Susan Spencer Paul Read Online Free Page B

stop this time as he tied the strings of his bag together. “No, she hasn’t,” he replied, straightening and lifting Amazon from her perch. “Well then, Rosaleen no-name,” he said as he toted the bag up over one shoulder, “goodbye. It has been more pleasant than I could ever say, and I do hope you’ll find your way to London with ease.”
    He started for the door, and Rosaleen shot up off the bed.
    “What!” she shrieked.
    He stopped just in front of the door.
    “I said goodbye.”
    “I know what you said! What do you mean by it?”
    His expression was openly bewildered. “I mean goodbye. I was not aware there was another meaning to theword.”
    “But you cannot mean to say that you’re leaving!”
    “I can’t?”
    “Well, no, of course not! I’m not ready to go. I haven’t yet eaten to break my fast, and I don’t know where my things are, though perhaps you’ve taken care of that already. They were on my mount, and you have taken care of my horse, have you not?”
    “Ah, no, I haven’t,” Hugh replied. “I didn’t even know you had a horse.”
    “Of course I had a horse!” she stated, wondering at how slow-witted he was. “How do you think I came to be here otherwise? Oh Lord!” she said with a groan. “I imagine he must have been stolen. I was in such a state when I arrived here that I didn’t even think to stable him. Everything I had was on him. All my money, my change of clothing, everything!”
    “Well, that’s a stroke of bad luck, Rosaleen, and I’m sorry,” Hugh said sincerely. “Listen, I’ve a good bit of money at the moment. I’d be happy to give you enough to help you get started…”
    But Rosaleen wasn’t listening to him. She cut him off with an imperious wave of her hand. “Never mind. It’s too late to cry over what’s been done, and it was my own fault, really, for not stabling the beast. You shall simply have to purchase another mount for me, and I shall have to make do with the clothes you’ve provided until we arrive in London.”
    Hugh blinked rapidly, certain he hadn’t heard right. “We?” he repeated.
    Rosaleen paced the room. “I shall need clean linen to cover my hair, and a brush, of course. If you would go now and ask the innkeeper’s wife to bring me those two items along with some bread and cheese, I shall shortly be ready to leave.” She stopped pacing and glanced at him. “You may make the arrangements for my mount while I’m eating.”
    When he simply stood there and stared at her, Rosaleen fluttered her hands as if to shoo him on his way. “Hurry, Hugh Caldwell. We’ve no time to waste. My uncle will be looking everywhere for me, so we must be on our way at once. How many days do you think it will take us to reach London?”
    “Far fewer than you think, lady,” Hugh replied stiffly. “I’m not taking you to London.”
    “But of course you are. You have to.”
    “What I have to do, sweet, is get myself on my way. I’ve surprised even myself by playing the gallant and watching over you these past two days, but don’t think I’ve a mind to do any more. Now, I’m willing to leave you enough goldto get you to London, but that’s all I’m willing to do. Take it or leave it.”
    “Your sense of humor is not only badly timed,” Rosaleen chided, “it is sadly improper.”
    “And your understanding, mistress, is slower than a turtle’s pace. What makes you think I’d take you to London?”
    God’s mercy! Rosaleen thought with irritation. The man was as dense as a tree. “How can you ask such a thing?
    Surely you know your duty as a gentleman!”
    Shock possessed Hugh’s features for a long, silent moment, and then, quite suddenly, he began to laugh. “My duty as a what? As a gentleman? God’s bones, mistress, but it’s been a long while since I’ve been so amused. I’ve already told you that I am no chivalrous knight, and if you could possibly think me gentle then you must have no care whatsoever for what passed between