Page 22 of An Honorable Arrangement
"Ian, is everything in order?"
"Yes, my lord. If the ladies will be ready soon, we can be at the Hearth and Home Inn before dark."
“Will you be wanting me to continue with you, my lord?” Brian's smile showed he was missing one bottom tooth, and the lines around his eyes gave an indication of a good-humored disposition.
“You have been a fine asset to me, Brian. If you wish it, you may continue to Sussex, and we might come to an agreement for you to join my household in London. Would that suit you?”
A wide grin spread across Brian’s ruddy face. “It would indeed, my lord.”
Ian gave him a good-hearted shove, and still smiling, Brian shoved back.
The journey had been nothing Monty expected, but a lot of good had come of it. “It’s decided then. We can discuss your wages when we reach London if you are satisfied with the daily rate we agreed to until then.”
Dragging his hat from his head, he worried it in his fists. “That would be very good, sir. Very good indeed.”
Sarah stepped from the front door.
Ian and Brain went back to work readying the horses and carriage.
Her blush at seeing him was enough to keep her in his heart for a lifetime, but the smile that followed made him her servant.
She went to the horse closest to her and petted his nose. "Mrs. Pratt will be ready soon. We broke our fast in our room, so if you have eaten, my lord, we can leave as soon as she arrives."
"Did you sleep well, Miss Sommers?" He patted the neck of the horse.
Her blush deepened, and he longed to touch her cheek to see if it was a warm as it looked. "It took me some time to find rest, but when I did, my sleep was deep. Thank you for asking. Did you sleep?"
"I'm afraid my thoughts kept me awake all night, and I fear they will not leave me during our journey today."
Mrs. Pratt stepped out of the inn. "Aren't we a merry party?"
All he needed was Sarah's smile, and he knew all was well. She might be embarrassed by the intimacy of the previous evening, but she didn't regret it. Monty stepped back and turned to Mrs. Pratt. "Good day, madam. I trust you are ready for our next adventure?"
With a jolly smile, Mrs. Pratt accepted his hand up into the carriage. "Indeed. I was so angry with Miss Sommers when she ran away, but now I've gotten to see the ocean, and we made a new friend in Captain Phillips. It all turned out as it should. Don't you agree, my lord?"
Sarah hadn’t pulled on her gloves yet, and even the small contact of his hand touching hers as she stepped into the carriage sent a thrill through him. "I agree it all turned out as it should." He turned to Ian who waited to put the step in and close the door. "Let’s see if we can't make it to Hearth and Home before dark as you suggest."
"Yes, my lord. It should be a fine time." Ian closed the door, waited for Brian to take the rear, and set a steady pace east.
So as not to overtax the horses, they didn’t try to rush, and Monty was happy for the time. Despite being under the watchful eye of Mrs. Pratt, he liked being in Sarah's company. They talked of politics and history. Her education was surprisingly thorough.
She said, "I think tomorrow we will read in the paper that Wellington will once again enter into politics. All the signs point in that direction."
"Are all young ladies so well informed?" He thought her right, but had no idea ladies cared for such matters.
"I suppose not," she said. "But I think it important to read more than just the gossip in the newspapers. I would be very surprised if he is not appointed master-general of the ordnance."
"Perhaps Lord Liverpool as well," Monty agreed.
"I expect he'll go even farther one day." She watched out the window as they drove through a small town.
A flurry of snow fell, but not enough to hinder them on their way. "Likely so. Mrs. Pratt, are you as keen on the state of government as your charge?"
Putting aside her sewing, Mrs. Pratt grinned. "I read the news, but no. I do not find much to excite me the way Miss Sommers does."
"I find it all quite fascinating. One day women will be able to vote, and I want to be informed." A fire burned bright inside Sarah.
Mrs. Pratt scoffed. "I think not in our lifetime, my dear."
