And, he had to admit, he’d also have to behave differently himself and certainly not do things like stare at Daizell’s bare torso, the skin wet, gleaming with copper-gold curls. Thank goodness Daizell hadn’t noticed his momentary fascination.
‘Cass.’
It didn’t even register for a second. Daizell prodded him in the side. ‘Cass!’
He sat up. Cass: that was his name on this journey. ‘What is it?’
‘We’re here. Were you asleep?’
‘Half.’ The Duke – Cassian, he reminded himself – looked around. The light was fading, and they were approaching a neat sort of inn. ‘Where are we?’
‘The Bear and Staff, I understand. Some miles outside Stratford, and that’s all I can tell you.’
They clambered down with their bags. Cassian both resented the weight of his, and wished he’d brought a lot more clothes. He would have to ask about laundry. Habit told him to stand back while all was made ready for him; humility reminded him that Daizell knew far better than he did how to command an innkeeper’s attention. There was nothing wrong with accepting help as long as one gave it too, and it was very tempting to let someone else arrange matters for him as he always had. But Daizell glanced at him and gave a little wave to usher him forward, so he plucked up his courage and went in.
It turned out that commanding was not required. TheBear and Staff was no busy coaching inn, and its landlord was obsequious in his delight at their custom. Of course they could have rooms for the night, and he would have the sheets warmed right away. Dinner? Why, the best they could serve; he regretted to his very soul that he had no fine wines to offer, only elderflower wine of his wife’s making, unless perhaps the gentlemen would prefer ale?
Cassian chose the ale, having noted Daizell’s eyes widen in alarm at the mention of elderflower wine, and they were ushered to a tiny but very pleasant parlour where they both collapsed into chairs.
‘Your health,’ Daizell said, raising his tankard. ‘Good God, what a day.’
‘It has been long. And eventful.’
‘And, I regret to say, with all the delay, we might have lost the trail.’
‘I know. It can’t be helped. We’ll get on our way to Stratford tomorrow. It’s all we can do. And if we can’t track him from there, we can . . .’ He wasn’t quite sure what they could do. He looked hopefully at Daizell.
‘We’ll work something out,’ his companion said, with cheerful confidence. ‘There’s always the Gloucester pawn-shops.’
‘Yes. Exactly. We’ve only lost a day, really.’
‘And we can’t do anything at all about that now, so we might as well enjoy the evening.’ Daizell held out his tankard, and Cassian clinked it with his.
They did enjoy it. The landlord served them a very satisfactory meal – plain cooking, but good, and the seasoning of hunger and physical exertion made it delicious. Cassian ate with relish, and enjoyed watching Daizell wolf his meal, andhalf way down his second mug of ale, he felt as comfortable as he’d been in his life.
That was when they heard the noise outside the parlour.
‘I understand that, miss, but I’ve only one parlour and it is commanded already by two gentlemen.’ The landlord, pleading.
‘Gentlemen will understand that a lady’s needs come first.’ A young man’s voice, trying for firmness.
‘But the gentlemen have commanded—’
‘Then they must be disappointed. I have a lady here.’
‘A lady? Not a wife?’ That was a female voice, tone ominous. Daizell, who was eavesdropping as shamelessly as Cassian, gave him a gleeful look and mouthed,Landlady, while tapping the fourth finger of his left hand. Cassian blinked, then understood a second later as the young man said, ‘No – that is—’
‘Not your wife? Your sister, then?’
‘Uh, no. I mean, yes,’ the young man added, and then, ‘Er, well, no.’
‘No. And no attendant with you,miss?’ The landlady’s voice was rising. ‘This is a respectable house. I won’t stand for any nonsense.’
‘We came by a misfortune on the journey,’ the young man said, sounding somewhat harassed. ‘And I am asking you to provide a private room, and two bedchambers,andan attendant for the lady tonight.’
‘Our girl could—’ the landlord began.
‘Our girl won’t be assisting at an elopement!’ his wife said over him. ‘And I won’t have any such thing here. This is a respectable house!’
