It's going to be a very long afternoon. There has probably never been, in the history of carriage rides, a more tense ride than this one.
Those were Celia's thoughts as the carriage slowly rumbled into movement and exited Langley Manor's courtyard.
She tried to focus on waving goodbye to the viscountess. All too quickly though, the elder woman was out of sight and Celia had no choice but to confront the reality sitting across from her.
Her lord and master.
Tobin was in a foul mood, his earlier drunken cheer long gone. Just getting him settled into the carriage had been an ordeal. He'd kept on complaining the plush velvet seats weren't soft enough and the carriage was too bouncy as it moved.
And of course, he'd insisted she join him in it. If he couldn't travel on horseback, why should she get to enjoy the pleasure?
She looked at him now critically, perched uncomfortably on a heap of fur throws and cushions, his face like a thundercloud.
