Page 8 of Boxing With My Duke
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She heard a snort and turned her notice to the duke, who was trying to hold back his laughter. Her lips twitched, and she began to giggle. At that, Carlton threw back his head and howled with laughter. From the window, she heard Brandon, his footman, and Morris, the driver, laughing as well.
“If those miscreants don’t die of thirst, someone will bring a magistrate,” he said, wiping tears from his eyes. Tapping the ceiling of the carriage, they lurched forward once again.
Chapter 4
A day later ~ Somewhere between England and Scotland
“Carlton, how far are we from our stop?” Catherine asked. Her personal needs were calling, and she couldn’t sit still much longer.
“We’ve thwarted a highway robbery and traveled for over twenty-four hours—with three more days to go. If it’s all right with you, I wonder if we could take a short break and stretch our legs.”
“That makes sense,” he replied. “But there’s a small inn a few miles ahead. It’s clean, and the food is good. We’ll be stopping there for the night.”
This wasn’t going the way she needed it to go. Unfortunately, she needed to be more specific, or she would embarrass herself. Catherine cleared her throat. “I need to stop for the necessary. I can’t wait much longer.” She felt her face blush and thought her face must be as red as a ripe apple in October.
Carlton regarded her over the top of his book. “I’ll have the driver stop.” He lifted the shade and looked around. “Nothing but woods here. Is that suitable?”
She nodded. “I have no choice. Desperate times call for desperate measures.”
Carlton put down his book and tapped the ceiling with his cane, signaling a stop.
“We will be back shortly,” he told Morris as he helped her from the carriage. Taking a lantern from the front of the carriage, he handed it to her. “Use this to light the way and pay attention to where you walk.”
“I will, but you’re going with me all the way, are you?”
He regarded her with an arch of his brow. “I’m not planning to watch if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Fiddlesticks! The duke had every trap door and convenience imaginable. How could they forget something as important as a chamber pot? Stop it, Catherine, she scolded herself. She would not make a fuss. She was determined to get along with Carlton for the rest of the journey. Remembering her temperament of yesterday, she bit her lower lip and decided not to point it out. Besides, she needed him to stand guard.
They reached the edge of the road, and Carlton peered into the woods. “Looks to be as good a place as any.”
“Promise to wait for me?” she asked, nervously holding the lantern.
“Of course,” he assured her. “Just don’t drop your lantern.”
She gulped and slowly walked into the woods. “Carlton, talk to me. I need to gauge how far you are.”
“I’m where you left me at the edge of the road,” he replied.
“Then back up to the other side,” she replied. “Don’t let anyone else walk back here.” She found a small clearing behind a copse of trees with a small stream. Elated, she set the lantern down. Glancing around, she pulled up her dress and squatted. A sudden whimper made her jump back up. “Did you hear that?” she yelled.
“I heard nothing,” Carlton yelled back.
“It sounded like a dog whimpering,” she said, pleased he sounded far away but not too far away. She almost lost her balance when she realized Brandon and Morris could most likely hear them. Briefly, she wondered if Yates, the outrider, had joined them.
“A dog?” he pressed.
“You heard the whimper?”
“No, I didn’t hear a whimper. You did.”
His voice sounded suspiciously closer that time. Maybe too close. “Um, Carlton, could you please move back a few feet?”
“For the love of?—”
In the evening’s stillness, she heard the crunching of his feet moving farther away and relaxed. Her stomach had been cramping since the noon meal. This would not be a quick trip, she despaired.
