Lady Vivian Defies a Duke - By Samantha Grace Page 0,102
lose your pants along the way.”
A wide grin spread across her face as he tied the sash tightly around her waist, securing the trousers. “You will need your own boots, so go get them.”
Vivi dashed to the door, but stopped in the threshold. “Are you planning to leave me?”
“Hurry, before I change my mind.”
She did as he bid and was slightly winded when she met him at the stairwell. As they walked side by side to the stables, he reached for her hand. “You may need this.” Cold metal touched her palm when he pressed a small caliber firearm into her hand. “It has one shot, so make it count if you must use it.”
Lord Brookhaven was waiting in the stables. “Seeing as how it’s my property the blackguard stole, I want to be part of his capture. It isn’t far to the border. I imagine that is his destination. He has kin in Glasgow.”
Luke nodded. “Saddle the black stallion for the lady,” he said to a nearby groom.
The servant balked when he took a gander of Vivi in Luke’s clothes.
Luke’s brows lowered dangerously over his intense blue eyes. “Make it quick.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” The groom jumped to obey, fumbling to release the bridle from a hook. Her mount was readied quickly, and soon she, the viscount, and Luke were riding toward the village north of Irvine Castle.
They traveled in silence, perhaps each lost in their own thoughts. Vivi should be furious with Miss Truax, but she was too worried for the other woman’s welfare to hang on to her anger at the moment. She had seen the coldness in Collier’s eyes. He knew nothing of compassion nor did he have any qualms about taking whatever he wanted. He had shown his character well enough when he had forced Vivi into the phaeton earlier. She hoped Luke’s kin would escape the situation unscathed.
The sky grew brighter the farther they rode. Vivi had a feeling the promise of a beautiful, sunny day provided a poor indication of what was to come.
When they entered the outskirts of the village, thin threads of smoke were rising from the chimneys. One of the residents may have seen Lord Brookhaven’s coach pass through if he was awake early enough.
“The inn is this way,” Luke said and took the lead. “We will ask after Collier at the yard.”
There was no need to ask anything, however. A sturdy coach with the Brookhaven crest sat in the coaching yard.
“Why did he stop here?” Vivi asked. For a man who strove to be nefarious, Mr. Collier was a dimwit.
“I don’t know or care.” Lord Brookhaven dismounted and turned the horse over to an ostler before strolling to his coach and sticking his head inside. “No one is here.”
Luke swung down from his horse then assisted Vivi. “Stay outside while I search the inn.”
“I think not. There would be no point in my traveling all this distance just to wait outside. I’m coming with you.”
He grabbed her arm, and she thought he would stop her, but instead he linked arms with her. “Stay close to me.”
Vivi quirked an eyebrow. “Won’t this appear suspicious given I am dressed as a man?”
“No one who gets a good look is going to believe you are a man. Not with that arse.”
“Oh!” She nearly turned a circle trying to get a glance at her backside.
He chuckled under his breath and held the door open for her to proceed inside. “You needn’t draw more notice to it, but to satisfy your curiosity, it looks marvelous.”
Her cheeks heated and she hurried into the inn, pushing her hat low to hide her face.
A man approached from a back room, his protruding belly arriving seconds before the rest of him did. “Welcome, Your Grace. What brings you to the Wild Boar at this hour?”
“I’m seeking the gentleman who arrived in the coach outside. Did he take a room?”
“Aye, he was lookin’ for a spot for his wife to rest. But he ain’t here now. Saw him slip out back ’bout half an hour ago. Figured he might be lookin’ to hire a driver and outrider since he managed to lose ’em along the way.”
“And the lady was with him?”
The innkeeper hitched a thumb up. “She be restin’ above stairs still. Last door on the left.”
Luke paid the man several coins then motioned for Vivi to follow him. She peeked at the man from beneath the rim of her hat as she passed and met two narrowed slits for