Offering her a hand up, he settled on the couch beside her then bumped her with his shoulder. “Tell me the truth. You were drawing me as a jackass again, weren’t you?”
She wrinkled her nose and pursed her lips, trying not to smile as she recalled the caricature she had drawn the day after he snuck a frog into her bed. “No, but it would serve you right if I did, especially after insisting on upholding your honor.”
He hugged her. “Don’t be upset with me, sweetheart. Look at this place. I want everything to be perfect when we lie together our first time.”
She glanced at the dusty furnishings and cobwebs coating the ceiling with a dawning sense of disgust.
“You deserve flowers and pretty linens.” Lacing their fingers, he brought her hand to his lips to place a soft kiss. “You deserve the vows that will bind us together.”
“I already gave you my vow,” she grumbled, but with less conviction. He was right. She did want flowers, pretty linens, and candles, even though the only thing that should matter was love. Glancing up at the peeling wall covering, she admitted their surroundings mattered more to her than she’d first thought.
“As you wish,” she mumbled.
He chucked her on the chin. “I wish this room could be transformed with the snap of my fingers, but since it can’t, we should continue to the border as soon as the storm wanes. Only two more days and we’ll be married.”
Two days seemed like forever.
Twenty-six
Sebastian cursed the rain as he left the Red Stag Inn on a fresh horse. The storm had forced him to take shelter until afternoon, and even though he’d needed the sleep, the delay increased his frustration.
He had ridden hard for hours last night before realizing Ellis hadn’t taken the Great North Road like any other sane gent. Not that Sebastian should be surprised. Sebastian had rarely known the earl to do anything that implied good sense. Their first encounter at Eton had been a testament to Ellis’s lack of judgment.
Sebastian had been a new student and different from his classmates. He hadn’t come from generations of pampered aristocrats, and it showed in his manners and bearing. His father had been a soldier in the King’s infantry, where fancy words didn’t keep men alive.
Sebastian and Eve had been given all the advantages their father never had, but their sire’s influence had still been present in their home. No amount of instruction had been able to change the fact their father’s blood wasn’t blue and their attitudes were bourgeois.
Hard work and determination reaped rewards, and one couldn’t sit around waiting for fortune to fall into one’s lap. That little tidbit of advice from his father hadn’t made him many friends among a class of lads who’d done nothing besides enjoy a leisurely existence with the full knowledge fortune would land in their laps.
Yet it was Father’s strange spells at the most inopportune moments, believing he was still at battle, that set the Thornes apart. Apparently, his father was the talk of the ton, because every boy at Eton had heard tales of his madness. Sebastian’s teeth ground together as he recalled the taunts, and he still wanted to fight, but how could he defeat a memory?
There were three boys in particular who’d tormented him. Bullies, all of them. It soon became clear Sebastian wouldn’t be rid of them until he fought his way free. Hard work and determination reap rewards. He’d known he would suffer a beating against three of them at once, but he’d planned to get in enough licks to prove he was not a victim. He had been holding his own, too, until Ellis interfered.
Sebastian had been knocked down for the fourth time, but he was struggling to his feet when the bloody earl entered with fists swinging. He took out the leader in one lucky punch and soon the others turned tail. Within moments, Ellis was a hero and Sebastian became a weakling in need of protection.
When the taunts and beatings continued, Sebastian knew the only way to escape was to prove himself superior to Ellis. So, he’d set on a course to challenge the earl and come out the victor. As Sebastian grew in size and strength, the mocking and fistfights had ended. His rivalry with Ellis had become a game in time, more a source of amusement for Sebastian. Until Lady Gabrielle’s hand became the prize.
If Sebastian could have caught the earl’s coach before dawn and rescued Lady Gabrielle, no one would have been wiser. Now there was no hope of keeping her abduction a secret. Her family was likely cancelling their wedding, which would make Sebastian a laughingstock again.
Worse. A bloody cuckold! Abandoned at the altar just like his sister.
Perhaps he wasn’t the most upstanding gentleman in London, but Eve was a saint. She deserved better than life had doled out, and Sebastian couldn’t fail her.
Ellis’s coach must travel through Penrith to reach Gretna Green, and Sebastian would be waiting. He would rescue Lady Gabrielle, save her reputation, and somehow convince the ton she had eloped with him. He didn’t know what reason they would supply since their wedding had been only a couple of days away, but his future wife was a clever girl. She would help him create a believable story.
First he must deal with Ellis, however, and Sebastian hadn’t yet discounted a lead ball for the earl.
***
Night fell, but the carriage didn’t stop except to change horses and allow Gabby a chance to freshen up from time to time. At their last stop, Anthony had procured a basket of food, and she was greedily devouring a chicken leg. The savory meat was like a taste of heaven after the meager meal she’d had much earlier in the day. Juice dripped on her décolletage, and she felt a warm flush rising into her cheeks.
Anthony wiped the juice with his handkerchief and chuckled. “I had hoped your dowry would offset the cost of feeding you, but I don’t suppose there is much chance your brother will allow us to have it now. Abduction is a messy business.”
She laughed, forgetting to be embarrassed by her poor manners. “You could hold me for ransom.”
He hugged her and placed a kiss on her forehead. “A ransom implies I’m willing to give you up, and I’m not.”
She was unwilling to be given up, too. The warm glow that had enveloped her earlier that afternoon had settled in her heart. “Then I shall try not to drain the coffers with my appetite, but I can’t make any promises.”
“Fair enough.”
She captured her bottom lip between her teeth and studied him. Dark shadows had formed under his eyes, and his movements had grown more sluggish throughout the journey. How long could he go without sleep?
“You look exhausted. And you’ve barely eaten anything,” she said.
“I ate.”
Not enough for a grown man. Their hurried pace was taking a toll on him. And she could use a bath.
She packed the remainder of her meal into the basket and wiped her mouth. “We’re taking a room at the next inn.”
He shook his head. “We have to keep going if we want to reach the border before nightfall tomorrow. We won’t be able to evade your brothers much longer.”
“What makes you think they would bother giving chase?”
He scoffed.
“I’m serious,” she said, facing him. She’d been giving their situation thought this evening. “If Lizzie helped you make arrangements to whisk me away, she wouldn’t hide it from Luke. Well, perhaps she would hide her part in everything, but she wouldn’t want to worry Mama.”
“And you believe your sister told your family we eloped rather than the truth.”
She caressed his jaw, stubble rough against her palm. “We are eloping.”
“How short your memory is, love. Only this morning you were taking me to task for deceiving you and stealing you away from Thorne.”
She dropped her hand to her lap and frowned. She hadn’t given Sebastian any more thought beyond her initial concern. “I feel horrible for the embarrassment I’ve caused him. You and I will have each other to weather the scandal together, and I know my family will stand behind me. But the Thornes may not fare as well since this is the second
scandal to touch their family.”
Anthony slowly raked his fingers through his hair, then slid his hand to the back of his neck and squeezed. “I would hate to see his family suffer more than they already have. If there was a way to spare them…”
She pulled the blanket up to her chin and snuggled against his chest. In her momentary happiness, she had forgotten about the people who would be hurt by their actions. Liz. Katie. Miss Thorne. Sebastian. Perhaps even her mother would face displeasure from lifelong friends who had traveled to London to attend a wedding that wasn’t going to happen. Yet Gabby could do nothing to stop the inevitable, even if she wanted to.
She closed her eyes as a shield against the shame she’d managed to keep at bay so far. She was the most selfish person on earth, because not even the threat to her sisters’ futures made her want to change anything.
“We should stop for the night,” she said. “My brothers aren’t chasing after us, not if they know I’m with you.”
“But if they are—”
She pushed back enough to make eye contact. “They aren’t. I know my brothers.”
His lips thinned. She thought he was going to argue, but he surprised her. “We may stop for a couple hours. Just long enough for the servants to rest.”
She laid her head against his chest again to hide her smile. Once she had him in bed, he would be fast asleep. They would be going nowhere until morning.
She was still awake when they arrived at the next coaching inn some time later. As Anthony helped her alight from the carriage, he asked his men where they were.
“Penrith, milord.”
“We’ll stop here until first light.”
“Yes, milord.”
Warmth chased away the chill as Gabby and Anthony entered the inn. The taproom rumbled with voices and the sweet yeasty smell of ale reached her nose, reminding her slightly of the breads served at home. Tankards clinked together as they were set upon the long tables overflowing with men.
A drunken fellow howled with laughter, causing Gabby to jump. Although she knew it was unreasonable to think she was the source of his amusement, she was still mortified by her disheveled state. She lowered her head and stuck close to Anthony’s side.
The innkeeper wore a bemused frown as they approached; his gnarled fingers tapped against the bar and betrayed his nervousness.
Anthony pulled a small purse from his jacket. “My wife and I would like a room above stairs.”
The man’s frown deepened and he nodded toward the packed tavern. “Many travelers stopped for the night, sir. Afraid there’s no rooms left.”
Gabby sagged against Anthony. “Is there no place we may rest? Perhaps there are other rooms available in the village?”
“No, ma’am. Least that’s the word.”
She shouldn’t have gotten her hopes up about a bath.
Anthony dug several coins from the purse and dropped them on the counter. “Is there a private dining room we may use?”
The innkeeper scooped up the money and displayed a toothless grin. “Aye. That I can provide.”
He motioned to a buxom woman across the room, then gave instructions to lead them to the dining room. Once they were alone, Anthony slumped onto a chair. In the lantern light, she could see red streaks crossing the whites of his eyes. He appeared ready to drop dead.
“Would you like to lie with your head in my lap?” she offered.
A halfhearted smile eased across his face. “Tempting, but this isn’t the time or place.”
“Suit yourself.”
The serving wench returned several moments later with a tankard of ale and pot of tea.
“We didn’t request anything,” Gabby said, certain the young woman had entered the wrong room.
“It’s from a gentleman in the tavern. He thought you both looked like you could use refreshment.”
She set the ale in front of Anthony and carefully placed the teapot on the table, along with a small dish of sugar just as Gabby liked.
“Please extend our thanks to the gentleman,” she said.
“Aye, madam.”
Anthony sipped his ale while Gabby poured a cup of tea. He grimaced and pushed the tankard aside. “I appreciate the gentleman’s hospitality, but this ale is hideous.”
“You’re welcome to share my tea.”
Before he could respond, there was a knock at the door. The innkeeper entered with a broad smile. “Bit of good tidings, I have. The gentleman who sent refreshments says he don’t need his room after all. He said I’m to give it to you.”
Anthony frowned. “Who is this generous benefactor?”
“He didn’t give a name, sir.”
Anthony was already rising from his seat. “Then take me to him so I may extend our appreciation.”
“He left the tavern. Said he had a ways to travel yet, and he didn’t want to take a room when there was a lady in need.”
“How kind,” Gabby said, genuinely surprised by the gentleman’s generosity. “I wish he’d given us a chance to thank him.”
“Please, enjoy your ale and tea,” the innkeeper said, “then Penny will show you above stairs.”
Anthony’s frown remained even after the innkeeper left.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“No man is that generous. I want to know his scheme.”
She rolled her eyes as she dropped two sugar cubes into her cup. “There are kind strangers in this world.”
He lowered to the chair, his gaze still on the door. “Not in my world.”
Really, he was being too paranoid by half. People were kind to her all the time. He just failed to recognize the truth that most people were good at their core. “Then I’m sad for you.”
He smirked over the top of the tankard as he prepared to take another draught. “Somehow I doubt the sincerity of your sympathy.”
She stuck out her tongue, then laughed when he did.
Anthony had finished half his ale, and she had drained her teacup when the serving wench, Penny, returned to show them to their accommodations. Gabby requested a bath the moment they reached the room.
Penny bobbed her head, then bustled from the room.
With a groan, Anthony dropped on the bed. “How do you expect me to sleep when you are nude only a few feet away?”
Gabby sat on the bed beside him and brushed aside the hair covering his heavy eyes. “I don’t think that will be a problem. You look done to a cow’s thumb.”
“Men are never too tired to bed a fine wench.”
“A wench?” She playfully tugged a lock of his hair. “You’d best mean me, although I take issue with the reference.”
He placed a kiss in her palm, then grinned. “Of course I mean you, wench.”
Striking before she knew his intentions, he grabbed her around the waist and tossed her back on the bed. He was above her in a flash, his fingers tickling her ribs.
“Stop, you blackguard,” she said between laughter as she kicked and wiggled to break free.
He ceased his teasing and bent down to kiss her. When he drew back, his eyes twinkled. “I love you, Gabby. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make you happy.”
A knock sounded at the door and Anthony pushed off her. He offered her a hand up before bidding the person to enter.
Two young men carried in a tub and placed it close to the fire, then left quickly with a promise to return with buckets of water. Anthony reclined on the bed again and closed his eyes.
She rolled her shoulders and moved to the cloudy-looking glass in the corner. The embroidered hem of her beautiful gown had become splattered with mud, not that it mattered. She would never get the paint out of the skirts. Her middle ached as if her waist was encased in a corset made of dull knives. She groaned softly as she stretched.
“Corsets are a blasted nuisance. I refuse to wear it to bed.” Turning away from the mirror, she sighed. It was too bad Lizzie hadn’t planned her abduction a little better and packed a valise. She didn’t look f
orward to dressing in her dirty gown after her bath.
After a while, the young men returned with steamy buckets. It took several trips to fill the tub halfway, but Gabby would have been happy with less. She only needed enough to wash away the grime.
Once their task was finished and they had gone, Gabby glanced at Anthony still stretched out on the bed. His chest rose and fell with regular, deep breaths. She nibbled her bottom lip, trying to figure out how she could undress without his help. She hated to wake him, but she didn’t have much choice. Softly, she cleared her throat.
“Yes?” His voice sounded husky, but more alert than she’d expected.
“I need assistance with my gown.”
He lifted to his elbows to run his lazy gaze over her. “Perhaps the serving wench could be persuaded to help you.”
“Don’t be silly. I’m certain she is busy running for the other guests. You heard the innkeeper. They have no vacancies.” She turned her back to him. “Now, do hurry. The water is growing cold.”
With a low growl, he dragged himself from the bed. She met his disgruntled expression in the looking glass and her temper flared.
“I wouldn’t have awakened you if it wasn’t necessary.”
“I wasn’t sleeping.” He roughly tugged at the fastenings down the back of her gown.
“Well, you should be. You are as surly as a Cob.” And she should know since she’d once been assaulted by a flock of geese. “Nasty creatures.”
He finished with the fastenings and practically ripped the dress over her head, catching her hair on his ring.
“Be careful!”
“I’m not a lady’s maid, Gabby. I can’t undress you without thoughts of tossing you on the bed and taking my fill.” His eyes flamed in the looking glass. “Either I hurry or I abandon being a gentleman.”
Her heart slammed against her breastbone, and a pink flush covered her chest.
He tugged her corset strings in the same rough manner, but she didn’t dare complain again. She’d had no idea when she ordered up a bath that he would be troubled by it. She had truly thought him too tired to be tempted. Her corset fell away and she inhaled deeply.
One Rogue Too Many Page 21
