Page 23 of Falling for the Earl (Improper Ladies #2)

Three Months Later

T he coach trundled north. Lucy opened her eyes and raised her head from Hugh’s chest, where she’d slumbered. “Where are we now?”

“A little farther advanced from the last time you asked me,” Hugh said with a grin.

“Oh, you.” She laughed and sat up to peer through the window at the passing scene. There was nothing remarkable to see, merely trees and a farmer in the fields.

“It’s a long journey to Carlisle,” Hugh said. “We are about halfway. We’ll reach the inn in less than an hour, where we’ll dine and spend the night.”

“Good.” Lucy thought their nights spent at inns were the best part of the journey. She gazed at her handsome husband speculatively.

He raised his eyebrows. “What goes on in your pretty head, my love?”

“Must we leave early in the morning again?” She loved their mornings lying sleepy and warm beside him.

“If we intend to reach the Berwick estate within a fortnight,” he said, tracing a finger along her bottom lip.

She nodded with some regret. “Papa is expecting us. I don’t wish him to worry.”

He smiled. “No, of course not, sweetheart.”

“Sarah and Luke’s wedding was delightful, wasn’t it? Sarah made a lovely bride.”

“They’ll be back from Brighton when we return and shall come to stay with us at Woodcroft.”

She sighed. “So much has happened since our wedding. Aunt Mary writing from Ireland. She seems so happy to have found Anabel content and well cared for. Although she expressed some shock that they are not yet married. But it will take some time for the divorce to go through, I imagine.”

“Mm,” Hugh said, picking up the newspaper he’d purchased at their last stop.

“And that letter from Mrs. Benton,” Lucy said to distract him from reading. “So good to learn she has safely given birth to a daughter, Hannah. I do hope she will write again. I’d like to know more about that exotic country.” She smiled. “I should like to visit her.”

“Certainly not!” he glanced at her. “Are you teasing me, my lady? I don’t believe that for a moment.”

Hugh shoved away the newspaper. He put his arms around her and, lowering his head to hers, kissed her long and deeply.

Lucy gasped. She reached up to push back a lock of his dark hair, which had fallen over his forehead. “Are you trying to distract me, my lord?”

“That is my intention,” he said, pulling her onto his lap. “It’s time we christened the carriage.”

“Oh, no! Hugh!”

“Surely, an improper lady, such as yourself, traveling about with a gentleman without a chaperone, and staying at inns, while failing to always be completely truthful, wouldn’t say no ?”

Lucy giggled. “Please do put down the blinds! Or the ton shall believe me to be even more improper.”