My Bratty Wife
Chapter 50 - Fifty

Chapter 50: Chapter Fifty

The rhythmic clatter of hooves against cobblestone provided the only soundtrack to the tense journey. Suzy, ensconced in a plush corner of the carriage, seemed oblivious to the awkward silence that stretched between them. She had buried herself in her book once more, her brow furrowed in concentration as she devoured the pages.

A rumble from her stomach, a most ungentle reminder of hunger, broke the quiet. She reached into the wicker basket beside her, a gift from the Queen filled with an assortment of sweet pastries and savory snacks. As she munched on a delicate cream puff, a contented sigh escaped her lips.

"This is simply divine," she murmured thoughtfully, turning a page with a flourish. "Elias really knows how to scout a good book. I’ll have to thank him when I get back."

Ryan, perched stiffly on the opposite seat, shot her a quick glance. Her words, barely audible over the rhythmic rattle of the carriage wheels, did little to break the ice that had settled between them. He turned his gaze back towards the passing scenery, a sense of frustration gnawing at him.

The silence, however, proved to be short-lived. A gasp escaped Suzy’s lips, followed by a soft giggle. Ryan couldn’t help but steal another glance, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Aww, that’s so adorbs" she murmured, a touch of amusement in her voice.

Ryan, who had been trying to ignore her, shot her another quick, surprised glance. But Suzy, oblivious to his scrutiny, continued reading, oblivious to the growing tension in the confined space.

Another rustle of pages, followed by a surprised gasp and a string of nonsensical words, "Wowzers," she exclaimed, her voice laced with amusement, "that plot twist was totally unexpected!"

Ryan winced inwardly. The carefree chatter, the unguarded laughter – it was a stark contrast to the composed Duchess she was supposed to be. He yearned for the quiet efficiency she usually displayed, the reserved demeanor that fit perfectly with his own stoic nature which was a rare sight to witness,to be honest.

Another delighted squeal erupted from Suzy, followed by a flurry of excited whispers. "Oh my goodness," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, "this is getting good!"

Then, with a dramatic gasp, she declared, "She ate and left no crumbs! The audacity! "

Ryan felt his frustration bubble over. This incessant muttering, these strange words she kept sputtering , were grating on his last nerve. He slammed his fist against the carriage seat, the sudden noise startling Suzy from her reading.

"For the love of God, can you please be quiet?" he snapped, his voice laced with exasperation. "Can’t a man have a single moment of peace on this entire journey?"

Suzy, momentarily startled by his outburst, looked up from her book. Her eyes, wide and innocent, met his for a fleeting moment before returning to the page. She offered a small, fake smile and a mumbled apology.

"Oh, terribly sorry, Your Grace," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn’t realize you found the sound of a woman enjoying a good book so offensive."

She settled back into the corner, a self-satisfied smirk playing on her lips. Ryan watched her, his jaw clenched, as she resumed her reading, punctuated by occasional soft giggles and barely audible whispers.

A wave of defeat washed over him. He rubbed his temple, a headache blossoming behind his eyes as he closed his eyes, resigning himself to the remainder of the journey. He would find solace in the quiet rhythm of the carriage , away from the nonsensical ramblings and childish giggles that emanated from across the seat.

The carriage rattled to a halt, dust swirling around it. Ryan threw open the door before it even fully stopped. "Hold up here!" he barked at the driver.

Suzy, interrupted by the sudden stop, poked her head out from the interior. "What’s going on?" she mumbled, surprise clinging to her voice.

"Finding a new inn," Ryan grumbled. "That last one was a joke. Walls as thin as paper, I could practically hear the fleas arguing in the next room." His voice dripped with annoyance as he shot Suzy a pointed glance.

Suzy’s eyes narrowed. "Oh, so it was MY room that was the problem, not your overactive imagination?"

"Overactive? I swear I could hear you snoring like a bear in hibernation!" Ryan’s voice rose a notch.

"Maybe if you hadn’t kept tossing and turning like a rotisserie chicken, I might have gotten some sleep!" Suzy retorted, her voice laced with sarcasm.

"Like I could help it! The bed was as lumpy as a sack of potatoes!"

"Funny, I didn’t hear any complaints when we got out," Suzy countered, crossing her arms.

Ryan sputtered, his face reddening. "That’s because I was trying to be a good human being and not bother you with it!"

Suzy scoffed. "Good human being? Since when? You haven’t stopped complaining since we left home!"

Ryan whirled on her, his voice laced with irritation. "Maybe because you don’t listen to reason. I can’t even get a moment of peace and quiet with you."

"Oh, please," Suzy scoffed. "As if you wouldn’t complain even if you slept on a cloud. She continued "You wouldn’t know peace and quiet if it smacked you in the face!"

Their voices escalated, each word sharper than the last. The poor driver, caught in the crossfire, simply sat there, nervously awaiting further instructions. The once peaceful journey had become a battle zone.

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The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of fiery orange and deep purple. The carriage ride, punctuated by their earlier argument, had stretched on for what felt like an eternity. Finished reading her book, Suzy, restless and bored, pressed her nose against the window, watching the rolling countryside blur past.

Ryan, his face etched with fatigue, stared out the opposite window, his thoughts consumed by the investigation. The lack of progress, the gnawing fear that they were missing a crucial detail, weighed heavily on him.

Just then, he felt a prickle of unease. The road ahead seemed to twist and turn more dramatically than before, the once-gentle slopes replaced by jagged cliffs and dense patches of forest. He glanced out the window, searching for a landmark, something familiar.

Uneasiness grew into full-blown alarm as he realized he didn’t recognize the landscape. "Thomas," he called out to the driver, his voice sharp with suspicion, "where are we?"

Thomas, a weathered man with a stoic expression, turned his head slightly. "Just a shortcut, Your Grace," he replied, his voice devoid of its usual warmth. "Saves us a few hours to the next inn."

Ryan narrowed his eyes. This route wasn’t on any map he knew of. "Shortcut?" he repeated, his voice laced with suspicion. "We haven’t passed any familiar landmarks in the past hour."

A tense silence descended upon the carriage. Suzy, sensing the shift in atmosphere, turned away from the window, her gaze flitting between Ryan’s tense posture and the view outside.

Before she could voice her concerns, a loud crack echoed through the air, followed by Thomas’s startled grunt. The carriage lurched to a sudden stop, throwing Suzy forward.

"Stay down!" Ryan barked, his voice sharp with urgency. He lunged for the hidden compartment beneath the seat, his movements swift and practiced.

Suzy, momentarily stunned, scrambled back onto the seat, her heart pounding in her chest. She had thought she would never hear a gunshot again, the sudden violence of it sending a jolt of fear through her.

"What’s happening?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Ryan didn’t answer. He yanked open the compartment, retrieved his pistol, and swiftly checked the chamber. His movements were efficient, devoid of any wasted motion.

"Stay down," he repeated, his voice low and firm. "Don’t make a sound and don’t come out no matter what you hear."

Suzy gasped, her blood turning into ice. Fear, cold and primal, flooded her senses. Her eyes darting wildly around the confines of the carriage.

He threw open the carriage door, the pistol held steady in his hand. Suzy peeked through the gap, her breath catching in her throat. The driver lay slumped over the reins, a crimson stain blooming on his chest. In a flash, he fell on the floor with a thud, lifeless.

Panic surged through Suzy, but she remembered Ryan’s instructions. Crouching low on the seat, she pressed herself against the back cushion, her eyes squeezed shut.

The silence outside was deafening, broken only by the frantic pounding of her heart. She strained to hear any sound, any clue as to what was happening.

Then, a gruff voice cut through the stillness. "Come out slowly, Duke," it rasped, laced with malice. "Leave the weapon behind."

Suzy flinched at the sound. A highway robbery? Here, in the middle of nowhere? Fear coiled in her stomach, constricting her breath.

She didn’t dare disobey Ryan’s orders. She remained huddled on the seat, her mind racing with possibilities. Would Ryan comply? Would they be hurt? Is this where her life ends?

The tense silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity. Then, she heard the unmistakable click of Ryan’s boots stepping onto the dusty road.