with the closing of the door. Winnie’s shoulders drooped on a loud sigh. “Do you wish to take another stroll, my lady?”
The poor dear. Being confined to a small space with two forces of nature and their frazzled nurse must require great fortitude.
“Not this time, Winnie. You may find a quiet place to rest. I promise not to wander away.”
Winnie’s thin brows shot upward. “You? Not wander?”
Vivi sniffed; her earlier compassion for her maid was dissipating a bit. “I will confine my wanderings to the stable yard. Does that put your mind at rest?”
“Not by much, my lady.” Her maid glanced around the coaching yard with her fingers laced. The area was deserted, except for the ostler, stable boys, and Luke’s servants. There was no danger present. “Will you stay close to His Grace’s servants?”
“I have already given my word. Now, go. Enjoy the rest. I am sure you have earned it.”
Winnie slowly shook her head. “I don’t know. Lady Brighthurst said I should look after you, my lady.”
“Win, I’m not making a request. Take some refreshment and rest. No more arguments.”
Winnie turned on her heel and plodded up the stairs in a sulk.
Vivi released a pent-up breath when the door to the inn closed behind her maid. Vivi didn’t require a keeper, and she certainly didn’t need one on the brink of keeling over from exhaustion.
She began a leisurely circle of the stable yard, grateful for a moment alone. She stayed close to the outer perimeter so as not to interfere with the men’s work. The fenced area proved uninspiring in the extreme. Nothing but horses, harnesses, and sweaty men.
And the smell…
She pretended to scratch her nose to block the stench, not wishing to insult anyone.
Stopping at a wooden gate, she eyed the pebbled path beyond it. A trail wound alongside the inn and disappeared behind the building. Perhaps she would find quiet and escape the smell if she followed it. Another carriage drove into the yard. While everyone was occupied with the new arrival, she unlatched the gate and hurried through it. The gate banged back in place behind her.
Unexplored paths had always been irresistible to Vivi. An unknown trail filled her with anticipation for what she might find at the other end. A cozy cottage? A swing shaded by the lush branches of an oak? A hidden garden or tranquil pond? How was anyone to resist the temptation of discovery?
The trail wound alongside a copse of trees, and tall grass grew up to the path’s edge. She could still hear the rattling of harnesses and the deep, mumbled voices of the men in the distance, but civilization receded for the moment. Tension escaped her on every breath, and she tipped her face up to feel the warm sun on her skin. This was exactly what she had needed: a chance to convene with nature.
Rounding the building, she entered a clearing where a kitchen garden grew. Vegetables weren’t nearly as romantic as flowers, but it was more pleasant than the stable yard. She walked between rows of lettuces, attempting to identify the different varieties. She paused before a weed that had sprouted up between the lacy leaves.
“You don’t belong here.” She removed her gloves and bent over to pull the interloper from the dark soil. Straightening with a smile, she resumed her walk. A few paces down the row she spotted another weed and frowned. She plucked it from the ground, and upon standing, she found two more.
For heaven’s sake. Someone had been neglecting her duties. The invading pests seemed to pop up from no place as soon as she turned her back. She tossed both gloves toward the edge of the garden and set to work pulling the weeds. She would have this row looking quite the thing in no time.
Pleasing warmth invaded her cheeks and her breathing grew heavier as she extracted weed after weed. Her heart practically sang with joy as it pushed blood through her veins. Her hat slipped forward and she shoved it back on her head. Halfway down the row, she encountered an especially stubborn fellow and tugged on it with both hands, throwing her hips into wrestling the weed from the spot where it had taken root. She swiveled side to side, but it wouldn’t give up its purchase.
“Peas and carrots!”
A chuckle sounded behind her.
Vivi bolted upright with a gasp and spun around.
Mr. Collier was regarding her with a crooked smile. His pale eyes were shot through with red, and his