Blame It on Bath Page 0,37

started, and the captain didn’t show much interest in pausing to rest. They only stopped to change horses after a few hours, which gave Katherine and Birdie a welcome chance to stretch their legs and attend to other needs.

“How much longer do you suppose we’re to ride?” Birdie asked, as they took a turn around the coaching yard. She looked a little pale and drawn, but at least she had ceased muttering indignantly.

“I don’t know.” They were on the Bristol Road, but otherwise Katherine had no idea where they were headed. He hadn’t said, and she hadn’t asked.

Birdie sighed, wincing as she walked. “Goodness, m’lady, I know he’s what you wanted, but he certainly is a man of action!”

“I know,” Katherine replied, “and so far it’s worked out rather well for us. I never thought Lucien would just let us walk away like that.”

“We’ve not heard the last from him, mark my words.” Birdie pressed her hands to her lower back and groaned. Katherine rolled her shoulders, trying to stretch discreetly. The captain had disappeared into the coaching inn when they arrived. She walked toward the door and spied him laughing with some other men in the taproom, a mug of ale in his hand. She wondered how he could do that, be so jovial with complete strangers. He was the son of a duke yet was talking so freely with coach drivers and farmers, one would never guess his origins. She knew people thought she was cold and aloof, but part of her longed to be able to laugh so freely, like he did. Perhaps she could learn the trick from him and not find herself always on the outer edge of every social gathering. She hoped she could puzzle it out before she gave her new husband a complete disgust of her, as she had done to her first husband.

As she watched, a serving maid brought out a basket, batting her eyelashes and swishing her skirts as she handed it to the captain. Katherine felt her stomach clench as she watched for his reaction, but he merely smiled at the girl and drained his tankard before heading out the door, right toward where his bride stood spying on him. Katherine scurried back to Birdie’s side as he emerged into the late-afternoon sunlight and joined them.

“Got some feeling back in your feet?” He grinned at her. “I apologize for the haste, but it can’t be helped.”

“Where are we going?” asked Katherine, conscious of Birdie’s aching back.

“Bath,” he said. “I need to find someone there.”

“Bath is still seventy miles away!”

“We’ll stop for the night in a few hours.” He walked them back to the carriage, newly harnessed to a fresh team of horses, and helped them both inside. He handed Katherine the covered basket. “My apologies we can’t stop for proper tea.” He winked at her and closed the door. A few moments later he was back on his own horse, directing the driver. With a jerk the carriage started forward again.

“Well.” Birdie was digging in the basket. “At least he has some consideration.” She held up rolls, a wedge of cheese, some sliced cold tongue wrapped in a napkin, pears, and a corked jug that turned out to contain cider, tart and cool.

“He has more than some consideration, Birdie.” Katherine’s eyes fell on the bouquet of pink roses, tucked in the seat corner. She’d kept them from the church. They weren’t even drooping yet. Where had he gotten roses on such short notice?

“I know, madam,” Birdie said in a softer tone. “I pray he has far more of it than we’ve seen so far, even.”

Katherine went still as she grasped Birdie’s meaning. Tonight was her wedding night. To a man she hardly knew. Her lips tingled as she recalled his kiss, how gentle and yet how masterful. And he said he planned to make love to her . . . tonight? In an inn on the side of the road? Would it be like his kiss, seductive and sweet, or would he do it just to get it over with? And what should she do? “That’s enough, Birdie,” she said coolly. Chastened, the abigail said nothing more of it.

By the time they turned into another coaching inn, twilight was falling. When Katherine stepped down from the carriage, her knees almost buckled and gave out. The captain, holding her hand, caught her before she could fall and put his arm around her as he escorted her into the inn. He

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