Page 30 of In Want of a Wife
“What are you reading?” he asked after some time.
“It’s called a book, Mr. Davies.”
“I remember them well. I even read one from time to time.”
“Do you now?”
He chuckled, a soft warm sound that reminded her of cinnamon tea and honey. “I see your opinion of me has already been settled upon.”
She shrugged. It didn’t matter overly much what her opinion of her travel companion was. She wouldn’t be marrying him. “I’m reading about astronomy.”
“I noticed your telescope with the luggage. It’s a beautiful piece. You must care for it very much because it’s in perfect condition. There isn’t so much as a scratch on the mahogany and brass. Do the stars interest you?”
Since she was a small child, she had fallen in love with the wonders of what the skies held. Perhaps because they were a reminder that the world was much larger than her small bedroom. There was a romantic hope in the stars that she harbored, even as she began to build up walls around her heart. “Thank you.” She closed her book and peered at her companion. “It was my mother’s.”
“I’m sorry. She passed?”
His cravat was crooked, and yet if he walked into a London ballroom, she would bet he would turn the head of every available debutante hungry to land a husband.
She picked at her skirts, unsure if she could weather his hazel eyes much longer. What a cruel trick that, like his smile, they made her forget her name. “When I was six. I hardly remember her.”
Rafe crossed his arms. “I was eight when my father passed away. He was a captain in the Royal Navy. He became ill while sailing to Brazil and died at sea.”
That sounded truly horrible. It had been years now, and she barely remembered, but her mother had been ill for some time. And she at least had been able to say goodbye. “I’m sorry. It’s not easy losing a parent.”
“Well, Henry has taken it upon himself to wear the mantle well.”
“It must be nice to have such a caring brother.”
Rafe snickered. “I said nothing about caring. Managing, yes.”
“I find that often those who love us also manage us.”
He closed one eye and tilted his head toward the window. “If they love us, they would see we often don’t need to be managed. We are all capable.”
Perhaps that was true. She certainly wished Charlotte and Katewould see she was capable of settling her own future without their interference, no matter how good their intentions were. As for her father, well he managed her because he sought total control, and that was something altogether different.
Silence settled between them. Although she managed to read, Rafe couldn’t sit still, and Lily thought she might go mad from the energy buzzing around the carriage.
“Tell me more about the book,” he said finally.
Lily closed her eyes and sighed. “Leave me alone, I’m reading.”
“I didn’t bring anything to read myself.”
She shut her book and glared at Rafe. “That’s unfortunate for you.”
He laughed in spite of himself. “Well, Miss Abrams, it has been grand.”
“Wait, what are you doing?”
He stretched out, settling his head back against the wall of the carriage. “I plan to sleep. It’s magic, see. Makes the trip much more tolerable by being unconscious for most of the ride.”
They were barely acquaintances, yet this man, this sometimes devilishly charming man was going to nap as if he were a chubby tabby cat sunning himself in the afternoon.
She didn’t feel comfortable doing so. If she were being honest with herself, she didn’t feel much of anything except wrong. She half wished she was back in Cumbria. The other half wished to tease and taunt Mr. Davies more. Instead, he softly snored in the corner of the carriage as she looked him over, all long, lean grace. His suit was nicely tailored, even if his black hair was a bit too long and curled by his ears. He had a long Roman nose, high cheekbones, and a thin, wide smile that was exceedingly good at making her forget her next sentence.
“What about Henry?” she whispered, turning to focus on the window again. The carriage still swayed, the passing fields were all uneventful and rather plain in appearance, and she was forced to keep company with her thoughts which were miles away.
