“Bloody idiot,” he muttered.
To think he could catch up to Lana with the lead they had was lunacy. He should have taken the time to pack some clothes. And perhaps a carriage would have been wise, but no, he had to race after the chit half-cocked. Either way, whether traveling by coach or on horseback, drenched clothing was the least of his worries.
“What has she done to me, Demetrius?” He spoke aloud to the horse, having decided to give his patient listener a name. “Fools run after ladies all the time, but only a truly besotted bugger would give no thought to clothing before giving chase.” He didn’t even carry a firearm and here he traveled after dark.
“We’ll stop at the next village with an inn and find a warm place to sleep. Perhaps the mews will have a filly that pleases your eye.” The horse deserved a little recreation after this harrowing day. “I have sworn off ladies myself, but my abstinence needn’t affect you, old chap.”
Demetrius had stopped responding with a shake of his head twenty minutes earlier.
In the morning, Drew would hire a coach to take him the rest of the way to Town, and then he would deal with Miss Lana Hillary.
He traveled perhaps another hour at least before reaching the next village. Soaked, starving, and irritable, he deposited Demetrius at the stables and slopped through the puddle-filled streets until he located the Oak Barrel Inn. Rainwater ran down his cloak in rivulets when he stepped inside the establishment, leaving large wet spots on the floor.
The innkeeper greeted him with a slight nod. “You need a room, sir?”
Drew tossed a purse on the desk. “Locate a change of clothing for me also, and you may lay claim to this entire purse.”
“Yes, sir.” The man turned to a barmaid. “Beatrice, show the gentleman to ’is room, and find some clothes for ’im.”
The barmaid eyed Drew’s wet clothing and smiled. “Of course. Perhaps ye would like a warm bath too, sir?”
“Brilliant suggestion.” He followed the wench upstairs. If he rose early on the morrow, maybe he could catch up to Rich. How far had they traveled today? His brother couldn’t travel too quickly with a child and ladies accompanying him.
The maid opened one of the doors off the hallway and preceded Drew into the room. She lit a lamp with the candle she carried before starting a fire in the fireplace.
“Billy will bring up water for ye’re bath when it’s ready. If ye want to take off yer wet clothes, I can take ’em wit’ me to wash.” She stared unabashedly, waiting for him to strip.
“I’ll wait for the bath, but thank you.” He didn’t care to stand around in the nude nor did he want this Billy walking in on him while he didn’t wear a stitch of clothing.
Beatrice curtsied then left the room.
Drew meandered to the fire and held his hands toward the warmth. His gaze strayed to the bed. Too bad his little peach wasn’t here to share it with him. His body stirred immediately to memories of her silky skin.
A scratch at the door signaled when his bath water arrived. After several trips between two lads, the tub filled to the halfway point. He tossed them each a shilling before they walked out, and then set to peeling off his wet garments.
Drew sank into the warm water and his mood improved a great deal. “Dear God, yes.” After his bath, he would seek out nourishment and feel more like his old self. Plunging his head under the water, he quickly emerged and shook his head. A giggle rang out in the room.
Drew snapped his head around to discover Beatrice had returned with a towel and the most hideous clothing he could imagine.
“Where did you find that atrocity? I asked for clothing, not a horse blanket.”
Her lips narrowed to a firm line. “It is all I could find, sir. We ain’t a fancy clothier. These belong to me older brother.”
“If I leave the funds, will you purchase something decent for the poor man?”
She dropped a hand on her hip. “They ain’t that bad. Ye must be one of those dandies that stop through ’ere on your way to fancy places I’ll never see.”
Drew chuckled. “Didn’t mean to offend, Bea. Just leave everything on the bed, and thanks for your efforts. I’ll make sure you are rewarded later.”
Beatrice didn’t move. “I think I’ll take me brother’s clothes back. And maybe the towel can go too.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
She raised her eyebrows, challenging him to do something about it. She took one step toward the door. “Ye better come and get ’em if ye want ’em, my lord.”
Drew had grown accustomed to the female gender propositioning him, and he had to acknowledge Beatrice’s efforts were less blatant than some offers he received from proper ladies. “If you think I won’t take the garments from you, you are mistaken, love.”
She took two more steps toward the door. “Ye’ll ’ave to be quick about it.”
He shot out of the water and clambered over the side of the metal tub. The maid squealed and threw the towel. Drew snatched it with one hand and wrapped it around his waist before pursuing the mischief-maker.
Beatrice opened the door and ran into the hallway, but he captured a handful of her skirts.
“Come back here, you little vixen. You aren’t getting away that easily.”
The maid giggled and struggled to break his hold.
“Uncle Drew, can I play chase too?”
Drew froze in the corridor. Bloody hell. Finally daring to look up, he met Lana’s furious green eyes. His brother and Phoebe also stood in the hallway, gaping as if he’d gone barking mad.
“Uncle Drew isn’t playing anymore, Stephan,” he mumbled.
“Ah, but you caught her.”
“That’s enough, Stephan,” his mother said, hauling the lad closer to her side.
Drew dropped the maid’s skirts and stepped away from the chit.
Beatrice’s face glowed red. “My apologies, my lord.” Shoving the clothes at him, she curtsied then dashed down the corridor.
Lana glared, sparks shooting from her deep green eyes. He took a step toward her, and she flinched.
“It’s not what it seems, peach. I have no dry clothes and…”
She lifted her nose and sniffed. “If you will excuse me, Lord Richard and Lady Phoebe, I’ll wait for you downstairs.” She rushed by Drew, pressing herself as close to the wall as possible to avoid touching him.
Rich frowned. “Phoebe and Stephan, please accompany Miss Hillary to the dining room. I will meet you in a moment.”
Phoebe shook her head as if to say, “Oh, Drew,” as she and Stephan brushed past.
Drew pulled the towel tighter around his waist and hung his head. Scolded like a young boy.
Once they had disappeared down the stairs, Rich followed Drew to his room and closed the door.
“Where were you this morning?” he asked. “I expected you to present at Shafer Hall to offer for Miss Hillary. What the hell are you doing here dallying with the maid?”
Drew gritted his teeth. “I arrived at Shafer Hall this afternoon to discover you had absconded with Lana.”
Rich lowered himself onto the simple wooden chair by the hearth. “I couldn’t tarry all day, Drew.”
“Last I had heard you hadn’t planned to leave Shafer Hall until after the babe was born.” Drew dropped the towel to the floor and grasped the borrowed trousers, shoving his legs into the garment one at a time.
Rich’s brow creased. “Phoebe started having pains last night. I want her in London where we can access a doctor if needed.”
“Oh. I didn’t know.” He pulled the shirt on over his head and fastened the buttons. “How is she today?”
“Phoebe claims she hasn’t felt anything out of the ordinary today. Just the baby kicking.”
“That has to be a good sign, wouldn’t you agree?”
Rich smiled ruefully. “If she is telling the truth. I shan’t rest easy until we are safely ensconced in Town.”
Drew searched the floor for his boots. He didn’t relish putting
on soggy footwear, but he had little choice. “You didn’t travel far today.”
“We stopped early. The journey is uncomfortable for Phoebe.”
“It beats riding in the rain.” Drew tugged on a boot. “I should join you in the carriage tomorrow.”
His brother held up his hand. “Not on your life, Drew. I can’t participate in Miss Hillary’s suffering. Have you forgotten you’ve ruined the poor girl?”
Drew scoffed. “I’ve ruined her? I was perfectly content before Miss Hillary came along and mucked up my life. She plagues my thoughts morning and night.”
Rich cocked an eyebrow, sending a jolt of irritation through Drew.
He jabbed a finger in his brother’s direction. “And I’ll have you know I proposed last night. She turned me down.” He pulled on the other boot as he reconsidered his statement. “Well, I didn’t exactly propose. But I suggested we marry, which is the same bloody thing, if you ask me. It’s not like I have ever considered shackling myself to anyone else.”
Rich regarded him with an amused grin.
“What are you smirking at, you pompous arse?”
“Which horse died and left you his clothes?”
Drew glanced down at his ensemble. “It’s hard to believe I chased the poor wench for this monstrosity.” The threadbare gray plaid trousers sagged on his frame and the billowing yellowed shirt had enough extra fabric drooping on him to sew a sail. “I seem to have left Shafer Hall without giving much thought to anything other than catching up to you. I had nothing but the clothes on my back.”
Rich chuckled. “Welcome to my world. Love drives a man insane.”
Love? Why, he didn’t love Lana. Granted, he thought about her every minute of every day. But that proved nothing. He did long to hold her, but again he couldn’t put much credence into that either. There was that warm sensation in his chest when he thought of wedding her, but—
“Devil take it.” He loved her. He loved Lana Hillary. Drew collapsed on the bed and cradled his head in his hands. “How… how did this happen?”
Rich came over and slapped him on the back several times. “You’ll survive, I promise.”
Drew suspected his brother mocked him, but only witnessed understanding in his demeanor. “But I never thought it would happen to me.”
“Bound to happen eventually. I shall loan you some clothes,” Rich offered. “You can’t court Miss Hillary in that outfit.”
“Does that mean you’ve reconsidered allowing me to ride in the carriage?”
Rich adopted a stern expression. “Andrew, do you swear you were not planning to bed that maid?”
“Honest, Rich. It never entered my mind.”
“Odd that I should believe you,” he responded with a slight frown. “I must explain everything to Phoebe first.”
Drew cringed. “Must you tell her everything? Pheebs doesn’t need to be privy to all my indignities.”
“It’s nonnegotiable. Otherwise, you may secure your own transportation to Town.”
“Very well.” Drew stood to follow his brother from the room.
“Where are you going?”
“Downstairs to dine.”
“Not with us. Keep your distance tonight until I have spoken with my wife. And gather some decent clothes from my room.” He pointed to a door at the end of the hall. “Until tomorrow.”
“I’m still planning to eat,” Drew grumbled.
Twenty-two
Lana yawned for the fourth time since crawling from bed that morning. Her sleep had been fitful with her waking every half hour it seemed. The horrible scene with Drew in the corridor had preoccupied her dreams.
Thank goodness she had refused his impulsive offer of marriage. She couldn’t tolerate this type of heartache every day. To possess the knowledge that Drew was a man of the town had been upsetting, but to witness him in nothing but a towel, grabbing the young maid… She shuddered with revulsion. He should have driven a dagger into her chest instead. It would have been less painful.
The sooner her party reached London, the quicker she could forget Andrew Forest. If she was lucky, they wouldn’t cross paths this morning, and she would never have to see him again.
Last night, without intending to do so, she had scanned the main room of the inn to see if she could locate Drew when she and her traveling companions left their private dining room. The tavern stood empty except for one old man. Unbidden images of Drew in bed with the maid hit her like a punch to the gut, and Lana’s stomach had threatened to evict her dinner.
How could Drew bed another so soon? Lana’s face flushed as memories of their intimacy flooded her senses. Her body thrilled as it recalled his gentle caresses, which only made her want to cry. Lovemaking meant nothing to Drew. Lana had been nothing more than a willing partner, one of many.
She brushed away the tears she hadn’t realized ran down her cheeks until that moment when a light knock sounded on her door. “Enter,” she called in a small voice.
The door creaked open, but it was taking the person a long time to enter her room.
“I said come in,” she repeated.
The maid from the corridor debacle peered through the crack in the doorway. “Are ye certain I may enter, miss?”
Lana wanted to rescind her offer, but figured the girl had to attend to her duties. She waved her inside. She didn’t blame the maid anyway. The girl had likely been as susceptible to his charm as Lana had been.
“Um…” The girl stood inside the closed door, not moving to stoke the fire or do any of the other things Lana expected were her responsibilities.
“Is there a problem?” Irritation was heavy in Lana’s voice.
The maid scuffed the toe of her boot against the floorboards. “No, miss. I come to offer me apologies for last night is all.”
“I’m sure you have nothing to apologize for. Lord Andrew should be the one offering his regrets for flaunting his corrupt habits in such a public manner.”
The girl’s cheeks flamed a bright red. “About that, miss. It wasn’t milord’s doing.” She glanced up from the floor, her eyes round and as innocent as a fawn’s. “Honest, I didn’ know ’is lordship traveled with ’is intended. I never woulda—”
“I’m not his intended,” Lana protested, her voice rising to a near yell.
The girl’s face scrunched. “But I ’eard the older gent’lman talking ’bout yer marriage to Lord Andrew.”
So, Lord Richard thought to interfere in her life again and insist Drew marry her. What role did Phoebe play in the whole affair? As well-intentioned as her host and hostess might be, Lana wouldn’t allow her companions to force a match between her and Drew. Forcing him into marriage would be nothing but a disaster, and she would be the casualty.
“Obviously, this will not come about,” Lana answered curtly.
“Oh, miss. Please don’t break yer betrothal ’cause of me. I shouldn’t ’ave teased his lordship. I just thought… Sometimes…”
“Say your piece and be done. I haven’t the patience to listen to any more.”
Lana hadn’t thought it possible the girl could turn a darker shade of red, but she managed it until her face almost appeared purple. “You see, miss. Sometimes I make a few extra coin by… Um, I thought his lordship might be game for a little… Well, the gent’lman was dressed all fancy like ’e ’ad money. But ’e wasn’t biting, so I shoulda known ’e wasn’t avail’ble.”
“Lord Andrew turned down your… offer?” Had she heard the girl correctly?
“The gent’lman never gave me a second glance.”
Lana crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “Did Lord Andrew request you speak with me on this matter?”
“No.” The maid’s appalled expression told her Drew wasn’t involved in this particular encounter.
“Nevertheless, he didn’t appear to be pushing you out the door,” Lana said. “As a matter of fact, he was pulling you back inside.”
The girl wrung her hands. “I told ye I was teasing ’im,
miss. I took ’is only clothes. The gent’lman ’ad nothing with ’im like ’e left in a rush. I’m terribly ashamed.”
Lana studied the maid. Although she believed in the girl’s sincerity, Drew couldn’t be trusted. The likelihood of him perpetrating some distasteful act remained high, so Lana wouldn’t lose more sleep just because she had arrived at the wrong conclusion about him.
“You may go about your duties,” Lana said. “I must dress for the long journey.”
The maid curtsied then hurried to stoke the fire and add another log. She walked out of the room but returned within five minutes with warm water for the basin before disappearing again for good.
Lana met Lord Richard, Phoebe, and Stephan in the private room for breakfast before they continued their journey. She sank onto the chair in relief when she saw no sign of Drew.
“Good morning, Lana,” Phoebe greeted. “Did you sleep well?”
She offered a smile rather than lie to her friend. “And you?”
“Not so well.” A worry line creased her brow. Was something wrong with the baby? “I have something I must tell you—”
“Good morning.” Drew’s annoyingly cheerful greeting made Lana cringe.
“Uncle Drew.” Stephan bounced up and down on his seat in his excitement. “Ride with me today.”
Lana gaped at Phoebe. “You wished to inform me Lord Andrew will be joining us?”
Her friend blushed prettily.
Drew slid into the seat beside her. “Come now, peach. No need to stand on formality,” he murmured.
Lana glowered, but adopted a sweet tone for Stephan’s sake. “Yes, Uncle Drew. I believe you should ride with your darling nephew in the other carriage.”
Drew laughed good-naturedly, as if he found her greatly amusing, and then addressed Stephan. “Maybe later in the day, little one. But I promise to play with you when we stop to change horses.”
This seemed to pacify the boy, but his answer disturbed her.
Lana sat with her back rigid. Although she had been hungry when she came downstairs, she found nothing appealed to her anymore. Five days in a carriage with Drew? This has to be the worst punishment ever. Her cheeks heated again as she remembered they would be in the same carriage where they had been intimate.
Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel Page 15