swatted at another insect that had decided my skin was a tasty treat. Not even twenty four hours in and already I was feeling the irritation of traveling.
“Sabith Town.” Wolfe stopped his horse, turning to us as he pointed at the large town in the distance. “We’l rest here for the night.” I swear I almost swooned in relief. And I was not a swooner. I grinned at the Lieutenant, and with renewed energy the Guard loped into a canter, the men and the cart stil trailing behind us in the woods. I was assured they would catch up, however.
Seeming to know the town, Wolfe took us straight to a large inn on the outskirts of it. I was thankful that we wouldn’t be trotting our way through the quiet streets at this time, waking everyone from their beds.
The inn keeper, a tal, stout woman with arms like roling pins, came swaggering out to us, and I raised my brow at her manners. Then I smiled. Her robust confidence reminded me of Cook.
“Wel, what a fine sight!” She caled heartily, as Wolfe dismounted. They shook hands and it became clear to me that she and Wolfe were already acquainted.
“You bring me much business, Captain Wolfe.” She nodded to us al, her eyes landing on me. She dipped me a graceful curtsey at complete odds with her ambling gait. “My Lady!” She caled up to me. I was beginning to realise that this woman never spoke. She barked. “Wel.” She turned to Wolfe. “You’l be needing a room for that fine lass. As for you and your men, wel, I have five rooms free that I’m sure a good few can share. The rest wil need to bunk down in the stables, I’m afraid.”
“That’s fine,” Wolfe assured her. He spun around to address Lieutenant Chaeron who dismounted. “Lieutenant, I’l ask you to take a room in the inn. See how big the rooms are, see how many of our men can share. I’l bunk in the stables with the rest.” Taken aback by Wolfe’s order, having thought he would’ve been too spoiled to ‘rough’ it with the rest of the men, I forgot myself and began to dismount. I was almost to the ground when I felt a hand on my lower back and was eased to the ground. I knew his scent before I even turned. “I can manage,” I bit out.
“I know,” Wolfe replied coldly. “But appearances, my Lady, appearances.”
I made a face and he roled his eyes at me.
“Child,” he muttered and then took my arm like a gentleman. I tried to tug it away but he held me fast. “Can you behave for one night, Lady Rogan?” he hissed. “I have to show you to your room.”
“You’re such a fusspot,” I exhaled and alowed him to walk me into the huge inn. I gaped in wonder at the openness of it. To our left was an arched doorway that led into a large eating area and bar. A fire crackled at one end and I shuddered at the thought of its delicious heat. To our right was a narrow halway I guessed led to rooms and before us a massive open stairway that led to the rooms upstairs.
“Room 11, Captain.” The inn keeper approached us grinning broadly. She thrust the key towards us and Wolfe took it before I could.
“Thank you, Mags, you’re the best.”
She blushed at his smile and I groaned inwardly. Dear haven, if a woman like Mags fel for Wolfe’s charm, no woman alive (except me!) was safe.
“You know I’m sure I can find the room al by myself. I’m a big girl you know.”
He grunted at that and led me upstairs.
The room was surprisingly nice. And large. A four poster with clean cotton sheets and woven quilts sat at one end, and lo and behold a lovely fire already lit, flickered briliantly at the other. Very nice. Not that I gave positive commentary in front of Wolfe.
“I’l have Mags bring you up a meal.” Wolfe strode around the room, peering here and there. What in haven was he looking for? “Everything seems in order.” He marched stiffly back to the doorway.
“What? No rookery thieves behind the changing screen?” I asked sarcasticaly.
I was rewarded with a disdainful look. “Just
“Sabith Town.” Wolfe stopped his horse, turning to us as he pointed at the large town in the distance. “We’l rest here for the night.” I swear I almost swooned in relief. And I was not a swooner. I grinned at the Lieutenant, and with renewed energy the Guard loped into a canter, the men and the cart stil trailing behind us in the woods. I was assured they would catch up, however.
Seeming to know the town, Wolfe took us straight to a large inn on the outskirts of it. I was thankful that we wouldn’t be trotting our way through the quiet streets at this time, waking everyone from their beds.
The inn keeper, a tal, stout woman with arms like roling pins, came swaggering out to us, and I raised my brow at her manners. Then I smiled. Her robust confidence reminded me of Cook.
“Wel, what a fine sight!” She caled heartily, as Wolfe dismounted. They shook hands and it became clear to me that she and Wolfe were already acquainted.
“You bring me much business, Captain Wolfe.” She nodded to us al, her eyes landing on me. She dipped me a graceful curtsey at complete odds with her ambling gait. “My Lady!” She caled up to me. I was beginning to realise that this woman never spoke. She barked. “Wel.” She turned to Wolfe. “You’l be needing a room for that fine lass. As for you and your men, wel, I have five rooms free that I’m sure a good few can share. The rest wil need to bunk down in the stables, I’m afraid.”
“That’s fine,” Wolfe assured her. He spun around to address Lieutenant Chaeron who dismounted. “Lieutenant, I’l ask you to take a room in the inn. See how big the rooms are, see how many of our men can share. I’l bunk in the stables with the rest.” Taken aback by Wolfe’s order, having thought he would’ve been too spoiled to ‘rough’ it with the rest of the men, I forgot myself and began to dismount. I was almost to the ground when I felt a hand on my lower back and was eased to the ground. I knew his scent before I even turned. “I can manage,” I bit out.
“I know,” Wolfe replied coldly. “But appearances, my Lady, appearances.”
I made a face and he roled his eyes at me.
“Child,” he muttered and then took my arm like a gentleman. I tried to tug it away but he held me fast. “Can you behave for one night, Lady Rogan?” he hissed. “I have to show you to your room.”
“You’re such a fusspot,” I exhaled and alowed him to walk me into the huge inn. I gaped in wonder at the openness of it. To our left was an arched doorway that led into a large eating area and bar. A fire crackled at one end and I shuddered at the thought of its delicious heat. To our right was a narrow halway I guessed led to rooms and before us a massive open stairway that led to the rooms upstairs.
“Room 11, Captain.” The inn keeper approached us grinning broadly. She thrust the key towards us and Wolfe took it before I could.
“Thank you, Mags, you’re the best.”
She blushed at his smile and I groaned inwardly. Dear haven, if a woman like Mags fel for Wolfe’s charm, no woman alive (except me!) was safe.
“You know I’m sure I can find the room al by myself. I’m a big girl you know.”
He grunted at that and led me upstairs.
The room was surprisingly nice. And large. A four poster with clean cotton sheets and woven quilts sat at one end, and lo and behold a lovely fire already lit, flickered briliantly at the other. Very nice. Not that I gave positive commentary in front of Wolfe.
“I’l have Mags bring you up a meal.” Wolfe strode around the room, peering here and there. What in haven was he looking for? “Everything seems in order.” He marched stiffly back to the doorway.
“What? No rookery thieves behind the changing screen?” I asked sarcasticaly.
I was rewarded with a disdainful look. “Just
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