The carriage lurched forward, and they were away. She stared at Ambrose in utter confusion.
“I do not understand,” she stammered.
Ambrose’s face darkened further. His eyes were shooting off furious sparks. “He and his dreadful dog are riding on top of the carriage.” He took a deep, ragged breath. “That was why we were delayed. Baldwin approached the driver, offering him twice the usual fare to ride atop with his dog, claiming that his own carriage had suddenly broken a wheel. He said he needed to get to Bradford urgently and simply couldn’t wait for it to be repaired.”
Delia gasped, looking up at the roof of the carriage. Mr Hawkins had told her at some point that people sometimes rode atop if a carriage was full. Her throat thickened with fear.
“It is not far to Bradford now,” whispered Ambrose, gritting his teeth in frustration. “Perhaps an hour or two. There shouldn’t be any further stops. When we alight, I will make sure you do not talk to him again.”
Delia’s eyes filled with tears. She didn’t know what to say.
Ambrose leaned closer, his voice so low she could barely hear him. “I will keep my eye on him. There is simply nothing more I can do now.” He took another deep breath. “It seems very strange for him to do this even if his carriage truly has a broken wheel. I cannot believe he doesn’t think you are the missing lady. You must be vigilant, Delia.”
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. And they really couldn’t keep up a whispered conversation like this when they were surrounded by other people, anyway. The other passengers were giving them odd looks already. Sister Mary Majella had a furrow in her brow and was clearly saying silent prayers on Delia’s behalf, to save her from temptation.
Delia’s eyes flickered to the carriage roof again. The man and his vicious dog were up there. She tried to calm her fears. It wasn’t long to Bradford, as Ambrose said. Nothing else could go wrong. Could it?
***
They had been travelling for just over an hour before the coach lurched and started pulling over to the side of the road. There was a collective groan from the occupants of the carriage.
“What now?” barked Miss Tilney, looking harassed. “If I do not get to Bradford soon, my position might be given to someone else!”
“Lord only knows,” muttered Mr Hawkins, shaking his head. “It is a beleaguered journey indeed.”
Delia’s heart was in her mouth as they waited. They heard the coachman jump down, peering underneath the carriage. Then he was at the door, his face full of thunder.
