Page 87 of Crash Landing
His cousins could not contain their laughter. Reed had turned away, but Florence saw his shoulders shaking and knew he also found Trajan’s quips humorous.
Were all men so infantile?
Florence knew she should not be in his bedchamber, but was it not more important to make certain he was not burning up with fever? And he did have a fever, although it was a fairly mild one.
She looked at his eyes, and they appeared clear enough. She wouldhave pushed him back in bed had they been glazed or unfocused. “Trajan…”
“I’m all right, love,” he said more gently because he noted her distress. “Truly. We’re only going to ride as far as Poole and then catch a mail coach directly to London. From then on, I can sleep the entire way to London.”
“Is there not someplace closer that—”
“I dare not have us take the coach from Weymouth. That is the closest one, but Frampton might have his men watching for us.”
She nodded. “All right, I see your point. But you know I am not a good rider.”
“You’ll have to do your best. We have to get to London fast, and this is the best I could come up with. It will take us a full day’s riding just to get to Poole. Can you manage it?”
She winced. “Yes, I can manage. It is you I am worried about.”
A light mist fell as they left the house a few minutes later and made their way to the stable. Nathan was standing by the saddled horses while Sebastian and Andrew followed with their travel bags. “We could come with you,” Nathan said. “It won’t take me a moment to saddle three more horses.”
“No,” Trajan insisted. “I need you to protect Gull Hall. Believe me, it is not an easy task. Frampton is going to be livid once he learns we are on our way to London. Your role is to delay his finding out as long as possible. You have my authority to dismiss anyone on my staff who gossips about our departure.”
“No one will,” Andrew said. “They like you. No one likes Frampton.”
“Well, he has his spies. But this could also work in our favor. Let word spread that I was hurt. Exaggerate the rumors of my injuries. I want Frampton to think I am in my sickbed and Florence is racked with worry while tending me. Most of all, be ready for something to happen once he learns he’s been tricked.”
“He will figure it out in a day or two when he summons Dr. Pritchard for a report,” Florence said. “I don’t see how the doctor can lie to him. If Frampton does question the doctor or anyone on the Weymouth staff, then Andrew must proceed with the backup plan.”
Andrew nodded. “Got it. I’ll pretend I am Trajan, grab that young maid, Felicity, and have her disguised as you, Florence. Then we’ll take the Weymouth carriage and ride to Bath. You’ve said this is where Lady Simmons is right now.”
Trajan nodded.
Nathan grinned. “You have a wonderfully devious mind, Florence. This makes perfect sense. Frampton will believe it, and this will get him running after you in the wrong direction.”
Andrew gave her a mock salute. “Good idea. Bath it is. Got it.”
“Your cousin is the brilliant one who thought it up,” she said with a shake of her head. “I hope it won’t be necessary. I’d much prefer all of you to remain safe here at Gull Hall.”
“You just get yourself safely to London and don’t worry about us,” Sebastian said.
Florence released a shaky breath. “And watch over Aunt Hermia for me. She’s all I have.”
All three cousins nodded. “We’ve got her,” Nathan assured her.
Sebastian helped her onto her horse, a big bay by the name of Centurion that looked hardy enough to gallop a hundred miles. Trajan’s steed, a black stallion named Rubicon, appeared to be just as hardy.
Poole was less than thirty miles away. These horses were strong enough to make it there with hardly a lather.
She was the one who would slow them down with her inexperience riding. “What are we to do with the horses once we reach Poole?”
“They’ll be left at the Redfern stable,” Trajan told his cousins, who seemed to know the place well.
“I’ll ride over with several grooms, but not before the week is out,” Nathan assured him. “Don’t want to give Frampton any hints about your whereabouts. Old Redfern can be trusted to care for those beasts until we arrive to pick them up. You’ll be in London by then. Safe travels. Come back married.”
Trajan laughed. “Will do.”
The mist stopped shortly after they got underway, and they spent most of the day riding in sunshine. Dry roads and a light breeze off the water accompanied them for much of the ride.
