Free The Bride Spy by Tracey Jane Jackson Page A

“Yes, sweetie, carriage.”
    “Did you ride in a carriage al the way here from D.C.?”
    Hannah paused. “Have you been in a carriage for days?”
    Emma shook her head. “No. We took the train to Camden, which takes about forty-five minutes, then the trip here took about an hour.”
    “Sophie made this era,” Hannah waved her hand, “al sound so different.”
    “Yes, she’s figured out she doesn’t know everything there is to know about the Civil War.”
    “No!” Hannah whispered sarcastical y. “Wait…what do you mean, she’s figured out?”
    Emma smiled. “She and Jamie are here.”

    Hannah grasped the back of the sofa. “What?” she exclaimed a little louder than she meant to.
    Before Emma could expand on the story, the parlor door opened and Clayton and Christopher stepped inside.
    “Everything al right?” Christopher asked.
    Hannah squeezed her eyes shut and turned her back to him. Emma made her way to her just as Gwen arrived with Nanny and a tea tray. Emma wrapped an arm around Hannah’s shoulders. “It’s going to be fine.”
    “Hannah?”
    Hannah jumped slightly at the sound of Christopher’s voice, entirely too close behind her for comfort. She turned to face him and forced a smile.
    He raised an eyebrow. “Are you al right?”
    Hannah nodded and leaned a little heavier against Emma.
    Emma gave her a gentle squeeze. “She’l be fine, Chris.
    She’s just had a shock.”
    He stared at Hannah with a look of concern, and she felt heat creeping up her neck. She shrugged Emma’s arm from her shoulders and sidled away from Christopher.
    Emma made her way to Clayton, who stood by the door, and accepted the hand he held out to her. “I know we planned to stay, but do you think we could get a train home this afternoon?” She glanced back at Hannah. “I think Hannah needs to rest.”
    Clayton nodded. “If we leave now, we’l make the last train.”
    Hannah didn’t miss Christopher’s glower in Clayton’s direction, and she was confused by his reaction. She stepped around the furniture and made her way to Emma.
    “Now would be fine.”
    “What if the train is ful ? You wil have traveled al that way only to turn around and return,” Christopher argued.
    Hannah shook her head. “I’m sure it’l be fine. Right, Em? I mean, how many people in hoop skirts could be traveling at…ah…what time’s the train?”
    “Four,” Clayton answered.
    Hannah turned back to Christopher. “At four. I’m sure there’l be room for us.” She glanced at her wrist, realized she wasn’t wearing her watch, and pretended to fix her cuff as she looked back up at Clayton. “But we should probably go, don’t you think?”
    “You should at least eat something,” Christopher argued.
    Hannah shook her head. “We had breakfast less than an hour ago. I’l be good.”
    “I’m actual y quite hungry,” Emma said.
    Hannah narrowed her eyes at her. “We’l take something to go.”
    Emma nodded and smiled at Gwen, who looked as though she was watching a tennis match, bobbing her head from Hannah to Christopher as they argued. “Gwen, I’m sorry.
    Do you mind if we take some of these sandwiches with us?”
    Gwen cleared her throat. “No, of course not.”
    Hannah clasped her hands together. “Great. Al righty then, let’s get this show on the road.”
    “Did you hire a rig?” Christopher asked Clayton.
    Clayton nodded. “Yes. I had your man put the horses in the barn.”
    “Wel , it wil take some time for him to tack them up again.”
    Christopher turned to Hannah. “So why don’t you sit down and enjoy your meal, unrushed, while he does that.”
    “Stop trying to rescue me, Sir Knight. As you can see, my good friend and her husband are here to save the day.”
    Hannah sent a beseeching look towards Emma and scowled when Emma smiled.
    That stupid, annoying “Emma knows everything” smile.

    “Emma,” Hannah pleaded.
    Emma covered her mouth with her hand and let out a cough, obviously to