Merry Misrule - St. Clair, Ellie Page 0,48

truly did mean — for her friend. “I shall miss you while you are gone, but look forward to your return.”

“Me too, Jo,” Caroline said softly, “me too.”

“We’ll take the mail coach to Scotland,” Thatcher said. “You can keep the sleigh to return to Briercrest when you are ready. I’m sure one of the men here will return with you.”

“Oh, no,” Joanna said, shaking her head. “I couldn’t. I can find my way back. I—”

“We’d actually prefer it this way,” Caroline said. “The stagecoach will be much faster, and warmer for that long of a journey, so you are actually doing us a favor by taking the sleigh home. I wouldn’t want to take it from my parents, anyway.”

“Very well,” Joanna said, resigned, “when are you leaving?”

“First light,” Caroline said. “We should all go to the inn, have some dinner and stay the night. We can warm up and hopefully tomorrow brings better weather — for all of us.”

“Thank goodness,” Joanna said with relief, although she was already thinking about her return to Briercrest — alone — and the fact that she would have to tell all of Caroline’s family that she was gone, to be married to Thatcher in Scotland. “Let’s go warm up.”

Chapter 17

By the time Elijah rode into Chearsley, he was bitter. Bitterly cold. Bitterly frustrated. And bitterly desperate to find Joanna.

He had never felt such relief as when Father Franklin told them that Caroline, Thatcher, and Joanna had been to the church and were currently on their way to Aylesbury, but then the vicar had mentioned Gretna Green and Elijah became worried all over again. He could only hope he had made it in time.

When he arrived in Aylesbury, after feeling the fool when he had to ask for directions as he had forgotten just how to get there, he knew he would have no choice but to stay overnight unless he left his horse and hired another. But at this point, he would have to determine just where his next stop was, if one was required, before rushing off to chase them down once more.

He stepped into the inn, weary, cold, and at war over whether his first drink should be whisky or a hot coffee.

Whiskey, he decided, as he secured a room for himself and asked if the innkeeper had seen three people matching the descriptions he provided.

When the man pointed to the dining room, Elijah didn’t know whether to weep in relief or rage in frustration.

Then there they were, Caroline and Thatcher sitting at a table at the far side of the inn, close to the fireplace, huddled together as they ate. They didn’t even notice him until he stood right beside them, arms crossed over his chest.

“Elijah!” Caroline finally exclaimed, jumping back and out of her chair. “What are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here?” he repeated dryly. “Caro, what do you think I am doing here? Did you really think you could leave for an entire day and no one would notice?”

He didn’t tell her that it was actually Thatcher’s disappearance that had first come to everyone’s attention.

“Eli,” she said, her voice gentling. “I’m sorry. I never meant to leave you all in panic. I truly didn’t think anyone would even realize—”

“Where’s Joanna?” he asked, unable to allow her to finish, and Caroline’s eyes widened. He wondered if he had ever taken such a tone with her before.

“Her whereabouts seem to matter to you,” Caroline said instead, her words careful, measured, observant, and Elijah gritted his teeth to keep from speaking out toward her.

“Where is she, Caro?”

“She’s upstairs,” Caroline said, guilt now crossing over her face. “She has her own room and had to warm up after the journey. She was so cold. I forgot how cold she always gets. I really shouldn’t have asked her to come. I—”

But before Caroline could say anything else, Elijah had turned away from her and was beginning to exit the dining room.

“Elijah!” Caroline called out, and he stopped and waited for her response. He would give her a moment, but nothing more. “Before you go, I have to tell you — we are going to Gretna Green. We will be leaving on the stagecoach at first light. It is not up for discussion.”

She held herself rigidly, determinedly, with Thatcher at her side, holding her hand in support of her. The look Thatcher bestowed upon her was one filled with such love and admiration that Elijah knew right then that neither he nor anything