Page 18 of Eloping With The Princess
“Why are you doing this?” she asked.
His shrewd blue eyes met hers. “It is my duty to protect. I work for the Crown of England. You are now involved and therefore deserve protection.”
She nodded.
“It is strange to wake up and believe one thing about yourself, then end the day realizing you are someone else entirely,” she said.
His eyes bore into hers. “Yes, it is.”
And she would have sworn that he truly understood. Not only that he commiserated, but that he knew precisely what she meant. It was on her tongue to ask him if he truly did understand, but he let the curtain fall back into place, then leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
About half an hour later, Jason rapped on the roof of the carriage, and it rolled to a stop. “We’ll have to stop here for the night as my estate is still another day’s ride away.”
“Another day? ’Tis far away.”
“Yes.” He withdrew from the carriage then held a hand up to her. “Nearly to the Scottish border.”
Relief swam through her. Certainly, she’d be more difficult to find this far north of London. She’d never been out of the city, and she longed to see the landscape, but darkness had fallen. All she could make out behind them were the shadows of lines of trees.
…
After she’d peppered him with questions about Saldania and the plot to usurp the throne, Jason had pretended to sleep. It had been better than continuing with the conversation lest he reveal to her how deadly the situation was. He had no doubt that once the men behind this traitorous plan got her married and safely on the throne next to her husband, Isabel would be quietly murdered. Jason didn’t want to terrify her.
Jason stretched outside of the carriage before he assisted Isabel to the ground. The sign hanging by the front gate wobbled in the wind, and the sharp scent of rain hung heavy in the air.
“A storm is coming.” Jason nodded toward the inn. He glanced at the Tudor-style building with fresh eyes, seeing it perhaps as Isabel did. The half-timbered, black-and-white building was showing its age, but the grounds were clean and tidy and, other than the handful of missing bricks from the far right chimney, it was in decent shape. “Might not be much, but we can at least stay dry. They should also have something we can eat.”
Her stomach growled in response, and she gave him a shy grin. “That would be quite nice.”
Several fat drops fell onto them. Thankfully, a groom jogged out to greet them. Jason gave the man instructions about the horses before accompanying Isabel inside the inn.
Jason had stayed at The Boar and the Hound on more than one occasion when traveling to his family’s estate in Northumberland. It was not the most luxurious of inns, but it was clean, and the food was decent. He certainly hoped it would meet Isabel’s approval. Granted she’d been raised in a school, not in a palace as she should have been, and he already knew her standards were low considering she’d asked him to put her in the servants’ quarters.
The tavern on the first floor of the inn already hummed with activity and people. No doubt the oncoming storm had forced more than a few to stop here for at least a meal in hopes of avoiding a drenching. Two barmaids skirted the tables, passing out bowls of steaming food as well as tankards of ale. Several road-worn travelers huddled at said tables, eating and drinking, but everything seemed to stop when Jason and Isabel stepped inside. As if they could tell Isabel was royalty, people turned to stare.
Of course, Isabel was strikingly beautiful, more so than most women. She had an exotic beauty about her with a naturally darker complexion than was typical of English-bred ladies. That combined with her chestnut hair made her sea-green eyes stand out and beg people to look at them.
She leaned closer to him. “Why are they staring at you?” she asked.
“I believe it is you who has caught their gaze.”
Her hand went absently to her head, patted her hair. “I certainly have no notion as to why. Do I look a fright?”
Jason chuckled. The innkeeper stepped over to them before Jason could answer her.
Recognition lit in the old man’s wizened face. “Ah, Lord Ellis, how nice to see you again.”
“And you, sir. I need a room,” Jason said.
“Yes, a storm’s coming. Been brewing out there all day. I suspect it’ll be a strong one, too, judging by all the customers tonight.” He nodded toward the full tavern, then he seemed to notice Isabel for the first time, and his wiry white eyebrows rose as he quickly looked from Isabel, then back to Jason. “Of course, my lord. This way.” He led them through the tavern and up to the bar area where he managed all manner of duties for the inn. He flipped open a large book, then glanced up. “Only one room, then?” There was insinuation in his voice, although his posture and expression remained respectful.
Jason nodded. “Yes, only one. This is my niece. I intend to ensure her protection. Perhaps an extra blanket or two so I can make myself comfortable on the floor.”
“Yes, of course.” The man bobbed his head several times, then bent behind the bar and came back with a key. “Nicest room we have, my lord, and the largest. I’ll bring up extra bedding directly.”
Chapter Four
The innkeeper had come up to their room, bringing what Isabel suspected might be every extra piece of bedding they owned. He set up a small table with two chairs, and soon returned with heaping bowls of steaming stew and buttered bread. It seemed Jason had accounted for all their needs. Save one. Isabel still needed a solution to her current predicament. Hiding at one of his family estates would provide only a temporary fix.
