Page 74 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
With her on his chest, the only place he desired her to be, with him, feeling her warmth and her heart beating in tandem with his, Moses blocked out the outside world where the reality of her being in danger did not exist.
This is peace…but how long can it last?
Chapter 27
The looks were eating at her. From the first stop they made a day ago, the inquisitive looks to blatant ogling were chafing Caroline’s spirit to the point that she now looked with dread at the doorway of inns, taverns, and pubs. It was a sad and stomach-clenching realization that some people did recognize the Duke, even this far from his dukedom. Caroline was beginning to believe that Moses’ expectation of privacy was only a fallacy.
She tried to deafen herself to the whispers, to blind herself from the harsh glares of women and the salacious looks of men that believed her to be a mistress, at best, or a prostitute at worst. Finally, they were just hours from their destination and happened upon their last inn.
“Ignore them,” Moses said, as they entered another inn and instantly, eyes of the few patrons were locked on them. She kept her head down but felt the move only enhanced the scrutiny directed to her.
Oh, how I wish this was over.
They had been on the road for two days and Moses had enacted some countermeasures she had not expected from a Duke. However, knowing he had been in the armed forces she could expect them from a military man. Moses had the carriage double-back two times to make sure they weren’t followed and had once taken a circuitous route to the town he needed to pass through.
He ushered her into a seat and gestured for a woman to come over. Dressed in a halfway presentable dress with a clean grey smock over it she stood beside them. Caroline was fleetingly grateful that her girth hid her from the peering public but knew it would be short-lived.
“Good day, how can I ‘elp you?”
“Three bowls of soup and the richest meats you have, please,” Moses replied, “My companion and I have been traveling long. Please see to it that my coachman has his portions, too.”
Once again, Caroline was subjected to the look and the fury, mixed with annoyance and worry, boiled over. Caroline snapped, “Do you lot have nothing to do than speculate why a man and a woman are traveling alone? There are more perilous things to ponder than wondering if I am his mistress. Have you no discretion or shame? Is the making of a scandal the only thing that occupies your immoral minds? I’m sorry, but I would rather starve than be fall prey to this ignominy.”
She was about to stand and storm out when the Duke reached out and took her hand. “Stay a while, Miss Robins.”
The woman had skittered back to the kitchens red-faced and uttering apologies over her shoulder. Caroline did not mind that but what she did mind was the humor laced in Moses’ eyes, even his lips were quirked up.
“How are you amused in this situation?” Caroline huffed, “They all take me for a…Covent garden nun!”
This time, instead of Moses smiling, he laughed outright. At first, Caroline did not know what to make of it but then, an absurd thought that he was laughing at her surfaced.
“My apologies,” she almost whispered. “That was out of place.”
To her mystification, the Duke laughed harder and she squirmed in her seat. “What?”
The Duke shook his head slightly, “All this time I have only known the calm and placid Miss Robins. I am absolutely delighted to know there is a fire under all that calm. You have many layers, Caroline, and I would be fulfilled to uncover them all.”
“Here you are, Your Grace and Miss,” the serving woman said as she settled bowls of warm soup and platters of beef cuts and rolls before them. She then twisted her hands in her apron, “Forgive me, Your Grace, it’s not usual for us to have nobles in our presence, much less with a fetching lady as your companion.”
“We accept your apology,” the Duke replied on behalf of Caroline, “May I have your name, Miss?”
“Miriam, Your Grace.”
“Well, Miriam,” Moses continued, “It would be a greater help if you did not say a word to anyone who might be asking after we are gone. Can you for that for me?”
“Oh yes, yes,” Miriam nodded, “Not a word is going to pass these lips, Your Grace, and I’ll make sure to tell everyone else, too.”
“Thank you, Miriam.” Moses said, “We’ll be on our way soon.”
As the woman left, Caroline sighed, “I am ashamed. My outburst was not warranted.”
“No, it was,” Moses corrected gently, “There is only so much prying a soul can take. Now, dig in, we only have a short way left to go.”
Happily, Caroline tucked into her meal and the taste of the soup evoked a pleasured hum from her.
The Duke did smirk this time. “Is that what it takes to get you to make that noise? I must get this receipt from Miriam.”
Huffing, Caroline rolled her eyes at him.
