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The princess marched outside, still carrying Galileo. Lady Octavia shot a discontented look at Rupert from her basket, as if to show her displeasure at being brought inside the public house for no discernible reason.
“Outrageous,” the princess huffed. “Who doesn’t care for dogs?”
Lady Octavia chose that moment to meow loudly.
The princess narrowed her eyes at Lady Octavia. “You will learn to love Galileo.”
Lady Octavia turned around, even though the maneuver was awkward in her basket, and licked her paws.
“Perhaps she simply wants to look presentable for Galileo,” Rupert said.
The princess opened the carriage and put Galileo inside. “You’ve been most disobedient.”
Galileo merely wagged his tail.
“I’m most cross with you,” the princess continued sternly.
Galileo barked cheerfully.
Rupert placed the basket with Lady Octavia inside the carriage. “At least, they’re enjoying the journey.”
“They do seem to be.” The princess frowned. “Perhaps I should have explained that public houses are even nicer than carriages.”
“Yes.” Rupert masked a yawn. His heart warmed, and he gazed bleary-eyed at the princess. She sighed. “You must be exhausted. Why don’t you sleep in the carriage? I’ll drive for a while.”
“Are you certain?”
She nodded. “I’ll feel better if we’re farther away. I slept some.”
”Very well. I’ll teach you.”
She gave a relieved nod. After they were once again on the main road, and the princess was comfortable with the reins, Rupert finally agreed to get some sleep in the carriage. He settled inside with Lady Octavia and Galileo. They seemed oblivious that they’d caused any problems at all, and he finally slept.
When he awoke, they’d arrived at a different public house, The Flying Pig.
“I believe it’s time for lunch,” the princess said with a smile.
He stared at her. Though he’d already greatly admired her, he hadn’t known what to expect from her. He suspected that most people in her situation might be less cheerful.
“Thank you.” He stared up at the half-timbered building.
The publican brought them their food outside, and Galileo happily rolled about in the grass while Lady Octavia inspected the area for bugs.
They filled their stomachs with the heavy food. For a while, they could pretend they weren’t in danger.
The princess tilted her head, and dark glossy strands fell in an appealing manner. “What do you do when you’re not fleeing from a murderous man?”
He smiled.
“Unless that’s a common occurrence,” she amended.
“No,” Rupert admitted. “It’s not. Thankfully.” He tilted his head. “I like reading.”
The princess’s eyes shimmered. “I adore reading.”
Rupert grinned too. “Like was actually a weak word. My enjoyment of reading is very strong.”
“As is mine,” the princess breathed.
Lady Octavia jumped on the table, flourishing her tail.
“I like you, too,” Rupert assured Lady Octavia.
“How long have you had her?” the princess asked.
Rupert sighed. “My mother died a few months ago. Lady Octavia was hers.”
“I’m so sorry,” the princess said. “That’s horrible.”
“It’s a tragedy that is too frequent,” Rupert said. “She was sick for years, but even with such warning, it was still a shock.”
“I’m sorry,” the princess said. “My mother died suddenly. I used to wish we had known what would happen, but perhaps nothing could have prepared me.”
“How old were you when she passed away?”
“I was twelve.” She scrunched her lips together. “But Father was wonderful. Everyone was wonderful. I just—”
“Miss her?” Rupert suggested.
The princess nodded. “Precisely.”
They were silent for a moment and continued to eat. The sun shone over them, spreading warm golden beams about. A floral scent wafted about Rupert, and bees buzzed and hummed, adding their sounds to that of the chirping birds and murmur of other guests.
“We should keep on going,” Rupert said reluctantly, after they’d finished their meal and taken their last sips of their drinks.
This time, the princess and he sat in the front, leaving Lady Octavia and Galileo in the carriage.
Rupert took the reins. “Now, I do have an important question.”
“Oh?” A worried look flickered over the princess’s face, and he hated that this incident had made her in any manner uncertain.
“Well. I think it’s important,” he amended. “What do you like to read?”
“Oh!” The princess straightened, then she glanced at him. “You would like recommendations?”
“Precisely,” Rupert said.
“No one’s asked me for recommendations before.”
“Someone who does not ask a devout reader for recommendations is losing a valuable opportunity,” Rupert said.
The princess giggled, and the conversation switched to books rather than on the potential locations of murderous dukes.
Finally, after much time had passed, and the sky had turned pink, then orange, then dark, they stopped at a public house.
“Will this do?” Rupert asked.
The princess nodded, and Rupert turned the carriage into the carriage park. They covered the carriage with branches, and the groom took the horses to the stable. Rupert and the princess entered the building.
Laughter filled the room, and someone was playing the piano.
Rupert approached an auburn-haired barmaid with a wide smile. “We would like two rooms.”
“Mrs. Gussie Colthorpe can assist you with that.” The barmaid waved over a plump woman with a stern expression on her face. “These guests would like two rooms, Mrs. Colthorpe.”
Mrs. Colthorpe rolled her eyes over them and frowned. “I have one for you.”
“I am a married woman,” Princess Aria said. Her voice was regal, and he almost swore that she gained another inch.
He smiled.
Certainly, the publican seemed rather less certain than she had been before. The publican glanced at the floor, as if she had a sudden urge to bend her knees down into a curtsy.
Mrs. Colthorpe steeled herself and smoothed her cap, as if it were a crown she was wary of losing. “You said separate rooms.”
“Married couples always sleep in separate rooms,” Princess Aria said airily. “If you had more couples with sufficient income, you would know that.”
Mrs. Colthorpe’s face reddened. “Don’t insult my guests.”
“I’m just saying they’re not rich,” the princess said archly.
Rupert shifted his legs over the wooden floor. Awkwardness suddenly moved through him.
“Besides,” the princess said, evidently not needing much inspiration to pummel the publican, “I have spent all day riding in a very small coach.”
The publican shot a skeptical gaze outside. “I don’t see an elaborate coach.”
“But it is small,” Rupert said hastily, “which was my wife’s point.”
The princess regained her confident air. “So you must see that it is very important that my husband and I have separate rooms. We do require our space.”
Mrs. Colthorpe shrugged her shoulders. “Personally, I think an unpleasant carriage ride means you require a night with a great deal of amusement.”
“And you think we could do that more effectively in a small room?” the princess asked.
Mrs. Colthorpe’s eyebrows darted up, and she snickered. “Oh, my.”
“Let’s not be vulgar,” Rupert said.
The princess glanced at him with a bemused expression on her face. The publican stared at her and continued to chortle.
“Two rooms,” Rupert said.
Mrs. Colthorpe nodded, handed him two keys, and pointed to a staircase. Rupert murmured icy thanks, then led the princess upstairs. The sooner they were in their rooms, the sooner he could come down and get the dog and cat. He wasn’t certain of the publican’s acceptance of pets, and he would rather not ask and be disappointed, at least where there were no other options. Besides, the duke’s men knew he was traveling with pets—he would prefer it if they were not easily identified.
Rupert led the princess upstairs. “Shall we inspect the rooms?”
She nodded, silent now and eager to sleep. He installed her in the best room, a fact ascertained by the view, since the quality did not otherwise differ.
“I’ll go down and sneak Lady Octavia and Galileo inside,” Rupert said.
“Do you think it will work?” she asked.
“I won’t have to speak with the publican. Besides, I think the music there might drown the sound of even Galileo’s most vigorous efforts.”
The princess giggled, and when Rupert left the room, his heart was light.
*
ARIA STOOD STIFFLY in the room. The bed lacked four posters, and nothing in the room seemed to be made of silk or velvet. The room was imperfectly cleaned, as if it had been hastily prepared after another guest, and loud male chuckles from the public house portion of this building drifted upward. She wondered whether fewer aristocrats laughed or if they were simply self-conscious in her presence. Perhaps one didn’t relax when meeting a princess, especially when the princess in question was often accompanied by a burly bodyguard who had a tendency to glower and scowl.
Still, this was better than what she’d experienced last night, and there was no one who desired to murder her in sight. Certainly, that was an improvement.
She settled onto the bed tentatively.
A knock sounded on the door, and she jumped up and padded toward it.
“Who is it?” she whispered.
“Just me.”
Relief moved through her, and she opened the door. Rupert stepped into the room and handed Galileo toward her.
“Here he is,” Rupert said. “I put Lady Octavia in my room already.”
She smiled. “Thank you. Come inside.”
He nodded, and she was suddenly aware of the utter inappropriateness of what they were doing. She wasn’t supposed to be in the room with a man, even if she was married.
She stared at him. His shoulders weren’t particularly broad, but they were hardly narrow. In fact, they were just right. He didn’t tower over her like Demon did. When she had a suggestion, he listened. And he was clever; he’d camouflaged their carriage.
Galileo squirmed, and she realized she’d been gazing at Rupert for too long.
She placed Galileo on the floor, and he spun around, his tail wagging, apparent approval for not being in a tiny space moving at a fast pace over unseen potholes.
“Was there anything else?” Mr. Andrews asked.
“No,” she said. “I mean—” She hesitated. She’d insisted on two rooms, but now she hardly wanted him to leave.
Mr. Andrews seemed to understand, and he pulled her toward him.
“You’re safe.” He held her closer to him. “You’re safe.”
Aria nodded and gave a tight smile.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he promised.
She smiled. Even though she barely knew him, even though they’d hardly been even introduced, she still felt safe.
She tilted her head up at him, gazing at his kind gray eyes. “I know.”