Page 8 of Road Trip With a Rogue (Her Majesty’s Rebels #3)

They stopped for breakfast at Stevenage. Daisy got out to stretch her legs and to check on Hero, who was still tied behind the carriage.

“I need to arrange for her to be ridden back to London,” she said when Vaughan joined her. “We can’t travel fast with her trotting behind, and there’s no point in tiring her out for no reason.”

She’d debated whether it was wise to remove a possible avenue of escape if Vaughan proved to be an impossible companion, but she could always hire another horse to ride if necessary, and she couldn’t risk injuring Hero by pushing her too hard.

She removed the saddlebags, which held her coin purse, spare powder, and shot for her pistol, and stowed them in the carriage.

Vaughan nodded. “I’ll do it.”

“Thank you. I’ll pay, of course.”

He waved away her offer with a frown, as if the mere suggestion was insulting, and stalked into the inn with Finch close behind him.

Daisy tried not to brood as she waited, leaning casu ally against the carriage.

Her stomach had been grumbling for the last thirty minutes, and she was sure the two of them were tucking into a delicious cooked breakfast and a hot mug of coffee.

She let out a gasp of delight when he returned and tossed a paper-wrapped package at her.

“Breakfast.”

She opened it with trembling hands, and almost groaned in happiness as the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread met her nose. There was an apple and a wedge of cheese too.

Perhaps he wasn’t completely dreadful.

She put the apple in her pocket for later, then bit into the roll with gusto, and he shook his head, amused by her lack of delicacy.

She finished the rest in short order, trying not to feel self-conscious about the way his gaze rested on her mouth.

She wiped her lips roughly with her sleeve, like a stable boy, in case anyone was watching, and he turned away.

“I’ve thought of a way we can avoid being seen together tonight,” she said as they climbed back into the coach. “We can stay at Wansford Hall, instead of at a public inn. Tess and Justin keep it staffed year-round because they’re always traveling back and forth from London.”

“Will they be there?”

“I don’t think so, but Tess would insist that we make use of it. She’d be insulted if we didn’t.”

“Hollyfield’s only a few miles past Wansford.”

Daisy wrinkled her nose. “True. But my father might be there, getting ready for one of his parties. And if he’s not, then there’s still a chance one of my brothers might have decided to rusticate.

Can you imagine what they’d do if we turned up together?

” Her lips quirked with dark humor at the thought.

“They’d probably demand to avenge my ‘honor’ in a duel, you’d shoot them, and there’d be a hideous scandal. ”

“You don’t think there’s a chance that they might shoot me ?”

“Sadly not. That’s not flattery, it’s just that you’ve already killed one man in a duel, so you have the advantage. And I’ve seen them shoot. They’re all terrible.”

“Ah, but they’d have righteous fury on their side,” he said. “That goes a long way to helping a man pull the trigger.”

“Was that what motivated you ?” she asked pertly. “Righteous fury?”

His expression darkened. “Something like that.”

He clearly wasn’t going to elaborate, so she let the subject drop. “So, Wansford Hall?”

He let out a resigned sigh. “Yes. I’d planned to stay at the Haycock at Wansford or the George at Stamford tonight anyway. I’ll tell Finch at the next change.”

The rest of the day passed surprisingly quickly. Now that Daisy didn’t need to ask after the runaways at every stop, they could travel much faster. She kept an eye out for Violet’s coach, but didn’t truly expect to see it.

It was good to have a definite plan, despite the fact that it included someone as objectionable as Vaughan. She refused to feel guilty for roping him in—he clearly preferred to travel fast himself, and he was heading in the same direction. It made sense that they should cooperate.

His ducal crest on the carriage door assured impeccably fast service whenever the horses were changed, and the hostlers all grinned and doffed their caps when Finch tossed them some extra coins for their work.

Vaughan clearly had a reputation for tipping well, which also meant he was given the best available horses at every stop. Superior horses should give them an advantage over the runaways.

Daisy had traveled this particular route up the Old North Road countless times, both to her childhood home of Hollyfield and to the neighboring Wansford Hall after Tess had become the duchess.

Vaughan seemed disinclined to talk, so she looked out the window as they sped through Biggleswade and Alconbury. At noon they stopped at Stilton, and he emerged from the taproom of The Bell with a delicious chicken pie and a mug of hot chocolate for her, which put her very much in charity with him.

She was still surprised that he’d agreed to her scheme, but she wasn’t going to question it. It was nice that he wasn’t being completely obnoxious.

“Not far now,” she said happily as they crossed the River Nene.

He rolled his eyes. “I know that. I attended enough of your brothers’ parties to know the way.”

She tensed, biting her lip as she waited for him to mention the time she’d seen him kissing that blonde, but his eyes merely glittered with suppressed amusement.

“They were always such fun , those parties.”

“Have you ever been to Wansford before?”

“No. I know Thornton, of course, but I’ve only ever been to his London house.”

The sun was sinking low in the sky as they traveled the few extra miles to Wansford Hall and Daisy’s spirits lifted as the mellow stone building came into view down the long drive.

The place was like a second home to her, and she was looking forward to seeing the friendly, familiar servants after her unsettling day with Vaughan.

Mrs. Jennings, the housekeeper, came to the door when they rocked to a stop outside, and her face creased in a delighted smile when Daisy jumped down. It was a testament to their long history that she didn’t bat an eyelid at Daisy’s breeches, shirt, and overcoat.

“Miss Hamilton! What a lovely surprise! I’m so sorry, but Her Grace didn’t mention that you would be visiting.”

“It’s my fault entirely, Mrs. Jennings, a last-minute decision. I encountered a little bother on the road just outside London, but as luck would have it, I ran into the duke, who stopped to help. He was kind enough to escort me here.”

Daisy had decided it was best to embroider the truth a little.

Mrs. Jennings frowned. “The duke? You mean His Grace?”

“Oh, no, not Justin!” Daisy amended quickly, realizing the confusion. “The Duke of Cranford.”

Vaughan’s tall, dark figure descended from the coach, and Mrs. Jennings’s eyes widened before she bobbed a hasty curtsey.

“Your Grace! We are honored. Please, come inside and get warm. John will help your man with the horses.”

She raised her brows and shot an intrigued look at Daisy behind Vaughan’s back as they all entered the hall.

“Well, Your Grace, I’m sure you’ll be wanting a good dinner if you’ve been on the road all day. Simmons will show you to the blue bedroom. I’ll have hot water sent up for you right away.”

Vaughan nodded. “Thank you.”

“And Miss Hamilton, your room is always ready for you. I’ll send Hannah up in a minute to light the fire.” Her lips curved in a beatific smile. “I’m sure you’ll want to change for dinner.”

Daisy rolled her eyes at the subtle admonishment, but sent the elderly servant a fond glance.

She’d have to don her stable boy disguise to continue the journey tomorrow, but there was no denying it would be nice to change into some fresh clothes tonight.

She had a feeling she reeked of spent gunpowder.

Since she and Ellie visited Tess so often, they’d each been assigned their own bedroom, and Daisy kept a full wardrobe of dresses and accessories here.

Not that she cared to look remotely feminine or attractive for Vaughan’s benefit.

Mrs. Jennings nodded happily, always delighted to have people to care for.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go and speak with Mrs. Ward and see what we can rustle up for dinner.

If I’d known you were coming, she could have prepared your favorite puddings—I know how fond you are of her desserts, Miss Hamilton—”

“Whatever you decide will be delicious,” Daisy assured her. Her love of cakes and puddings was well known at Wansford.

The housekeeper nodded. “I’ll make sure she makes something you like. Shall we say nine o’clock for dinner?”

“That will be perfect, thank you.”

Daisy followed Vaughan and one of the male servants as they ascended the wide staircase. “Will Finch be all right? He can be assigned a room in the house if he’d prefer not to sleep above the stables with the grooms.”

Vaughan shrugged. “He’ll be fine. In the army we learned to sleep anywhere. I’ll see you at dinner.”