“Be quiet and sit, Claire, for pity’s sake. How am I to eat with you trying to ruin my digestion?”
“I can hardly believe any of this is happening, Simon, but most of all, I cannot believe I have coerced you into my mess. It was very wrong of me, and I want you to leave.”
“What, now? Have you no heart, woman? I’m hungry, and it is grossly unfair of you to send me on my way in this state. Plus, if I left you here alone, you would suffer an uncomfortable night on the cold ground.” He was smiling as he teased her.
“This is not a laughing matter, Simon. I have no wish for you to suffer because of my problems.”
He moved quickly. One of his hands caught hers, and he pulled her down towards him, catching her as she tumbled. He then sat her on the blanket as one would a doll. She tried to clench her fingers to stop him from removing her gloves, but soon he had them off and had handed her a piece of bread onto which he’d slapped a thick slice of ham. “Eat.”
“No one has ever handled me like that before,” she said, stunned, yet still sitting as he had placed her.
“Perhaps if they had, you would not be so contained.”
“I’m not contained!”
Simon simply gave her a steady look before saying, “Eat,” once more.
Claire ate because, strangely, she was hungry. For days she had nibbled at her meals, yet now she suddenly found herself ravenous. As soon as she finished whatever he had thrust at her, he would hand her something else, and she continued to eat until she could not force down another morsel.
“I was hungry,” she said, stating the obvious.
“So you were.”
“Simon, we must talk.”
“No, Claire, we mustn’t. Now start folding the blanket so we can leave, as there is still some distance to cover before reaching our lodgings for the night.”
Claire did as he asked and then followed him back to the carriage. Once there, he re-opened the hamper and gave his drivers some food, and soon, they were once again on their way. She would talk to him when they reached their lodgings. She would be calm and decisive. She would set out her case, and he would see reason and leave. Strangely, the thought of him leaving filled her with unease. Something about knowing Simon was with her made the entire journey and what she must do seem easier.
CHAPTER NINE
“Your coachman has an unusual name, Simon.”
“Yes. Ben is an extremely unusual name.”
“You know very well I mean Merlin.”
“Ah, Merlin. Yes, an odd name for a difficult man, Claire, who, of late, has been something of a trial to me.”
“What did he do?”
“My scullery maid is with child, and it appears he is the father.”
“Oh dear, that is quite a difficult situation. What will you do?” Her question was one of genuine concern. Simon was pleased that she cared for the plight of his servants…which was foolish, if he thought about it. Why did her opinion matter to him so much?
“What would you do?” He was curious to know if she would have done the same as he had.
“I would ask both if they wanted to marry each other, then help them to do so.” She said the words instantly, taking no time to think, and as they echoed his own, he could find no fault in them.
“Merlin is to marry Jilly as soon as it can be arranged, as he has assured me he cares for her and she for him. I will also help to secure them a house to live in once they are married if they need my assistance.”
Her look was one of surprise. She had obviously not thought he would handle the matter as he had. “Did you think I would throw her out of my house, Claire?”
She shook her head. “No, of course not. I knew you would be fair. However, I did not realize you would be so generous.”
He gave her a steady look. “You do not have a very high opinion of noblemen, Miss Belmont—more specifically, me.”
“I’m sorry. I did not mean to be disrespectful, Simon. Forgive me. I am just not myself.”
“Perhaps you will be more yourself, Claire, if you close your eyes,” he added after she tried to hide a large yawn behind one hand. “I will wake you if need be.”
She did as he asked and leaned her head back on the seat. However she did not sleep; he could tell by her breathing and the way her body did not relax into slumber. Her hands, too, remained clenched in her lap. Tension was clear in every line of her body. He could not blame her, after all what she was about to do would change her life in many ways. Even if there was no child.
Simon watched her as he thought about the next few days. They would spend tonight alone in a house with no servants, and the days after that would be spent in accommodation used by many. He would need to protect her as best he could, and he hoped they encountered no one who knew them. Perhaps he should say they were related or married? If they were discovered, she would be ruined beyond repair. Her reputation would be blackened, and even her dearest friends, the duke and duchess, could do nothing to salvage it.