Read Online Gail Eastwood by A Perilous Journey - Free Book Online

shoulders and the moment had passed.
    “Sit,” he ordered, and Gillian did so, selecting a chair she felt was appropriately distant from the furnishings grouped by the hearth. How could one man keep her so utterly off-balance? He could be horribly unfeeling at one moment, and remarkably considerate the next. He seemed to switch from being aloof and annoyingly proper to having no regard for propriety at all. Beyond all else, Gillian thought he seemed to delight in provoking her. Infuriating man!
    However, she had to admit he was right about her posing as a servant. Not only would she personally attract less attention, but as a lord’s traveling party they would seem more believable. Anyone making inquiries after a young runaway brother and sister would never think to connect them with a pair of traveling gentlemen and their servant.
    Gillian stared at the blue velvet drapes, lost in such thoughts. She failed to note a commotion and voices in the hallway until the innkeeper escorted another pair of travelers into their sanctuary.
    “My deepest apologies, Lord Brinton,” the innkeeper began. “The fire in the other parlor seemed to be smoking quite badly, and I thought perhaps you would not mind sharing yours with these good folks for just a few minutes?” He hurried on, perhaps fearing that Brinton might object if given the opportunity. “This is, Squire Hammerton and his neighbor, Mr. Cornish. They live just up in Puriton; they are regular visitors here. I can certainly vouch for their character—they always pay their bill!” He giggled nervously and, after catching his breath, plunged on. “Squire and Mr. Cornish, I am honored to present the Earl of Brinton, and his companion . . .?”
    “Mr. Kendall,” Rafferty finished with something less than his usual graciousness. He was annoyed by the intrusion and wondered cynically if the innkeeper even had another fire going in the other room as claimed. However, he had been left no polite choice but to accept the company thrust upon them.
    The squire rushed forward to shake hands with the earl. “Honored, my lord—indeed, most generous of you!” He was a classic example of his species—round eyes looked out from a square, heavily jowled and rather florid countenance, set on a short, thick neck and massive shoulders. He was nearly of a height with Gilbey and the earl, quite dwarfing his companion by comparison.
    Gilbey winced as the squire pumped his hand energetically.
    “Mr. Kendall had the ill-fortune to be set upon by footpads in Taunton this morning,” the innkeeper explained hastily.
    “Footpads! In Taunton!” the squire exclaimed, releasing Gilbey. He peered at him curiously. “You were fortunate to escape worse injury, young man. ’Tis enough to make one stay at home!” He nodded sagely to the small assembly. “We are all well out of there, I must say.” He launched into a description of the conditions he had found in Taunton, taking the opportunity to shed his coat.
    His companion said nothing. He was a small man, apparently inclined to be taciturn or, as Rafferty surmised, he seldom found many chances to participate in conversations around the squire.
    “Yes—we had our fill of the crowds and confusion,” the latter continued with renewed enthusiasm, settling into a chair across from Gilbey’s sofa. “No one knew if the race would be held or not. I couldn’t brook no delay—I’ve got a special filly waiting for me at home.” He winked outrageously. “My missus, you know. She finds she can’t go long without my tender ministrations, if you take my meaning. That’s not to say if they’d a barmaid or a chamber-lass as well-endowed as my wife, I wouldn’t avail m’self of the opportunity.” Hammerton lapsed into loud, coarse guffawing that totally obscured the silence of his audience.
    Brinton dared not look in Gillian’s direction. He felt somehow he should have been able to protect her innocent ears from such vulgar talk, but the