Romancing the Earl (29 page)

U
pon waking, Cate had been disappointed to find that Elijah was no longer beside her. She’d been vaguely aware of him next to her in the night, of his warmth and presence. It had been both comforting and arousing, but she’d been so tired, she’d simply slept through it. And now he was gone. Or rather, saddling the horses.

“Good, you’re awake.” His tone was sharp, closer to his military voice than the voice of the man she’d come to know and like very much. The man she knew cared about her more than he wanted to, and perhaps even more than he realized.

She stretched her arms to the sky. “Yes. I slept surprisingly well. Did you?”

He threw her a dubious glance, but didn’t answer. She took that as a no and wondered if she’d been the cause of his discomfort. She hoped so. He was being frustratingly stubborn.

Once the horses were saddled, he offered her some cheese and bread to break her fast. “Eat quickly so we can be on our way.”

He’d gone back to his autocratic ways.

She devoured the food, not because he’d instructed her to, but because she was hungry. Then she slipped off to take care of her personal needs. When she returned, he stood beside her horse with an impatient look.

“Are you going to be a bear all day?” she asked.

“Miss Bowen, I am not a bear.”

“Oh, you’re going to ‘Miss Bowen’ me now.” She huffed out an exasperated sigh. “Can’t we just go back to the way things were?”

He helped her onto the horse, but kept his touch brief and brisk. “And how is that?”

“Don’t be obtuse. You do that often. You pretend not to hear or to misunderstand. Or sometimes you simply ignore questions altogether. You’re a frustrating man.”

“Isn’t that already on my list? I daresay I’ve lost track.” He was trying to be stoic, but a glint of humor showed through in his tone and the subtle arch of his brow.

“Yes, it is. I’m adding provoking. And stubborn. And foolish.”

“That’s quite a list. I do hope you’re writing it down. Come, let’s move to the road then I’ll come back and cover the evidence of our camp.”

Cate walked her horse to the road and held his reins while he went back and erased their presence. She was exceptionally grateful to be sharing this journey with him—both for his company and his expert protection.

He took the reins from her and climbed onto his horse. The morning sun was bright and hot, warming the dark coat covering her back. Generally, she would argue that men’s clothing was far more comfortable; however, today she would trade the layers on her upper body for a light day dress.

They rode in silence for quite some time, varying their speeds as the terrain allowed. Finally, at midday, they stopped for respite. As they sat down for a light repast packed by their Welsh hostess, she considered whether she wanted to continue to vex him or choose a safer topic. It didn’t matter since he spoke first.

“I know you said you’d come to Septon House with me, but I’ve decided that won’t be necessary. I think it’s wiser if you remain with your parents after we find the sword.”

He’d
decided
? She wasn’t to be consulted? Cate gritted her teeth and tried to catch his eye, but he was fixated on something in the distance. She turned to see what he was looking at, but saw nothing and determined he was simply avoiding looking at
her
. “I want to see this through with you.”

“It isn’t your problem.”

It wasn’t, but that didn’t mean she didn’t care. “It is if Septon is involved. I need to know if he caused your brother’s death.” She’d tried not to think of her father or Septon being a part of this mysterious Order. Every time she did, her insides congealed and she felt as if she was going to toss up her accounts.

“I would argue your logic. Septon’s involvement still has nothing to do with you. Unless you somehow participated.” Now he shot her a glance. “But you did not.”

“Would you accept that I just want to help you? That I care what happened because he was your brother?” She didn’t think she was making an impact on him. “It’s unfair of you to deny me the opportunity to see this to the end. If I were a man, you would accept my help.”

“If you were a man, many details about our association would be different.” His gaze dipped to her costume. “Despite how you are garbed, you are, however,
not
a man.”

She was irritated with him, but the bead of appreciation in his assessment sparked hope within her. “How nice of you to notice,” she murmured.

He finished his last bite and stood abruptly. “We need to go.” He held his hand out to help her up.

She brushed crumbs from her lap and accepted his assistance. “That’s how it’s to be, then? I express my wishes, but it doesn’t matter? You aren’t my father or my husband. If I decide to follow you to Septon House, you can’t do anything to stop me.”

“You are correct; however, I can express my concerns to your father about your safety. I can only hope you adhere to societal norms and actually listen to your father, who will certainly instruct you not to go.” He frowned at her. “But I am fairly certain you wouldn’t obey him or a husband either. It’s probably best you prefer to remain unwed.”

Was he saying she would make a terrible wife? Any other woman would be outraged, but he was right. And what’s more, she had no quarrel with that. “My thoughts exactly. It’s also why you should accept my invitation. You won’t be spoiling me for any man.”

“Please stop bringing that up.” He led her horse to a small rock and cast her a derisive glance. “Mount up yourself.”

She did as he bade while he once again disguised any evidence of them having stopped, and soon they were back on the road. She guided her horse alongside him. “I’ve been giving this considerable thought. What else is there to do on such a journey, especially when one’s companion is frightfully close-mouthed?”

“I’m not close-mouthed. We are simply trying to make a good pace, which doesn’t allow for much conversation. What are you giving considerable thought? Never mind. I don’t think I care to know.”

“Your rejection. You have a high moral code. Is it from the military?”

He looked at her askance. “Probably.”

“As I’ve said before, you won’t be ruining me or spoiling me. I want to be with you and I don’t wish to marry you. Provided we can avoid pregnancy, there truly is no reason we can’t indulge our desires. You do know how to avoid pregnancy, I take it?”

“Good Lord, woman, you would try a saint’s patience. Please cease in asking me such questions!”

“Perhaps I’ll seduce you in your sleep tonight.”

He drew his horse to a halt and turned to look at her. She stopped and faced him. A few feet separated them, but it might have been a canyon. “You will not seduce me. And you will not prattle on about our desires. Yes, I know how to prevent pregnancy. I had a mistress in Australia and I’ve stopped in many ports around the world. I’m quite adept at not leaving my seed where I don’t wish it to be left and at protecting myself from all manner of disease. However, you shall not be privy to such techniques, as I have no intention of using them with you.”

“You’re being foolish. We want each other and—”

“Yes, I want you,” he thundered. “But I’m not going to have you. Not tonight. Not ever. I have no interest in marriage, and my code of honor would insist I marry you.”

She blinked against the ferocity of his outburst. “Even though I don’t wish to marry you?”

He ground his teeth together. “Your wishes do not signify.”

Anger flared in her belly, driving away the desire. “I see. You are safe from my advances and my further interest. The surest way to earn my disdain is to discount my preferences. Congratulations, my lord.”

She turned her horse and kicked her into a gallop. As for the dust they kicked up from the road, she hoped Elijah might choke on it.

It was dusk and Elijah knew Cate had to be bone tired—he was. However, she didn’t show it. She sat as straight in her saddle as she had earlier in the day. Either she was exceptionally well-seasoned or her pride would rival that of any soldier he’d met.

As expected, they hadn’t come across a village and likely wouldn’t until it was fully dark. They needed to rest. Thankfully, tomorrow’s journey would be relatively short. With luck, they would be at Kentchurch by noon.

A collection of buildings and smoke from a chimney signaled respite ahead. Elijah only hoped the inhabitants would allow them to lodge in their barn. He slowed his horse and waited for Cate to ride up beside him. They hadn’t spoken since after lunch, when he’d used every weapon in his arsenal to discourage her attentions, including belittling her, which he knew would drive her mad. It had worked. Her outrage had been quick—and glorious, truth be told. He did enjoy watching the color rise in her cheeks and the sparks ignite in her magnificent eyes. He was going to miss her when they parted ways.

She took her time coming abreast of him and when she did, she said nothing. She spared him a quick glance and nothing more.

“I’m going to ask if we can lodge in these people’s barn. Just wait in the yard while I speak to them.”

“What if they don’t speak English?” Her question was oversweet and the look she gave him would’ve curdled cream.

He hadn’t considered that. “We’re close enough to the border. I’m sure they speak English.” He
hoped
they spoke English.

She pursed her lips at him but said nothing further.

They rode into the yard, and he dismounted. He stretched his legs as he made his way to the door. He cast a look back at Cate, but couldn’t read her expression in the diminishing light.

He set his knuckles against the door just as it came open.

A ruddy-faced man in his fifties raised a lantern and looked Elijah up and down. “What can I do for you?”

“Good evening, kind sir. We’ve traveled quite a long distance and we simply can’t continue tonight. I wonder if we might lodge in your barn?”

The farmer glanced back at Cate on her horse. “Of course, of course. My wife will clobber me if you sleep in the barn, however. She’ll insist you sleep upstairs in one of our children’s old rooms. I’m Charlie Hewitt. Is it just you and your companion?”

Blast. He hadn’t planned on having Cate come into contact with anyone. How was he to explain a woman dressed like a man?

Elijah glanced back at her and realized he had to think fast. She’d dismounted and was striding toward them. Her gait was confident, purposeful, but unmistakably feminine.

“Mr. Hewitt, I am Jones and this is my bride-to-be. I’m afraid your kind hospitality has forced my hand. We are on our way to Gretna Green. Please excuse her disguise. It was necessary in order to sneak her away from her overbearing cousins.”

Mr. Hewitt had two impressively bushy gray brows, which currently resided somewhere barely south of his hairline.

Cate joined Elijah at the door. “Good evening.”

“Anne, this is Mr. Hewitt. I was just telling him how we escaped your malevolent cousins so that we may wed at Gretna Green.”

Her gaze reflected the merest hint of surprise, but Elijah doubted Hewitt had caught it. In fact, Elijah was surprised
he
had caught it, but then he’d come to know Cate quite well in the last several days. That was a sobering and somewhat troublesome realization.

Cate smiled. Thankfully the grime on her face didn’t disguise its brilliance. “Good evening, Mr. Hewitt. I deeply appreciate your hospitality.” She slid her arm around Elijah’s waist, shocking him with the contact, but he kept his composure. “You are most kind to help us on our journey to happiness.” She tipped her head into Elijah’s side and he wondered if she was overselling the ruse.