Nick laughed. “And would you have cared if I’d stolen something that was yours? Something to do with Miss Brittany?”
Jack didn’t answer. Would he have cared? Aside from the general feeling of propriety any man had toward his wife-to-be, did he care what Ashley Brittany did? He tried to imagine her in Nick’s arms, tried to imagine his brother kissing her, touching her, and felt nothing other than general annoyance.
But when he turned his thoughts to Maddie and Mr. Dover, Maddie and any man, anger exploded inside him. He was furious just thinking of Dover and Maddie inside the carriage together at the moment.
And that was why he was up here. Because he wouldn’t tolerate any bloody feelings creeping up on him. He would watch her marry Dover, and he would keep out of the way and allow it to happen. And though he didn’t anticipate any more opportunities like last night had afforded the two of them, he would not touch her again.
No matter how much his fingers ached to feel her skin or his mouth longed to slant over her rosy lips and delve inside her sweetness, he would not do it.
He glanced at Nick and saw that his brother was watching him.
“Perhaps I should be the one to ask you what happened last night. I might be guilty of theft, but I stole for a good cause.”
“Let it go,” Jack said, looking at the rolling fields of crops they were passing. “You and your good causes almost got us all killed last night.”
“And saved us all this morning.” Nick grinned and indicated the carriage.
Jack suppressed a grin. “You’re a regular Robin Hood.”
“And I guess that makes you Little John.”
“DO YOU THINK HE’S ASLEEP?” Maddie whispered to Ashley, who was seated beside her in the carriage. They’d just stopped to change horses, and she’d been deathly afraid Mr. Dover would wake. She‘d been waiting to speak to Ashley alone for most of the day, but the Martingale brothers would not let them out of the carriage for more than two minutes, and across from them, Mr. Dover had remained steadfastly awake and talkative. While he’d droned on about schedules and lost time and distances from Huntingdon to Stamford, Maddie allowed her mind to wander and wished for privacy in order to talk with Ashley.
And now it appeared she would finally have her chance. Mr. Dover’s glasses were askew on his face and his head listed to one side. He breathed in and out heavily, arms crossed over his chest, which contracted and expanded with every breath.
“Is he asleep?” Maddie whispered.
“I think so,” Ashley whispered back. “Thank God. If I never hear another word about schedules and lost time, I’ll be a happy woman.”
“Me, too,” Maddie agreed.
“Good luck. You’re about to marry the man.” Maddie frowned. Her friend had a point. A lifetime with Mr. Dover was looking a bit long at the moment. A lifetime of “Dinner is now exactly three minutes late” or “Tea is precisely six seconds early.”
And what would he be like with the children? Lord, she remembered that he already had two small children! In a matter of a day or so she would be a mother and a wife.
Maddie shook her head. Best not to think of it until she had to. If she had to.
She bit her lip. There was that optimism again.
“I asked Lord Blackthorne about the Duke of Bleven this morning,” she whispered to Ashley.
Ashley looked away from the windows. “Don’t tell me. Lord Nicholas did something to offend the duke.”
Maddie nodded. “He told you?”
“No. I know the idiot man well enough to guess.”
Maddie let those words sink in between them. “And how well do you know Lord Nicholas? You never mentioned him before.”
Ashley shrugged and looked back out the window. Maddie had known Ashley long enough to know her friend didn’t lie. Evading a question was as close as Ashley Brittany came to perfidy.
“Ashley?” Maddie said, unwilling to let the matter go. “Was there—is there—something between you and Lord Nicholas?”
Ashley looked at her curiously. “I’ll answer if you do.”
Maddie blinked. “No, there’s nothing between Lord Nicholas and I. Why would you think . . . ? Oh. I see.” She swallowed. “You’re not asking about Lord Nicholas.”
Ashley shook her head. “And don’t lie to me.”
