He looked at her with a mixture of wariness and surprise. “Very well. I am listening.”

“I hope you will speak as well. Otherwise it will be less a conversation and more an oration.” She smiled and he returned it slightly.

“You have secured my participation. Now what do you wish to speak of?”

“Our wedding journey. And our impending marriage.” She stumbled slightly over the last word but hoped he hadn’t noticed. “I am from a family of women, sir. I cannot remember a time when I have not had another female near me. Even when I have visited my relations in town, I have been with my aunt or my cousins or accompanied by Jane. The idea of being… alone, with a man, well, it is so very strange. And a bit frightening. I am not saying I am frightened of you, you have been very kind,” she hurriedly added, “but as you said in Kent, it will be a very great adjustment for me. A new name and position, a whole new life, and yours will stay mainly the same, which is why I suppose you never hear of the groom’s brother attending a wedding trip.” She smiled at her joke and he joined her.

“Elizabeth, you do not have to convince me. It is perfectly normal to wish your sister with you at such a time. It is well within your rights to request it.”

“Yes, but it has made you unhappy,” she looked up at him and he looked away, toward the water.

“I thought I was less obvious than that,” he said after some moments had passed.

“Perhaps not to everyone. Mayhap I am coming to know you better.” She smiled again and pulled him along. “Sir, I do not wish discord between us. I am not built for unhappiness. I wished to suggest that perhaps we find a way that will make us both happy.”

“What do you suggest?”

“Well, perhaps you could tell me how you envision our trip progressing, how we would spend our time, and that might help me to feel less anxious about it all.”

“Very well. At first, we shall be in London. Once we have begun our journey, we will progress in the normal way. Coaching inns, stops to change the horses. The inns have already been notified and we shall have satisfactory accommodations. Our servants will travel ahead with the luggage. I had thought that we might like to take the smaller carriage. It is not as spacious, but the windows open more fully when the weather is fine. I had thought you might like that,” he said self-consciously.

She squeezed his arm. “I would. And what about when we arrive. We are staying in your friend’s house?”