Page 38 of A Courtesan Countess Worth the Scandal
“Shall I find an inn where we may take shelter and rest properly?” he suggested, breaking the silence between them.
She raised her head abruptly, as though she had just remembered that he was there. “Oh… um… do you feel as though you need to take respite here?” She patted her satchel. “I was rather hoping, if possible, that we could carry on to Northcrop, if you are still willing?”
“I am, but I am concerned about your leg,” he replied, trying not to look at the site that his fingertips had touched last night. He had endured enough trouble trying to forget that delicate, soft skin as he fell asleep.
She laughed. “You shouldn’t even be thinking of my leg, you bounder.”
“I did not mean… I meant nothing… I am concerned from a medicinal perspective!” he protested, his cheeks flushing with heat as he realized, once again, that she was only teasing him. “You really do have a rather unreadable face, Miss Nora. I imagine I could know you for years and never truly understand when you are jesting or not.”
Her smile widened into a grin. “That’s what my Ma says. I’ve grown so used to acting a certain way that, sometimes, my face doesn’t even do what I want it to. I can be smiling when I’m distraught, and my Ma starts crying out that I’ve lost my mind.”
“I can imagine that would be incredibly unnerving,” he agreed, as his cheeks cooled in the biting nip of the snow-laden wind.
“In answer to your concerns, I am more than well enough to continue on to Northcrop. If I require assistance there, I’ll find a physician, so you don’t have to worry about my wounded thigh anymore,” she promised, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
He was not sure whether to believe her, considering the solemn state of quiet she had been in on their walk, and the strange comment she had made to him about her heart. Perhaps, a fever had already come upon her, making her delirious. The problem was, he could not check the temperature of her forehead without having to touch her again.
“Are you absolutely certain? You do not feel unsteady or anything of that ilk?” he pressed, not wanting her to put herself through any undue strain. It was not every woman who could suffer a violent attack that had almost seen her brutalized, suffer through freezing climes with a wound in her thigh, and continue to be sound of mind.
“I have overcome much worse,” she assured, as they reached the perimeter of the village.
It was a small, quaint settlement, with a brook babbling beneath the bridge they had to cross to gain entry. Thatched houses sat shrouded in snow, while smoke billowed from chimneys, and the occasional villager trudged through the streets to reach the warmth of home.
“It’s beautiful here.” Nora stopped and gazed upon the village, her eyes shining. “I often wondered if I would fare better in the countryside, but I could never convince my Ma to move away from London.” She put on a strong, common accent. “I were born in this ‘ere city and I’ll bloody well die here an’ all. No countryside is goin’ to soften me up.”
Liam laughed. “Is that what she sounds like?”
“Only when she’s particularly angry or has imbibed a bit too much brandy.” Nora grinned back at him as they continued on through the village, looking for an inn where they might find a carriage or, at least, horses.
I doubt I shall ever see my thoroughbred again.
He was sorry for the loss of the beast, but he did not lament it too greatly, for there were gentler creatures out there who would not fight so fervently for control. Nor did he have much reason to ride in London, and he did not plan on visiting Keswick Manor very often if he could help it, so the loss was merely a financial one.
At last, they came to what Liam hoped was an inn, though it looked rather like the rest of the dainty cottages and houses that surrounded it. The only difference was the wooden sign swinging over the wooden door, that said ‘The Green Dragon’.
Nora entered first, with Liam following after.
Inside, the inn was all but empty, with a couple of grizzled men huddled by the hearth. Liam did not blame them, for if there had been a spare seat, he would have ushered Nora there immediately. In fact, he had half a mind to march over there and demand that they vacate one of the chairs for the young lady.
“Miss!” one of them called suddenly, getting out of the chair. “Come and take the chill out yer bones. Ye look frozen already.”
It seemed chivalry was not dead in this part of the country, which pleased Liam. Especially as it meant he would not have to get into any sort of altercation to make them give up their fireside vigil.
Nora smiled. “Why, thank you. I thought I was going to have to flash an ankle to get you to offer me a seat.”
She walked over to the proffered chair as the two fellows erupted in bawdy laughter, which only served to convince Liam that he was the only person who could not tell when Nora was joking.
“Does yer Husband want to sit with ye?” the other man said, gesturing to Liam.
Nora chuckled. “That’s very generous of you, Sirs, but he’s been riding for hours and wouldn’t be able to sit down even if he wanted to.”
The two men exploded with renewed guffaws, while Liam tried not to let his mortification show as he walked toward the proprietor. The plump, ruddy-cheeked woman stood behind a long, wooden bar, wiping some tin tankards with a rag.
“Excuse me, would you happen to know where we might acquire a carriage or, perhaps, two horses?” Liam asked directly.
The proprietor eyed him. “Aye, we’ve got horses around the back. We’ll saddle two up for ye, so long as ye bring ‘em back when ye’re done. But I can’t say I’ve got anythin’ in the way of a carriage or a cart.”
“The horses will be more than enough, thank you.” Liam bowed his head in gratitude.
