“Oh. And what sort of predicament might a duke find himself in?”
She sounded so intrigued Blake inwardly cursed. “I’d rather you didn’t ask.”
“Why ever not?”
“Because...” He furiously fought for a suitable answer. “Men things?”
“Menthings?” Her fascination grew.
“Yes,” Blake said firmly, nodding for emphasis. “Menthings.”
She laughed, the bright melody of it filling the carriage. Lord, if his ears could catch hold of that sound and never let go, they would grasp it with a grip that would never unfasten. How long had it been since he heard such sincere, artless laughter? Too long.
Far too long.
“I suppose we all are allowed our secret things,” she said, her laughter fading into a soft chuckle. “Very well, I won’t pry.”
Blake relaxed, reassured, and braced for whatever lay ahead. “Thank you.” It suddenly occurred to him. “You’re not traveling with a chaperone. Why not?”
“At my age? Do not make me laugh. My driver was enough.”
Nonsense. “Your driver was a boy. Can a boy protect you against ruffians?”
She pulled a face. “I am an adult, though. I can take care of myself.”
“You can’t be more than . . .”
She arched a brow.
“Twenty.”
“Fourand twenty.” She laughed again. “A veritable spinster.”
“They attach the label of spinster at such a young age?” Blake scoffed.
“Oh, yes,” she said with mock seriousness. “By society’s standards, I’m practically ancient. Why, they might as well send me to the healing waters of Bath to knit socks and tell tales of the good old days.”
“Well, if you are ancient, I’d say it suits you, healing waters or not.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Please do.
Blake observed Lady Rosilee as silence fell between them, the corner of her lips still curved in a half smile. What was she thinking, what plans and schemes were forming in that mind of hers? Did that even matter at this point?
She was here.
He was here.
They were together. They had met again.
He admired her courage, her willingness to take risks, to step into the unknown. It was a rare quality, especially in a world that valued caution and restraint. Blake had never been one to charge headlong into action. He usually avoided it. But once he set his mind to something, his determination was unshakable. They had that in common. It had driven him to this point, just as it had led her to set off to London without a chaperone.
Damnation. The chaperone.
“We will be staying overnight at an inn,” Blake said, his mind racing. “Should we hire a maid for you?”
She surprised him by saying, “No, need. Let’s just say we are family.”
