Page 12 of Boxing With My Duke
“Don’t give up hope. We will find them.” He regarded her for a moment. “I may not have another opportunity to say this, but…” He paused and cleared his throat. “I’ve appreciated getting to know you, Catherine. Considering our initial meeting, I’d never have predicted such an enjoyable journey.”
“Thank you,” she said, glancing down at the sleeping Riggs as the telltale heat suffused her cheeks. Carlton’s compliment filled her with a pleasurable warmth. “I, too, have enjoyed your company, something I never would have predicted either,” she added. “And thank you for helping me care for Riggs and the many stops along the way.”
“I’ll admit, Riggs easily wormed his way into my heart. He’s a valiant fellow, trying with all his might to walk and never complains when he must go out for his business.”
The carriage slowed and pulled onto a bumpy drive. “We’re here,” he said, tapping the ceiling. “I’ll organize our rooms and order our dinner. Do you have any preferences in case there are choices?”
“I’m generally not partial to mutton or boar but will eat it if it’s the only choice. Do you mind if I come along? I’m sorely in need of stretching my legs,” Catherine said, flexing her toes to return the feeling to them. Despite the lap blankets, she had been sitting so long they felt numb with cold.
He stepped out of the carriage and helped her down.
“This won’t be like the last time you stretched your legs, will it?” he said with a smirk.
She swatted him playfully. “No. Goodness! It looks busy.”
“I thought that myself,” he murmured.
The innkeeper and his wife greeted them warmly. “Welcome, Yer Grace. It’s been a long while since yer last visit,” said the short, ginger-haired man.
“Thank you, Mr. Bramble, Mrs. Bramble. It’s good to see you both looking so well,” Carlton said with a smile. “We’ll require accommodation for one night’s stay.”
“We’re pleased to have ye,” Mr. Bramble said, “But unfortunately, we have only one room available.”
Catherine’s heart began to thunder in her chest.
Only one room? But that meant that she and Carlton would be together. All night long.
“That is perfectly fine, isn’t it, my dear?” Carlton gave her a charming smile as he slipped his arm around her waist. “My wife and I will take it.”
“Ye’ve married? Congratulations! Did ye hear that, Martha? The duke has married! And a lovely lass, she is, Yer Grace,” Mr. Bramble said with a wink. “As it ’appens, the room we have left is our finest. It ’as a larger bed and a fireplace. Will that suit?” he asked.
“And I’ll be sure to bring up a nice hot bath for ye, Yer Grace,” Mrs. Bramble said with a curtsy directed at Catherine before bustling off to ready the room.
Carlton turned to Catherine, that dark brow arched in a challenge. Catherine pasted a smile on her face and leaned into his side. “That sounds wonderful, darling.” Two could play at this game.
Carlton turned back to the innkeeper. “Thank you, my good man. We shall take the room. Ah…but there is one more thing. Our dog was injured the day before we departed, and we simply could not leave him behind. He means a lot to my wife. May he stay with us?” Carlton placed a stack of coins on the counter.
The man gave them a broad smile as he scooped up the coins. “Usually, Mrs. Bramble does nae approve of animals in the rooms, but ye being newlyweds and all, I’m certain she’ll make an exception.”
“Excellent,” Carlton said, hugging Catherine close. “Most excellent.”
Catherine did not know how she would get through the night. Dozing off in the carriage across from the duke was one thing, but spending the night in the same room with him was going to be more nerve-wracking than dealing with cutthroat highwaymen!
“Welcome to Scotland, Richmond. I hear congratulations are in order.”
Carlton felt a hearty wallop on his back and turned to see Blake “The Bull” Baldwin, the Duke of Douglas, grinning at him from ear to ear.
Carlton had just escorted Catherine to their room and left to give her some privacy. He suddenly wished he’d stayed behind. Double damn! Running into Douglas made an already complicated situation ten times worse. “Douglas, it’s good to see you.” Carlton shook hands with his friend. At six-foot-five, Douglas was the same height as him but two stone heavier. No one, except him, dared to face The Bull in the ring unless they were completely foxed.
“Bramble just informed me that ye’ve recently married—and to a verra bonnie lass. I invite you to share a scotch and a cigar with me.” He thudded Carlton on the back again and handed him a cigar. “Aye! Mrs. Bramble mentioned you had just arrived with yer wife and took the room I just vacated. I just canna believe the Duke of Richmond is married. I thought if anyone would escape the wedding noose, it was you.” Waving to the innkeeper, Douglas ordered two Scotch whiskies. “And what is yer lovely duchess’s name?”
The two men each downed their whisky and Carlton glanced heavenward, mentally asking for forgiveness for what he was about to say. Then he turned to Douglas. “Catherine, formerly Lady Campbell, daughter of the late earl of Landon. It was rather a whirlwind courtship, so I would appreciate you not saying anything just yet. We plan on informing our families and having a reception in the near future.”
“Of course, of course. You have my word.” Douglas grinned. “Enjoy the honeymoon first, eh, Richmond? Tis verra wise of ye. From what I understand, she’s a beauty she is—tall for a woman with curves made for a man, if ye ken my meaning.” Douglas laughed as he puffed on his cigar.
Carlton felt a jolt of jealousy shoot through him. He’d never been jealous a day in his life. But for some reason, hearing Douglas talk about Catherine’s figure made him see red. Suppressing his anger, Carlton ordered them a second whisky out of courtesy, reminding himself that Douglas was just being Douglas. They’d been friends for years. Blunt and gregarious, the man had a good heart and would fight to the death for friends and family.
“I appreciate your discretion. Her Grace’s mother is in a bad way—still mourning the earl’s death and that of her eldest son. As I said, we plan on having a public ceremony and celebration when the countess is feeling better.” Carlton had always known Douglas to be a man of honesty and integrity. If he promised something, it would be much like the promises he carried out in the ring. You could count on it.
