“That is true,” she conceded. “But I’ll thank you not to speak of my—you know.”

He grinned at her sidelong. “Your body?”

“If you are going to be crude, please leave my presence. Go back to sitting in the carriage. I’ll call you if there are any more inquiries about our possessions.”

“Very well. But do you know where you’re going?”

“East.”

“Actually, we’re headed south at the moment. We’re not far from Sidmouth. Make sure you follow this road, keep left, and you should come across a hotel called the Knowle where we can stay tonight.”

Cecilia was not unsuspicious. “How do you know this?”

“I did my fair share of smuggling, back before my house was deliberately pushed off a cliff. I know Sidmouth.”

His innocent explanation only partly eased her mind. “This hotel is reputable?”

He laughed as he climbed down from the seat. “It will suffice.”

Cecilia envisioned a beer-stained bar, salty ruffians, and tiny rooms that smelled of mice, but conceded there was no choice. Already, she felt weariness drag at her. At least they would be parted for the night. Lying alone in bed, she would no longer be troubled by thoughts of Captain Lightbourne, his strong hands pulling back the sheets, his smile lowering itself to her bare skin—

She flicked the reins, absolutely in no way similar to how Ned had done, and hoped the hotel was not too far away.

Ned spent the next while inside the carriage. Cecilia heard some clattering about in there, some opening and closing of the door, which would have piqued her curiosity if she allowed it to. The outskirts of Sidmouth began appearing around her—farms, cottages, a public hall. As the daylight faded to shadows, Ned reappeared, clambering up on the seat beside her. He was dressed in a handsome black evening suit and even wore a hat, which he lifted off his head to salute her. Cecilia was troubled once again by that sudden breeze that made her tremble within and yet feel inexplicably hot.

“I found some luggage at the back,” he said, “and had a look through it. There are ladies’ clothes if you would like to get changed into something more—less—er, different.”

“Why should I change?”

“The Knowle is slightly more than a roadside inn. If we are to go in through the front door, we want to present ourselves as well as possible.”

“Couldn’t we simply climb in a window?”

“Yes, but this will be more fun.”

They stopped the horses so Cecilia could climb down and enter the carriage. Then, as Ned drove on, she sat inside, contemplating the luggage piled on the seats around her. The previous occupants of the carriage must have been traveling to a house party, such was the array of silk, satin, lace, velvet. Even in the twilight, Cecilia discerned the fine workmanship of the clothing and regretted momentarily that she had not taken the time to rob the persons of the travelers before taking their carriage. No doubt she had missed out on some decent jewels. Sorting through the clothes, she selected a blue dress with long ruched sleeves and high neckline trimmed with fur—