16
Theodora watched as the final pieces of luggage were strapped to the coach. It was barely nine and they were already preparing to get under way. Now that Lance was sightseeing rather than eloping, he was much more prompt.
“Ah! Theodora!” Jane came out of the inn, holding her knitting basket and a handkerchief. “I was just looking for—” She sneezed into her kerchief.
“I wish we had medicine for that sneeze.” Poor Jane’s face was flushed and her eyes shiny as if they were watering. “Perhaps you should see a doctor before we leave.”
“I’m fine, truly.” Jane tugged her coat closer about her, her gaze drifting to where Conner spoke with Lance near the horses. “Is Mr. Douglas riding in the coach with us?”
Theodora tried to ignore the hopeful note in Jane’s voice. “No, he’s not.” Because I won’t let him. “Conner will ride his horse and will likely meet us at the next inn.”
Jane watched Conner as she absently sneezed again into her kerchief. “It’s a pity he’s not riding with us. He’s a very interesting man.”
He was a thorn in Theodora’s side, was what he was, and their journey would be much better off without him. Life would be less complicated, and right now that was all she wanted.
She tried not to watch Conner, but it was difficult. Even though he was dressed with unusual propriety today in a typical blue coat and buff britches, he’d managed to make the outfit seem rakish. In addition to the sensual slant of his smile, he wore a wide leather belt that held a brace of pistols. The silver handles, heavily engraved and shiny, peeped out when he lifted his arm, as he was doing now.
It was just like him to appear in some ways so very normal and perhaps even marriageable. But then he lifted his arm and reminded one that he was neither, but was instead a dashing privateer with a deep desire to sail away from everyone and everything he knew.
“His horse is lovely.” Jane patted her pink nose with her kerchief. “But so spirited! It keeps prancing about—I don’t know how Mr. Douglas will stay astride.”
“He’s an accomplished rider,” Theodora said grudgingly. She envied Conner his ride, for the unexpectedly mild weather combined with the rolling green hills beckoned to her. She wished she’d thought to bring her favorite mare.
Jane tucked her handkerchief into her knitting basket, her gaze still on Conner. “Perhaps I’ll knit a man’s scarf. I have some pale blue yarn left over from another project.”
Pale blue, like Conner’s eyes. Theodora stifled the urge to say something cutting for no good reason whatsoever. “Come, let’s get in the coach. Perhaps that will encourage the men to be on our way.”
“Gor’, I get to ride in that?”
Theodora turned.
The maid Alice stood in the doorway, a limp bonnet mashed over her curls, a serviceable coat hanging from her shoulders, and a bruised hatbox clutched in one hand. “It looks like a fairy-tale coach, it does!”
Theodora blinked. “I’m sorry, but what—” She spoke to air, for Alice had already stomped past and was now peering into the coach’s open door.
The maid dropped her hatbox and then reached in and pressed a fist against a velvet-covered seat. “Why, my bottom will be as comfortable as that of a fat angel sitting on a cloud!”
Theodora looked at Jane, who appeared equally shocked. Collecting herself, Theodora forced a smile. “Alice, there seems to have been a mistake. You aren’t coming with us.”
Alice kept punching the seat. “Oh, but I am.”
Theodora narrowed her gaze. “By whose request?” Conner Douglas, if you are up to more trickery—
“The squire asked me to come.”
That brought Theodora up short. “The squire?”
“Oh yes. He’s unhappy you don’t have no lady’s maid.”
“A lady’s maid? But I never asked him to—”
“He said it were to be a surprise, miss. But a necessary one.”
Though Conner’s name hadn’t come up, Theodora couldn’t help sliding an accusing glance his way. He was still laughing and talking with Lance, which suddenly seemed suspicious indeed. “He did, did he?”
“Aye. I’m to go with you all the way to wherever you’re going, which I hope will be Lunnon, as I’ve never been.”
“We are not going to London,” Theodora said with finality.
Alice’s face fell, but she recovered instantly. “Oh well, wherever you go, I’m sure it will be better than here.” She reclaimed her hatbox and beamed at them both. “So? Do we leave soon?”
“No,” Theodora said grimly. “Excuse me for a moment, I must have a word with the squire.” She gathered her skirts and marched across the inn yard.
Conner’s gaze met hers the instant she moved in his direction, and she detected a hint of laughter there. He nudged Lance, whose back was to her, and the squire turned.
On seeing her expression, Lance’s smile faltered, but by the time she reached him it was back in place. “Theodora! There you are. We should be leaving soon, so—”
“Did you hire that girl to be my lady’s maid?”
Lance’s smile faded a bit. “Alice? Why, yes. I thought it would be a nice surprise and—”
“I do not need a lady’s maid. I’ve been using Spencer’s services.”
“I know, but he won’t be with us forever.” Lance gave her a significant look as he spoke that made her pause.
“Oh.” Lance was right. Once they reached Gretna, and rid themselves of Conner and his servants, she would be without any help with her clothes. “Does Alice know anything about being a lady’s maid?”
“She’ll learn. Besides, it’s only for a few days and then we’ll be home, and you can hire someone more to your liking.” Smiling, Lance took her hand and pressed a kiss to her fingers. “The least I can do is provide you with the proper servants, seeing as how our trip has become so convoluted.”
There was a hint of the theatric to Lance’s gesture, and she knew it was for Conner’s benefit. Well, two could play that game. Aware of Conner’s gaze, she smiled up at Lance. “You were being thoughtful, as usual.”
“I was trying to be. But if you don’t wish her to join us—”
“No, no. You’re right; Spencer won’t be with us forever,” she said sweetly, slipping a glance at Conner. She was rewarded to see a black scowl flicker over his face, and she fought the urge to laugh. Your machinations are not working, are they?
What had he hoped to accomplish by encouraging Lance to hire Alice as a maid? The girl couldn’t have the skills to perform the work. All she would do was take up another seat in the coach and— Ah ha. Jane isn’t enough of a chaperone now that she’s ill—so now I’ve two.
Theodora looked back at Alice, who was now patting the coach’s glazed window as if it were a puppy, her expression blissful.
The girl would enjoy the trip, at least. Frustrated, but unable to do more, Theodora slipped her hand into the crook of Lance’s arm and smiled in what she hoped was a lovestruck way. “Shall we go, then?”
“Of course.” Lance tipped his hat to Conner. “Enjoy your ride.”
“Thank you.” Still scowling, Conner turned to his horse and climbed into the saddle, looking like the dashing hero of some novel, rather than the annoying man she knew him to be.
The animal stamped its feet and shook its mane, anxious to be off.
Conner touched his hat to Theodora. “Until dinner.” Still looking vaguely put out, he lightly touched his heels to his steed and cantered off, leaving Theodora glaring at him hard enough to drill a hole between his shoulders.