Chapter Twenty-Six
“I still can’t quite believe we got out of London without our parents suspecting anything. Mind you, I am an excellent actor,” Edward said from the seat across from Liberty.
“I hate lying to them, but needs must. Do you think they will be safe, Edward?”
“They are traveling three hours to friends, where they will stay for four nights. They will be fine, Liberty,” her brother said.
Looking out the carriage window, she saw they were leaving the outskirts of London.
“Father didn’t like us going after that business with you being held up by highwaymen, but with a driver and another, both armed, he seemed happier. Plus, the carriage behind with yet another footman and two maids.”
“Yes, that appeased Father,” Liberty said.
“He likes you, you know,” Edward said, his voice hoarse from all the coughing he’d had to do to convince their parents he was indeed unwell. He unwound the scarf his mother had wrapped around his neck.
“Who?”
“Tobias.”
“No, he does not.” Liberty refused to acknowledge the thought that her brother’s words could be the truth.
“Yes, he does.”
“He hurt me, and I’m not forgiving him, and I have no wish to speak on this matter again,” Liberty said.
“All I’m saying is, ask him why he did what he did, because it’s likely after all this time he will tell you.”
She looked at her brother lounging on the seat across from her. Long legs rested beside Liberty.
“Why are you so willing to forgive him for hurting me?”
“I hate he hurt you. Never doubt that, Liberty, but I also know he’s a good man, and if he is the right man for you, then you need to forgive him if you can.”
Shocked, she looked at her brother. “Right man for me? How can you say such a thing? We don’t like each other.”
He raised his hands at her shriek. “I have seen the way you look at him, Liberty, just as I have seen the way he looks at you. There is more than dislike there.”
Her heart was suddenly thudding hard inside her chest at his words.
Her and Tobias? Surely it wasn’t possible, and yet hadn’t he kissed her, and hadn’t she wanted more?
When she’d learned he was hurt, Liberty’s fear was genuine.
There was also that odd feeling she got in her belly when she saw him.
Did she, in fact, care for Tobias deeply?
“Very well, I will speak on it no more,” her brother said, mistaking her silence for anger and not what it actually was. Shock.
Liberty looked out the window, her mind whirling, until they reached the location where the other carriages would be. As they halted, someone threw open the door, and there he stood—Lord Corbyn, his imposing presence filling the space. The man she now realized she no longer disliked.
“Good morning. I trust your chest inflammation is not causing you too much distress, Edward?”
“I am coping, thank you, Tobias,” her brother said with a cheeky smile.
“You are well, Lady Liberty?”
She nodded. “Thank you, yes.”
“Excellent, then let us be on our way while Florence is content and Barnaby does not need to get out and sniff every blade of grass before finding the perfect one to do his business.”
They stopped for lunch at an inn, and all were ready to get out of the carriages. Edward was a hopeless traveling companion, as he spent all his time sleeping, which left Liberty with too much time to think.
Would whoever had written that note to Tobias really come after them if they did not walk away from the investigation? To threaten a peer like that terrified her. Whomever it was must not fear the ramifications.
“My back feels broken,” Edward said when he’d opened the door and climbed out.
“Seeing as you are so old and infirm, do you mean?” Liberty took the hand he held out to her. “We have only been traveling for a few hours. God forbid we journey to Scotland one day.”
Her brother shuddered at the thought. “I have a ferocious hunger, so make haste, sister.”
Liberty watched Tobias lift Florence into his arms out of the carriage and keep her there. He received a smile from the girl, then a kiss on the cheek.
“Hello, Barnaby,” Edward said as the dog bounded up to them.
Liberty bent to scratch his ears and received a lick on the cheek for her troubles.
“There can’t be much leg room in there with the dog, two adults, and a child,” Edward said to Tobias, who stood with Florence’s nanny.
“We are coping admirably, aren’t we, Florence?” He jiggled her in his arms, and she giggled.
Liberty remembered then how gentle he’d been with his brother, Mathew. Had losing him been the first step in changing Tobias? One day she would ask him, Liberty vowed, but not now. Now they needed to get everyone safely to Bidham and find out what was going on there.
“How are you today, my lady?”
“Well thank you, Lord Stafford,” Liberty said as he moved to her side.
“I wonder as we are all in this together, and you and my best friend are close, that we should be on first name terms?”
“Well, as to that, we’re not close… not really,” Liberty felt she needed to clarify the connection.
He smiled down at her. She didn’t know this man well, as she didn’t know all of Tobias’s friends, but had a feeling she may have misjudged him as a rake and libertine also, when in fact there was a great deal more to him.
“I think you could be wrong there, my lady.” He waved a hand before him for her to enter the inn behind the others. “However, I’m sure that will work itself out, given time.”
“There is nothing to work out.”
“My friend is changing, and that is not all because of that sweet little girl in his arms. Some of it is due to your presence back in his life.”
“Oh no.” Liberty shook her head.
“Yes,” he said, and then walked inside the inn.
She followed, wondering if Lord Stafford’s words could be true.
Edward had Florence now in his arms and was wandering around, pointing out things to her that hung on the walls, when she entered.
“Your brother is a wonderful young man, Liberty,” a deep voice said from beside her.
“Yes, he is.” She walked away from Tobias then, and sat next to Lady Hamilton at a table, wanting some space between them.
There was little conversation as they ate, everyone just wanting to reach their destination safely.
“Liberty, would you mind switching places with Florence and Barnaby?” Edward said as they made their way back outside to the carriages. “She wants to read her favorite book with me, and Barnaby likes to hear the story too, I believe.”
“Absolutely not.” That would put her in the carriage with Tobias. “She can continue the journey with us, of course, but—”
“Which would leave Tobias traveling alone. That hardly seems fair,” Edward said.
She could read nothing in his eyes, but knew he was up to something. “Not alone. He would have the child’s maid.”
“The maid goes wherever the child does, sister.”
“No, Edward, and in this I will not be challenged.”
“There is no need to use that snooty tone with me.”
“There is every need, brother,” she whispered furiously. “You know how I feel about that man.”
“I thought there was a thawing,” Edward said calmly.
“No, Edward. End of story. Do not ask me again, and I do not take kindly to whatever this game is you are playing.”
“Problem?”
“No, Lord Corbyn. There is no problem.” Liberty walked to her carriage, and knew that in doing so, Edward would have no other choice but to follow.
Looking out the window and away from the door and the man who stood outside it chatting with her brother, Liberty focused on the trees.
Of course she didn’t see them, but pretended to.
How dared Edward attempt to put her alone with Tobias, especially as she was unwed.
Yes, there were questions she wanted to ask him, but if someone saw them together and her mother heard, there would be hell to pay.
The carriage dipped as her brother got in. She didn’t look at him, not wishing to get into an argument about his need to read a book to Florence. He was silent as they left the inn.
The countryside rolled on as far as the eye could see. In the distance, the land rose and fell in a series of hills and valleys. She enjoyed being out of London and back into the wide-open spaces.
“Edward, I have no wish to spend any time alone with Lord Corbyn.”
“Now that’s a shame.”
The deep words had her head whipping around. Beside her sat Tobias. Liberty’s mouth opened and closed, but she literally had no words.
“Take a breath, Liberty, before you speak.”
“You.” She jabbed a finger at him. “How dare you be in my carriage… alone with me.” He winced at her screeched words. “You had no right.”
“I just want to talk to you, Liberty.”
“No… no, no, no.” She rose to bang on the roof. Hands grabbed her and forced her down onto the seat opposite.
“Just listen to me. That’s all I ask of you.” His face was calm, but she saw in his eyes he was anything but.
“Don’t touch me!” She shook free of his grasp.
“Please, Liberty. Just hear what I have to say,” he said.
“This is wrong. If anyone were to see us—”
“Who will see us?” he demanded.
Liberty couldn’t overpower him, so she sat and crossed her arms.
“Speak then, and I will stop the carriage, and then we will once again ride as we were.”
He looked at her for long moments, and something made Liberty hold her breath. Was he going to tell her why he’d spoken to her that day as he had? Why he’d turned from their friendship? Now that was a possibility. She felt nervous. She’d held so much rage and pain inside her for Tobias.
“It took me only a few days before I realized that my life would be hell living within the walls of Blackwood House.”