Free Lords of Honor by K. R. Richards Page B

.” E lveston ’s ribs were severely bruised by the Brown Coats during the Glastonbury incident . “ I need you to send some letters for me , Mr. Banfield . I’ll write them posthaste . If you could come back up in say ten minutes, I’d like to place them in your hands and your hands alone.”
    “ Aye , sir . And here are the missus’ clothing items you requested, my Lord .” He handed a wrapped bundle to Micah . “ Shall I have the phaeton readied?”
    “Thank you for the clothing for my L ady . When you come up in ten minutes, I’ll let you know about the phaeton . I need to speak with Lord Elveston first . Send him up, if you please .” Micah removed several coin s from his pouch and placed them in the innkeep er ’s hand.
    “Aye, my Lord , a nd thank you, ” the innkeeper smiled and nodded.
    Micah took the package to the bedchamber and offered it to his Lady . “Libby, Elveston is here . He’s coming up . Can you get one of your new chemise s and stockings on ? I’ll come in momentarily to lace your stays and help you into your gown . I need to write a note to Owen and have it delivered once Jack and I figure out where we are going.”
    “I thought we w ere going to Templecombe, Micah? ”
    “Sweetheart, we may need to go to Glastonbury instead . Someone else ask ed after us this morning .” Her saw her eyes widen . “ Don’t concern yourself , Libby . I will not allow any harm come to you.”
    A knock sounded on the door .
    “I’ll hurry.” Libby assured him with a smile . Micah closed the bed chamber door .
    “Who’s there?”
    “It’s the pretty face you’ve spent the last three weeks with, and two before that in Glastonbury .”
    Micah grinned and opened the door . “I am happy to see you ! Sorry we left you behind in Andover. ”
    Jack Drayton, Lord Elveston nodded, came into the room . He looked about the small parlour . “ I would have done the same . Where is Lady Elizabeth?”
    “She’s in the bed cham ber . She is feeling slightly better this morning , but has been very ill since I left you at the White Hart . In fact, I must excuse myself for a moment . I need to lace her stays.”
    “Ah .” Jack lifted a dark eyebrow . He whispered, “What have you d one ? Owen is going to kill you! ”
    “It’s not what you’re thinking, Jack . Lady Elizabeth’s virtue remains intact. She has until today been unable to do much on her own due to the overdose of laudanum forced down her by her kidnappers . Her stomach was affected . She is very weak still . It seems she went from Monday morning until last evening without nourishment of any sort . Spending an entire day in an abandoned cottage without food after we left Andover did not help her situation . It matters not . I will offer for her. ”
    Jack nodded . “Very good . Then I must apologize for my remarks , Micah . ”
    “ Apology a ccepted. ” Micah shrugged. “S it down, Jack . I’ll be right back . We’ve a lot to discuss . Are you hungry?”
    “I ate downstairs . I w atched the place a bit before I sent up the note .”
    “If you wi ll excuse me.” Micah knocked upon Libby’s bedchamber door . “Libby, are you ready for me to help you.”
    “Yes, Micah.”
    Libby sat on the edge of the bed , dressed in her chemise, stockings and petticoats . H er hair was braided .
    “Let’s get you into your stays and gown, shall we, sweetheart?”
    Micah dressed her quickly . He even knelt to l ace her shoes for her , though Libby assured him she could manage . “There . Come with me . I need to write a few letters before Mr. Banfield, the innkeep, returns . Do you feel like walking? ”
    “Yes . I feel much better this morning , Micah,” Libby nodded as she t ook his arm .
    Micah noted Libby acted a bit uneasy . He took her hand and b rought her palm to his lips . “Don’t worry about any of this , sweetheart. Everything will be fine .” He gave her a reassuring smile and bent to place a quick, fleeting kiss to her