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And it wouldn't be appropriate either, for you to be riding anywhere else - not when there was empty cabin with empty benches for you to avail yourself of. Much more off-putting then the notion of impropriety, however, is the possibility - slim as it may be - that your uncommon and unwomanly familiarity with conveyances would linger with him, making you even more extraordinary than you already are. Would it occur to him that you might want to take the stage out on to the roads, even in the state they are in? You have already shown your knowledge of driving, carriages and selecting teams to him when you purchased this lot. Would he - feeling responsible - change his mind, turn the stage around and insist on keeping it for you until the roads were safe? After all, Sulphreme reversed himself, didn't he? No, that - no. This is just nerves. Nerves and guilt and nothing more. Of course, there is more than that keeping you cautious of taking any seat outside of the cabin. Damn it all, you are going in circles here - if you don't do or say anything in the next few strides, your decision will be made for you. It isn't even as if you could do it with half-measures either; once the stage starts off, you will have to remain where you are - sitting inside until the final stretch, then sticking your head out or even trying to get off to beat Nasturtium to the punch with the grooms ... setting aside how dangerous that would be, if you were to make a scene like that, you'd be liable to draw the attention of someone who would know that you don't have rooms here - or the grooms would be more likely to speak up and push back against any tales that you weave and feed them.
> Please choose ONE of the following:
> You will ride on the driver's bench
> You will ride on the top-deck
> You will ride in the cabin
