Free The Pursuit by Lori Wick Page B

today. If someone asks after us, he’ll be mute.”
    “That was good thinking. By the way, did you know the man watching the inn?”
    “Not personally, but they all look alike.”
    “How’s that?”
    “They’re either French or British, and they don’t blend in very well. Added to that, each one thinks I’m a fool.”
    “So they know you travel as a man?”
    “They think I am a man. Osborne has been acting as Nicola’s solicitor, so they think that by following him they can get to her.”
    Edward thought the whole plan rather clever but didn’t comment.
    Alone with her thoughts, Niki remembered the price she paid for her deception. She made up her mind. This was the end. She would get home and not do this again. It was too taxing; the cost was too high. It might seem sudden to some, but she had been coming to this point for a very long time.
    “Are you all right, Denley?” Edward asked.
    There was no answer.
    Niki moved to check on him.
    “I think he’s asleep.”
    “That sounds like a good idea.”
    Edward settled back and got comfortable. He never minded the rocking of a carriage; he found it relaxing. Niki wasn’t in the same state. Until it grew light, they wouldn’t know if they’d been followed. Wishing there was some way to know so she could turn her brain off, she laid her head back and tried not to think.

    It had happened again, only this time Edward had decided to use Niki as a pillow. She woke up to find the carriage well lit with daylight, Edward’s head heavy against her shoulder. She shifted a little, but he didn’t move.
    When she looked across at Denley, she found him sitting up and awake.
    “Are you all right?” he asked.
    “Yes. You sound as though you feel better.”
    “I do, thank you.”
    Their conversation did not reach Edward. Niki gave him a little push, but that was just as ineffective.
    “Shall I wake him?” Denley offered.
    “I’ll do it. Edward,” Niki tried, but he only moved to make himself more comfortable, even going so far as to slip an arm around her waist.
    “Wake up, Edward Steele!” Niki commanded, but her voice was never very loud, and Edward was quite sleepy.
    Seeing no help for it, Niki pinched the skin on the back of his hand. Edward started a bit and opened his eyes.
    “I’m sorry.” He was instantly contrite as he sat up. “Did I smash you?”
    “No, I’m all right. I couldn’t wake you.”
    “What did you do?” Edward asked as he worked to orient himself, vaguely aware that he’d been hurt.
    “I pinched your hand.”
    “Were we followed?” he asked, his eyes already bright.
    “It doesn’t appear so, but we won’t actually know until we arrive.”
    Edward consulted his watch and saw that they’d been on the road for several hours. The warm darkness of the coach had served to make them quite comfortable.
    “I think a stop is in order,” Edward commented, his fist going into the roof without waiting for permission.
    It felt good to stretch their legs. Once in the nearby woods, Edward and Denley headed one direction and Niki another. When they met back at the carriage, Edward told Denley he wanted something to eat. That man was swift to obey and turned to Niki.
    Denley gave quiet orders to Niki, and Edward glanced from time to time to see if the coachmen had taken any interest. They checked their horses and the bags loaded at the rear, not appearing to pay any attention to the travelers.
    When the carriage was back on the road, the three ate without conversation. Denley slept again, this time sitting up with his head against the seat. As the coach continued toward the port city of Porto, Edward found that his mind had done some traveling of its own. He suddenly spoke to Niki.
    “I have it figured out.”
    “What’s that?”
    “You have an overbearing father who’s forcing you to marry a man twice your age, a business partner of his. The arrangement is intended to keep the money in the family.”
    Niki’s brows rose. “Has