Less “safe,” at least for Toby, was having to travel in such close proximity to Diana Locke. He was itchingly conscious of her warmth beside him, even though they were both wearing overcoats and were sitting sufficiently far apart that only the heavy fabrics touched.
Ignoring the oddly insistent awareness, the drag on his senses she seemed to exert, he transferred his gaze to the scene beyond the window just as they rolled past a signpost to a minor village.
Roland had seen the signpost. Frowning, he looked at Toby. “You told Gunter we would go to Graz, but I just remembered—we went past the turnoff some way back.”
Toby smiled reassuringly. “We’re not going by that road.” He’d told Gunter to eschew the most-frequented route to Graz in favor of continuing through Neunkirchen and Gloggnitz. “There’s another, rather shorter road farther on. We’ll stop and see what’s in the hamper and let Bruno have a bit of a run”—and let everyone else stretch their legs—“then take the other road. We should reach Graz in time for lunch.”
Late lunch, admittedly, but they had the contents of the hamper to tide them over until then.
In deciding their route, he was doing all he could to keep open their options for potential destinations. From where they were, they could drop down to Graz or swing north to Salzburg. If anyone picked up their trail in Vienna, he wanted as many chances as possible for any such pursuers to take a wrong turn.
They rattled on, and to stop himself fixating on the lady beside him, he turned his mind to what behavioral changes he would need to make to believably appear as a gentleman escorting his family about Europe on a sightseeing holiday.
Not long after, they approached their turnoff, just outside the village of Krieglach. There was a grassy area shaded by trees opposite the road they needed to take, and Gunter brought the coach and horses to a halt there, where a trough provided water for the horses.
Gunter swung to the ground, and while he tended the horses, Toby climbed down and helped his “family” to descend.
When Bruno leapt down at Roland’s heels, Toby handed Roland the dog’s leash. “There’s sure to be rabbits about. Don’t let him get free.”
“I won’t,” Roland said as Bruno tugged him toward the trough.
Helga handed Toby the basket, and he helped her down the steps. Next came Bryce and Evelyn, and at the last, Diana held out her hand, and Toby gripped it and steadied her to the grass.
She retrieved her fingers as if his touch burned and busied herself straightening her skirts.
He noticed, but pretended not to.
Helga had already spread out a traveling rug. She sat at one corner and started unpacking the hamper.
The children were running hither and yon over the thick grass, laughing as they played with Bruno.
From where she stood a yard from Toby, Diana murmured, “We were right to bring him—Bruno, I mean.”
Toby nodded. “The more they have in their lives that’s normal, the more settled they’ll be.” The better able to cope.
Other conveyances of various sorts rattled past in both directions. The sky was pale blue, hazed by thin clouds that hung more definitely over the purple mountains lining the horizon ahead.
The children spotted the goodies Helga was laying out—cakes, buns, cheese, and fruit—and came swooping back to fall on the rug and make their selections.
Toby grinned. “Food always works. Good to be reminded of that.”
When, plainly curious, Diana threw him a questioning glance, he admitted, “I’ve never traveled with children before. Not as an adult. And as one of the younger siblings in my family, although I know our parents traveled with us occasionally, on holiday visits here and there, I can’t remember how they managed us.”
“Well”—a somewhat rueful smile curved her lips—“as I’m an only child, your memories, however faint, will be more useful than mine.”
“But you’ve had more experience of these three. You’ll have more insight into what works to steer them in the direction we need them to go.”
She made an equivocal sound, and he and she went to join the group on the rug.
The children were soon satiated and leapt up again to run and play.
Toby and Diana watched them.
Diana observed, “The more energy they run off, the better, at least in terms of getting to our next stop.”
Helga murmured in agreement.
With the horses settled, Gunter joined them.
