100 Chapter 100

The hoof beats clattered closer, pounding along the rain-slicked road. Gabe must have thought better of chucking her out. Mrs. Hanney had been furnished with a guinea to say nothing, but then she'd rooted out Old Stumpy to carry Topaz, so Hanney knew they were planning on reaching the Stag and Maiden coaching inn. The Oxford coach was the only one leaving from there tonight. So it wasn't outside the bounds of possibility that Hanney had told Gabe that much.

The hoofbeats slowed. Splendor's heartbeat raced. She was not so far down the line with the earl she and Gabe couldn't put this back. All couples had their disagreements.

"Splen ... "

Topaz shifted suddenly to the other side of the cart. Stinking, black, muddy ground broke Splendor's fall as her feet slithered from beneath her and her nose stuck hard earth.

"Splen ... " Topaz hissed. "Ow, good evenin', sir."

"Top of the mornin'," Stumpy said. "That's a crackin' nag ye have there sor, if ye don't mind me sayin'."