Page 22 of Good Duke Gone Far

The horse huffed and started to follow her back to the main road.

This was going to be a long walk.

***

KAT WASN’T ABOUT TO make this a long walk. She was picking up the pace, finding a ride for them if she could. She did not want to be alone with Quinn for one more minute.

Muffin snorted beside her.

“Sorry, you don’t count, Muffin.”

“What’s that?” Quinn asked on the other side of the horse.

“Nothing. I was talking to Muffin.”

She plopped another treat into her mouth. Maybe that would prevent her from talking.

“May I have one?”

“That’s the last one. Sorry.”Not sorry. Her fingers curled around the last few treats. Nope. He was not getting one now.

It was just one kiss. She had to remind herself of her dream. Her goals in life. The man wasn’t even a duke. She was after a duke. She wanted to be able to do whatever she wanted in life. Yes, she had a nice–alright, somewhat life-changing– experience with Quinn, but that didn’t tie her to him forever. Women kissed men who didn’t end up being their husbands. Kissed and more. It happened all the time. Of course, it hadn’t happened to her yet. But this could be the first step in that direction. Yes. Excellent kiss. Excellent…more experience. But now she needed to focus on her mission. Figure out who the bloody Scottish duke was and why he was proposing to her sister, and figure out why the Bow Street runner hadn’t done his job in reporting that news to her parents. Then, marry a duke for herself. Finally, do whatever she wanted with her life.

After a few minutes of strong reassurances, long strides, and shortening breaths, Kat realized she couldn’t keep up the pace she had started. “Where are all the damn travelers? Does no one want to go to Scotland today? Or even travel North?”

Quinn chuckled and rubbed his ear. “It looks as though no one is traveling with us today.”

Kat sighed.

“By George, the village can’t be too far now.”

“I should hope not. This mud is awful.” Peering down, she took note of the hem of her dress. It was tattered and slathered with mud.

The threesome walked on in silence for a few minutes. Kat tossed another treat in her mouth.

“Are those treats called ‘The Last One’ or what?”

A smile tugged at the corner of her lips, but she schooled them into a straight line. She would not be moved by his clever wit. She had no retort for his question except to lift her chin in the air.

“There’s the village up ahead. I see the side road. Let’s pick up the pace, so we can arrive before evening.”

“I was only traveling at our current pace for your sake.”

Quinn coughed. “How very considerate of you.”

In short order, the three walked up to the village evidently besieged by travelers. Kat was heaving from both the physical exertion to keep up the pace, as well as the extenuating effort to hide said physical exertions.

“This place is overrun. We better hope we can rent a carriage and a driver. And if not, we better hope we can find room at the inn.”

Room at the inn?A tremble whirred up through Kat’s core. Stay the night? Alone? With this man? No, no, no. They had better find a carriage. And a driver. A fast one.

“Pick up the pace. Let’s go.”

There was no pace-picking up to be had at this point. Kat was dog-tired, but there was no chance in hell that she would show that weakness to Quinn.

“Muffin is not doing well. You go on ahead. Make the necessary arrangements. I’ll help Muffin get there.”

Quinn gave her a curious look but rushed off ahead. It was only a few hundred meters. She would be there soon. Nothing was going to happen in a few hundred meters.

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