The Regency Season: Blackmailed Brides. Sarah Mallory

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      ‘That you will have to judge for yourself.’ She sighed. ‘It is not something I was able to do very often in London.’

      ‘There are plenty of horses in the stables that my sisters use when they are at Adversane. We shall ride out this afternoon. That is—you have a riding habit?’

      ‘Yes, an old one. I wore it to travel here.’

      ‘Very well, then.’ They had reached the garden door, and he opened it and stood back for her to precede him. ‘I have business with Colne to attend to, but it should be finished by four. I will send for you to come to the stables as soon as I am free.’

      Her brows went up. ‘Send for me? Perhaps I will not be able to respond to your...your summons, my lord. I may have found another occupation by then.’

      Ralph heard the frosty note in her voice. What cause had she to complain? If he wanted to summon her he would do so, by heaven. She was, after all, only an employee. He gave a shrug and responded, equally coldly.

      ‘I have already said you will get no fine speeches from me, Miss Halbrook.’

      ‘Then you will understand if I respond in kind, Lord Adversane!’

      Her spirited retort surprised him, but he did not resent it. In fact, he rather liked it and raised her fingers to his lips.

      ‘I shall be delighted if you do so, ma’am.’

      He strode off then, but not before he had seen the look of shock on her face. He felt a smile growing inside him. He was beginning to enjoy his encounters with Miss Lucy Halbrook!

      * * *

      Lucy’s boots were sodden from walking on the grass, and she went upstairs to change them before making her way to the breakfast room. She did not know what to make of her host. He was blunt to the point of rudeness, showed no inclination for polite conversation, yet that kiss upon her fingers was as gallant as any she had ever received. It had shaken her, along with the disturbing glint she had more than once seen in his eyes. She could believe he was autocratic and impatient, but she did not think him cruel. However, she was not really engaged to him, merely an actor, hired for a few weeks. Perhaps she might feel differently about Lord Adversane if she was his wife, and in his power.

      * * *

      Over breakfast it was agreed that Mrs Dean would take Lucy for a gentle drive into Ingleston.

      ‘It is but three miles away and a very useful place to buy little things like stockings and gloves and ribbons,’ Mrs Dean explained. ‘We can also call upon Mrs Sutton, the dressmaker—’

      ‘No need,’ said Adversane, coming in at that moment. ‘I have arranged for Mrs Sutton to call here tomorrow.’

      Mrs Dean stared at him. ‘Oh, have you, Ralph? Well, then...I suppose we need not see her today...’

      Lucy chuckled. She was now on very good terms with Mrs Dean and did not scruple to tease her.

      ‘Ariadne is deeply shocked,’ she murmured. ‘She does not know whether to attribute your actions to consideration for my comfort or to an arrogant high-handedness.’

      The widow protested and cast an anxious glance at Adversane, but he merely looked amused.

      ‘And which of those would you choose, Miss Halbrook?’

      She met his gaze, quite fearless with Mrs Dean present and the width of the breakfast table between them.

      ‘Oh, I think the latter, my lord.’

      ‘Baggage,’ he said, grinning at her.

      Lucy was inordinately pleased with his reaction, but thought it best not to say any more. Instead, she gave her attention to the bread and butter on her plate, which was all she required to break her fast. As she finished drinking her coffee she asked Ariadne how long she thought they would be out.

      ‘Oh, not long, my dear. We shall drive around the town, that you may see it, and then if you wish we shall stroll along the High Street and look at the shops. There are not that many, and we may well be back by two o’clock or soon after.’

      ‘Oh, that is excellent,’ said Lucy. She rose. ‘I shall fetch my coat and bonnet and meet you in the hall, Ariadne.’

      As she passed Adversane’s chair he reached back and caught her wrist.

      ‘Four o’clock, Miss Halbrook, do not forget.’

      The touch of his cool fingers brought the heat rising in Lucy’s cheeks. His grip was loose, casual, the sort of informal gesture that might occur between good friends, but her heart missed a beat and now it was hammering far too heavily, preventing her from thinking clearly. Thankfully, Adversane did not notice her confusion, for he was explaining to his cousin that he had invited Lucy to ride out with him.

      ‘Oh, perhaps then, my dear, we should put off our drive to another day,’ suggested Ariadne.

      ‘There is not the least need for that,’ cried Lucy, struggling to recover her composure. ‘I am not one of those lacklustre females who is prostrate after the slightest exertion!’

      She had spoken in jest, but an uneasy silence fell over the breakfast room. Ariadne looked taken aback and the air was taut as a bowstring. Adversane released her, his chair scraped back and without a word he strode out of the breakfast room.

      ‘What is it, Ariadne? What did I say?’

      Mrs Dean dabbed at her lips with her napkin.

      ‘Lady Adversane was not very strong,’ she said quietly. ‘At least, she could walk well enough when it suited her, but she would often take to her room for the rest of the day after the most gentle exercise, pleading exhaustion. You were not to know, of course.’ She rose and came round the table to Lucy, taking her arm. ‘Come along, my dear, we’ll go upstairs to fetch our things and be away.’

      * * *

      Ariadne was right, of course. Lucy had spoken in all innocence, but she could not forget the effect of her words. She did not mention it again to Mrs Dean, but later, when she changed into her riding habit and went out to the stables, she knew she would have to say something to Lord Adversane.

      He was waiting for her at the stable yard, holding the reins of his black hunter while the groom walked a pretty bay mare up and down. When Lucy appeared, the groom brought the bay to her immediately and directed her to the mounting block. As soon as she was in the saddle Adversane handed his reins to the groom and came close to check the girth and stirrup.

      She said quietly, as the groom moved away, ‘My Lord, what I said at breakfast—I must apologise, I did not know...about your wife.’

      ‘I am aware of that, Miss Halbrook.’

      ‘I did not intend any offence.’

      ‘None was taken.’ He gave the girth a final pat and stood back. ‘Shall we go?’

      Discussion ended, she thought sadly. He had withdrawn from her again.

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