Free My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley

You can’t just up and disappear.”
    “Yes, I can. I’m not a child, Hoskins. If my orders were obeyed, my brother will think I’m off on an adventure. As I am.”
    “An adventure that stinks of trouble. Who is this young woman who needs to get to Maidenhead, so urgent, and all underhand?”
    “I’m not sure,” Cyn admitted, “but she’s a lady and I feel
chivalrous. Now listen carefully, Hoskins. I don’t know whether the
pursuit will be serious or not, but I intend to take it seriously. I
don’t want any careless words of yours spilling anything.”
    “I can keep me peace, Master Cynric, as well you know.”
    Cyn knew he was in Hoskins’ bad books when he called him Master
Cynric. “I know you can,” he soothed. “Now, for the journey, I’m going
to pass as a woman, the mother of Verity’s child. Verity will be the
wetnurse. Charles will be the groom.”
    Cyn had expected an objection to him playing the woman, but the
coachman’s mind was on other matters. “That rascal’s not comin‘ near me
rig.” said Hoskins truculently.
    “Plague take it, man! He won’t do any more damage, I promise you.”
    “I don’t want him near me rig, or me cattle,” Hoskins repeated, and again ran his hand over the scars on the glossy coach.
    Cyn sighed. He could force his will, but he feared Hoskins would
take out his anger on Charles. After all, the man didn’t know she was a
girl. “Very well,” he said. “He can travel as my brother. But it’ll
leave you hard-pressed.”
    “I’ll manage,” grunted Hoskins. “Where’s that paint?”
    Cyn left the coachman doing his best to repair the damage. When he
entered the cottage and found the three ladies in the kitchen, he said,
“I’d keep out of Hoskins’ way, young Charles, if I were you. He’s after
your gizzard.”
    She colored. “We could hardly traipse around the country with the Rothgar arms emblazoned on the side.”
    “Why not? I’m along willingly, and no one connects me to you.”
    She had the look of one determined not to admit to a mistake. “How can I stay out of his way if I’m to be the groom?”
    “You’re not anymore. You’re my young brother. You’d better hunt up more good-quality clothes.”
    She shot to her feet. “Need I remind you, my lord, that you are our
prisoner
? Will you kindly stop giving us orders?”
    Cyn sat. “Very well. I leave it all in your hands.”
    She glared at him. “I will travel as the groom.”
    “As you will. As the groom, however, you will be under the authority
of the coachman, and Hoskins is not known as a tender man at the best
of times. He’s always been remarkably proud of the perfect finish on
his coach.”
    She swallowed but kept to her guns. “You will give him orders not to touch me.”
    “Will I?”
    “Yes.”
    He shrugged. “Very well, but he’s my brother’s coachman, not mine.
He taught us all to handle the ribbons. He cuffed us if he thought we
needed it, and he’ll do at least as much for you. I suppose it doesn’t
matter really,” he added carelessly. “You’ll have had many a beating at
school, and I don’t suppose Hoskins will do any worse.”
    Verity quickly said, “Charles dear, please reconsider. It would serve no purpose to upset the poor man more.”
    Charles threw herself in her chair. “Oh, very well.” She impaled Cyn with stormy eyes. “But I give the orders on this journey.”
    Cyn bit back a sharp retort. Where was the charmer who had glowed
over a warm biscuit? Then he reminded himself she was wounded, and
probably afraid. He must control this lamentable tendency to tease her.
    “As you will,” he said as moderately as he could. “But I have a
great deal more experience of the world than you, and Hoskins, I’m
afraid, will only take orders from me. I would have thought Verity too
should be consulted, as this is her affair, and she is surely some
years your senior.”
    “Of course I will consult Verity. How would you think otherwise?”
    “Young