Runaway Miss. Mary Nichols

of the men had their women and families with them and that made it easier for them. Those without families amused themselves in other ways: boxing matches, running races, hunting and fishing, playing cards.’

      ‘Gambling is an abomination, the ruin of so many lives.’

      ‘Certainly it can be so, but in moderation it can while away the hours.’

      ‘Oh, it can indeed do that, my lord. Hours and hours, whole days sometimes.’ She sounded so bitter, he looked sharply at her. Was that the reason she had fallen on hard times? Her own gambling or someone else’s?

      ‘You have experience of that?’

      ‘I…Never mind. Tell me about your men. Where are they now?’

      ‘Scattered to the winds. Some are buried where they fell, others are still serving, gone to America to put down the rebellion there, still more have come home to an England they hardly know. It would not be so bad if the country was grateful, if something was being done to alleviate their distress, but I see little evidence of it.’

      ‘What do you think should be done?’

      ‘Employment is what they need, Miss Draper, so they can look after their families and live in dignity.’

      ‘Is there no employment for them?’

      He looked sharply at her. She must have been leading a very sheltered life not to know that unemployment was one of the main issues of the day. And wasn’t she off to take a job herself? He’d lay odds she had never worked before. ‘Not enough,’ he said. ‘And those whose work is on the land are doubly to be pitied considering it has hardly stopped raining all year. There will be little enough grain this harvest time and a poor harvest means poor wages.’

      ‘Is it the same in the towns?’

      ‘Nearly as bad. The price of bread will soar. If nothing is done, I fear for the working man.’ Was she simply making conversation, getting him to talk, or did she really not know how things were? A gentlewoman driven to be a companion almost certainly would. It would have been part of the argument for taking up such a post.

      ‘And woman,’ Rose put in.

      He turned towards her. ‘Yes, indeed, Miss Turner. Do you have employment? Are you to be a companion too?’

      ‘No, my lord. I am going home to help my mother.’

      ‘Is your home in the Lakes?’

      ‘No my lord. It is in Chelmsford.’

      ‘Chelmsford—then what are you doing on a coach going to Manchester?’

      ‘Keeping Miss Draper company.’

      ‘And who will keep you company when you have to leave her?’

      ‘Oh, I shall not need company, my lord. I do not mind travelling alone.’

      That gave him food for thought and for a moment he lapsed into silence. If their stations were equal, why did one girl need company and the other not? The answer was, of course, that they were not equal in rank at all. Miss Draper, if that were really her name, was far superior. Was one maid to the other? Then why were they dressed alike? His curiosity deepened.

      Emma knew Rose had made a blunder. He was becoming inquisitive and there was a self-satisfied smirk on the face of his man. She did not know what to say to allay his suspicions. She really should not have allowed herself to become involved in conversation with him. What could she say to put him off? Perhaps it would be better not to say anything at all. She had been sitting forward but now, as they stopped for yet another change of horses, she leaned back in her seat and shut her eyes. Perhaps he would take the hint.

      Already they had been on the road for twelve hours and there were still many more miles to go before they reached Leicester where, she had been assured, they would be able to put up for the night. Perhaps they would part there; he might go on tonight without stopping or perhaps take a different coach in the morning. But thinking about that made her suddenly aware that she had been glad of his presence, of the way he had gallantly looked after them. He could command instant service at the inns and thought nothing of berating the horse-keeper on the standard of his horses; the very fact that he appeared to be escorting her made her feel more secure.

      

      The latest horses were fresh and the rain had stopped so they made up a little of the lost time. It was ten o’clock and she was dog-tired when the coach pulled into the yard of the Three Crowns in Leicester. Lord Malvers helped her out and took her elbow to guide her into the inn, leaving Joe and Rose to follow. In no time at all his lordship had arranged for a room for her and went with her to inspect it.

      ‘The bed linen is not clean,’ he told the innkeeper’s wife, who had personally shown them up to the room. ‘Change it at once. And replace the water in that ewer. It is covered in scum. We will dine downstairs while you see to it.’

      The woman bobbed a curtsy. ‘At once, my lord.’

      Having laid down his orders, he turned to Emma. ‘Come, Miss Draper.’

      A little bemused, Emma followed him downstairs, to find Joe and Rose cosily ensconced in the parlour close to the fire where he was regaling her with a gory story of war in Spain.

      His lordship ordered a meal, but Emma was almost too tired to eat. Travelling by public coach was very different from going in their own carriage and taking their time about it, very different from going post chaise, though they hadn’t done that since her father died. She suspected her stepfather was not nearly as wealthy as he liked people to believe. And he could not touch her inheritance. Of course! That was it, that was why he was insisting on her marrying Lord Bentwater. They had done a deal over her fortune. How hard would they try to find her? If they caught up with her before she reached Mrs Summers, what would her present escort do? Hand her over, or help her? She was too tired to worry about it, too tired to take part in the conversation.

      ‘Miss Draper, I am keeping you from your bed.’

      ‘What? Oh, I am sorry, my lord. What were you saying?’

      ‘It is of no consequence. Come, I’ll escort you to your room. You need to sleep and we have an early start in the morning.’

      She did not argue, but stood up and followed him from the room, Rose bringing up the rear. At the door of the room she turned to thank him, but he brushed her thanks aside. ‘Glad to be of service,’ he said. ‘I am just along the passage. If you need anything, send Miss Turner to wake me. I’ll be with you in an instant.’ He bowed and strode away.

      The two girls entered the room and shut the door. The bed linen had been changed and there was fresh water in the ewer and the layer of dust she had noticed earlier had gone. Her bag and Rose’s bundle were on a chest below the window.

      Emma sank on to the bed, while Rose unpacked their night things. ‘What do you make of him, Rose?’

      ‘I don’t know, my lady. In my book, men don’t do favours for nothing and we’ve landed ourselves very much in his debt. What is he going to ask in return?’

      ‘Perhaps he doesn’t want anything. Perhaps he is simply a knight errant.’

      Rose’s reply was a sniff of disbelief.

      ‘Do you think he believes our story?’

      ‘Does it matter what he believes?’ She crossed the room with Emma’s nightgown and laid it on the bed.

      Emma began unbuttoning her dress. ‘I found myself wondering what he would do if Sir George were to catch up with us before we reached our destination. Should I tell him the truth and throw myself on his mercy?’

      ‘No, my lady. You don’t know anything about him. He might take advantage. Just think, he is a soldier, used to soldier’s ways…’

      ‘But I’m sure he’s an officer and a gentleman.’

      ‘You only have his word for that. Does a