Page 14 of Scandalized by My Prince
Chapter6
The journeyto Manchester was driving him insane. Somehow, the driver had taken a wrong turn and they ended up bypassing it altogether. Killian wasn’t entirely certain how that had happened… Aubriella had been talking to him before they left and the driver had this glazed look in his eyes. Had she said something to the drive to make him go the wrongdirection?
Killian scrubbed his hand over his face and sighed heavily. Every chance she’d found, Aubriella had tried to talk him into turning around and returning to Kingsbridge. He couldn’t explain to her why he was so adamantly against it. Then he’d have to explain who his true father was, and he hated even admitting that tohimself.
The carriage pulled in front of an inn called the Stallion and Snapdragon. Killian almost snorted at the name. The innuendo alone was enough to make him snicker, but he kept it to himself. They had to secure rooms for the night and then they could move on to Manchester in the morning. The gathering wasn’t to happen until thenanyway.
“Come, lass,” he said. “Let’s go inside and see if they have any availablelodging.”
Aubriella peeked out the window and laughed. “I think I’m going to likethisinn.”
He assumed she read the name of the inn and found as much amusement in it as he had. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her, but he held it in. Killian was still rather irritated with her, but wouldn’t admit that. He couldn’t prove she’d had anything to do with the driver’s misdirection, and he’d not outright accuse her of it withoutevidence.
Killian stepped out of the carriage and held his hand out to her. She placed her tiny fingers against his palm and stepped out. She tripped slightly and fell into his arms. He sucked in a breath at the feel of her small frame against his. He wrapped his arms around her instinctively, holding her inplace.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, a bit breathlessly. “I’m not usually soclumsy.”
He liked having her in his arms a little too much. Her softness meshed well with him, and he wanted nothing more than to take her inside and find the privacy to strip every inch of clothing off of her. When he had her alone, he could taste her skin and have her the way he’d beenimagining.
“No, worries, lass,” he reassured her. “I can take whatever you throw at me.” What he wanted to do was take her… He shook the thought away and set her on the ground. When she stepped out of his arms he missed her warmth immediately. “Come, let’s go inside and check out thisuniqueinn.”
Aubriella walked ahead of him and opened the door to go inside. Killian followed closely behind her. They were greeted immediately byaman.
“My lady,” he bowed. “My Lord, how may I be ofassistance?”
Killian didn’t correct him on his assumption that Aubriella was a lady. He didn’t want to impugn her name in anyway. In truth, he should never have allowed her to accompany him on this trip. They had no chaperone and her reputation would be in tatters if word ever spread of it. In his defense, Aubriella kept him on edge, and he reacted to her instead of using the brain he’d beenbornwith.
“We need a room for the night,” Killian said. “Do you have oneavailable?”
“Of course,” the man said. “If you come with me, I can register you andyourlady.”
Killian frowned and turned toward Aubriella. “Will you be all right while I seetothis?”
She nodded. “I’ll be fine. I’m going to go sit over at that table and order some tea. Find me whenyou’redone.”
He nodded and followed the man to register for a room. Killian was careful when he wrote in their names. He didn’t declare Aubriella his wife, but he didn’t say she wasn’t either. Instead of outright lying he omitted her name entirely and left it at that. The man didn’t question his omission. Perhaps he’d seen men with unwed ladies enough to know when to hold histongue.
“When it’s ready, I’ll have a serving girl show you to your room,” the man said. “If you like, you can rest on the tavern side of the inn and have a drink while you wait. Your lady has already made herself comfortable on thefemaleside.”
Killian stared back and forth between the two sides of the inn. The Stallion and Snapdragon did its best to separate the ladies from the gentleman. One side was as delicate as an inn could be, with all the frills necessary to entice a well-bred lady. The opposite side was loud, messy, and alcohol roamed freely. The men held nothing back and enjoyed the tavern side of the inn. There was an invisible line separating the two and each side’s inhabitants did their best to ignore what was going onacrossit.
Killian sighed and left Aubriella to her own devices. He needed a little separation from her, and a drink did sound good. He headed toward the bar and signaled thebartender.
“What can I getforyou?”
“Ale,”Killiansaid.
The bartender grabbed a mug and filled it to the brim, then handed it to Killian. “Let me know if you’ll be needing another.” He left to help another customer, leaving Killian to his own thoughts. Not long after that a gentleman sat next to him. He looked as ragged as Killian felt. His hair was mussed a bit and his eyes stared at everyone warily. He motioned to the bartender and ordered a drink of his own. The man took the glass the bartender offered and downed the amber liquid in one gulp, then motioned for the bartender to fill itagain.
“Having that good of a day?” Killianaskedhim.
The man turned to look at Killian with a questioning glance. He had the look of a man who’d been to hell and back. Something Killian could very well appreciate. Aubriella was enough to drive a man to drink. This man may very well be going through something similar. He couldn’t be certain until he conversed with him a bit. Something about him though made him believe they could be friends if given thechance.
“I’ve had better,” The man replied and motioned toward Killian’s tankard of ale. “No strong stuffforyou?”
“Can’t abide brandy,” Killian replied. He’d need to keep his mind about him if he were to deal with Aubriella later. “Ale is a better drink, but if I have to drink something harder, its whiskey for me. My lands border Scotland, and it’s easier to come by.” He shrugged. “Besides, I prefer a clear head, and it takes longer to imbibe a whole tankard.” He gestured toward Brandon’s empty glass. “You keep swallowing your drink that fast, someone will be carrying you outofhere.”
“That’s the truth,” he agreed, then he lifted his glass to his lips to take a sip. “I needed it though. After this one, I’m calling it anight.”
