by Dawn Brower
“Promises, promises, Your Grace.” Serenity grinned. “I look forward to your attempt.”
He wanted to wipe that smug smile off her lovely face. There was one way he could do that. If he gave in to his need to kiss her, she wouldn’t be lifting her lips in self-satisfaction. No, she’d be using them in much more pleasurable ways. The idea was starting to sound rather enticing, and he almost gave into it.
“There will be no attempt,” he said assuredly. “It will be nothing but success.”
If there was one thing Brandon was good at, it was hatching schemes that ended in victory. He played to win and had the patience to see a plan through. At the conclusion of it, she’d fall in line and go down a path of his design. Then she wouldn’t be teasing him relentlessly. When he won, and he fully intended to, she’d realize he was capable of turning the tables on her.
“As I said,” she told him. “I’m all aflutter waiting for you to pull one over on me.”
“You do say the strangest things,” he replied. “Since you’re here, why don’t you tell me why you felt the need to sneak into the carriage.”
“Would you have let me come along if I’d asked?”
He frowned. “No, of course not.” She was safer at the castle. Bringing her along into danger was a bad idea. Surely she understood that. She’d implied there was danger in Manchester and refused to give him any information he could use. She, more than him, knew exactly what she was heading into. It still irritated him that she declined to share vital details with him. Whatever bad things were about to happen, he could prevent it, but not without her giving him facts to work with.
She shook her head and sighed. “Then why are you wasting our time asking a question you already know the answer to?”
“Fair point,” he agreed. “Explain to me why you disobeyed me?”
He realized his mistake in his choice of words immediately. Her lips pursed into displeasure and her cheeks flushed a bright red. “I’m not yours to order around.” Serenity kicked him hard in the shin. “You’re lucky I like you or I’d do something worse.”
Brandon rubbed his leg and hoped he never figured out what worse was. That had bloody well hurt. “Fine,” he said. “I will try not to order you around. I’m not making any promises though. It’s in my nature to do so.”
She nodded. “I know,” Serenity said, resigned. “Still not going to allow you to get away with it on a regular basis. Why don’t we agree to disagree for now? We can discuss your stupid plans to go to Manchester and why it’s a bad decision later. I’m tired and plan on taking a nap until we reach our first stop.”
Brandon opened his mouth to disagree with her, but held back. He had no desire to receive a kick to his other leg. She was right. They could table their discussion for now. If she was truly going to nap, it would give him time to think and plan. He couldn’t resist goading her one last time though. “Carriages aren’t the most comfortable places to rest.”
“I can sleep anywhere,” she replied. To prove her point she curled up on the bench and closed her eyes. A few moments passed, and then her soft snores filled the carriage. He was almost jealous of that ability. She was lovely even in sleep. The male attire had to go though. As soon as they stopped, he was going to insist she change. If she even had anything to change into… He couldn’t be certain if she planned that far ahead. She’d thought to change into scandalous clothing, but probably failed to realize she might need proper garments later on.
He couldn’t wait for them to reach the last stop for the night. Serenity didn’t know it yet, but she was going to be his. In every way possible… He was done fighting himself.
If he needed a sign to claim her—this one glared brightly before him like a beacon of divine will. The thought of losing her forever opened his eyes. He’d been resigned to never seeing her again, but she didn’t listen to him and return home. Brandon would not let her go a second time. If she didn’t want to stay with him, she shouldn’t have stayed. Besides, it would be much easier to protect her if he kept her close to his side. He would even use that as an excuse if necessary for them to share a room. Somehow, he doubted she’d fight him on it though. Serenity had been baiting him for months to do the very thing he planned on. It would be a night neither one of them would forget.
Chapter 5
The carriage rolled to a stop in front of an inn. A sign swung over the door with the name “Stallion and Snapdragon” emblazoned on it. The building was in the central courtyard of the town. A tall arch sat in front of the road leading toward the coaching inn. A stagecoach pulled away, leaving dust in its wake. Serenity wrinkled her nose and fought a sneeze.
“What town is this again?” Serenity asked. She was tired and couldn’t wait to stretch her legs. They’d stopped earlier in the day and he’d made her change into a dress. She hadn’t bothered to pack, well anything. There hadn’t been much time to change and stow away on the carriage, let alone pack a trunk.
The duke had glared and then stomped away from her. He’d returned with a gown he somehow managed to purchase. She wanted to know who he’d managed to talk out of their clothing; it made her feel a little guilty for not thinking ahead. At least they were compensated for their loss… The dress didn’t fit her as well as she’d like, but she couldn’t complain, considering.
Hell, of course she could and would every opportunity she found. The duke could’ve let her wear pants. They were more comfortable and easier to travel in. These skirts were too long and she tripped over them when she walked. Did that matter to the pompous jerk? Not one iota. Whenever she brought it up, he claimed it was unseemly for her to travel as a man and he’d not have people staring at them. It would call undo attention to them. She managed to refrain from rolling her eyes. She didn’t tell him that they’d stare no matter what. He was an imposing figure and he drew attention by breathing. Now they were in another town and another coaching inn. Was it too much to ask they stay at this particular one longer than the time it took to change horses?
“Pendlebury,” Brandon finally replied. “We will stay here for the night and travel to Swinton in the morning.”
Thank the Lord…
“The inn has an unfortunate name,” she replied. “What on Earth possessed them to give it such a ridiculous moniker?”
The duke laughed. “I’ll let you figure that out for yourself.”
He pushed the carriage door open and then offered her assistance out. Serenity tripped over the hem of her skirt and fell into his arms. Skirts were going to be the death of her one day, especially this particular one. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he twirled around to set her on her feet.
“Thanks,” she said, brushing down her skirts. “Though I feel the need to point out this wouldn’t be an issue if you’d allowed me to remain in pants.”
“Ladies don’t wear male clothing,” he replied. “I’m not going to keep repeating myself.”
“And yet you do,” she retorted. “Why stop now?” Serenity lifted a brow. “You do it so well.”
The duke didn’t bother to answer her taunts. He brushed past her and headed inside the inn. She was left with two choices: wait outside or follow him inside. There really was no reason to remain where she was unless she wanted to breathe in more dust. The constant traffic didn’t leave much to be desired. It had to be better in the Stallion and Snapdragon. Serenity stepped through the door and halted. The inside didn’t look like a normal inn. If she were honest, she didn’t know what to expect from an establishment with the name Stallion and Snapdragon, but what she found certainly wouldn’t have topped her list.
One side of the room had a tavern of sorts. A bar ran across the far wall with stools sitting in front of it. Several men sat talking to the server behind the bar. All of them had some sort of alcoholic beverage in their hand. A few tables were pushed to the side with sturdy chairs. The hardwood floor was stained in spots—probably from the abundance of alcohol spilled on it. Serenity didn’t want to think about what e
lse had landed on the floor to leave a permanent mark. The men were loud and jovial as they sloshed their drinks back. By the looks of their bright red cheeks, they were all well and truly drunk too.
Serenity shook her head and studied the other half of the room. It had small tables and delicate looking chairs lined up against the wall. Ladies sat drinking from tea cups and nibbling on an assortment of pastries. All of the ladies didn’t appear to notice the ruckus on the other side of the room. Either that or they did their very best to pretend it didn’t exist. The stains that littered the tavern side hadn’t made their way over to the ladies’ side of the room. Serenity was at a loss what to refer to it as. In her time, she’d have considered it a coffee shop, but without the coffee…
A waitress flitted between the two rooms, attempting to appease all of the patrons. They really needed to hire more staff. The owners were working the girl too hard, and she looked ready to fall to the floor. Considering her constant movements back and forth across the two strange parts of the inn, Serenity didn’t blame her.
“I’m in some version of The Twilight Zone,” she muttered.
“Pardon me?” the duke asked. “I didn’t hear what you said.”
“It’s nothing,” Serenity replied with a wave of her hand. “Do you come here often?”
The duke seemed to be in his element in the room. His aura glowed brightly as he studied the area. Something about the place must be part of his plans. Was it a meeting place of some sort? It did have a chaotic element to it that would appeal to a spy. A clandestine encounter could go unnoticed in a place that didn’t know if it was a place that catered to drunks or high society.
He shrugged and told her, “If my traveling brings me in this part of the country I like to stop in.”
“Mmhmm.” Serenity tapped her fingers together. “Care to tell me what we’re really doing here?”
He glanced down, widening his eyes. “We’re here to rest. I believe I’ve already explained this to you.”
She wasn’t buying it for a second. His aura burned brighter with the deflection. It wasn’t a lie exactly. They did have to rest, but he’d chosen to stop at this particular inn for a reason. Serenity planned on figuring out what he was up to before they left. She was rather tired of him keeping her at arm’s length. He’d realize soon enough she wasn’t going to sit back and play the part of lady. Something he should have come to accept already. She had been living at his estate caring for his son for months. The only concession she’d given him was to dress the part of an eighteenth century lady. She couldn’t change who she was even for him. She’d forever be a woman who fully believed in equality and the right to tread her own path—much like any female born in the twenty-first century and several decades before that.
“Your Grace,” she said sweetly. “I’m not a simpleton, and you need to stop treating me as one.”
“And if I don’t?” he replied. He folded his arms over his chest and tilted his head. “What, pray tell, could you possibly do to me?”
She narrowed her gaze and considered her next move. The duke was a man of extreme patience. She might need to start adopting his methods. If she wanted to win, she had to be smarter. The whole time she’d been reacting to everything he did. That was no way to out-maneuver a master spy. Information was power, and her gift gave her the upper hand. If he wanted to challenge her, so be it. Serenity grinned and lifted her chin. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
A servant came over to them and bowed. “Your Grace, we have your usual chamber prepared for you.”
Had he sent word ahead of time? How had they known to arrange it when they’d arrived mere minutes ago? Serenity had to admire a man who planned so far ahead. The duke appeared to think of every possible outcome.
“That is much appreciated Bogsworth,” the duke replied. “I trust it has been set to my exact requirements?”
“Indeed, Your Grace,” Bogsworth said. He turned toward Serenity and asked, “Will you be requiring accommodations as well, my lady?”
The duke opened his mouth to reply, but Serenity beat him to the punch. “Not at all. I’ll be staying with my husband, of course.” She looped her arm through his. “I so hate to be separated from him.”
It was his move now. Would he refute her claim or allow the lie to hold? The muscles in his jaw twitched. His mouth formed a thin white line for a moment, and then he allowed his lips to tilt into a smile. “Her Grace is correct,” he said. “We’re newly wed, and it’s the beginning of our honeymoon.” The duke turned toward Serenity and said, “Bogsworth is the owner of the Stallion and Snapdragon.”
That had to have been difficult for Branterberry to utter. Serenity almost felt sorry for the duke, but refused to waste that particular emotion on him. He was getting his just desserts. “Brandon…,” she said, tasting his first name on her tongue. She’d refused to use it before, hoping he’d ask her to do so. “…has been raving about your establishment for weeks. It’s one of his favorite inns in all of England. I must say, I’m fascinated by its design. Wherever did you come up with the idea of dividing it into two different types of business in the common room?”
Bogsworth beamed at her praise. His aura brightened to a dark red as he started to talk about it. “It’s my wife’s idea. She thinks a lady should have a space of her own, even out in public. We’re hoping to expand and have the rooms entirely separate at some point. Unfortunately, it can become rather loud at times when we’re at full capacity.”
Serenity could see the potential. “And the name?” She still thought it rather unfortunate, but now that she’d seen the inside, it rather made sense.
“It represents my misses and me,” Bogsworth grinned. “I’m the, err…”
“Stallion,” Serenity supplied. No doubt he considered his wife the flower he plundered with his randy nature too. “And your wife must be a force of nature being compared to a flower that resembles the face of a dragon.”
The duke glared at Serenity. He gritted his teeth but remained silent during the exchange. No doubt once they were in private he’d scream at her for impersonating his wife. She was actually looking forward to the exchange. She hoped it proved to be as riveting as she anticipated. She made sure to keep her attention on Bogsworth during their discussion. In reality, the duke held her in thrall and she hummed with awareness.
“Indeed, she is,” Bogsworth said. “I’ll make sure to introduce you to her before you leave.”
What had they been talking about? Oh yeah, his wife. “I look forward to meeting her,” she replied cheerfully.
Bogsworth nodded. “I’ll have one of the serving girl’s show you to your chamber.”
There was more than one serving girl? Serenity glanced around. Huh. There was, but she realized why she’d thought otherwise. They were all dressed in a similar fashion and even had the same dark brown colored hair. They appeared to almost be interchangeable. She studied them and found minute differences. One girl had a tiny mole on her left cheek, and another had a dimple that appeared when she smiled. They may have similar coloring, but they were different if she paid attention.
“That would be lovely,” Serenity said when the duke failed to acknowledge Bogsworth. Was he really that mad about her little lie? It wasn’t like it would force him to wed her in truth.
Bogsworth strolled away and headed in the direction of one of the serving girls. The girl nodded as the owner spoke to her. Serenity glanced away from them and up at the duke.
“You can stop giving me the silent treatment any time now,” she told him. “Spill it out and you’ll feel all better.”
“Oh, I’ll be spilling something at some point,” he agreed. His voice held an edge of amusement and warning—or maybe it was a promise. “And it will assuredly feel more than better when I do.”
She gaped at him as equal parts surprise and exhilaration filled her. Did he imply what she thought he did? Excitement pooled in her belly and she tingled with eagerness. “Don’t make me a promise you�
�re not going to keep.”
“I don’t plan on it,” he said. The duke leaned down and whispered in her ear. “What I do have in mind should have you running scared.”
He nodded at her and then strolled away. Fool. She had no intention of running from him. She licked her lips and stared at him. He’d given her permission to touch him in ways she’d been dreaming about. Why would she willingly give that up? The duke might be trying to scare her, but he’d done the exact opposite. When she was alone in that room with him, she’d give him a night he wouldn’t ever forget.
Chapter 6
Brandon strolled to the tavern side of the Stallion and Snapdragon. He needed a damn drink. Maybe if he imbibed enough he’d be able to pass out and ignore the urges burning through him. The idea of stripping Serenity bare and kissing every inch of her wouldn’t leave his mind. She’d pushed him too far this time.
He wanted her, but the more he thought about it, it wasn’t a good time. They were on the brink of entering dangerous territory. Bedding her was the last thing he should be thinking of doing. Maybe once they were back at Branterberry… He shook the thought away. As much as he wanted her, he had to abstain until he could be sure she was safe. If she’d share what she knew, perhaps he could stop it and they could head home sooner.
He still couldn’t believe Serenity had claimed to be his wife. What terrified him was that he liked the sound of it. The more time he spent in her company, the more he wanted her to stay with him forever. He’d prefer her to actually be his wife before he seduced her now that the idea had grown on him. Somehow, he doubted that would happen though. As much as he liked to think he could keep his hands off of her he realized that wasn’t going to happen. Once they were alone in a room together it was inevitable. He gestured toward the bartender. The man came over to him immediately and asked, “Yes, Your Grace.”