The Duke's Wicked Widow by Caroline Lee

Author:Caroline Lee [Lee, Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

“You did not have to do this, really,” Ellie repeated for what felt like the ninth time. “It was bad enough to force our company on you in your own home, but at a time of mourning—”

“I’m no’ mourning,” Fawkes snapped out, knowing well and good his bad mood likely sounded like he was mourning. “I didnae ken the bastard.”

They were seated across from one another as the train swayed gently past what looked like Oxford. Merida was seated beside Ellie, her nose pressed to the cold window, her exclamations garnering fond smiles from their fellow passengers.

“So you say,” Ellie repeated, “but you have been in a foul mood since—”

“Ye want to ken why that is?” he snapped, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees and pierce her with a glare. Dinnae say it, man. “Because ye deserve a first-class carriage, and I cannae waste money on such frivolities. Because I booked us as a family, and hearing that porter call ye Mrs. MacMillan made me want to punch someone.”

Her lips formed a little “oh”, and he knew he shouldn’t have admitted so much.

“Shite,” he muttered, sitting back on the hard bench, knowing even that was wrong, since the lassie might have heard his bad language.

Since receiving that telegram two nights ago, Ellie had come up with a dozen reasons why they shouldn’t accompany him to Hangcok Hill. But the fact remained; he could escort them to his home then they could travel to Endymion, far easier than they could travel alone.

It took a day to fetch the tickets and arrange for Ellie’s things to be sent to Scotland—another two nights sleeping on the hard sofa—but they’d left bright and early that morning.

Ellie was clearly uncomfortable, announcing she was “imposing upon his time of grief” a half-dozen times a day. Merida, who’d been the one to declare they’d be traveling together, was thrilled.

“Look at how fast we’re going!” she practically shrieked. “Look! Cows! Hello, cows! Look, Tramp, cows!”

The dog—who was allowed in this second-class carriage only if leashed and muzzled, and even then Fawkes had to pay a significant fee—jumped happily on Merida’s lap. Not having the heart to haul the pup down, Fawkes watched to ensure the girl had a good hold on him.

Ellie hushed the girl, tugging her back to sit on her bottom. “You do not have to announce the cows, honeybear, we can see them.”

Despite his bad mood, Fawkes’s lips twitched. “I thought it was a rule on a road trip: if ye see cows, ye announce them.”

“Are we on a ‘road trip’, then?” Ellie asked, almost archly. His lips twitched again.

“Look, Tramp, more cows!”

Ellie sighed.

Aye, this trip was a grand adventure for Merida, and despite the worry in his chest, Fawkes was glad both of them were with him. Aye, and for the stated reason: it was safer for them to travel north with him as an escort, as long as no one recognized Ellie.

But also…because after the days he’d had them in his home, he wasn’t ready to let them go.

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