Loving a Fearless Duchess: A Historical Regency Romance Book(65)

They were also told Henry didn’t pay them, Wilson did.

Wilson made a point, a strong point of saying that he paid for their services. It wasn’t Henry. Wilson paid them handsomely.

“When my father hears you hijacked me and made me go to his estate against my will, you two will no longer have jobs.

“Is that what you want? Answer me. Do you want jobs or don’t you?

“You’re fired. Both of you. I’ll take my chances with highwaymen or anyone else who might stop this carriage to rob it.”

Henry knocked on the roof of the interior of the carriage – the signal to stop, but the driver ignored him.

“Another one fired. I’ll tell him as soon as we stop. And my father will deal with all of you. You will be sorry.”

Henry sat as the carriage went on towards his father’s estate. He fumed. Every rut the carriage hit threw him off his perch and made him feel less powerful. It made his doubt increase.

Was his father serious about sequestering him in the dower house? He hadn’t thought so. How many times had his father covered for him, covering up his botched job? He’d come to his senses soon. His reputation depended on it.

The carriage stopped at the Cotswold Center Inn, the inn the Duke frequented on his first leg home. Henry walked in and knocked on the wooden desk, demanding service.

“Jack, where are you?” Jack came to the desk, hurrying to serve the heir.

“My Lord?” he asked.

“I need a room. And I need these two,” Henry pointed with his chin at the two men who stood still, holding their weapons, “to sleep in your barn.”

“I will eat alone. Put something in a napkin for them before you send them away.”

Jack looked at Henry, then at the men with him, then back at Henry.

“I’m sorry, My Lord, but I received a missive earlier today from the Duke, instructing me to keep the men with you at all times. They are to eat with you, as well as your coach driver, and to guard your room inside and out.”

Henry took a step back, shocked by the instructions. “Inside and out?”

“One of his men in the room with you and another outside the door. He was very specific in his instructions, My Lord.”

Henry’s anger blew up. “The Duke will hear about this, and we will never use this establishment again.”

Jack seemed unfazed. “Let me show you to a table in the tavern, My Lord.”

He did, and almost immediately, a buxom server missing two front teeth came up and smiled. She put four ales on the table. Henry wondered why someone with teeth like that would smile. She looked foolish.

She told them the stew would be out shortly. Meanwhile, Henry looked at each of his dinner guests in turn. In a lower voice meant to menace them as well as keep other patrons from hearing them, he began his rant.

“My father is a Duke and will severely punish the three of you once he understands what you are doing. Yes, he wants me away from the ton for a month or two, but he would never tolerate the lengths you have gone through.

“I will write him this evening and ask him to respond at our next stop. Then, this farce will be over.”

Their barmaid delivered the stew as well as bread. Henry’s guards at the table drank their ale, ate in silence, and didn’t even meet each other’s eyes. Wilson had briefed them about what he expected of them. He had secretly enjoyed giving out his instructions. He had thought the men would enjoy following them.

Their barmaid brought more ale and another bowl of stew and more bread for the four men when Henry made a calculated move and announced he was going to his room. He smirked when the men stood, mid-meal to join him.

Henry was disappointed none of the men grumbled about leaving bowls of stew on the table. He would wait until they were asleep and slip out then, riding one of the coach horses to freedom. But first, he had a letter to write.

Father,

A grave mistake was made. Wilson has taken his responsibility for me to the extreme. If you know of the hardship I have had to endure, you will put a stop to it.

Armed men surround me at all times. Even behind the screen and in bed. I’m sure you meant for the men to escort me, not imprison me.

Send a missive to the next stop in our journey so you can straighten out the duties these men are supposed to perform.

Henry

He waited with great anticipation for the next stop at the Carriage Road Inn. After a long bumpy road that threw him from one side of the carriage to another, he hurried down the carriage stairs to the desk just inside the door. Charlie was standing there, an amused look on his face.

“Charlie, I need a room and a place for these three,” he swept his hand toward them, “to stay for the night. You can wrap some bread and cheese, and we can send them on their way.”

Charlie shook his head and leaned one hand on his desk. “I’m sorry, My Lord, but I have my orders to keep these men by your side.”

“Who gave you such orders,” Henry said indignantly.

Charlie took out a page of vellum from underneath his desk. “Your father, the Duke.”

Henry grabbed the vellum and read it, and then went back and read it carefully again, searching for loopholes. He crumpled it up and threw it in the fireplace closest to the door.

“I have prepared a room with two beds as instructed and have prepared food. Would you like to sit for the food now?”