Duke asked the question he knew had to be posed, though he was embarrassed to have to do so within Eve’s hearing. “Did they pay for the meal?” His parents weren’t dishonest, but they were sometimes a little thoughtless.
“They did.”
That was a relief.
“And they gave no indication when they left where they were going?” Duke asked.
“None, sir.”
“Thank you.”
The innkeeper dipped his head. Duke guided Eve back to the doorway.
“’Twas your parents, then?” Eve asked.
“Most likely.”
“And they waited only a couple of hours before giving you up for lost and abandoning the arrangements?”
Duke shrugged. Father wasn’t always good about thinking of others, especially when he felt put upon by his mother or sister. And Mother tended to abandon anything that required effort if she felt at all disappointed in the people around her.
“Now what do we do?” Eve hadn’t looked away from him. “There’s no time for taking your Grandmother to Lancashire.”
“Unfortunately, our best course is likely to take her to Fairfield, though she’ll be livid.”Blast, Father.Duke had sworn to Grandmother that Father would not abandon them, that he would be in Epsom to greet them. And Duke had sworn to Father that he wouldn’t take Grandmother to Aunt Penelope’s home unannounced, but he was now going to be made a liar on both counts. Why was it his father, when given the choice between inconveniencing himself and causing tremendous trouble for Duke, always chose the latter?
He ducked his head back inside. The innkeeper was near at hand still.
“Do you have a horse and rider available to deliver a message?” Duke asked.
The innkeeper shook his head. “Not at the moment, sir. I’m sorry for that.”
It had been worth asking, at least. He walked out into the innyard, Eve walking along beside him.
“Will your aunt and uncle be upset at their unexpected visitor?” Eve asked.
“Yes.” They had every right to be. “But they will make the best of it. Grandmother, of course, will cause everyone distress. She might even ruin the house party.”
“In that case, you have very little to worry about,” Eve said casually.
He eyed her with doubt.
“Don’t you see? If your grandmother ruins this gathering, Artemis will murder her. Problem solved.”
He smiled. He couldn’t help it. She lightened him when his mind was heavy and gave him reason for amusement when he was frustrated. He thought about her when they were apart, watched her when they were together, let himself imagine smiling and laughing with her, and, if fate smiled on him, eventually getting to kiss her again.
But first, he needed to bring her and her sister directly into what was destined to become a field of battle.
Chapter Fifteen
The prevailing wisdom of Societyindicated that receiving the cut direct was an experience to be avoided at all costs. However, as the carriage rolled along the tree-lined path toward Fairfield, Eve found she was enjoying the pointed silence from the eldest member of their traveling party.
Though the lady had steadfastly refused to say anything, Eve suspected Mrs. Seymour felt Duke ought to have remained in Epsom, delaying the remainder of his journey indefinitely. Or more likely still, he ought to have discarded his own wishes entirely and made immediately for Writtlestone. Somehow, he had managed to, once again, thwart his grandmother’s unreasonable demands without entirely offending her. It was magic how he could turn her unreasonable complaints into opportunities for flattering her and pleading with her to share her wisdom and bestow the gift of her company on the unworthy people fortunate enough to receive her. And he managed it with a straight face. Magic, without question; Eve could think of no other way to describe it.
Nia was still sleeping. That was more worrisome than Eve cared to admit. She and her sister had made countless carriage journeys over their lifetime. While Nia would sometimes slumber a bit during long legs of their travels, the amount of time she’d spent asleep during the last two days of this journey was not insignificant. Eve didn’t think Nia was pretending to sleep in order to avoid her seat companion. She seemed genuinely and deeply tired, more than could be accounted for by their work at the abandoned inn. The night before, she’d moved stiffly, struggling to undo her dress, no matter that it was one of the easiest to remove. She’d moved slowly and wearily as they’d prepared for the day’s journey that morning. Was she ill?
With that question weighing on her mind, Eve happened to meet Duke’s gaze. Somehow, he conveyed a question with only the slightest lift of his eyebrows. He wanted to know if something was the matter.
Eve offered the tiniest of smiles, an answer she hoped he could understand as easily as she had sorted his question. She was not in need of help or reassurance in that moment, but she was grateful that he’d offered.