Chapter 5
Thomas longed to take her from the opposite bench and pull her into his arms where he would keep her for the remainder of the trip. The search for her will have already begun, making it impossible to stop and rest for the remainder of the day. She slept, though fitfully, and he watched her as he always watched her, from the shadows. His desire for Dory and the daydreams of what a life with her might be like had not included an elopement.
How could she think him in love with Sophia? He adored Sophia and had Daniel not married her, Thomas would have. But love her romantically? No. He never had nor did he suspect he ever could.
Dory shifted and the hood on her cape fell back. Her skin shone like gold and her hair a rich warm blond. Everything about her lured him in; petite, perfect, remarkable, and about to be his. It was madness to marry her, but she had asked and he was helpless to resist. The sight of Hartly ogling her was too much. He couldn’t bear it.
The sunrise streamed in the carriage and filled the world with orange and red. Thomas’s heart stopped at the way her skin glowed in the daylight.
She listed to one side, catching herself, and her deep green eyes popped open. Cheeks pink, she righted herself.
Thomas moved to the other side of the carriage next to her. He wrapped one arm around her shoulder and pressed her to his side.
Stiff as an old oak when he first touched her, she relaxed and settled against him with a slow sigh. “Thank you.”
He didn’t deserve the joy erupting inside him. “My pleasure.”
Relaxing her head against his collarbone and the crook of his neck, she returned to sleep.
Her hair filled his senses with flowers and her skin warmed him like nothing else. There was no point in denying he was smitten. She was everything he’d ever wanted in a wife and much more. If only he deserved such a person it would all be perfect. But he didn’t, and there would be a price to pay for giving her what she wanted. He kissed the top of her head, her soft hair tickling his nose and cheek.
Between her maid, trunk, and harp they’d needed a second carriage for transport. It was a miracle they’d not been spotted already. The only thing saving them was that they took the road to Kerburghe and not Gretna Green. It would take them an extra half-day to arrive, but the spotters would be looking in the wrong direction.
Thomas closed his eyes for a few hours’ sleep.
* * * *
As the sun cast long shadows from the west, Thomas instructed Mally, his driver, to stop for the night.
“Are we there?” Dory stretched her arms as far as the carriage walls would allow.
“I am afraid not. It will be another day and a half before we reach Kerburghe land.”
“I did not realize it was so far.”
“Quite a distance. I have ordered a stop for the night. I imagine you could use a soft bed and a good meal at this point.”
Her eyes opened like green pools of panic. “Don’t you think they’ll find us if we stop?”
“I hope they are looking in the wrong place entirely.”
The carriage pulled to a stop in the yard of a small inn. The quaint stone building was alight with activity. There was singing and stomping inside from a party of some kind. A boy ran from the barn to help with the horses.
As long as Thomas had known Dorothea, she had always seemed supremely confident. As a school friend of her brother, Markus, he had watched her grow from childhood to magnificence. In all that time, she had played music like an angel and men like a vixen. She had turned down the regard of men with twice his worth and not blinked an eye. She manipulated her father and brother with ease and even helped recover Daniel when he’d been kidnapped. The woman next to him didn’t resemble that person. Eyes cast to the floor, she tugged her cape around her as if it were armor and crossed her arms.
The footman opened the carriage door and took down the step.
Thomas held up a hand. “One moment, Sam.”
Sam closed the door and turned his back to the carriage.
“Dory?”
“Yes?” She looked at the empty vase attached the wall, and then at the leather cushion of the bench seat.
“Are you afraid of being caught, or is it me you fear?” His chest tightened, hoping it was the first.
Still unwilling to make eye contact with him she bit her lip and looked out the window where a boy chased after a dog. “I have made promises—”
“You mean to me? You mean the offer of your body in exchange for this rescue?”
She nodded and paled.
Dear God, it was him she feared. The air went out of him. At once desperate to ease her worry and furious at her. “I would never harm you. You must know that.”
Finally, she braved looking at him. Liquid pools reflected his own warped image. “You are angry. I am sorry. I should be on my knees thanking you for what you’ve done for me, but I am afraid and want to run away.”
“You are running away.”
“From you.”
“I see.” The pain in his chest tore at him until he knew what people meant when they said their heart broke. “Nothing will ever transpire between you and me that you do not permit, Dorothea. I am not a monster.”
“I know that.”
It took a force of will to hold his temper at bay. “Then let’s go inside and get some rest. You have trusted me this far, can you not take it a bit further?”
A knock on the carriage door. “Are you all right, my lady?”
Thomas sighed and eased the door open.
The maid’s shoulders slumped and dark rings smudged beneath her eyes. She was as exhausted as her lady.
“We are fine. Can you see that your lady’s trunk is unloaded—”
“Emily, sir. I will see to the luggage.” Emily bobbed and walked away.
Thomas stepped down and helped Dory from the carriage.
The innkeeper introduced himself as Mr. Fine. He stood more than a foot taller than Thomas and his expression went from grim to dour.
Craning his neck, Thomas stared the man in the eye. “My wife and I will need a room for the night. I also need arrangements for my lady’s maid and three other servants.”
Mr. Fine moved with slow deliberation a few seconds behind those around him. He spoke slowly and his welcoming gesture crept along. “I have space for you, sir. You’ll have to forgive the noise though. We’ve had a wedding and the party guests will be at it for some time.”
The common room was raucous with drink and laughter. The bride and groom laughed from high up in chairs, carried by the crowd and paraded around the room. “It is not a problem for us.”
“Very well. I will have my wife show you to your room. I will see to your servants.”
Mrs. Fine was as tall as Thomas. She wrung her hands and fidgeted as they walked up a flight of stairs and down a hallway. “The room is quite nice. I hope you’ll be comfortable.”
They entered a clean, serviceable room with heavy dark blue drapes over a sturdy wood bed. One chair in the corner and a table near the window overlooking the yard.
“Thank you, Mrs. Fine. This will do nicely,” Thomas said.
Dory kept her face hidden by the hood of her cape but she twisted her fingers together.
“Should I have supper sent up?”
“Would you mind if we went down for a meal? We’ve been cooped up in that carriage for the entire day. If the wedding party would not mind a couple of strangers, we’d love to eat in the common room.”
Mrs. Fine brightened. “Of course. Come down whenever you’re ready. I will have a fine meal for you.”
He had hoped the knowledge they would not remain in the room until morning would lessen her worry, but she stared out the window as if death himself were coming for her. His rage got the better of him. “Dorothea.”
She spun toward him, eyes wide, mouth open, and hand clutching her chest. Her hood fell away.
In two steps, he crossed the room and dragged her into his arms. Crushing her to him, he ordered his temper back and kissed the top of her head. “I am sorry. I should not have raised my voice. The fact that you are terrified of me does not bode well for our future. I will endeavor to change your mind about my character.”
“I am afraid, but your character is not in question, Tom.” Against his chest, her voice vibrated into his soul.
He ran his hand along her back. “You cannot question your own?”
Pulling away, she turned to the window. “Can I not? I faced the ultimate test of our society and failed.”
“Is that what you think?” He was at a loss for what to say to such utter bunk.
“My father needed me to save him and I ran as far and as fast as I could. Now they will endure the scandal I created. Is that not failure?”
He sat in the lone chair. “Here I thought you were afraid I was going to ravage you.”
She spied over her shoulder. “Yes, there is that too.”
She was magnificent and he couldn’t hold back a laugh. “I shall tell you what I think and you may listen or not. Your father put you in an untenable position. He created a debt too high to pay and was willing to sell you to clear what he owed. If you had married Hartly, not only would you be miserable, but your father was likely to continue his gross spending until another debt hovered over his head. What do you suppose he would sell then? I can only imagine. He is your father and I shall offer him my respect after we are married, but it is a mystery to me how you and your brother turned out with such fine characters with parents who are repulsive. Forgive me, but I wonder where on earth you came from.”
She sighed. “I have often wondered the same thing. Mother is—difficult, and Father is a nightmare, but Markus is all that is good in the world.”
“You are as well, Dory.”
She blushed and the sight tightened his groin to the point of discomfort. He adjusted his seat. “As to your other worry, I will not touch you unless you permit it, my dear. I realize I am the means of escape for you, but to me, you are quite precious. I would never harm you in any way.”
A knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” Thomas said.
The footmen carried in Dory’s trunk and Emily deposited a small harp next to the luggage. “Will there be anything else, sir?”
“No, Emily. Thank you. You may go eat then get some rest. It will be another long day tomorrow.”
She looked at Dorothea, who nodded, and she left the room.
The harp was a third the size of a standard one. He touched the arch of the wood. “A lap harp?”
“I hope you do not mind my bringing it. It is my habit to play before bed and I do not know if I can sleep without it.” She bit her lip again.
Warmth spread through him with a longing to hear her play each night. If this was the only benefit of their marriage, he would be lucky, wholly unsatisfied, but lucky none the less. “I do not mind. I look forward to hearing you play. Perhaps you might teach me at some point.”
“You wish to learn to play the harp?” She pulled off her cape.
Strumming the strings produced a lilting chord. “I think I would.”
“I have never heard of a man playing the harp.”
“Nor I, but I see no reason why I could not learn to be adequate at the task.”
The first smile since he’d told her they were going to Kerburghe lit her face. “You know, I have never heard you play, Tom. Markus says you are quite good.”
“Markus is far too kind.”
She cocked her head. “I would like to hear you.”
It would be an embarrassment to play in front of such an accomplished musician. “Then you shall hear it at the first opportunity.”
Dory crossed and lifted the harp. She strummed out several melodious chords and looked him in the eye. “Will you always agree to everything I ask?”
He stepped behind her and placed his hands over hers as they strummed. Between her heady scent, the music, and the way her bottom fitted against his thighs, he floated in a kind of euphoric state. “If I can, I always will.”
She plucked out a sad melody and leaned deeper into his embrace. “Why are you so good to me? I have ruined your life, Tom.”
Kissing the shell of her ear, he whispered, “I am quite taken with you, Dorothea Flammel. I have been for some time. A fact I am sure you knew before you made your decision to enlist my assistance.”
The notes fell from her fingertips like tears on a pillow. Soft and encompassing. “If you knew I was manipulating you, why did you change your mind and run away with me?”
“That is just it. I could not resist even though I was aware of your game.”
Her long deep sigh pulled her even deeper against him, but then, she stepped away and put the harp down. “We should go to dinner before it gets too late.”
As if a piece of him had been severed, he missed the feel of her in his arms. The person he wanted most was steps away, but he would wait for her to want him as well and pray that time would come before he died of longing. The table held a washbowl and pitcher. He poured some water in the bowl, took off his jacket and cravat, and tugged his blouse over his head.
The bed creaked.
She sat watching from the edge of the bed. Her eyes wide, she gnawed on that poor lip again.
Longing to kiss that lip, Thomas washed his face. The cool water helped to douse the flame growing every time his gaze fell on her.
She touched his back.
He stilled, not realizing she had left the bed and crossed the room.
She traced a path from his shoulder blade to almost the center of his back. “You were hurt?”
“It is an old scar. When I served the crown, a French spy got the better of me.”
Flattening her palm on his back, she skimmed to another war wound near the top of his breeches. “And this?”
“An arrow.” He picked up the towel and dried his face and neck. “You know, when you touch me, Dory, I long to touch you.”
She snatched her hand back. “I apologize. My curiosity got the better of my good sense.”
Turning, he took her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers. “I hope this will not be the last time.”
Stained bright red, her creamy cheeks were delightful.
It took all his strength to pull his clothes back on. “I will let you get cleaned up. Come down to the common room when you are ready.”
The common room was still bustling with wedding celebration. Mr. Fine met him at the bottom of the stairs and escorted him to a corner table. It was out of the commotion, but no place was quiet with the wedding revelry. “I apologize, but this is the best I can do.”
“This will be very good, sir. My wife and I are hungry and a good wedding is always enjoyable.”
The food arrived just as Dorothea stepped into view. She’d changed into a dark green gown that made her look like the queen of the woodlands, regal and worthy of respect.
Mr. Fine was at her service as well and led her to the table. She thanked him.
Thomas stood and held her chair for her. “How is it you manage to still look grand even after all this travel and little rest?”
“You are being too kind.” She sat.
He offered her some crusty bread and honey, which she accepted.
The mutton was overcooked, but the gravy exquisite. They ate and watched the party fun. It gave them an excuse to say little.
Dory grinned as the crowd walked the bride and groom to the door of the inn. The partygoers followed into the yard. The door closed, and the room fell silent.
“That was quite a party.” Thomas’s attempt at light conversation.
“I love country weddings. I tried to get Mother to allow me to marry in the country, but she insisted on St. Georges, of course.” Realizing her mistake, she clamped her hand over her mouth. “I am sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize about. You and I both had lives before last night. We have been friends but not confidants throughout our lives, Dory. It will take time, but I want to know all there is about you.” The truth of that gnawed at his gut.
She shrugged. “There is little to know. I love music and didn’t want to marry an old codger.”
“I am certain there is much more than that.”
“My mother has been nagging me to marry for three years. I am notorious for chasing off perfectly acceptable offers from men of high standing and thus found myself at your doorstep begging you to marry me. What more is there to say?”
Perhaps it was too soon to get her to open up to him with more than this attempt at levity. “How did you and Sophia meet?”
At the mention of their common friend, Dory gave him a smile that lit her eyes and warmed his heart. “She rushed to Elinor’s rescue during that silly scandal with Michael. Sophia did not even know Elinor yet she rushed to her aid after reading the account of a kiss with Sir Michael in the paper. At first I was mistrustful, as I usually am, but then Sophia spouted a breathless argument about whether I was always mean and sarcastic or if I was protecting Elinor. After that, I could not resist her with all her American charm and missteps. She’s wonderful.”
Sophia had once told him the story, but it was interesting to hear it from Dory’s point of view. Sophia had made Dory out to be the protector, and now he saw their friendship was equal in many ways. “I agree.”
She popped a piece of bread in her mouth. “How did you meet her?”
“At a picnic. She performed her mimicry and entertained the entire group.”
Dory laughed. “You liked her because she can imitate people?”
“No, it was not that. It was that the moment we were introduced, I could read on her horrified face she could not remember my name. She was so open and untainted by London and the ton.”
Dory sighed. “Yes. Amazingly, she’s still like that.”
Incredible, Dory had no idea how magnificent she was, or maybe she did and didn’t care. Whatever the case, it intrigued him beyond any other woman. “Why did you turn down all those other men who offered for you? I know quite a few of those hearts you broke. Some very eligible lords have fallen in love with you.”
Putting down the bread she’d just torn off, she sighed. “I wanted to play.”
“And you think marrying means you must stop?”
“Mother has made it quite clear that once I am married my attention must refocus on my husband and not composing music.” Her voice took on that grating sound of a mother scolding her child.
“Is that what she does?”
The bridge of her nose scrunched up. “Who, my mother? What do you mean?”
“Does your mother dote on your father? Is she very attentive? Does she run to do his bidding at every moment of every day?”
“As you can imagine, my parents’ relationship is less than ideal. Father has his life and wants little to do with ours.”
Thomas pushed his plate back. “Your father is a notorious philanderer. Please do not mistake anything I say for approval of abhorrent behavior. I cannot help but wonder what part your mother played in his behavior.”
“You think his affairs are my mother’s fault?” Her cheeks turned bright red.
“No. I think he would have taken lovers no matter the state of his marriage. I wonder about the way he goes about it. He intentionally flaunts his behavior and waves it in your mother’s face. It occurs to me there is a reason for it, which we are not aware of.”
Her anger quelled, she cocked her head, popped another morsel of bread in her mouth and swallowed. “I see your point. I had not thought of that before.”
“There are many mysteries to what happens in another person’s marriage. Perhaps it is as it should be.”
She stared down at her half-eaten plate of food. “Indeed.”
The wedding party sounds drifted away. Mr. and Mrs. Fine returned and cleaned tables with the help of two women and a young man.
Thomas had so many questions he longed to ask her about her life and what she wanted out of it. Bombarding her with inquiries would only put her further on edge.
Mrs. Fine arrived at their table. “Are you finished with your dinner, Madam?”
“Yes, thank you, Mrs. Fine. Everything was delicious.” Dory beamed at her.
“I am glad you liked it.” She picked up the plates and bowls from the table and carried them into the kitchen.
“Shall we go up?” Thomas asked.
She bit her lip, but nodded.