Read Online Desiring Lady Caro by Ella Quinn - Free Book Online Page A

her. Huntley’s steady gaze was on her. His eyes changed from green to blue. Today, they were bluer. She wondered what the different colors meant. He’d deflected her anger quite easily yesterday morning, and had quelled her angst about all the problems they’d had yesterday with the horses and baggage coach, which surprised her. Most men wouldn’t have bothered explaining themselves to a mere woman. At least in her experience, most gentlemen wouldn’t find it necessary. Unfortunately they had still not made Verona.
    Nevertheless, if she had to be stuck with him for the journey to France—she would not go farther than that—maybe he wouldn’t be so bad to travel with. If they were lucky, news of their “betrothal” would not become widely known, and she wouldn’t have to jilt him.
    Five years ago, while traveling to Venice, Caro had decided she’d never marry, not for any reason. Nothing had happened in the intervening years to change her mind. She couldn’t bear the thought of a man’s hands on her again.
    She was becoming uncomfortable under his scrutiny, but kept her eyes mostly closed so that he would not know she was awake. She speculated about where they were. As if he heard her, he shifted his gaze outside.
    “We should be past Vicenza.” He reached under his seat. “Would you like to play chess or continue sleeping?”
    Caro started to stretch and stopped. She glanced at him sharply. He’d known she was awake. Huntley focused on the box he’d taken out.
    “I’ll play chess.”
    The corners of his lips lifted. “Good.”
    He was an excellent player, but so was she. Caro was ahead by one game when the coach stopped abruptly, tumbling the chess pieces to the floor.
    She glanced out the window but could see nothing. “What is it?”
    Huntley frowned, but his voice remained composed. “Let’s find out.”
    He knocked on the roof.
    Dalle answered. “It’s just traffic, my lord. We’ve entered Verona.”
    She remembered the chess pieces and bent down to help retrieve them at the same moment as did Huntley. Their heads bumped. “ Ow . You have a hard head.”
    He rubbed his forehead. “So do you.”
    Caro grinned. “So I’ve been told. You are now forewarned, my lord.”
    He returned some of the pieces to the box. “Indeed.” He pointed to her hat on a shelf above the seat. “At least I didn’t get poked in the eye by a feather.”
    She gazed at the chip hat with the large plumed feather that caressed her cheek when she wore it. It was nice he was able to joke at a time like this. She was surprised she could feel . . . comfortable with him, even in a closed carriage. She grinned. “I doubt that could poke anything.”
    His eyes twinkled and were suddenly green. “No, probably not.”
    Some few minutes later, they turned into a large coaching inn and came to a stop. Huntley jumped out before the steps could be let down, and strode into the building.
    Caro started to rise, but Nugent placed a restraining hand on her arm. “Wait until he gets back, my lady. Dalle and the coachman haven’t got down yet, and his lordship wouldn’t have left like that if he wasn’t checking on something.”
    Caro bit her lip. “Yes, of course, you’re right.”
    She had experience running and should have thought of it. What would Huntley do if the marchese were to find them? Probably something stupid, such as fight a duel with di Venier without a thought of what would happen to her if he died.
    Huntley returned and signaled to one of the inn’s ostlers to let down the steps of the coach. He took Caro’s hand as she stepped down. “I hope you don’t mind, I’ve made arrangements for your servants to have refreshment and a private parlor for us.”
    Nugent poked her head out of the carriage. “Very kind of you, my lord.”
    Caro glanced up at him. “Thank you, your preparations suit.”
    Huntley bowed slightly. “Maufe is here and has organized a chamber for you to refresh yourself. He has also