Page 56 of To Follow her Heart

Luke stared at Kitty, realising with the fatalistic calm of one who’d been here many times before, that she was taking them on an adventure.

Half an hour later, with a lurid past established that included a villainous father, a rake for a brother, his mama at death’s door and a mad grandmother he’d been blissfully unaware of, they were on their way. They had crammed their luggage in among the unhappy fowl, and Kitty and Luke sat on the back of the cart, their legs swinging over the end as the road rumbled beneath their feet.

“Wretch,” he murmured, as Kitty turned her unrepentant dark eyes on him. “Obadiah, indeed.”

She lifted her chin and shrugged. “Well, at least we’ve still a chance of reaching Aylesbury today. I should thank my lucky stars if I were you.”

“Yes, but then I must tend my poor mama as she slips from this world, and deal with my wicked brother who is bound to shoot me dead the moment he sets eyes on me. That is, if my mad grandmother doesn’t cut my throat while I sleep tonight,” he said with a mournful sigh.

Kitty sniggered and leaned into him.

“Well, it’s the least I could give them for their kindness, as they wouldn’t take any money. Now Mrs Scripps will have a fine tale to tell all her friends when she gets back home.”

Luke cut her a look. “Don’t give me that,” he said, knowing his beloved far too well to fall for it. “You’d begun that story before you even knew they would take us, let alone if they’d accept any money for it.”

“Well, and they’d have never taken plain old Mr and Mrs Dull from Not Very Interesting, in Boring along with such alacrity, now, would they?” she retorted.

“We’re not the least bit dull,” Luke said, stung. “We’re childhood sweethearts, reunited after years of separation by a villainous earl, and we’re eloping!”

Kitty tucked her arm into his and gazed up at him in such a way that Luke felt like a king, despite the fact he was sitting on the back of a foul-smelling farm cart, and a chicken was pecking at his sleeve.

“So we are,” she said with a happy sigh.

Luke grinned.

Chapter 15

My Lord St Clair,

We arrived safely at Chesson Manor after a journey which I will tell you more of the next we meet. Suffice to say there were a host of interesting characters along the way, whom I know you will find vastly entertaining, and that’s without even mentioning the crocodile.

―Excerpt of a letter from Mr Luke Baxter to The Right Honourable, The Earl of St Clair.

24th August 1814, Amersham.

After a heartfelt goodbye with Kitty and Mrs Scripps hugging and wiping their eyes for longer than either Luke or Mr Scripps seemed to think necessary, they parted company with their kind companions. Mrs Scripps waved baby James’ chubby fist at them in farewell as the cart rumbled away, and implored Luke to watch out for his wicked sibling.

Luke sighed and led Kitty inside The Saracen’s Head at Amersham. They had stored their luggage here and would stop to eat before trying to find transport to take them onto Aylesbury. Amersham was a bustling little market town some fifteen miles from Aylesbury and the private rooms at The Saracen’s Head were already taken, it being long past midday. So, they settled themselves down in the common dining room and enjoyed a splendid repast of chops and roast potatoes, followed by fruit and cheese, and a home-brewed ale of such quality that Luke felt himself well content with life.

“Right, I’m going to enquire about hiring a post chaise,” he said, setting down his empty tankard with regret.

It was tempting to stay the night here, but every delay meant another night before Kitty was his wife, and increased the chances that Mr Derby might have recovered enough to come after them. He gave Kitty a warning look.

“Don’t get into mischief while I’m gone,” he said, eyeing her innocent countenance with misgiving.

“As if I would,” she said with a sniff, folding her arms as though affronted at the very idea.

Luke chuckled and left her sitting at the table to speak to the manager.

A short and frustrating ten minutes later and the postillion’s words returned to him The world and his wife were at or on their way to Newmarket. It looked as if they’d be forced to stay the night after all.

With annoyance at the delay, Luke hurried back to the table and found himself not entirely surprised to discover Kitty deep in conversation with two middle-aged women. Though was one a deal larger—in all aspects—than the other, it was clear they were sisters.

“Oh, and here he is,” Kitty said, beaming at him. “Mr Derby, dearest, this is Miss Anne Quick and Miss Sarah Quick. Ladies, my husband, Mr Derby.”

Mr Derby?

The ladies nodded politely and then the larger and older of the two addressed him.