scowl on Princess Harriet’s face could have curdled milk, and Jacob found himself grinning like a dolt.
He had no idea why her irritation with him amused him so.
He studied her as she stood there, hands placed firmly on her hips, riotous sable curls escaping the confines of the oversized bonnet.
“What are you doing here?” she bit out, the chocolate depths of her eyes sparkling with ill-concealed annoyance.
“Why, I’m driving my gig, Miss Royal. What are you doing? Where is your companion?”
He arranged his features to show polite concern and nothing more.
“He – she – um—”
Jacob watched her flounder for a moment or two before he took pity.
She really was dreadful at this.
“Perhaps there was a delay in sending the servant to you?”
Her eyes widened.
“Yes!” She dove on the proffered excuse. “Yes, that’s exactly it.”
“Well then, allow me to drive you to wherever you are going, Miss Royal.”
“Oh, um, I’d rather—”
“Miss Royal,” he interrupted her before she started throwing around poor excuses. “It’s hot, and I’ve felt for myself how heavy those bags are. Please, allow me to assist you in this. I can drive you to your destination, and you’ll never have to see me again.”
He watched as she contemplated his words, chewing her lip in a way he was determined not to be distracted by.
Jacob had waited in the inn baffled by his level of concern for the princess before he’d decided two hours was enough time so that it could reasonably be a coincidence to meet her on the road.
He’d spent far too much money obtaining this gig and gelding from a drunken farmer before setting out after her.
The entire way, he’d berated himself for his over-inflated sense of worry about the girl. But, he had been relieved to reason; it was his job, after all. The prince wanted his sister safe, and wanted Jacob to be the one to keep her safe. That was all. He’d been happy, too, with such reasoning, confident that it was attention to the detail of the job, and nothing more that was causing this unusual worry.
Then he’d spied her struggling along the road, and his heart had squeezed in the most unusual and disconcerting manner.
She looked tiny and vulnerable even now when she was glaring at him.
And even though the entire assignment was anathema to Jacob, he couldn’t help but have a grudging admiration for the lady’s spirit.
Still, now was not the time to be admiring any part of her.
“You can’t,” she blurted, dragging his mind back to the matter at hand.
“Why not?” he asked.
“Where I’m going is – um – out of the way.”
Ah. Jacob realised she couldn’t very well ask him to drop her off at her palace.
Again, he wondered at her complete inability to put together any sort of reasonable, workable plan, and he found himself actually feeling grateful for Prince Christopher having the sagacity to have engaged Jacob’s help.
Though he’d have preferred the job to have been someone else’s. Especially when she was glaring at him like that.
He pretended to consider her words before hopping down from the gig so he could stand in front of her.
Her face was flushed. He’d guess from the exertion of dragging her luggage up the road. And probably from the hatred she felt within when looking at him.
“I don’t mind driving out of the way if it means you are safe, Miss Royal,” he said. And he meant it. He’d drive her all the way back home right now if it kept her safe.
Princess Harriet stared at her bags for an age.
“W-well, I—” She stumbled to a halt then suddenly lifted her gaze to meet his own, and damned if his heart didn’t stutter as her huge brown eyes met his.
And Jacob felt sorry for her. She was in over her head, and she looked fed up and worn out.
It was all well and good trying to catch her out, but standing here arguing whilst she was dead on her feet wasn’t exactly taking care of her.
“Perhaps as a compromise I could at least bring you closer to wherever your destination is?” he asked, watching her face carefully, whilst she did the same.
It was obvious that the princess was hesitant about trusting him, yet she seemed to believe all of his subterfuges easily enough.
She was naïve. Innocent and unused to the real world. And that’s why the world was so dangerous for her.
Even ignoring the possible threat to her life.
“I’m heading in the direction of the Winter Palace,” he announced, once