Page 73 of The Lady Was Lying
But it had.
He believed in her. Trusted her enough to make her feel safe. Cared for, even.
She settled back into the cushions, tension suddenly gone, and turned to the window, pulling aside the curtain.
They’d already left London behind.
Nothing but open space stretched beyond the carriage.
Could she allow his crazy plan to unfold?
Was a happy ending possible for her?
Chapter Fifteen
James was having a difficult time understanding what was happening. Or to be more precise, what wasn’t happening. Belinda seemed calm. Her color was normal, her body relaxed.
When she realized the full scope of his plan, he had expected a formidable reaction. He’d prepared for an explosion, and instead, she’d turned toward the window and fallen silent.
She hadn’t agreed.
Or disagreed.
It wasn’t necessarily a bad sign, but neither did it seem like a good sign.
The kidnapping itself had gone off without a hitch. Smoother than he’d dared to envision. She hadn’t fought him, and she hadn’t demanded they turn around. Not even now that she comprehended his intentions.
As he watched her stare out the window, he couldn’t fully relax because he couldn’t read what was transpiring behind those inscrutable green eyes of hers.
He wanted to keep conversing until he knew every thought inside her head. But he’d given her a shock. Multiple shocks, really, and it seemed smarter to give her a chance to process what he’d done than force her to discuss it. While he waited, he clung to the hope that she was considering his plan.
It was true that their courtship had been unconventional. Not even a courtship by normal standards. Half of society was convinced he was courting her sister, and on the outings they’d shared, Belinda had acted more chaperone than potential wife. He hadn’t sent her flowers or done anything else a normal beau would do, but even though their relationship was atypical, he was nearly certain he understood her and what she needed from him.
Meeting under the cover of darkness.
Sharing private conversations.
Sneaking kisses.
Watching her interact with her family.
Kidnapping had been a calculated gamble, and taking the risk would be worth it if he got a lifetime with her.
He would have a partner.
A wife.
Someone to hold his hand, stand at his side, and love him for the rest of this life.
“We’re spending the night here,” Belinda said when the carriage came to a halt outside the inn where they were supposed to change horses. She’d been quiet for so long that the sun had dropped low in the sky. The silence had been unnerving, and he’d been perilously close to begging her to talk to him before they’d started to slow.
“What?”
“I expect to be indisputably compromised by the time my brothers find us,” she said. Then, without another word, she climbed out and disappeared into the inn.
It took a moment for James to recover his wits. Once he did, he almost stumbled in his haste to follow her. Quickly regaining his footing, he straightened his hat and then slipped quietly through the door in time to hear the innkeeper say, “Of course, miss.”
“Your Grace,” she corrected, as if she were already the Duchess of Avondale rather than a victim of kidnapping. Even though he knew he was making assumptions, it was impossible for James to ignore the satisfaction those two simple words brought him. Surely, she would only lie about who she was if she intended to allow his plan to unfold.
