Chapter 14 #2
Sunny’s breath quickened, and he returned her smile.
He put his hands in hers and allowed her to help him to his feet.
He would have enjoyed nothing more than to stand together, holding hands, and smiling at each other, gazing into each other’s eyes.
But he had taken on the responsibility to help her find her missing child.
He pulled away and went to the fire to collect his now dry effects and place them into the bandbox.
Mantheria did the same and even folded the borrowed nightgown—or attempted to, at least. The woman he loved was obviously not used to menial housekeeping tasks, for her folding looked very bumpy and uneven.
He took her bandbox and stacked it on his own before opening the door for her.
They walked down the dark, narrow hall to the stairs and the taproom. Another place that he’d never expected to see his proper duchess. They were met in the middle of the room by the proprietress.
Mantheria handed the woman the borrowed nightdress. “Thank you for your kindness, ma’am. Has Nick been able to go to Timsbury Manor yet this morning?”
“Aye, he has and is back again. A young master Noman was seen by Barney Potts when he was herding the sheep. Barney let the boy travel with him and then took him to the vicar’s house when it started to rain.
He recognized the lad’s tattered coat was quality, he did.
Even though it was missing two silver buttons.
Then Barney returned to his own farm with the sheep.
Your son is in good hands with Mr. Terrence. ”
Sunny stepped closer to the woman. “How close is the rectory from here?”
“Not a half mile.”
“Can you have our mounts saddled at once and we can settle our bill here?” Mantheria asked eagerly.
“What about your breakfast, Your Graces?” the proprietress asked.
Sunny worried that Mantheria would tell the woman that they did not require any sustenance. His stomach grumbled loudly in protest. He watched her glance out the front windows at the muddy road. His dirty boots were not going to look any better today than they had yesterday.
“Perhaps some coffee and gruel. If they are readily available.”
“I’ll fetch them myself, once I talk to the ostlers about getting your horses ready to go with your things.” The woman took the bandboxes and walked away quickly in the direction of the stables.
Sunny pulled out a chair at the nearest table for Mantheria.
She raised her eyebrows as she sat down.
The small round table was clean, but there was no tablecloth on it.
As he took a seat next to her, Sunny realized how out of place Mantheria seemed in a taproom, even with her mud-splattered dress.
There was something about her that spoke to her confidence and quality. Something intangible.
Mantheria waggled her eyebrows at him. “You thought I was going to make you leave without your breakfast.”
“I did fear that,” Sunny said, unable to keep back a chuckle at her playful eyebrow movement. His blood warmed that she knew him so well. “But I do not wish to slow you down in your search for your son.”
She reached her hand across the table and took his. “You couldn’t. You have been my strength and support throughout this entire ordeal. In fact, you’ve comported yourself so impressively that Andrew and I might take you on our next adventure.”
“Can that adventure please include servants and fresh clothing?”
Mantheria smiled at his sally. “What sort of an adventure is that?”
“The comfortable kind.”
She laughed, and he joined in with her mirth.
Sunny could almost imagine Andrew sitting at the table with them like a little family.
They would all laugh together about their adventures—or rather misadventures.
He’d never really pictured a child in his many imaginings of being with Mantheria, but she came with a son.
And he found himself warming to the thought of having an instant family.
All his life, he had wanted one, and despite having a mother, he’d always felt alone.
The proprietress brought two steaming mugs of coffee to their table and two large bowls of gruel.
Sunny wasn’t particularly fond of oatmeal slop, but he was hungry enough not to care.
The strong coffee helped to wash it down.
Across the table, he watched Mantheria drink tentatively from her mug and wrinkled her nose as if she did not care for the taste.
“Not used to coffee?”
She shook her head. “Only hot chocolate. This bean concoction of yours is vile. It’s like drinking dirt.”
Sunny gulped down the rest of the hot liquid in his own glass. “It might taste vile, but you’ll be glad of the energy it gives you on our ride this morning.”
Mantheria wrinkled her nose again, looking adorable and doubtful as she took another sip.
Sunny had to laugh once more at the expression of disgust on her face.
He could have gazed at her lovely features all day, but as his stomach reminded him, he needed to eat while he could.
Mantheria would not wait for him much longer.
He spooned in the gruel as quickly as he was able to swallow it.
Then he stood up and used the remainder of the coins he had on hand to pay their shot at the inn and a little something extra for Nick, who had so kindly ridden to the manor to seek out information about Andrew.
Hatless and with her hair down in a braid, Mantheria waited for Sunny to help her onto her rented horse.
For the first time, she looked as if she might be an adventuress.
And she didn’t flinch when he touched her waist, nor when he hoisted her into the air.
Sunny hoped that it was a sign that she was trusting him more.
He swung up into the saddle of his own horse.
The proprietress pointed down the road. “St. Mary’s Church is just that way, and you’ll find the rectory on the other side of the cemetery.”
Sunny thanked the woman again and turned to see that Mantheria had already urged her horse in the direction of the church. She waited on no man. A smile growing on his lips, he followed her.