Page 45 of The Miracle of Love
“No, you are my priority. I’ll take care of them after I see you safely inside.”
“But–”
“You first, Grace. You are too cold. I’m sorry, love. I pushed you too hard.”
“No, our journey is important. This coaching inn is so far off the main road, I’m sure we’ll be safe here.”
“It only feels far because we had to pick our way so cautiously to it. What took us twenty minutes in the dark would not have taken more than a minute or two in daylight. But, yes. We will be safe here. No one is going to find us this far outside of London.”
A visible trail of vapor blew from his lips as he sighed. “I should have taken it easier on you and stopped sooner. Those foreign agents won’t realize we are missing for hours yet. Perhaps it will take them days to realize we are gone.”
“But once they do, what then?”
“Nothing. They won’t know where to begin searching for us.” He rang the bell again, giving it a solid clang. “You’ll like The Blue Moon Inn. It is quite cozy, assuming we ever get inside.”
“You’ve stayed here before?”
“Yes.”
“With other women?”
He arched an eyebrow. “No. You are the first I’ve brought here. The first and only who will share my bed.”
She gasped. “We are going to share a bed?”
“Yes, quite likely. They’ll grow suspicious if they notice my pallet on the floor. We cannot risk it. By the way, they happen to know me here as Captain Adam Driscoll.”
“I see. How convenient.”
“It is, fortunately for us. Promise not to flinch when I sign us in as husband and wife. We are newlyweds. They’ll probably make a fuss because until now, they’ve only known me as a bachelor. But you and I are married and there is no negotiation on this point.”
“Understood.”
“And another thing, look away while I speak to the innkeeper. You are the worst liar on the face of this earth. I do not need them kicking us out because you cannot keep a straight face or keep our names straight in your head. They like me, but it is a reputable establishment and they will not accommodate us if the innkeeper’s wife believes you are a…how shall I phrase it politely? If she is convinced I have brought you along merely for a night of…paid pleasure.”
“The gall! They’ll know at once I am respectable. First of all, I would have to be incredibly stupid or desperate to agree to be led to this isolated location on a night like this. It would take a king’s ransom to entice me.”
“You would be surprised just how desperate some women are. But we are off the point I am trying to make which is that we need to convince everyone we are married. No jest. This is important. Remember the name Driscoll. Adam Driscoll. Captain in the Royal Navy. Don’t botch the plan.”
“Your confidence in me is heartwarming.”
“And your lack of attention is worrisome. I know you are exhausted, but try to concentrate. Who am I?”
She sighed. “Even if they suspect we are not married, I’m sure you can talk them into giving us a room. You are quite persuasive when you want to be. Or we can ask for separate quarters.”
“No, you stay with me at all times. Just try not to give us away, all right?” He rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “Come on, Grace. Who am I?”
“Captain Lambert…I mean, Collins. No, Driscoll.”
“Grace!”
“It is a jest. I remember what you told me. Captain Adam Driscoll.”
“You are going to give me an attack of the heart. Don’t play games. You are not a practiced liar. You are already terrible at it and it is very easy to make a mistake.”
“Yes, George. I mean, Deklan. I mean, Adam.”
“Stop playing games, Grace. Remember we are on an important mission. This is why I always like to work alone. Then I never have to deal with smart-mouthed chits like you.”
