Love's Misadventure (The Mason Siblings Series Book 1) by Cheri Champagne Page B

kind Mr. Collins gestured to the back of his wagon and waited for them to get themselves situated before he started his horse with a click of his tongue.
    Anna held on to the side of the wagon, uncaring that she sat upon bales of hay. Her feet stung, her body ached, she was in dire need of a proper bath. Her mind caught on that thought, and she nearly sighed aloud. Would she get the opportunity to bathe at the inn?
    The wagon bumped along the dirt road. The greenery in this part of England was exceptionally picturesque. It was a shame that she could not see it through the growing darkness.
    “Dover,” Lane grunted beside her.
    “I beg your pardon?” she asked in an undertone, unsure if Lane had intended for Mr. Collins to overhear.
    “We were headed toward Dover.”
    Anna frowned. “But isn’t that just a—”
    “Yes,” Lane interjected. “We could have reached Dover several times over by now.”
    With a sidelong glance at Mr. Collins’ back, Anna whispered, “I do not mean to bemoan our success in escaping, but why would they delay their meeting with The Boss? Why not journey directly there?”
    Lane shook his head, a lock of his uncombed blonde hair falling over his forehead. “I haven’t the faintest. But I am relieved that they didn’t. Lord knows what would have happened to us if they had.”
    “Perish the thought.”
    Lane poked at the faint bruising on his left cheek as a young boy would pick at a scrape. Anna hid a grin.
    She swivelled to watch as they crested a hill. The wagon continued bumpily along as the sun all but disappeared beyond the horizon. The sky was streaked with bright pink and deep purple. Anna sighed, rubbing her arms with her hands to ward off the chill.
    She covered a yawn with the back of her hand and groggily leaned her head on Lane’s shoulder. Her eyes drooped as Lane’s arm came across her back, pulling her tighter against him. Anna soaked up his warmth, her eyes refusing to open from a blink.
    The rumble and sway of the wagon slowly lulled her into a deep sleep
     
    .

 
    Chapter 14
     
     
    Lane adjusted Anna’s weight in his arms as he strode up The Swan Inn’s stairs. The innkeeper had given them the last available room. Evidently, there was a large party of travellers there this evening.
    The inn was warm and inviting; they had small fires lit in the main rooms, and those enjoying a late-night repast sat at tables in the taproom. A low hum of conversation drifted up the stairs after them.
    The innkeeper’s wife walked ahead of him with the keys in her hand. She stopped before a door and swung it wide for Lane to pass.
    “This here is one of our finest,” she said, her low voice soft and smooth like honey. She smiled, spreading the wrinkles around her mouth until they were flat. “Your bath shall be brought up directly.”
    “Thank you, madam.” Lane could not help but smile in return.
    He placed Anna gently on the bed that dominated the small room. A fire had already been lit in the hearth, and candelabra graced each of the bedside tables, lending an orange, flickering warmth to the room.
    Within a matter of moments, a group of burly footmen entered with a large brass bathing tub. The Swan Inn must do very fine indeed to be able to bear the expense of such a fine tub.
    “At the foot of the bed,” the innkeeper’s wife directed the footmen. “That’s it. No, Harrison, just a mite to the left. Yes, there.” She smiled with satisfaction.
    The footmen bowed before retreating, the innkeeper’s wife following in their wake.
    Lane sat on one of the overstuffed cerulean armchairs, stretching out his legs and crossing his ankles one over the other. His body ached…in more than one sense.
    Damnation . Had that kiss truly happened? He had never felt so deeply involved in a kiss. Never felt such a burning need to continue. Could Anna be the cure to his problem ?
    The footmen returned with buckets of steaming water, the innkeeper’s wife following with towels and