Octavian watched her, marveling how angelic she looked.
But he did not dwell on her kissable lips or long, sooty eyelashes because he needed to remain alert. There were other conveyances on the road now. They passed several carriages and riders on horseback heading south, and were joined by others heading north.
A few riders galloped ahead of their carriage but Octavian saw nothing suspicious about these men. They appeared to be nothing more than lone riders on their way to Scotland and did not take any particular interest in their hired carriage.
“Syd, we are approaching the next coaching inn. When we arrive, I want you to remain in the carriage while I enter the common room and look around. I’ll obtain a private dining room for us since it is best we are not seen by all who come and go. The place will be busy since it is midday and plenty of travelers will be stopping to dine as well as rest their horses.”
“So I am to wait for you until you return to fetch me?”
“Yes, same as I plan to do once we reach Gretna Green. We do not enter that village until I am certain Sir Henry has not set a trap for us.”
“That again. I’ve told you that I am going with you.”
“And here? Now? So help me, don’t you dare poke your head out of this carriage before I know we are safe at this coaching inn.”
She rolled her eyes. “It is an empty threat. I know you will never hurt me. Besides, I have every intention of obeying you. It is a fine idea. I only give you trouble when I think your ideas are second best.”
“Second best?Second best.” Was his heart still aching for this girl? He wanted to throttle her just now. He had years of battleexperience and she had none, yet she had the gall to tell him that his plan was weak? “I am one of the finest ship commanders in the Royal Navy. I stayed alive and kept my crew alive because of my tactical prowess. I know how to keep alert to an enemy attack. In fact, I’ve been in more battles than you have had dances during your come-out Season.”
She snorted. “That isn’t saying much since no one but you ever asked me to dance.”
“Others would have asked if you hadn’t frightened the wits out of every man who approached you with talk of cadavers and the science of blood splatters. How could they not worry you planned to experiment on them next?”
“I would never hurt a living soul!”
“That remains to be seen,” he muttered, climbing down from the carriage. “Never mind, just stay put.”
A quick search revealing nothing worrisome, which meant either they were far ahead of Sir Henry and Syd’s father or they would hit trouble at Gretna Green because those two were already there and waiting to ambush them.
Sir Henry did not like to be crossed.
Being that he was so taken with Syd, it was not outside the realm of possibility that he would race across England to prevent her from marrying someone else. In truth, it was not much of a stretch at all. The man was greedy and malevolent. If he saw something he wanted, he would never relent until he’d grabbed it.
Octavian returned to the carriage and held out his hand to assist Syd down. “All safe. Come along, but keep your head down.”
She gave him a big-eyed stare. “I know what to do, Octavian. What do you think of this bonnet? Very clever of me to put it on, don’t you think?”
The hideous hat completely hid her lush hair, but it could not hide the breathtaking charm of her face. Her big eyes were ensorcelling and her lips were soft as rose petals.
“Is that one of Adela’s bonnets?”
She nodded. “She never wears it, so I took it with me. It hides my face rather well, don’t you think?”
“Not all that well. You still look beautiful and people will notice.” Lord, what was wrong with him? This was no time to be tossing her compliments like a besotted schoolboy. “Keep your head down as much as possible.”
She cast him a soft, vulnerable smile. “You think I am beautiful?”
“Sometimes,” he muttered, giving her nose a playful tweak. “Mostly, you are aggravating. Being pretty does not excuse your irritating behavior.”
She grinned when he ended by giving her cheek a light caress. “You are not always a prize yourself, you know.”
Octavian chuckled. “I know. Come along,wife. Let’s eat and get back on the road.”
He helped her down, his heartbeat quickening as it always did whenever he touched her. “The hat is growing on me. You look adorable in it.”
He could see why Sir Henry was infatuated with her. Yes, any man with half a brain would fight for this gem of a girl. That old goat was reprehensible in many ways, but no one would ever accuse him of having bad taste in women.
Octavian did not know whether Sir Henry’s wives had died in childbirth, which was a common enough occurrence, sadly. Or had he treated them roughly? Rumors circulated about him regarding his efficiency in enforcing his debts. Was he thatefficientwith his wives? He could not allow Syd anywhere near that man.
