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Ashton and Felicia exchanged glances and then walked Miss Wilson to the wagon and saw her comfortably seated

Felicia turned to Ashton then and said, “What of those two blackguards that are still loose?”

“Oh, I aistrate will put about inquiries after them”

“Hht to justice, and besides, I don’t like the notion that they are still out and about”

He touched her arm and said, “Don’t worry about them, my sweet I mean to set about my own inquiries as well”

“Then they are as good as caught,” Felicia said on a soft laugh as she watched hion, climb onto it, and pick up the reins

He winked at her, and she felt a shiver of eh her

Oh, but as that she was feeling? It was as though her day, even with all this adventure, would have been an empty day had he not been in it

~ Ten ~

THE MAIN PIKE was reached, and although the old cob could do noit was a steady pace, and as Felicia kept up a lively stream of conversation with Miss Wilson, the time passed

Ashton could not help but notice that Felicia was able to keep Miss Wilson’s spirits up with her banter and her anecdotes He smiled to himself He had never met anyone quite like Felicia She was a diamond

As they pulled into the inn, Miss Wilson blushed and said, “Oh dear … I can’t walk into a public house like … well … my clothes are torn … I am covered in dirty … my hair”

“Oh,” said Felicia, s better Don’t concern yourself, Rebecca, Mr Ashton will see to it He can ”

Ashton sh opinion of his abilities Well then, he couldn’t allow otherwise, could he? He drove the wagon directly to the livery, where he pulled the old cob to a halt, put on the brake, and nion

“Coh a back door” He eyed Felicia “You know the one I mean, just aside from the kitchen … and directly up to your room I shall have a bath drawn for her in the meantime and a boy sent to fetch Miss Wilson’s father It is Squire Wilson, is it not?”