Free The Tantalizing Miss Coale (The Notorious Coale Brothers) by Sarah Mallory

 
    She recognised him as soon as
she walked into the inn. There could be no mistaking those piercing blue
eyes and thick brown hair, or the strong lines of his cheeks and jaw, even
when masked by several days’ growth of beard. Memories swamped her and her
step faltered. Once again she was in his arms, revelling in the passion of
his kiss, loving him and knowing she was loved in return.
    Before she had made him hate her.
    He was seated on the far side of the coffee room and looked up
as she passed the open door. His expression did not change and she
hoped—prayed—he had not recognised her. She was wrapped in her cloak with the
hood pulled up against the rain. Surely she was safe?
    ‘Serena my dear, please do not tarry here where everyone can
see you!’
    She forced herself back to the present, fighting down the
irritation at being addressed by her real name. No one called her Serena now,
save her father when he was angry with her. She had been known as Sally since
she was a child, when her brothers had decided that she was misnamed—no one was
less serene than little Serena Coale, whose high spirits were always getting her
in trouble.
    Schooling her face into a smile she turned to her
companion.
    ‘I beg your pardon, Henry.’
    He placed his hand on her back, moving her past the open
doorway of the coffee room and toward the stairs.
    ‘Please, keep your hood up,’ he hissed as she put her hands to
her head. ‘I do not want to risk anyone recognising you, when I have been at
pains to conceal our true identities.’
    Obediently she bowed her head as they followed the landlord up
to the first floor and into a small, panelled room.
    ‘This is your sitting room, sir. And these doors lead to the
bedchambers for yourself and your lady.’ He indicated two doors on opposite
sides of the room.
    As far from each other as possible ,
she thought with a tiny ripple of relief.
    ‘Yes, yes, we will find our way around, thank you.’ Sir Henry
waved him away. ‘Have a truckle bed made up in my wife’s room for one of your
chambermaids. Mrs. Woods’ dresser broke her leg just before we left London and
she will require—’
    ‘No,’ Sally interrupted him. ‘No, that will not be necessary.’
She treated Sir Henry to a blinding smile. ‘My love, you know that I am quite
capable of managing for myself while we are travelling.’
    Sir Henry waved the landlord away, saying as the door closed
behind him, ‘Really, Serena, I am trying to protect your reputation!’
    ‘It was your idea that we should travel as man and wife,’ she
replied, removing her cloak. ‘Mr. and Mrs. Woods. I suppose it is more
imaginative than Smith.’
    ‘It would not have been necessary if you had brought your
entourage. We could have said I was escorting you to visit family....’
    ‘And you know full well that all the servants at Markham are so
fearful of Papa that we would never have escaped if I had taken any one of them
into my confidence!’
    ‘Hmph. We could have hired a maid.’
    ‘Truly, Henry, it is of no consequence.’
    ‘But your reputation—’
    She gave a crooked little smile.
    ‘I fear my reputation will be ruined anyway, once word gets
out.’
    Henry reached out for her hand.
    ‘My dear—’
    ‘I am very hungry,’ she said quickly. ‘Perhaps you could order
dinner for us as soon as may be.’
    ‘Of course. I shall do so now, my dear, and have it brought up
immediately.’
    She watched him hurry away and gave a sigh. Dear Henry. So
kind, so compliant. So...boring. She rubbed her arms. Could she go through with
this? Marriage to a man she did not love? It was better than the
alternative.
    Shaking off her melancholy she picked up her bandbox and
portmanteau, and carried them across to one of the bedchambers. She dropped her
bags just inside the door and backed out again.
    ‘So, it is you.’
    The deep male voice made her jump round with a little
scream.
    A tall, great-coated figure filled the doorway. He looked