Page 22 of In Want of a Wife
He couldn’t finish a damn thought.
After a moment, as if realizing she lay in his arms, staring at his mouth, she sputtered, grabbed the lapels of his best jacket, and vaulted upward, knocking her head against his until he was certain he saw stars.
“Horse feathers!” she muttered, pulling away from his grip as he staggered back a step.
“Will we be leaving soon?” Miss Katherine inquired from within, snickering.
Rafe frowned, rubbing his forehead.
“I apologize,” Lily said. “About losing my footing.”
He instantly hated that raspy voice of hers. He would make a point to never surprise her again in his life. It was probably for the best that their small party had grown because having to travel only with her would be insufferable. She certainly didn’t think highly of him.
He found her… interesting. Which was inconvenient at best and troublesome at worst.
“No need.” He straightened his suit, then strode around to theother side of the carriage, and opened the door to discover Lily and her books waiting for him.
Right. He would do this for his brother. Henry would agree in time that a wife was exactly what he needed to be settled and happy at Cliffstone. Rafe couldn’t remember the last time he saw his brother smile.
Years ago, probably.
He settled onto the bench seat, crowded by her pile of books, annoyed by that perfume of hers, and irritated he had nowhere to stretch out his long legs.
“The first posting inn is a few hours away.”
Without asking if they were ready and half afraid if he did Lily would race back to the library to bring more books with her, he signaled for the driver to go.
Two weeks traveling across England was hardly what he considered fun, but at least he wasn’t back at Cliffstone, helping to repair wells or mending goats.
“Do you play rugby, Mr. Davies?” Miss Bancroft asked.
He pushed his hand against the sliding stack of books as the carriage rocked forward.
“No, I never played.”
“What a shame.” She glanced back out toward the window, never finishing her conversation. Or perhaps that was the end of her thought.
Either way, Rafe wished to be absolutely anywhere other than this carriage. Back in London. Back on a ship’s deck in the bitter cold wind. Even that detestable gaol last autumn.
But not home.
Never home.
That would happen soon enough, and he was not prepared to face what awaited him there.
Miss Abrams searched through the stack of books, then picked up several, and held them out to Rafe. She didn’t wait for him to accept before depositing them into his lap.
She would be perfect for Henry.
He couldn’t stand his brother, so they would be a match made in heaven.
“Should we play a game?” Miss Katherine asked excitedly.
“No,” Miss Abrams and the duchess answered in unison.
“Mr. Davies?”
His head hurt. That is what happened when he caught tumbling bluestockings. It was a literal headache. “I must also decline.”
