Page 34 of Seducing the Knave

Chapter Nine

The rest of the morning passed in an awkward sort of silence while the scenery slid past the carriage windows in a steady blur. It seemed to Elle that although they were both quite aware of each other, they were both equally intent on moving on from whatever had passed between them that morning.

If anything had even really passed between them at all.

Maybe she’d imagined that moment of tenderness when he’d said he was considering kissing her. Maybe it had all just been some foolish manifestation of the confusion left over from those heated kisses he’d pressed to her neck after their encounter with the highwaymen.

Maybe she was making entirely too much out of something that was really nothing at all.

Around midday, they made a far-too-brief stop which allowed barely enough time to switch out the horses, make quick use of the necessary, and arrange a basket of cold chicken and dry bread to take with them as they continued their journey.

The food was filling but unsatisfying and only managed to perpetuate Elle’s overall sense of unease as each hour drew them closer to London.

She should be feeling relief that the journey was almost at an end and there had only been that one run-in with Jasper’s men. Perhaps it suggested her cousin had decided to let her go.

Even as she had the thought, she discounted it.

Jasper had gotten himself into a rather desperate situation and he saw her as the only way out. He wasn’t going to give up easily, which meant she’d have to move quickly and decisively once she reached town to place herself out of his reach until she could determine her next course of action.

Surely, Lady Gilchrist would help her in that regard. There hadn’t been any time or opportunity to send word to her mother’s oldest friend of her impending arrival, but she couldn’t imagine the woman turning her away even if it had been a number of years now since she’d last seen her. They had corresponded once or twice after her parents’ deaths as Lady Gilchrist offered condolences and commiserated in Elle’s grief. Though the letters stopped soon after, Elle had to believe the lady would embrace her as her mother’s daughter if for no other reason. With no other family to speak of, Lady Gilchrist was Elle’s best hope for refuge and support as she sought a viable means to separate herself from Jasper’s authority.

“What’s wrong?”

Max’s quietly murmured question drew her attention across the carriage to where he sat watching her with a weighted frown.

She’d lowered her hood to eat earlier and hadn’t bothered to replace it, but now she wished she had. She’d obviously revealed some anxiety in her expression.

Giving a firm little shake of her head, she replied, “Nothing that could be considered your concern.”

His eyes narrowed. “Until I drop ye in Mayfair and me job is finished, everything about ye concerns me.”

She hated how his words managed to make her feel warm inside even though she knew his concern had more to do with his payment than her well-being.

“Well, then you should be quite grateful that your job is nearly at an end.” She lifted her chin. “Don’t worry, the other earring will soon be yours.”

For a moment, it looked like her reply made him angry. Silver flashed in his flinty stare and the corner of his brow twitched. But then his teeth flashed with a grin as he replied, “Not soon enough, princess.”

A short but tense silence followed, making her believe their conversation was finished.

“Ye’ve got a solid plan, then?”

She lifted her brows in question.

“Fer yer arrival in London,” he clarified. “Ye’ve got people waiting on ye?”

“Not exactly,” she replied honestly, “But I trust it will work out.”

Even as she said the confident words, trepidation leapt in her chest.

“Bloody ’ell.” His expression was one of mock dismay. “Yer a damned optimist.”

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