Chapter Eight #2
She also wasn’t used to relying on a servant since they did not have any at home.
She finally rose just before five and prepared for her journey, then made certain that her clothing was packed before she made her way downstairs and set her valise and satchel by the front door.
She next wandered into the parlor to wait for Damian, surprised to find him already present, along with Lord Wyndham.
“I was told that the English did not rise so early to break their fast.” That information had come to her by the various students attending the art and architectural school in Carrera.
“For most of the gentry, that is likely true,” Damian answered.
“However, I have an import-and-export business to run and am often up with the sun and would soon be off to the Trade Wynd office if I were not traveling to London.” He then smirked at his brother.
“Though I have no idea why the earl must rise so early, given his pampered status.”
Wyndham snorted. “I am quite certain that if I were to lie about in bed so late in the day when work needed to be done, Father would likely return to haunt me.”
“Rest is for the infirm or dead,” Damian explained.
She was rather glad that she had not met their father if he was so stern.
Yes, she rose early to bake bread because it was the profession, but she also had some time that was free to do as she wished in the afternoons after they closed.
Were the sons ever allowed leisure time or could they simply not sleep late in the morning?
It was a question she did not ask because she was anxious to be on her way. “Shall we return to town?” she asked.
“Not until we have broken our fast,” Damian answered.
Georgie slipped her pocket watch from inside of her satchel to check the time. “How long will it take to get there?”
“Less than half an hour.”
“That leaves us little time to eat.”
“We will still be early. I promise.”
“Early is on time,” Sterling grumbled. “Another rule we were raised with. I do not think Damian has ever been late to anything.”
“Yes, well, I would rather today not be the first time,” she informed them. Why couldn’t they just leave and be waiting when it was time to board the mail coach? What if it left early and without them?
“Breakfast has been placed,” a footman announced.
The idea of another hot meal did make her mouth water, so she reluctantly followed Damian and Lord Wyndham into the dining room where eggs, meats, and bread were placed on the sideboard. She added food to her plate then took a seat and began to eat while the footman pored her a cup of tea.
She did not waste time talking as she really wanted to be on her way, except Damian had no concerns.
In fact, he still had food on his plate when she had finished eating.
She checked the time again and realized that they had only an hour, which did not seem sufficient enough to her.
Well, she was not going to wait on him and would walk into Southampton if she must and hope that she still arrived on time.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Wyndham and please thank your wife,” she said as she rose from her seat.
“Where are you going?” Damian demanded.
“In case you have forgotten, we need to board a mail coach for London and I am not going to risk arriving too late.”
“We will be early,” he ground out.
“I would like to leave now to make certain that is the case.” She turned to march out of the dining room. “You may come with me or you may remain here.”
“We do have time.”
“You clearly do not understand the urgency of the situation.”
“Nor will it hurry the mail coach. It will leave at the time scheduled and not before.”
“Well, I am leaving now.”
“No, you are not.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Are you always so bloody stubborn?” he nearly yelled.
“Are you always so argumentative?” she returned.
“I sympathize with the passengers who will be sharing a mail coach with those two,” Sterling whispered to Lady Wyndham, who had just come down the stairs, but not so quiet that she hadn’t heard.
“You are the ones who insist Damian accompany me,” Georgie reminded them, her irritation growing. This really was their fault. If they had simply let her be on her way, they’d not be having this argument.
Why was she still here?
With that thought, she turned and once again marched for the door.
“Have my valise retrieved from above so that we might leave,” Damian barked to the footman, though it was clear his irritation was at her, but Georgie didn’t care. She was on edge. She was worried, and she still had twelve hours before she found her sister, if she managed to find her so quickly.
Georgie didn’t bother to hide her impatience and stood in the entry with her arms crossed over her breasts and tapped her toe as she waited for the footman to return with Damian’s valise.
She could almost hear the seconds tick by, even though she knew that it was impossible, yet that hardly settled her agitation.
“Your valise, sir,” the footman said after he returned downstairs and handed it to Damian.
Georgie did not wait for another excuse and made certain that her satchel was secure over her shoulder, picked up her valise, left the manor, and marched to the waiting carriage.
She did not bother to look back to make certain that Damian followed.
She simply entered and if he did not join her quickly enough, she would order the driver to leave.
He entered not long after her and pulled the door closed. A moment later, the carriage jerked and then drove down the drive.
While Damian glared at her, Georgie ran her hand across the plush seat. The carriage was certainly fine and spoke to their wealth. She also knew that traveling in a mail coach would likely not be nearly as comfortable. However, it was still better than walking.
“What is your middle name?”
She blinked in confusion at Damian’s random question.
“Why?”
“I would like to know.”
“It is Lucia,” she answered to which he nodded before he looked out the window to the passing scenery.
“What is yours?”
“Robert,” he answered without looking at her.
Why did it even matter?
Georgie blew out a sigh and gazed out the opposite window, noting that they were entering the town as buildings began to appear.
Damian knocked on the roof of the carriage and the driver pulled off the road. Georgie strained to determine which of the buildings was the Star Hotel after he had assisted her from the carriage as the driver placed the valises and her satchel beside them.
“We will walk the rest of the way”
Georgie lifted her satchel and placed it over her shoulder to carry it across and in front of her body as she had done before. “Where is the Star Hotel?” There was no building with that name.
“The hotel is only another street over,” he answered. “If anyone were to see the crest on my brother’s carriage, it would draw attention.” He then pulled his hat down so that it shadowed most of his face, then picked up the valises and started walking with Georgie by his side.
At least he wasn’t striding ahead as he had done when they’d gone to the dry dock and she wasn’t forced to practically run to keep up with him.
“We will be traveling as Robert and Lucy…George.” He smiled.
“Why those names?”
“Because if everyone believes you are my wife, they will leave you alone.”
She wanted to object, but it would be safer. And it was only for the time that they were on the mail coach. “Very well, Robert.
At least now she knew why he wanted to know her middle name.
“It also grants me permission to draw you close, if necessary or put my hand at the middle of your back to shield you, if you are in agreement.”
“I have no objection.” In fact, she would not mind at all.
Georgie blinked and glanced up at him from the corner of her eye.
She should mind, he was practically a stranger, yet she did not. Not at all.
“Good.” He gave a brisk nod.
“But what if you are recognized for who you are?”
They were in the same town where he lived. Certainly, most of the residents were not strangers
“I do not anticipate that to be the case, but if I am, I will consider other options so that everyone knows that I am your protector.”
She snorted. “Claim me as your mistress then?”