Free Once an Innocent by Elizabeth Boyce Page B

when mannerly behavior goes by the wayside. If I may recall your notice to Babylon … ”
    Naomi’s shook her head. Suddenly, her gaze landed on him; her eyes widened.
    When their eyes met, something stirred in Jordan. Two somethings, to be precise. Neither the physical awakening nor the more immaterial sensation in his chest were welcome at the moment. Yet he couldn’t stop himself from smiling as he approached, looking away from Naomi only when Lady Janine drew his attention.
    “Lord Freese!” the woman exclaimed. “A most welcome sight you are.”
    He carved a bow. “May I be of service, my lady?”
    Lady Janine thrust her parasol handle menacingly toward the harried innkeeper. “
This
man,” she said with a scowl, “tells me he has no room available for myself and Lady Naomi.
This
man says all the chambers are spoken for. In all my years, I have never yet seen a truly full inn. Surely there is a cupboard or loft into which he could shuffle some menfolk to make way for two ladies, but he will not do so!”
    The innkeeper turned a pained expression on Jordan. “My lord, I told her that your party — ”
    “You did no such thing!” Lady Janine scolded. To Jordan, “He never once mentioned your name, Freese. Had I known it was your party ensconced within these unworthy walls, I would have asked for you straightaway.”
    Jordan pressed a hand to his chest. “My sincere apologies for taking up so many beds. Of course, we’ll rearrange to make way for you and Lady Naomi.”
    Janine gave him a satisfied smile.
    Jordan addressed the innkeeper. “I’ll take the floor in Mr. Elton and Mr. Perry’s room, and the ladies can have mine.”
    “My lord!” Naomi exclaimed. “You must not discommode yourself on our account.”
    Jordan smiled lightly, pleased by a soft inhale and parting of her lips.
    Her gaze did something soft and ticklish to the inside of his throat. “I haven’t,” he said. “It’s no trouble at all.”
    With all parties appeased, the innkeeper bustled off. Lady Janine stepped back outside to issue instructions to their servants, and Naomi made to follow.
    “Naomi.”
    She turned. Pink touched the apples of her cheeks. Jordan slowly closed the distance between them, unwilling to part ways with her just yet. “It’s an unexpected pleasure to have you and Lady Janine stop at the very inn in which our party is already gathering.”
    “Unexpected, perhaps, but not altogether surprising.” She tilted her head. “We
are
traveling to the same destination, my lord.”
    Their mutual destination … Lintern Abbey. Jordan didn’t want to talk about it, didn’t want to think about it, even. “So we are,” he answered.
    Soft afternoon light filtered through the sheer, white curtains, illuminating Naomi from behind. Loose tendrils glowed with pale reddish-gold translucency. He’d never before examined her eyes closely enough to see it, but the irises began blue around the edges, then transitioned to green near the pupils. In her left eye, a delicate ray of golden brown fanned upward from the center, like sunrise bursting over the horizon.
    “My lord?” Her brow lifted quizzically.
    Jordan snapped shut the jaw he hadn’t realized he’d allowed to go slack. “Lady Naomi,” he blurted, “would you be so kind as to wait here a moment?”
    She nodded.
    He bounded back up the stairs to the taproom. Six bored faces looked up at his entrance. “Oh, good, you’re still here,” he said.
    “Where else would we be?” drawled Mr. Bates. “You ordered us to stay put.”
    “So I did,” Jordan quipped. “Gentlemen, I’ve reconsidered the matter and believe a group outing to the cave Lord Gray mentioned sounds like just the thing. Gather up your ladies, and we’ll set out in half an hour.”
    Lord Gray grumbled and flung his hands out in an exasperated gesture. “Are you always so indecisive, Freese? It would be best to know right off if we can’t rely upon you for steady guidance.”
    Jordan