Page 10 of Scandalized by My Prince
Chapter4
Aubriella didn’t honestly believeKillian would bring her along with him to Manchester. Going to St. Peter’s Field was an epically bad idea. She had to slow his progress to prevent him from being on that field when themassacrehit.
She’d studied the Peterloo Massacre in depth, wanting to understand how it could have happened. The Earl of Thornbury, as far as the historical records she’d studied, had not been there. If he went, he could die, and she’d damn well do everything she could to prevent that. Perhaps that was her purpose for being inhislife.
If her calculations were correct, it was nearing dawn—the time Killian planned to depart. She skipped down the stairs as fast as she could in a confining dress. Locating a pair of pants was starting to sound good. If she could get away with it, she’d have already tracked a pair down. The persona she’d created for herself had to be maintained though. At the bottom of the stairs she stopped to see if anyone else was near. Silence greeted her, so she decided to go outside to see if the carriage had been brought around yet. If he truly meant to leave at dawn, it should be out front waitingforhim.
A carriage with a team of horses sat out front. So, Killian hadn’t lied to her. He did intend to leave soon. A groom loaded a trunk and turned to grab another. Aubriella approached him. “Where is LordThornbury?”
He jerked back as if startled at the sound of her voice. “You frightened me,milady.”
“My apologies,” she said. “That wasn’t myintention.”
The sun was starting to rise, making it easier to make out his features. He grinned. “No worries,” he replied. “The lord should be out shortly. You must be excited to begin thejourney.”
“I suppose so,” she said absentmindedly. Where was he? She was starting to get nervous waiting for him. “Can I sit inside thecarriage?”
“Aye,” the groom said. “Do you needassistance?”
She shook her head. “No, I think I canmanage.”
The man stared at her for several seconds before he said, “Idon’tmind…”
Aubriella fought a sigh. He was seeing the fragile side of her and didn’t think she was capable of climbing into the carriage. Sometimes that ability slipped free without her realizing it. The sooner she nipped it in the bud, the better. Otherwise, she’d be there until Killian came outside, and she’d rather be seated inside before that happened. The groom wasn’t going to let it go easily. “I can do it,” she told him. Then went and yanked the carriagedooropen.
She climbed inside the carriage and shut the door behind her before the groom could object. Sometimes she hated her gifts. They could be debilitating if she allowed it. Aubriella settled in and waited for Killian to join her. Now that she knew he wouldn’t be leaving without her, she was rather glad she’d have some time alone with him. He was an incrediblysexyman.
The carriage door swung open and she met Killian’s gaze. “Took you long enough,” she taunted. Aubriella couldn’t help herself. The words were out of her mouth before she thought better of it. “You said we were leavingatdawn.”
“It is dawn, lass,” he said dryly. “Your definition of it must varyfrommine.”
Aubriella smiled at him. She tried to make it as demure as possible. It wouldn’t do to show her hand yet. He believed her to be fragile, and she had to let him continue to think that—at least for the moment. In time, she’d let him see her true side. She was no delicate flower in need ofsaving.
“Not at all,” she replied. “I’m an early riser. I didn’t see the point in waiting when the carriage was being prepared for ourdeparture.”
He frowned. “Butyousaid…”
She waved her hand. “I spoke out of turn. Pay me no mind.” She’d have to work hard for him to forget about her earlier remarks. Hell… “Are you joining meinside?”
He nodded warily. “Aye, I am.” Killian hopped into the carriage and sat on the opposite bench. He rapped on the top of the carriage to let the driver know they were ready to depart, then turned his attention to her. “Tell me aboutyourself.”
She lifted a brow. “What would you like to know?” The carriage began to move, almost jerking her out of her seat. Aubriella grasped the side to hold herself inplace.
He studied her for several seconds before replying. “Whatever you feel comfortabletellingme.”
That would be absolutely nothing… If she said too much it could be disastrous. What was she going to say?Oh, I’m a time traveler. I jumped through a mirror in the twenty-first century and came to help you. Don’t worry though, I mean you no harm—truly. He’d have the carriage driver take them straight to bedlam claiming she was insane. The Earl of Thornbury had no background that would suggest he’d be open to the possibility of something as fantastical as time travel. What could she tell him thatwassafe?
“I’m seven and twenty,” she finally said. “My birth happened to coincide withSamhain.”
“Is that so?” He paused a moment. “Where wereyouborn?”
So much for him waiting for her to tell him what she was comfortable with. She couldn’t really tell him where she was born. If she did, it would lead to even more questions she’d not be able to answer. Maybe a little bit of the truth would dissuade him from diggingdeeper.
“A little fishing village on the coast of Ireland,” she said softly. “Na CreagachaDubha.”
He remained silent for several moments. Aubriella started to believe he’d let it go. She shouldn’t have though. Killian was too curious about her to give up that easily. “What of yourparents?”
“Are you asking me what happenedtothem?”
