Chapter Twelve

A persistent rapping on the door jolted Suzy awake. She blinked, momentarily disoriented, before her gaze fell upon the unfamiliar surroundings of the inn room. Memories of the previous day, the attack, the gunshot, the infuriating Duke, flooded back.

The knocking resumed, more insistent this time. Suzy cleared her throat and croaked, "Come in."

The door creaked open, revealing a kindly-faced woman with a gentle smile. She wore a simple, yet clean, dress and her hair was pulled back into a neat bun.

"Good morning, milady," the woman greeted, her voice warm and soothing. "May I come in?"

Suzy, her voice still hoarse, managed a weak nod. "Yes, please," she rasped.

"I see you're awake. I woke you early, but I hope you've had a restful night." The woman said in a gentle voice

Suzy managed a weak smile in return. "I did, thank you." she rasped, her voice still rough from disuse. The memories of the night before flooded back – the attack, the gunshot, the infuriating Duke who turned out to be Ryan.

"I brought you a new dress," the innkeeper continued, holding out the bundle. "There's not much in the way of fancy clothes here, but it's clean and will do the trick until you reach Carleton."

Suzy looked down at the worn white shirt she was currently wearing, Ryan's shirt. A wave of resentment flickered within her, quickly replaced by a sense of gratitude towards the innkeeper.

The innkeeper beamed. " There's also a pail of water for you to freshen up, some soap, and a pair of boots," she added, setting the items down on a nearby chair.

"Thank you," she said sincerely, taking the dress. "It's very kind of you."

The woman smiled again. "Don't worry about it, dear. Heard about what happened yesterday. Terrible business."

Suzy winced, a shiver running down her spine as she recalled the encounter with the thief. "Yes," she agreed, her voice barely a whisper. "It was… frightening."

"But you're safe now," the woman reassured her, her gaze meeting Suzy's with a quiet understanding. "That man was worried sick when he brought you in unconscious."

Suzy felt a flicker of annoyance at the mention of the Duke or did the innkeeper meant Davis? "He was worried?" she scoffed, the memory of the Duke's coldness still fresh in her mind.

The woman chuckled softly. "Well, he may not show it but I can say he was worried".

"I …" Suzy stammered, unsure how to explain her gratitude.

"Don't fret, dear," the innkeeper interrupted, her voice soothing. "Now, let me help you with those bandages. That wound needs a proper tending."

Suzy nodded gratefully, touched by the woman's genuine concern. As the innkeeper cleaned and re-dressed her wound, Suzy learned her name was Elara, and that she ran the inn with her husband, a burly man with a gruff exterior but a kind heart.

As Elara finished tending to the wound, Suzy reached for the pouch Ryan had left on the bed the previous night. Unfastening the drawstring, she emptied the contents onto the bed – a few silver coins.

"Here," Suzy said, pushing the coins towards Elara. "This is for your trouble. For the dress, the water…"

Elara waved her hand dismissively. "Nonsense, dear. you don't need to do that," she protested. "That man already paid me handsomely."

Suzy shook her head, her gaze determined. "Please," she insisted. "Consider it a personal thank you."

The woman hesitated for a moment, then with a warm smile, accepted the coins. "Thank you," she said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. "You're a kind soul."

"I should get going," the woman said, her eyes twinkling. "The men are eager to be on their way, and I wouldn't want to hold them up any longer."

With that, Elara gathered her things and gave Suzy a final look before exiting the room.

Suzy wasted no time after Elara's departure. She washed her face, the cool water a refreshing wake-up call. The innkeeper had left a simple comb on the bedside table, and Suzy used it to tame her tangled hair, pulling it back into a high ponytail with a cute ribbon. It wasn't the most elegant hairstyle, but it would do for now.

The new dress, a simple yet sturdy traveler's gown of dark blue, felt cool and comfortable against her skin. Elara had even found a pair of sturdy leather boots that fit Suzy surprisingly well.

With a final smoothing of the dress, Suzy took a deep breath and stepped out of the room with the shirt in her hand. The morning sunlight, filtering through the dusty window of the inn, cast a warm glow upon the small courtyard.

A tense silence hung in the air as Suzy spotted Ryan already seated in the waiting carriage. He looked up as she approached, his face an unreadable mask. Beside the carriage stood Davis, his expression a mix of concern and relief.

"Good morning," Suzy greeted curtly, her voice laced with a hint of defiance. She wouldn't let him intimidate her.

Ryan merely nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze lingering for a moment on her attire before flicking away. Suzy suppressed a shiver – his silence was more unsettling than any words he could have spoken.

"Ready to depart?" Davis inquired, his voice breaking the uncomfortable silence.

Suzy forced a smile, masking the turmoil within. "Yes," she replied, stepping towards the carriage.

The Duke, with an abrupt attitude that bordered on rudeness, signaled for Davis to assist Suzy onto the carriage. Suzy met his gaze head-on for a fleeting moment before telling Davis she can manage on her own.

Then, with a sigh, she climbed into the carriage. Davis, after a brief farewell to the innkeeper who had emerged from the inn doorway, mounted the horse Ryan had provided for him, and they set off.

As the carriage wheels rolled away, kicking up dust on the rough road, Suzy stole a glance at Ryan. His profile was etched against the rising sun, his expression as hard and unyielding as the granite cliffs that rose in the distance.

The carriage rattled along the dusty road, the tension inside as thick as the swirling clouds of dust billowing behind them. Suzy, unable to bear the silence any longer, reached into her lap and retrieved the white shirt he gave her.

"Here," she said, her voice clipped, extending the garment towards Ryan. "Your shirt."

Ryan barely acknowledged the offering. He glanced at the shirt with a flicker of disinterest before shrugging dismissively. "Dispose of it," he muttered, his eyes glued to the landscape unfolding outside the window.

Suzy bristled. Dispose of it? Just like that? The audacity of this man! Did he have any idea how difficult it was for some people to find clean clothes?

"Dispose of it?" she echoed, her voice laced with disbelief. "Wouldn't you… wouldn't you want it back?"

Ryan finally tore his gaze away from the window, his eyes meeting hers for a fleeting moment. "I have plenty of others," he stated flatly. "Burn it, throw it away, I don't care. Just get rid of it."

Suzy felt a surge of anger bubbling within her. His pompous behavior, his complete lack of gratitude, was infuriating. She clenched her jaw, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Of course, Your Grace," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Wouldn't want to inconvenience the Duke with a little laundry."

Ryan's gaze narrowed, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. But before he could retort, Suzy turned away, her eyes seeking solace in the passing scenery.

The rolling hills, dotted with grazing sheep and herds of cattle, offered a stark contrast to the bustling city life Suzy was accustomed to. She found herself comparing the animals to the Duke – the sheep, timid and easily startled, reminded her of his aloofness. The stubborn mule pulling a cart ahead of them mirrored his stubbornness and rudeness.

As the day wore on, the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting a harsh glare upon the landscape. The silence within the carriage stretched on, broken only by the rhythmic clatter of the wheels. Suzy found herself fidgeting, the tension in the air making it difficult to relax.