Page 18 of How to Ruin a Rake

Eager to change the subject, Max pointed at the horizon. “I see a church spire.”

“Thank goodness,” Lady Allegra said. “Perhaps there is a vicarage attached to it where we can seek help.”

When they reached the church, they found the house next to it empty and boarded up, but there was a lane leading down to a cluster of cottages and a large tithe barn.

“Shall we chance it?” Max asked.

“I don’t think we have much choice.”

“I doubt we’ll meet two publicans who wish to murder us in one day, my lady. That would be the stuff of legends.”

At the end of the lane of terraced, flint stone cottages, there was an inn called The Golden Fleece. Max dismounted and lifted Lady Allegra down.

“Wait here with the horse. I’ll go and find the landlord.”

He was slightly surprised that she didn’t argue. He stepped into the cool, dark hallway of the inn and was struck dumb by a blond young woman with the figure of a goddess coming toward him.

“Good morning, sir. How may I help you?”

Max gave her his most charming smile. “Good morning. My sister and I were traveling overnight, and our gig met with a terrible accident.”

“Mercy.” The woman put her hand to her cheek. “Were you injured?”

“Luckily, we escaped without any harm, but we have our horse and very little else.”

“I’ll fetch Mr. Gunner,” the woman said. “He’ll know what to do.”

She hurried off, shouting what Max assumed was the landlord’s name, and within a few minutes, a tall, middle-aged man appeared.

“Good morning.” Max inclined his head. “I’m Mr. Foster.”

“Mr. Gunner, sir. Daisy says you’ve been in an accident.”

“Yes, our gig lost a wheel several miles back, and we were forced to walk and ride the rest of the way on our carriage horse. My sister is quite exhausted,” Max said. “Would it be possible for us to stable our horse and perhaps rent a gig from you?”

“I don’t have vehicles to rent out, sir, but you could borrow our gig tomorrow after my missus returns from the county market. Were you heading for Great Yarmouth?”

“Yes, indeed.” Max grasped gratefully at the name.

“Well, we can certainly take you to Southwold and set you on your way. They have coaching inns there aplenty.”

“Thank you, sir,” Max said. “I’ll take the horse around to the stables and bring my sister in directly.”

He went outside to Lady Allegra, who appeared to be nodding off against the horse’s side. She looked rather bedraggled, her gown creased, her bonnet crooked, and her hair half-falling down at the back.

“Good news,” he said. “Mr. Gunner, the landlord, has promised not to murder us and has offered to lend us his gig to reach Southwold on the morrow, which I understand is a thriving metropolis compared to wherever we are now.”

“That’s excellent.” She made a commendable effort to right herself.

“I think we should stay here for the night,” Max said as he took the horse’s reins. “Go inside and meet the luscious Daisy.”

She snorted but did as he suggested. He went around to the rear of the building and found the entrance to the stables.

Mr. Gunner was waiting for him with a young boy. “My son Jack takes care of the horses. He’s very good, sir.”

“I’m sure he is.” Max nodded at the boy. “This poor beast has been laboring mightily with two of us on his back, and he deserves a day of rest.”

“I’ll take good care of him, sir.” Jack put his hand on the horse’s bridle. “He’s a fine-looking animal.”