Anne Herries

by Rosalynand the Scoundrel

  ‘I had no such fear. I am perfectly certain she will be well cared for in your house, Jared.’

  He grinned at her, his dark eyes glowing like wet coals. ‘You do not mind her being here?’

  ‘I have just told Mr Wrexham she may stay—if it pleases you?’

  The youth nodded vigorously. Rosalyn noticed the huge emerald in his turban. It must surely be very valuable?

  ‘You are generous, mem-sahib.’

  ‘I see no reason why we should not be friends, do you? If you and Mr Wrexham would like to walk over to visit me, you will always be welcome.’

  ‘Perhaps you would care to ride with us tomorrow?’

  Rosalyn was startled, glancing swiftly over her shoulder as Damian joined them. He was bearing a crystal glass filled with champagne, which he handed to her.

  ‘I hope you like champagne—or would you have preferred sherry?’

  ‘This is wonderful. Thank you—for the champagne and the invitation.’ She met the quizzing look in his eyes this time. ‘Both are equally welcome to me. I ride most days before breakfast—alone, because my cousin does not care for it.’

  ‘Our horses have just arrived,’ Damian informed her. ‘Jared is an excellent horseman and the exercise will do us both good. Would you not agree, Miss Eastleigh? Regular exercise in the fresh air, was that not what you recommended?’

  ‘Oh, certainly!’ She responded to his mocking look with an answering one of reproof. ‘At what time shall we meet—and where?’

  A time and place was agreed and almost immediately afterwards, Mrs Browne came in to announce that dinner was ready.

  Placed between Jared and the vicar at table, Rosalyn was able to observe the way her host set himself to charming Maria. It was not by any means an easy task but, little by little, Maria thawed towards him. His gentle manner reassured her so that her smiles became warmer, reflecting approval.

  Once, her host caught Rosalyn watching him and the expression in his eyes almost overset her. He knew she realised what he was doing and was sharing his amusement with her. His sense of humour was positively wicked! She had not been able to share a private joke like this with anyone since her father died. She raised her fine brows at him, but he merely smiled and renewed his assault on Maria’s defences.

  Maria responded by repeating most of the local gossip, telling him whom he ought to meet and offering to introduce him to everyone when he attended church on Sunday. By the end of the evening, she was positively glowing as she assured Damian that she would be delighted to welcome both him and the ‘dear child’ at any time.

  ‘We are to have visitors soon, you know.’ She gave Damian an arch look as they took their leave later. ‘Sarah Jane is very much Jared’s age. They will be company for each other.’

  ‘You are very kind to take pity on us, ma’am.’ He bowed over her hand, kissing it respectfully. ‘I should be delighted to bring Jared for tea one day.’

  ‘I am sure you will always be welcome.’ Maria blushed as she saw Rosalyn looking at her, and recalled it was more properly her cousin’s place to issue invitations. ‘Would they not, Rosalyn dear?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’

  Rosalyn wondered why Mr Wrexham had gone to such lengths to win her cousin’s good will. Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to his face, and the wicked, quizzing look she discovered there made her want to laugh. She frowned, suppressing the desire. Just what was in his mind? She felt his care with Maria was more than just kindness. Once again, she suspected there was something hidden here—some motive that was not immediately apparent.

  The long-case clock was striking ten when Jared accompanied them into the hall to say goodbye. He had been allowed to stay up late as it was a special occasion, but, hearing his name called, Rosalyn turned to discover he was being urgently beckoned by a woman, quite an elderly woman with greying hair and dark eyes.

  Rosalyn realised she must be Jared’s ayah, and she was aware of curiosity in the other woman’s gaze, curiosity and perhaps a slight hostility. But no, she believed that hostility was directed at Mr Wrexham, for it was when he touched Jared on the shoulder that her eyes flashed with jealousy.

  ‘Come,’ Nessa said in English. ‘Time for you to sleep now, my lord.’

  ‘Goodnight, mem-sahib,’ Jared said, giving Rosalyn a formal bow. ‘Nessa calls me. I must go to her.’

  ‘I shall see you tomorrow.’

  Rosalyn watched as the youth ran to his ayah, and as she saw the loving way the woman greeted him, she realised that Nessa was merely possessive of her charge. No doubt she was feeling out of place, and uneasy in a strange country. But why had she called him my lord? Could it be that the young Indian boy was even more important than Rosalyn had thought?

  There was some mystery here!

  ‘Until tomorrow, Miss Eastleigh. I shall look forward to our ride.’

  Rosalyn turned to her host. She offered her hand. He kissed it briefly as he had Maria’s, but his eyes swept up to meet hers in such a wicked, teasing look that she was caught off balance and her heart did a rapid somersault.

  ‘Thank you for this evening,’ she replied with a prim nod of her head to hide the flood of emotion. ‘It was kind of you to invite us, and I shall look forward to seeing both you and Jared tomorrow.’

  His mouth twitched at the corners. He was amused by her formal society manners. Good gracious! Had he read her mind? Did he know she found him attractive? Or was he laughing at her, hiding something from her? There was certainly more to this rather odd household than met the eye!

  Rosalyn felt her cheeks flush as she followed her cousin out to the waiting carriage. It was cooler now and she hugged her cloak about her, feeling a shiver run through her. The English climate could be so treacherous, promising spring one moment and reverting to winter the next.

  ‘What a truly charming man Mr Wrexham is,’ sighed Maria contentedly as their carriage began to move off. ‘As you know, Rosalyn dear, I was not sure about the wisdom of dining with a single gentleman—but with the dear vicar there, it was perfectly respectable. Besides, Mr Wrexham has such exquisite manners. He is such a pleasant gentleman, did you not think so, my love?’

  Rosalyn made no comment. Perfect manners perhaps—but what kind of a man was he really? Why had he come here to this quiet corner of England? She sensed something secretive, something perhaps not quite as it ought to be.

  Was there something sinister going on? Why was Jared being kept almost a prisoner? She had thought there was apprehension in the youth’s manner once or twice when his tutor spoke to him…and yet she could not think him in any danger from Mr Wrexham. No, surely not! The memory of his smile made her pulses flutter—but she was not such a fool as to be taken in by his charm. Or was she?

  Maria continued to chatter for the remainder of their journey home. Since she required no more than a murmured yes or no at appropriate moments, Rosalyn was able to let her thoughts wander at will.

  Rosalyn had seen the challenge in Mr Wrexham’s eyes. She was sure he had sensed the doubts filling her mind. He was a man she could like, she had known that from the beginning—but was he a man she could trust? Her instincts told her to be wary, even as her heart urged her to throw caution to the winds and accept what fate was offering.

  But what was she being offered? A mild flirtation perhaps…with a man she knew nothing of—except that his smile could make her heart beat very fast, which perhaps made him a dangerous man to know.

  Rosalyn’s thoughts went round and round like fallen leaves in a storm.

  Just who was Mr Wrexham? She had sensed from the start that he was a man with a past…but what kind of secrets was he hiding? He was definitely hiding something!

  ‘I have seldom enjoyed an evening more,’ Maria said happily as they went into the house. ‘You must give a dinner party next week, Rosalyn—and invite Mr Wrexham.’

  Rosalyn made no reply. She was not sure she would be wise to continue the acquaintance, and yet already her mind had begun to race
on, to their next meeting. There might be something a little dangerous about her new neighbour, but of one thing she was quite certain…he was the most interesting person to come into her little world for an age.

  Damian was thoughtful as he took his customary turn about the garden before retiring. It was a damned nuisance that Nessa had disobeyed his orders not to come down until the visitors had left. She had been warned not to address Jared by his title, but she could not bring herself to abandon the habits of a lifetime. Devoted as she undoubtedly was to the boy she had nursed since he was a baby, she could, if she were not careful, ruin all Damian’s carefully laid plans. And then all their lives might be in danger.

  Miss Eastleigh’s expression had left him in no doubt of her suspicions—and if she were to voice them aloud, they could force him to look elsewhere for a safe place to keep Jared hidden.

  Would it be better to look for a different house immediately, somewhere nearer London, perhaps—somewhere he would find plentiful opportunities to accomplish his rehabilitation into the society that had rejected him years ago?

  Damian sighed inwardly, cursing the need for his return to this damned country. Left to himself, he would have been happy to continue his life in India. He’d had everything he wanted or needed there—but the tenuous ties of his past had drawn him home. He had come because he needed to put things straight, and because he was needed here.

  And there was Jared, of course. He had given his word to the youth’s father, and he would not break it. He was aware of Nessa’s resentment at his authority, over her and Jared. It was a nuisance, but it could not be helped.

  Hearing something behind him, Damian turned sharply. Someone was behind him, in the bushes. His hand instinctively reached towards the pistol in his pocket.

  ‘Who is there?’ he demanded. ‘Come out, damn you! Or I’ll break your scurvy neck.’

  ‘It is I, sahib,’ said Rajib, emerging from the shrubbery. ‘Jared has run off again with the dog. I came out to look for him.’

  ‘Damn!’ Damian frowned. ‘That stupid animal. It is a pity the bitch ever followed me here. I dare say Jared would not have wandered so far without it.’

  ‘I could get rid of it,’ Rajib suggested. ‘No one need ever know.’

  ‘You harm that dog and I’ll send you back to India quicker than you can blink! Do you hear me? The animal is a nuisance, but it belongs to Miss Eastleigh. She has allowed Jared to share it—and I have no intention of paying her back by killing her dog.’

  ‘Perhaps you should lock Jared in his room at night?’ Rajib gave him a look that made Damian’s blood run cold. ‘Unless you want him to wander the countryside?’

  The meaning behind Rajib’s words made him angry. He took a step towards him, eyes glittering in the moonlight.

  ‘Perhaps you should mind your own business and leave me to mine?’ he muttered. ‘While Jared is in my care he will not be locked in during either the day or the night. It would disturb and frighten him—more than he is already. I shall talk to him, make him see he must stop this wandering at night.’

  ‘If anything should happen…’

  ‘Why should anything happen here?’ Damian’s eyes narrowed. ‘At home he was not safe, we both know why. Here there is no reason to fear another attack on his life—is there?’

  The Indian’s dark eyes fell before his burning gaze. ‘No, sahib. Jared should be safe here—but still it is wrong that my master’s son should wander alone at night.’

  ‘I shall look for him,’ Damian replied. ‘Go to bed, Rajib. You may safely leave this to me.’

  Rajib put his hands together and bowed his head, but not before Damian had seen the resentment in his eyes.

  He watched the Indian walk back to the house, then sighed. If only he had been sure enough of his suspicions to speak out before they left India. And yet was it not always best to have the enemy where you could see them? Besides, he could not be sure if Rajib was Jared’s enemy or only his; it might just be that he was merely jealous of the trust Ahmed had placed in him. He and Nessa considered the boy their property, and resented the fact that Ahmed had placed so much trust in him.

  Turning away, Damian went off to search for his charge. It was unlikely that Jared would come to much harm with that great dog in tow. As Miss Eastleigh had said earlier, Sheba would probably defend the boy with her life if need be.

  A smile touched Damian’s mouth as his thoughts returned to that particular lady. He had been misled by Lord Orford’s agent’s information. She was certainly not young, but neither was she a dried-up old maid. Her cousin had proved easy enough to win over, but what did Miss Rosalyn Eastleigh think of him?

  He believed she did not quite know whether to trust him or not. She had shown plainly that she felt the restrictions placed on Jared were not quite fair. And Jared’s own manner towards him was, to say the least, prickly, which might make anyone suspect him of being unkind. Yet Miss Eastleigh could not think him capable of harming the boy?

  He was annoyed to discover it mattered to him. He would not like to have her think him too stern a guardian, that he might actually abuse the youth.

  What a fool he was to let such considerations weigh with him! His duty was to keep Jared safe, no matter what. If the boy was unhappy with his situation, that was not his fault. Besides, what should he care for the opinions of a woman who could mean nothing to him?

  There could never be anything between him and Miss Eastleigh—he would be foolish to let himself think otherwise.

  Damian had no time for flirtations, and certainly no intention of a deeper relationship. Marriage was not on his agenda. He had far too many problems as it was! And yet she intrigued him. She was a most unusual woman.

  He chuckled softly to himself as his mood changed and he imagined suggesting a more intimate relationship to Miss Eastleigh. In other circumstances, he would have enjoyed pursuing her…tempting her into his bed.

  What a delight she would be! He had already caught glimpses of a passionate nature, though she did her best to hide it. It must irk her no end to be forced to live the restricted life of a maiden lady. She was an Amazon, fearless and brave, and more rightly belonged in another age.

  Catching sight of Jared playing with Sheba in the bushes, he called to them. The dog responded at once, and Jared followed reluctantly. Damian studied his rebellious face. The trust Ahmed had placed in him was proving more of a burden than he had first thought; nevertheless, he was determined to carry out his promise.

  ‘Have I not told you to stay in the house unless I am with you?’

  ‘Yes, sahib.’ Jared kicked at the grass stubbornly. He had taken off his English clothes and was dressed in the loose Indian trousers and tunic he preferred. ‘I was only in the garden—and Sheba was with me.’

  ‘I know that.’ Damian frowned. ‘Do not force me to be stricter with you, Jared. I do not want to restrict your freedom completely—but if I have to, I shall. Do you understand me?’

  ‘Yes, sahib.’ The dark eyes looked up at him. ‘You won’t send Sheba away?’

  ‘No—but you must obey my instructions, Jared. You know why.’

  ‘Yes…’ For a moment anger, rebellion and fear showed in his face, then the shutter came down. ‘Yes, sahib. I know.’

  Damian watched as he went up to the house, the huge dog lolloping about, barking and leaping at him.

  It would be no better anywhere else, Damian decided. He would just have to pray that Miss Eastleigh was discreet enough not to voice her doubts to others. If gossip became rife, he would simply have to move on.

  Rosalyn’s heart leaped as she saw them riding towards her, the man and the youth, both so at home in the saddle…both riding horses she recognized as being pure Arab and mettlesome creatures.

  ‘Miss Eastleigh.’ Damian reined in, sweeping off his hat in greeting. ‘I am delighted you managed to keep our appointment.’

  ‘Did you imagine I would cry off?’ Rosalyn gave him a direct look. ‘I am not such p
oor stuff, sir. Besides, I wanted to invite Jared to tea this afternoon. My cousin is to bring her daughter to stay with us next week. You will both be invited to take tea with us then, of course—but I should like to have Jared to myself first.’

  Jared was looking at her oddly.

  ‘That is if you would like to come, Jared?’

  ‘Very much, mem-sahib.’

  ‘Good—that is settled, then.’ She smiled at Damian. ‘Shall we ride towards the river? It is the boundary between Lord Orford’s estate and that of our other neighbours—the Sheldons. Have you met Sir Matthew yet?’

  ‘No, we have not been so fortunate as yet.’

  ‘You must attend church on Sunday morning. That is the best way to meet everyone,’ Rosalyn said. ‘Either I or the vicar will be pleased to introduce you to your neighbours.’

  Damian brought his horse to a gentle trot beside her while Jared raced on ahead. It was obvious the youth had an excellent command of his mount, so Rosalyn was surprised when her companion shouted to warn him not to venture too far ahead.

  ‘He seems quite capable of managing his horse,’ she remarked. ‘And we shall not be far behind him. Jared seems to resent restrictions. Do you not think it may make him more rebellious still if you hold the leading strings too tight?’

  ‘Jared is my charge,’ Damian replied seriously, his eyes meeting hers without flinching. ‘I have no wish to hold him on too tight a rein. Perhaps we could increase our pace so that I do not lose sight of him?’

  Rosalyn agreed to it, spurring her own mare to a canter. It meant they were no longer able to converse, but she gave herself up to the pleasures of the countryside, gradually increasing her speed until she was able to reach Jared’s own horse and even race him for a while. She glanced over her shoulder, realising that Mr Wrexham was holding his own mount in check and seemed content to watch over them.

  Once again, she was aware of a mystery, of something slightly sinister hidden beneath the surface.