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Mary poured glasses of lemonade for herself and Caro. She held out the jug. “Would you like lemonade or ale?”

“I’ll take ale, thank you,” Kit responded, pushing a mug across to her.

“I will as well,” Huntley added. Once his mug was filled, Huntley took a long pull. “The others should be here shortly. They are giving the nursemaids time to eat and stretch their legs.”

Caro grinned. “And letting the boys run off some of their energy in a nearby field.”

Huntley reached across the table, covering her hand with his. “It won’t be long before ours is doing the same.”

While they gazed at one another, Kit glanced at Mary. If he hadn’t been listening, he would have missed her small sigh. That was what he and Mary both wanted, and it was up to him to get them there. The only question was how.

At that moment, the door opened to a cacophony of high-pitched laughter. Phoebe and Anna strolled in, with Marcus and Rutherford following, bouncing the boys on their shoulders. Soon all that was left of the meal were crumbs.

“By the by,” Kit asked Huntley as they watched Arthur and Ben finally succumb to Morpheus, “why did Maufe select this inn over the other? ”

“The innkeeper here did not argue with Maufe when he explained what he wanted. The other one did.”

Caro giggled. “I’ve always said Maufe adds to our consequence.”

“Did I not hear that he and your lady’s maid married?” Kit asked.

“They did indeed.” Huntley grinned. “An unusual step, but one Caro and I supported wholeheartedly.”

Forty minutes or so later, the group re-boarded their carriages.

Kit half expected Mary to make her excuses to him and ride with the other ladies, but when she entered the yard, she gave him a small smile and made her way to his curricle.

Before he could get there to hand her in, Dent had done it.

Kit stifled a growl. He’d have to speak with his groom about being so efficient when it came to Mary.

Disgruntled, he climbed up. At least he had her attention for the next two hours.

She gave him the ribbons. “It is your turn.”

“Thank you.”

They sat in silence while he maneuvered the carriage through the busy street and out of town.

The landscape once again turned into gently rolling hills.

Mary pulled a piece of paper from her pelisse pocket.

“I purchased this from the landlord. It lists the towns and villages along the way. I thought it might be interesting.”

He glanced over. She held a thick, brightly colored rectangular paper. He doubted it would be much help. “It might at that.”

They passed the time commenting about the countryside, and when they entered a village, Mary brought out the map. “This is Akeld.”

In a blink of an eye they were surrounded by fields again.

She frowned. “I must say, the map made it seem larger. I didn’t even see the inn mentioned.”

Kit had, and it was not more than a crofter’s cottage. “We shall have to see what the next village brings.”

But the next village was only slightly more prosperous than the first.

Mary shook the map. “And all this time I thought I was missing things when my family traveled so quickly.”

Unable to help himself, he let out a bark of laughter.

Her head snapped around to him. “What is so funny?”

“I imagine”—Kit struggled to bring himself under control—“you were on large post roads, not smaller ones such as this, and passing through significantly larger towns and villages.”

She gave a rueful smile. “You might have a point. Will it be like this until we reach Edinburgh?”

If he said it would be, she might abandon him for the ladies’ carriage. His laughter died. “Not having traveled this way before, I can’t say, but we shall find out.”

They passed a signpost to Flodden, and agreed they did not need to stop at the famous battlefield.

Finally they were hailed by the same Huntley footman as before. “My lady, sir, you’re to go to the Collingswood Arms on the main street through Cornhill. Mr. Maufe says we’re stayin’ there.”

It was on the tip of Kit’s tongue to ask why they were not finishing their trip to Coldstream, but he’d no doubt discover the reason later. He flipped the footman a coin. “Thank you.”

They were almost through the picturesque village when he saw the hotel set back from the road. Now he knew the answer.

The Collingswood Arms, built of stone the color of sand, stood in its own park. Perfect for the children and their two-day stay, as they would not travel on Sunday. Liveried footmen were with Maufe as they came to a stop in front of the hotel.

Mary clasped her hands together. “How lovely. Maufe is truly a gem.”

Kit grimaced. “If there was any way to hire him away from Huntley, I would.”

“Perhaps a better idea is to allow him to train your Piggott.”

When Kit turned to Mary, her eyes were full of mirth. A look he’d seen more to-day than in the past week they’d been together. “I might just do that.”

Before Dent could reach the curricle, Kit hopped down and lifted Mary from the carriage.

Even though he held her so that no part of her touched him, his blood heated.

The moment her feet touched the ground she gazed up at him, her startled eyes deepening in color to pewter.

What he wouldn’t give to know what she felt at that moment.

“My lady,” Maufe said. “Your dresser is waiting for you just inside the door. A bath is being prepared.”

Mary gave an imperceptible shake of her head as if to clear it. “Yes, of course. I’ll come directly.” She turned back to Kit. “Shall I see you before dinner? ”

“Yes.” He took her hand, bringing it to his lips. “Perhaps another stroll?”

She stilled, like a deer uncertain of her surroundings. “I—I would like that.”

Slowly, he let go of her fingers. “Send word when you are ready.”

“I shall.” She made her way into the hotel.

Though she hadn’t looked back—and he really had not expected her to, she was too much of a lady—he’d made progress. Almost as much, if not more, than the day he’d first suggested a courtship. Now if only he could convince her to marry him.