He sighed. “No, Syd. It is safer if I scout on my own and then come back for you once I am certain all is clear.”
Obviously, she did not care for the idea since she was now frowning at him. “You would leave me alone?”
“I would leave you in the capable care of Mr. Henshaw, both of you well hidden. It would only be for a short time, just longenough for me to search the area and make certain Sir Henry and your father are not lying in wait for us.”
She nibbled her lip. “I don’t think I like that plan at all.”
He sighed in resignation. “Would you care to tell me why it is a bad plan?”
Was she going to turn helpless and simpering, afraid to be without him even for fifteen minutes? Syd was a force of nature. If he were Sir Henry, he would sooner face a Royal Navy captain the size of a big ox than an angry Syd.
Why was she fretting? It was a good plan.
“If I am with you,” she said, her lips once again pursed, “then we can simply march straight to the blacksmith’s shop and marry right away. You would not have to waste time doubling back to find me. What if you forgot where you hid me?”
“I am not going to forget where I hid you,” he grumbled. “I scout alone. You will only be a hindrance. What if they are there and you are seen? You cannot run in that gown. Also, they might attempt to shoot me. I cannot risk them hitting you.”
“They won’t dare shoot you if there is a chance of striking me. Sir Henry wants to marry me. In truth, I think he purposely encouraged my father to run up his debts just so he could possess me. He always had an unnatural way of looking at me. The man is vile and manipulative. Ugh, I shiver just thinking of his odious touch. So you see, you are safer if I am with you.”
Oh, lord.
She had that stubborn look in her eye.
He emitted a soft growl to mark his displeasure. “I am not taking you with me, Syd. If it is just me, I can fight back however I wish. Or run, if I wish. Everything changes if I have to worry about you, too. Why make it easy for them to grab you? For the love of heaven, will you not humor me, just this once?”
He could see the request pained her.
She had already decided to stay close to him.
If he left her behind, she would follow.
He was frustrated more than angry, for this was Syd. This is the girl he had chosen to love. Well, his heart had selected her knowing full well she was fiercely independent and willful. It wasn’t her fault that he loved her.
“Let’s see what happens once we reach Gretna Green,” she suggested, no doubt hoping he would see the error of his ways after a few hours of stewing over their difference of opinion.
Rather than fight this losing battle, Octavian decided to spend the time figuring out how to best protect her while keeping her by his side.
In truth, she was agile and resourceful.
And what she had said made sense, for once he determined the village was safe to enter, he would not need to double back and fetch her since she would already be with him.
It was not the worst idea he had ever heard. Indeed, it was not terrible at all. But to his mind, it wasn’t the best one available to them.
However, he had to admit there was a risk to leaving her behind.
A travel coach and team of horses was no easy thing to hide. There was also a chance that if Syd– not that it would ever happen– actually obeyed him and remained wherever he put her, she might be found and captured while he was off scouting.
Mr. Henshaw, although amiable and diligent, was in no shape to fight off assailants. Nor did Octavian want their driver to risk his life protecting her. Protecting Syd was his responsibility and he was not going to delegate it to anyone else.
Perhaps she was right to insist on going with him.
“All right,” he said with another resigned sigh. “I’ll take you with me when I scout.”
She cast him a dazzling smile. “Thank you, Octavian. You won’t regret the decision.”
He shook his head and laughed. “Oh, I’m fairly certain I will.”
As the miles rolled by and the road turned smoother, Syd fell asleep.
