Page 28 of In Want of a Wife
“Kate should return with you. You deserve to be looked after by someone who truly loves you, and I couldn’t continue without knowing that will be true. I thought I would lose you, Lottie.”
“And what of you?” Charlotte asked. “Am I to agree for you to continue the rest of the way, unchaperoned, with Mr. Davies?”
“Well, if you insist upon returning to Stonehurst and refuse my company, I suppose so. It will only be several more days given good weather. We will pretend to be married if need be. I will be a Davies by the end of this journey, so it won’t be as if I am lying.”
“But to the wrong brother, dear,” Kate corrected, strolling into the room with a cup of tea.
“The doctor insisted that Charlotte does not travel such a great distance in her condition, and I think it wise to heed that advice. My reputation is already in shambles, and I will be married in a week’s time. Please, Kate, go with Charlotte. I promise I will be fine.”
Kate narrowed her eyes at the sleeping figure of Mr. Davies in the corner. He was propped up in the too small chair, and his head lolled to the side. It looked most uncomfortable.
She would never admit to him, but she was impressed by his ability to sleep anywhere at any time.
“He’s the worst kind of rake, Lily,” Kate said at last.
“Why's that?”
“He is proving to be a very honorable man. And if I’m being honest, I would rather you travel with an intolerable cad than someone with a good, kind soul. Your heart is in danger.”
Lily scoffed. “We cannot stand one another. I have no fear of falling in love,” she whispered.
“Then you’ve never fallen in love before, darling,” Charlotte replied. “But if you must go, do so safely. Write when you can.”
CHAPTER 7
Lily strolledout into the early morning air and glanced over her shoulder at the small inn, then gazed forward at the road that stretched ahead.
She had never meant for Charlotte or Kate to make this trip with her, but now that she was alone, she couldn’t ignore the growing pit in her stomach. Could she trust this man? Had she made a horrible mistake?
“Oh good, you are awake,” he said just then, strolling out the front door of the inn while stuffing a dry biscuit into his mouth.
She scrunched up her nose. Lily was never huge on propriety but talking while one was eating? “Yes, you are planning on taking me to your brother, are you not?”
He rolled his eyes. “That was my brilliant idea, yes.” He waved for her to join him in the carriage.
“Wait,” she pulled back, stretching onto her tiptoes to see. “Are you sure we have all the luggage? Have they finished loading it?”
“Yes, yes,” he placed his hand on the small of her back and gently pushed.
She dug her heels in, spinning around to level him with a deadlyglare. “I am not cattle. I can get into this carriage on my own, without your help, thank you kindly.”
He roughly swatted the crumbs away from his mouth, mumbled something under his breath, and stormed to the other side of the carriage and climbed in, waiting.
Damn him and his long legs.
“Mr. Davies, we have a long journey. Let’s endeavor to be civil with one another. Yes?” She followed, settling opposite him in the carriage. It had appeared much larger on the outside than it was inside.
Or perhaps it was because she was to be traveling alone with this man for several days.
Alone.
She looked away, closing her eyes to stem the spiraling panic from overtaking her body.
Lily needed a husband, and she had found one in a newspaper. He must exist because his brother had appeared, as agreed upon to escort her to the Isle of Wight. She would not find herself at the other end of embarrassment again. Jilted twice, but she could, and would, marry this man. She would because she must.
The driver called out, then with a quick start, the carriage rumbled forward.
This couldn’t be a mistake. Lily had no room for error.
