Page 37 of Trapped with a Wicked Duke
William and Cassian dismounted from their horses and tied them to the hitching post outside the old stone tavern. The sky was a deep grey, and a light rain was falling, making the cobblestone street slick underfoot. The tavern was a small, low-ceilinged building, its stone walls covered in a layer of moss and lichen.
As they stepped inside, the warm glow of lanterns and the sound of boisterous laughter greeted them. The room was filled with men of all ages, dressed in rough, weather-worn clothing, gathered around the fire and the bar. The air was thick with the smell of peat smoke, damp wool, and ale.
William and Cassian made their way to a small table near the fire, nodding to the patrons as they passed. They took their seats and signaled for the barkeep, who approached with a friendly smile.
"What can I get for ye, lads?" he asked in a thick Scottish brogue.
"Two ales, if you please," William replied, rubbing his hands together to warm them.
The barkeep returned shortly after with two mugs of frothy ale, which the brothers eagerly accepted. They leaned back in their chairs, sipping their drinks and taking in their surroundings.
"What a wasted journey," Cassian said, scowling as he hunched over his ale.
"Rose lied to Mother when she said she was staying with Aunt Matilde." William drank his ale down in one gulp and set his tankard down with a thump. "We'll go to London. It makes the most sense."
The barkeep picked up his tankard. "Do ye want another?"
William shook his head. "No. We need to find lodging. Is there any here in the village?"
"Nay, ye won't find any lodgin' for at least a day's ride from here," the barkeep said with a chuckle. "But ye and yer horses are welcome to bed down in the stable for the night, if ye'd like."
The tavern patrons erupted in laughter at the barkeeper's offer, and William and Cassian shared a look of resignation. It seemed they would be spending the night here after all.
"Well, looks like we're sleeping in the stable tonight," William said with a sigh, signaling the barkeep for another ale. "Might as well make the best of it."
"At least we'll have food to keep us warm," Cassian said, gesturing to the large pot of stew that was being passed around the tavern.
William took a deep breath, savoring the aroma of the hearty stew. "Mmm, smells good."
"Maybe tonight's accommodations will be warmer than Aunt Matilde's stone cottage," Cassian said with a grin. "You know she's always been a bit...eccentric."
William chuckled. "Remember that time she convinced us to dig for buried treasure in the garden?"
Cassian nodded. "And we ended up with a pile of rocks and a sore back for our troubles."
William took another swig of his ale and leaned back in his chair. "Well, at least Aunt Matilde's croft wasn't a total loss."
Cassian chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I never thought I'd be a sheep herder, but it was a welcome change from all the balls and society events in London."
The barkeep walked over with a bowl of stew and set it in front of them. "You two must be the gentlemen who were helping with the sheep," he said with a knowing grin.
William and Cassian shared a look, both trying not to burst out laughing. "Yeah, that was us," William finally said with a chuckle.
Cassian took a bite of the stew and nodded in approval. "Although, I think I prefer this to the sheep herding."
William sighed. "I just hope Rose realizes the trouble she's caused for us all. It's not like her to be so inconsiderate."
Cassian chuckled. "Well, I for one am enjoying the adventure. I mean, when else will I get to help herd sheep with Aunt Matilde?"
William rolled his eyes. "I would rather have a hot bath and a clean bed next to a warm fire. No more adventures for me."
An hour and many ales later, William and Cassian stumbled into the stable, their eyes adjusting to the dim light. They were greeted by the smell of hay and horse manure, but as their vision cleared, they realized that there were more than just horses inside.
"What in blazes?" William muttered, as he took in the sight of a group of sheep huddled together in the corner.
Cassian burst out laughing. "I think Aunt Matilde's herd has followed us."
William groaned. "This is just perfect. We're stuck in the middle of nowhere and now we've got to deal with a bunch of sheep."
