fan vigorously. “Apparently they’d been in love for ages.”
“Love,” Leucretia said, her tone clearly indicating her opinion of it. “Now we will be appearing at the duke’s house understaffed and looking like fools. You will use my maid of course, but sharing maids . . . The couple should be found and horsewhipped.”
Ian joined the group and bowed. He was dressed in black with silver trim, the livery of the Lenorian court. He’d ridden escort with three of the other grooms, but he’d been assigned to the back corner of the coach, so she’d been unable to see him without hanging her head from the window.
She couldn’t drink in the sight of him now, either, since he was next to her, but she could study him from the corner of her eye. The livery fit him to perfection, his broad shoulders appearing impossibly massive. And thanks to Constantina’s adaptations in the uniform a few years ago, his tight, well-muscled backside was clearly visible.
And he was close enough she could breathe him in. Horses. Sandalwood.
And biscuits?
She noticed a small lump in his livery pocket. Leftovers from tea, no doubt.
“With all due respect, Your Highnesses.”
Now she could look at him. But she couldn’t. She feared too much would be in her gaze.
“We have sent for a new valet and maid. The agency will send replacements directly to the duke’s estate. They should arrive shortly after us tomorrow.” Ian’s hand brushed the back of hers slightly as he spoke.
She shifted a little to try to increase the contact, but Ian’s hand moved away.
Is this what she was reduced to now, trying to sneak a single touch from him in an inn courtyard?
Apparently, because she found herself searching for an excuse to try again.
Constantina’s eyes lingered on Ian’s lower half. “Very good. What did you say your name was, groom?”
“Bogglesworth, Your Highness.”
“Well, Bogglesworth, I can see you are quite . . . trustworthy. Would you carry my trunks to my room personally?”
Juliana had to turn her laugh into a cough. But, drat, why hadn’t she thought of that?
The lead groom came to stand next to Ian and bowed. “The rooms are prepared.”
Eustace finally descended from the coach to join them, and they entered the inn. A few minutes later, they were all comfortably ensconced in their rooms to freshen up before dinner.
Or at least the others were. Juliana didn’t have a maid to help her out of her dress yet. So she wasn’t all that comfortable. The innkeeper said he’d send one of his girls up to tend her, but she hadn’t come yet. Juliana wandered over to the window and pressed it open as wide as she could, hoping to catch the evening breeze.
And a glance at Ian if she could find him.
She started to tug off her gloves and froze. There was a paper in her left glove. It definitely hadn’t been there when she’d put them on.
Juliana slowly removed the thin strip and unfolded it. The writing was bold and slashing but surprisingly neat.
More training tonight.
P.S. Do you know how hot black is in this damned blasted weather?
Her heart hammered against her chest. He wasn’t done with her then. At least not yet. She’d relish any remaining moments she had with him.
She knew she should have more pride than that. And she would. Eventually. Tonight she would enjoy herself.
There was a knock at the door. Juliana crumpled the note and jammed it in a crack under the window. “Enter.”
Ian strode in carrying a huge wooden tub across his shoulders. He set the tub in the center of the room, then backed out with a wink.
Footmen tromped up the stairs carrying buckets of water. Soon the last one left, closing the door behind him.
Well, that was just cruel. Now she had to be dusty and sweaty and stare longingly into water she couldn’t manage to get into without a maid’s help.
“You need assistance, don’t you?” Ian asked from behind her.
She spun about.
“Come now. The open window was an
“Love,” Leucretia said, her tone clearly indicating her opinion of it. “Now we will be appearing at the duke’s house understaffed and looking like fools. You will use my maid of course, but sharing maids . . . The couple should be found and horsewhipped.”
Ian joined the group and bowed. He was dressed in black with silver trim, the livery of the Lenorian court. He’d ridden escort with three of the other grooms, but he’d been assigned to the back corner of the coach, so she’d been unable to see him without hanging her head from the window.
She couldn’t drink in the sight of him now, either, since he was next to her, but she could study him from the corner of her eye. The livery fit him to perfection, his broad shoulders appearing impossibly massive. And thanks to Constantina’s adaptations in the uniform a few years ago, his tight, well-muscled backside was clearly visible.
And he was close enough she could breathe him in. Horses. Sandalwood.
And biscuits?
She noticed a small lump in his livery pocket. Leftovers from tea, no doubt.
“With all due respect, Your Highnesses.”
Now she could look at him. But she couldn’t. She feared too much would be in her gaze.
“We have sent for a new valet and maid. The agency will send replacements directly to the duke’s estate. They should arrive shortly after us tomorrow.” Ian’s hand brushed the back of hers slightly as he spoke.
She shifted a little to try to increase the contact, but Ian’s hand moved away.
Is this what she was reduced to now, trying to sneak a single touch from him in an inn courtyard?
Apparently, because she found herself searching for an excuse to try again.
Constantina’s eyes lingered on Ian’s lower half. “Very good. What did you say your name was, groom?”
“Bogglesworth, Your Highness.”
“Well, Bogglesworth, I can see you are quite . . . trustworthy. Would you carry my trunks to my room personally?”
Juliana had to turn her laugh into a cough. But, drat, why hadn’t she thought of that?
The lead groom came to stand next to Ian and bowed. “The rooms are prepared.”
Eustace finally descended from the coach to join them, and they entered the inn. A few minutes later, they were all comfortably ensconced in their rooms to freshen up before dinner.
Or at least the others were. Juliana didn’t have a maid to help her out of her dress yet. So she wasn’t all that comfortable. The innkeeper said he’d send one of his girls up to tend her, but she hadn’t come yet. Juliana wandered over to the window and pressed it open as wide as she could, hoping to catch the evening breeze.
And a glance at Ian if she could find him.
She started to tug off her gloves and froze. There was a paper in her left glove. It definitely hadn’t been there when she’d put them on.
Juliana slowly removed the thin strip and unfolded it. The writing was bold and slashing but surprisingly neat.
More training tonight.
P.S. Do you know how hot black is in this damned blasted weather?
Her heart hammered against her chest. He wasn’t done with her then. At least not yet. She’d relish any remaining moments she had with him.
She knew she should have more pride than that. And she would. Eventually. Tonight she would enjoy herself.
There was a knock at the door. Juliana crumpled the note and jammed it in a crack under the window. “Enter.”
Ian strode in carrying a huge wooden tub across his shoulders. He set the tub in the center of the room, then backed out with a wink.
Footmen tromped up the stairs carrying buckets of water. Soon the last one left, closing the door behind him.
Well, that was just cruel. Now she had to be dusty and sweaty and stare longingly into water she couldn’t manage to get into without a maid’s help.
“You need assistance, don’t you?” Ian asked from behind her.
She spun about.
“Come now. The open window was an
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