“God, Claire, where are you?” Pulling the curtain aside, he searched the paddocks and trees as if she would suddenly appear. Fear gnawed at his insides, and that made his anger climb.
She was so much more than he’d ever believed her to be. She was loyal, and he now knew would do what it took to protect those she felt needed protection. Not that he had ever doubted her, but still, at that moment when he’d seen her standing on that table ready to fight for him, through his horror, he had felt a large, warm weight settle in his chest. She’d been there for him and his men, and there were not many people in Simon’s life who would have taken such a risk to secure his safety.
She’d tended his cuts and bruises and plied him with spirits, and he’d then fallen asleep, and the little witch had left him. Had she thought he would wake and see her gone and just shrug? Simply make his way back to London and let her continue alone?
Foolish woman.
Simon didn’t know how long they had been traveling before he felt the carriage slow to a stop. He had the door open and was outside in seconds.
“The cart, my lord. I think that’s it.”
Following Ben’s hand, he saw they had entered a small village, and coming down the main street was a cart being driven by a young boy.
“Why do you think that’s it, Ben? Surely, there is more than one cart in this village.”
“I saw that horse in the stall next to ours yesterday, my lord.”
“Good enough,” Simon said. “Ben, you get food for all of us, and Merlin, you take care of the horses. I will meet you at that stable.” He pointed to a large building that had horses and carriage milling about in front of it.
Simon walked across the street towards the cart, which had to stop or go around him. It stopped. “Where is the woman you brought here?”
The boy looked at him silently for several seconds.
“I mean her no harm, Boy.”
He nodded then and lifted his hand, pointing to a large, two-storied establishment further down the road.
“Has the stage been through today?”
“No, my lord. I’ve been here many hours and it has not arrived yet.”
Nodding, Simon stepped to the side, then made his way to the establishment called The Goat. He entered and made his way slowly from room to room, of which there were many. She was in the last. Relief nearly buckled his knees as he saw her sitting alone in the corner with her bags at her feet. She wore a black bonnet and cape, presumably the same ones he’d seen her in that day in the lane. Around her, people chatted and laughed while she slept. Her head rested on the back of the seat, hands neatly folded in her lap. Unlike last night, when she had appeared fire and brimstone, she now looked small and vulnerable again. He walked across the room, nodding to people as they moved out of his way. He suspected this was due to his battered face and ferocious scowl. Reaching her, Simon had an urge to haul her into his arms and hold her. However he was still furious, so he nudged her shoulder with his hand instead.
She woke suddenly, sitting upright in the chair, eyes wide and unfocused as she looked up at him. Blinking several times, she then looked around the room, as if to remind herself where she was, and then back at him.
“Simon.” One word but it sounded wrenched from deep inside her.
“Follow me outside, Claire. If you don’t, I will throw you over my shoulder and make a scene bigger than any you have ever witnessed.” Simon picked up her luggage and walked towards the door instead of following his impulse and scooping her into his arms. He knew she followed, because he heard her apologizing as she passed people.
“Simon, please…”
He ignored her, instead making his way outside and then starting back down the road towards where his carriage awaited. She surprised him by cursing, but still he did not stop. Walking into the stables, he located his carriage. “Load these, please, Merlin.” Simon handed Claire’s luggage to him and then opened the carriage door.
“Why won’t you at least listen to me, Simon?”
She now stood beside him, looking up at him from under the brim of that ugly black bonnet. Her brown eyes were wary, and he knew she was scared, yet she didn’t back down.
“Get in,” Simon said, pointing inside the carriage.
“No.”
He wouldn’t laugh. He was too angry for that, even if she looked delectable defying him. “Claire, the pain in my body is not making me amiable. Therefore it would be in your best interests to do as I say and do it quickly.”
“It is best I go alone, Simon. Surely after last night you can see that? This is my problem, not yours.”
“For the love of god,” he muttered, picking her up. He stepped up into the carriage and threw her on the seat with perhaps a bit more force than necessary. Sitting near the door, he slammed it shut, trapping her inside. “I’ve told you I want to come with you, I’ve told you it is my choice, and still you take the foolish notion into your head to flee in the middle of the night, thus, in your eyes, protecting me.”