Chapter 12
Isabelle had never been more tired or hungry.
They’d stopped only to change out the horses and the journey that should have taken six days was two-thirds over in three.
One more day and they’d reach the border.
But if she didn’t get out soon, she might scream. Her legs were cramped, she’d hardly slept, and they’d barely had a crust of bread. They’d left so quickly that they’d not brought food while they’d been racing across the north of England.
Bode said little, his eyes fixed out the back of the carriage.
Was he upset with her? With the situation? Regretting anything he’d done? She winced at the thought.
The driver thumped on the front wall of the carriage as the vehicle slowed.
Bode rose from the bench, swinging the door open and standing, his bottom half in the vehicle, his top half out. “What is it?”
Mister Wiggins answered. “I’ve got to change the horses again.” He sounded just as tired as she felt, Isabelle could hear it.
Bode grimaced. “Where are we?”
“Border of Cumberland,” Wiggins answered.
“Cumberland,” Bode repeated quietly.
“What does that mean?” she asked, leaning over to touch his calf.
“Upton’s in Cumberland,” he dipped down as he answered. “I told you all the reasons we ought not to stop but tired as we are…”
Makem would be seven times the fool to attack a duke. Not that she trusted the man to have any sense. “Is it out of our way?”
“No,” Bode answered, “We have to cut west at some point.”
She let out a long breath. “I say we stop. Sleep somewhere uninterrupted. I think we could all use that.”
Bode nodded and then leaned back out to speak with the driver. “We’ll change the horses as quick as we can, grab a crust of bread, and make the final push. I’ll drive the carriage.”
“Ye will not,” the other man answered. “We’ll stop at the next village to fuel up. I’ve been to Upton’s before, I know the way.”
“I’m sure you have.” Bode swung back in, letting out a long breath as he returned to his seat next to her.
She curled into his side, relief alone making her feel a bit better.
He wrapped his arm about her, kissing the top of her head. “Rest will be good, and a bath will be?—”
“Divine,” she answered with a sigh.
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “That might not be the word I chose to use but I think it’s a good one. Divine.”
“Think he has a tub big enough for both of us?” she said as she wrapped an arm about his waist. Bode stiffened under her touch. Clearly, she pushed too far.
“We’ll likely be in separate rooms. You’ll be safe there, there is no need for us to share.”
She lifted her head, hurt making her throat clog. “I like sleeping next to you.”
“Upton is a duke. When all this is done, he could help you find a proper husband.”
She sat up then. “I already told you. I don’t care about proper. I want the best, and that is very different.”
He stared at her, his face an unreadable mask in the dark. “The best?”
She drew in a ragged breath, knowing what she risked. “Honorable and brave.”
He shook his head. “I’m not.”
“A man who truly understands the dangers of the world. Not like my father who put me in this situation to begin with.”
He sat up too, his hand cupping her cheek. “You might be the smartest person I know.”
Those words caught her off guard. “What?”
“Every time you start talking, you rewrite what I’ve thought true for ages. I never considered that I might be a better protector for all my experience.”
She shook her head, leaning against him as she tilted her face up to his. “What can I say to convince you that I don’t want another man…I only want you?”
“You want me?” He wrapped her in those strong arms. “All of the time? Not just now?”
Isabelle knew she was taking a risk. He had his own past he was working through, and he might just not want her.
But she didn’t regret the words. In fact, she had a great deal more to say.
“Mister Armstrong,” the driver called. “Village up ahead.”
“Excellent,” Bode replied, pushing up from the seat as he turned to Isabelle. “Since we’re so close to Upton, I’m going to risk getting us food while the driver changes out the horses.”
“I can do it,” she said, knowing all his reasons for remaining hidden.
He shook his head. “You’ll stay with Mr. Wiggins. If something happens, you get in this carriage and you make for Upton.”
“What about you?” she gasped, the blood rushing in her ears. He wasn’t leaving her, was he?
He touched her cheek. “I’m sure I’ll be going with you. This is just the plan in case the worst happens. Understand?”
She jerked her chin in acceptance but her heart thudded painfully in her chest. She’d offered her life to him, and in return, he’d told her to go on without him.
* * *
Bode swung out of the carriage, rushing to the inn next door. He still kept his hat low, but the innkeeper would see him, remember his face. There was nothing to be done for it. Isabelle needed to eat.
The man bustled about the busy room, even as Bode raised a finger. His height alone drew attention, and then there was the breadth of his shoulders. He didn’t need to make eye contact to intimidate.
Still, he felt the man hesitate when he caught sight of Bode’s face. “May I help you?”
“Bread and cheese for three, good man,” he said, handing over the kitchen cloth he already possessed. “We’re in a rush.”
The innkeeper eyed him warily as Bode pulled out a coin, pressing it into the other man’s hand.
With a nod, the man bustled off and quickly returned with the requested supplies. “I’ve added few apples as well.” The man tossed them to Bode. “They’re a bit woody but…”
“They’re excellent. Thank you, sir.” He quickly wrapped the goods, and headed back out of the inn.
Isabelle stood next to the driver just outside the barn, the horses nearly changed out.
He broke off a hunk of bread and handed it to Isabelle and then another to Wiggins, saving the last for himself before he did the same with the cheese.
The three ate in silence as he handed Isabelle one of the apples. “You need your strength.”
“It’s not my strength that will carry us through,” she answered quietly, not meeting his gaze.
Had he upset her? Did she not like the food? The plan?
He dropped his hand holding the bread lower, assessing her. She’d made some powerful statements before they’d stopped. Words that had been swirling in his head. Did she regret them?
“Have you changed your mind?” he asked, leaning close to her ear.
“About?” She took a bite of her apple, still not meeting his eyes.
“A future with me?” He’d gone from thinking he should stay away to worrying about her rejection. If she turned away now…
Her eyes rose to his. “It’s not my mind that has been in doubt. It’s yours.”
His brows drew together before his eyes widened. He had been clear about his first position. He’d remain unattached.
But had he told her that she was changing his mind? That with every hour that passed she claimed more of his heart and soul?
The thunderous sound of several horses filled the night and both their heads lifted to the sound. “In the carriage,” he rumbled.
Isabelle started forward without question, Wiggins tossing the rest of his bread aside, as he jumped into the seat.
Bode reached for Isabelle’s waist, lifting her up and in as he quickly followed. “Let’s go,” he bit out, slamming the door shut.
Wiggins snapped the reins, the carriage jumping forward. Bode spun into a crouch, staring out the back window. Did the men stop? Did they follow?
His teeth snapped together, as his eyes locked with Rory Makem’s. “Wiggins,” he bellowed. “Make haste!”
Wiggins snapped the reins again, the carriage gaining speed. The men on horseback kicked up after them and Bode knew they’d be in a sprint to Upton’s.
“What’s wrong?” Isabelle cried as she turned to look out the window and then cried again. “It’s him.”
Bode didn’t answer as he pulled his pistols from his belt. “Ever load a gun before?”
“Yes,” she said with a nod.
He stopped for a moment, his incredulity surely showing on his face. “You have?”
She shrugged. “I hunted with my father in the country. Have a musket?”
He pointed at the bench. “I don’t want you shooting. In fact, crouch between the seats. But if you can, load my guns in between shots.”
“Of course,” she said, doing as he instructed and sitting on the floor between the two benches. She lifted the other seat and pulled out the musket powder and lead. Then, she began to prep the gun.
“You never fail to amaze me,” he said, touching her cheek. The men were gaining upon them, and he only had a few more minutes before the fight would begin.
He realized touching her like this might be the last time, he wanted to share everything he felt with a single brush to her cheek.
“And I have every confidence in you,” she said with a smile.
It was the smile that did it. He leaned down, giving her a fierce kiss. “I swear I’ll keep you safe.”
She kissed him back, her lips lingering on his, her mouth drinking from him as though she were parched.
When he finally withdrew, she brushed her thumb over one of his scars. “I know you will.”
He could hear the hoofbeats growing louder. “Stay down,” he ordered and then he threw open the door and leveled the pistol at one of the riders.