Page 10 of No Duke of Mine

“Ah, yes. And with this rain, of course, your journey to him is delayed like mine is.”

“Indeed.” She pulled a face. “I should rather not have to make any journey at all in such dreadful weather.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

She squinted at him. “How did you come to be so covered in mud yesterday?”

“You saw me? Oh, yes, that was you spying on me in the taproom? Inquisitive as always, I see, but why didn’t you speak to me then?”

Maggie shrugged. “You seemed in ill temper, so I thought it best to avoid you.”

“I was frustrated. Exhausted. We were soaked through and shivering. I am still damp. The effort to right the carriage and drag it back to this place had put us all in a bad mood. I did my part. Helping the men, though they didn’t want to let me at first.”

She laughed softly, imagining the odds of success for anyone else changing his mind. “The last time I saw you, you were in a similar condition and your father was cross. I think that is the only reason I picked you out. That, and your outrage at not getting a room for the night.”

“Yes, and I foresee another uncomfortable night ahead of me, given that the rain continues hard still, so no one can leave.”

“Ah, well, there is little I can do about the rain.” She glanced over at him and suddenly hugged his arm. “But perhaps I could share my pillow with you.”

His brow rose high. Slightly surprised to hear an invitation to share her room. And her bed, too? “I don’t think that’s a wise idea.”

She winked at him. “It wouldn’t be the first time you snored on my pillow.”

“I do not snore,” he protested, as he always did when someone complained about it.

Maggie only laughed, and Algernon found himself smiling back. Her good humor had always been an antidote for a bad day as a boy. It seemed to work miracles on his mood today, as well.

She sighed. “I found it a rather comforting sound, actually. That and our conversations before bedtime. I still have an interest in philosophy, so you could fall asleep almost immediately if we ever start talking about that.”

He grinned. “So you still study?”

“Not as much as I would like to. I have developed my own philosophies, but I have no one to discuss them with at home.”

“I should very much like to hear how you view the world, and debate philosophy all night again,” he promised.

Maggie hugged his arm and then released him. “I’m sure you’re much too important to be burdened with my company or opinions anymore.”

He captured her hand. “I never was bored with you. I’m certain nothing has changed.”

She snorted, then a knock sounded at the door and she sprang away, putting a respectable distance between them.

“Yes, come in,” Maggie called.

Maggie was no shrinking violet, but she was no brazen flirt, either. She cared about her own good reputation, and he ought to worry about it more, too.

The older man he’d met earlier in the taproom entered the dining room, with a woman of equal age hanging on his arm. The pair glanced at them suspiciously.

Algernon smiled quickly. “Imagine my surprise at finding it was my cousin staying in this establishment,” he said smoothly.

The pair glanced at Maggie, eyes wide with surprise.

Maggie seemed lost for words for a long moment, but swiftly recovered and shrugged. “He vexed me the last time we talked, so I didn’t share my plans to travel with him.”

“Maggie,” he chided. “You are family, and I will follow you everywhere, my dear.”

“I had hoped you’d grow out of that nonsense,” she muttered to him, smiling, but the next moment she excused herself from the room.

Although Algernon wanted to follow immediately, the gentleman and his wife got in his way. Mr. Keane brought his wife closer and introduced her.