by Meara Platt
Although he’d described the look of her when discussing his low brain sensibilities, his opinion would not change as they moved on to the higher functions of the male brain. She was the prettiest girl he’d ever met, and she grew prettier by the day. The sight of her filled his heart with joy even when she vexed him.
He would keep the thought buried deep inside of him.
She did not want to hear those words from him.
Penelope began to nibble her lip. “My aunt hasn’t been feeling well lately. I hope it’s just a passing discomfort, but I’m worried about her. That nasty business with Andrew Gordon seems to have overset her. She hasn’t been quite herself ever since. Nothing I do or say seems to help.”
She cast him another vulnerable look.
Twice in one day.
He rarely saw such a look on her face, for she was a determined force of nature and never appealed to anyone for help.
“Thad, I can understand Nathaniel being angry about the bounder forging his signature and pretending to act on his behalf while up to no good. But why would my aunt still care so greatly? I think something more happened, but Nathaniel won’t tell me, and neither will Lavinia. Has he said anything to you?”
“No, lass. But I haven’t pressed him on the matter. He’ll tell me if he wishes to.”
Penelope pursed her lips, a mark of her displeasure. “How can we leave it alone? It could be something important.”
“It could. But it’s none of our business until Nathaniel decides to make it our business.” He thumped his hand on the book to hold it at the page she had opened. “Read the chapter about the sense of sight. I’m curious what it says.”
She sighed. “I’ll never understand men.”
He arched an eyebrow. “And I’ll never understand women.”
“I suppose this is why The Book of Love is so helpful. It educates us about our differences, but also about what we have in common.” Her lips remained pursed, but she said nothing more about the Andrew Gordon affair.
After a moment, she removed his hand from the page and looked up at him again. “The author claims what we overlook is as important as what we see. I think a good test would be for us to look at each other and discuss what we notice about one other. Hold nothing back.”
“Ye’re asking for my opinion again? This time thinking about what I’ve missed.” He leaned toward her and a slow grin spread across his face. “I’ll have to study ye closely. Now that’s an intriguing proposition. I’m to use you as my test frog.”
Her eyes rounded in horror and she gasped. “No, you are not to test anything out on me. This is merely a preliminary discussion.”
“Ah, I see. Ye’re scouting me out. Ye’ve decided it helps to know what the enemy is thinking.”
He didn’t mean it to be hurtful, but she took it that way.
She cast him yet another pained look. “You are not my enemy. This isn’t a battle. This book is about the beauty of love and how our happiness as a couple is enriched when we use our five senses. Not that you and I are a couple, or ever will be.”
“I know, lass. I meant nothing by it. I’ve spent most of these past eight years in the midst of war. One campaign after another. My brain hasn’t settled to peacetime yet.”
“Oh, Thad.” She rested her hand on his arm again. “I’m so sorry.”
“No, lass. Don’t be. I survived with hardly a scratch on me. And I’m here now, among friends.” He playfully tugged on her ear. “Yes, I consider you a friend. Even though ye’re still the most vexing lass I’ve ever met. Now, do as the book says. Look at me. What do you see?”
To his surprise, she blushed to her roots.
Hell, what did she see?
He stifled a grin as he noticed the pulse at the base of her neck begin to throb. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. Thad was no coxcomb, but he knew the signs of a woman interested in a man. Loopy would fly off like a Harpy if he dared mention it. There was no point. Mere physical attraction was not enough to convince Loopy to marry him. “I see a big man. Handsome in a rugged way. Broad mouth. High cheekbones. Wicked glint in your eyes. Your turn.”
“I’ve already described you physically.”
She glanced at the pages again. “Describe my other attributes. What do you think of when you look at me?”
“Trouble.” He leaned even closer and grinned. “But a good sort of trouble, if that makes any sense. You’re opinionated. Always challenging. Ye think for yourself. Nothing bland or docile about ye, lass. Ye’ll never be a biddable wife to any man.”
He ran a hand through his mane of red hair. “Ye may be a Sassenach, but ye have the heart of a Highlander. I mean it as a compliment.”
He wasn’t certain how Loopy would take his words, but was not about to find out. Pip chose that moment to burst out of the house and tear across the garden toward the back gate leading onto the road to Wellesford. His implacable governess, a sturdy Scotswoman by the name of Addie, ran after him. But the boy was young and spry, and Addie, who looked to be about forty years old, would never catch up to him.
“Bollocks, what did the lad do now?” He rose, and Loopy did the same. “I’ll go after him.”
“I’ll go with you,” she said.
“The lad is obviously overset. Stay here. Let me talk to him.”
She frowned. “Because he’ll respond better to a man?”
“Yes.” This is what he meant about her not being docile or biddable. If he said night, she’d say day. If he said no, she’d say yes. Besides being vexing, she was the most contrary lass he’d ever met.
Arguing with her was useless. And now Pip was almost at the gate and about to run onto the road.
He took off after the lad, quickly passing Addie who was breathing hard and had her hand clutched to her rib cage. He caught the boy and snatched him up in his arms. “Whoa, Pip. Where are ye going?”
“I don’t want to take a nap!” He squirmed in Thad’s arms.
Addie and Loopy caught up to him. “Och, the rascal deserves to be sent to his room without his supper,” Addie said between deep gulps of air. “The little bandit tipped over his mattress and said he wanted to see the horses.”
“There’s a yearling sale in town today,” Loopy confirmed. “Pip’s gentle mare is quite old and frail.” She said nothing more, but her expression was all he needed to see to understand her concern. The lad had lost both parents. She didn’t want him riding an aged mare who could very well die while he was in the saddle.
“Nathaniel said I could have my own horse when I’m older.” Pip was still squirming, but Thad wasn’t letting go of him. “I want a horse. I want a real horse!”
Perhaps the fear of another beloved thing dying was what sparked Pip’s tantrum. Although they teasingly referred to Pip as the devil-child, the lad also had a lot of good in him. Thad hoped his mischief would be tempered by maturity as he grew into a man. “I’ll strike a bargain with ye.”
The boy quieted and regarded him steadily. “Are you tricking me?”
“No. I’d never lie to ye.” He set the lad down but kept a hand firmly on his shoulder to keep him from taking flight again. “Addie, it’s all right. I’ll take him into town to see the horses. Pip, I’ll let Nathaniel know if I see any good prospects.” He cast Pip a warning glance. “But only if ye behave. If ye run off, the bargain’s off. And ye must abide by Nathaniel’s opinion when he returns.”
Pip nodded and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go. Let’s go! The best horses will be gone if we’re late.”
Thad laughed, but allowed himself to be drawn along.
Loopy joined them. “I’ll go with you.”
Addie waved them off with a gentle caution. “Ye behave yerself, young Master Pip, or ye’ll be answering to me.”
Thad was relieved for the distraction, although having Loopy by his side, laughing and chatting with Pip as they walked into Wellesford, did not give him all that much relief. Her auburn curls were fashionably styled atop her head, but
the locks were thick and satiny, and he ached to unpin the lush strands and watch them cascade down her back in splendid waves.
He wanted to run his fingers through her hair.
He wanted to do unmentionable things to her.
He supposed this was his low brain working extra duty, for he could not stop looking at her as a wolf might look upon a juicy rabbit. He liked the sway of her hips, the graceful tip of her head as she smiled up at him. The fullness of her breasts, of course.
Stop looking at her that way, idiot.
She took his arm as they approached the town square where the horse pens were set up. Mostly men were milling about, for this was not considered a suitable venue for females. However, no one was going to chase away the sister of the Earl of Welles.
Loopy’s excitement was palpable, and so was Pip’s.
The boy squealed with delight when Thad lifted him onto his shoulders. “I’m a giant! I can touch the sky!”
Loopy’s laughter was as sweet as morning dew. “Oh, Pip. Stop bouncing up and down on Thad’s shoulders. He isn’t your horse.”
They watched while a few yearlings were auctioned off, then melted away from the crowd and proceeded to walk among the livestock awaiting their turn at auction. Thad was riding before he could walk, so he knew more about good bloodstock than any man in attendance, including any acknowledged experts.
He’d spent the war years in the Royal Scots Greys, to his way of thinking, the finest dragoon regiment in the king’s army. A good dragoon was one with his horse, for his life depended on the beast while in the heat of battle. “This one looks interesting,” he said, running his hand along the withers of a handsome gray. Let me speak to the owner.”
Pip cheered.
Thad cast him a warning look. “No promises, Pip. This horse may go up for auction today. But since the horse fair runs for another few days, I’ll see if the owner will hold off selling him until tomorrow. Nathaniel and Beast will be back this evening, right?”
Loopy nodded and began to run her hand up and down the horse’s nose. “He is a nice-looking colt. Sweet disposition, too.”
Thad could see Pip was struggling to contain his excitement. “He’s the best,” the boy said with a squeal. “I’m going to name him Monarch.”
“If Nathaniel approves.” Thad patted the lad’s shoulder. “Go have a lemonade with Loopy while I talk to the owner.” He turned to her. “I’ll meet you at the Golden Hart once I’m finished.”
She nodded and went off with the lad who wasn’t walking so much as bounding and leaping for joy.
He watched them leave, unable to take his gaze off her until she disappeared from view. Wellesford, the Cotswolds, or a glittering London ballroom is where she was meant to be. He had to keep reminding himself of this, for these little moments had him thinking they might have a chance at love.
He shook out of the thought.
She’d never leave her life behind just for him.
And what could he offer her?
After speaking to the owner and getting him to agree to wait until tomorrow to put the gray colt up for auction, he went to the Golden Hart to look for the pair. Convincing the owner to hold off wasn’t hard to do. The possibility that the Earl of Welles would acquire one of his bloodstock had the man salivating.
Thad found Loopy and Pip seated at one of the wooden tables outside of the Golden Hart enjoying their lemonades. Poppy and Goose had joined them.
Pip leaped up when he saw Thad striding toward them. He picked the boy up and twirled him around. “Can’t promise anything, Pip. But he’ll hold off selling the colt until tomorrow.”
“Monarch! Monarch! Thank you, Thad.” The lad gave him a heartfelt hug.
Loopy’s eyes were bright and dancing with merriment as she thanked him as well. No hugs, but he preferred it that way. He’d make a fool of himself if she ever fell into his arms.
He’d never have the strength to let her go.
He chided himself again. He had to stop thinking about her and the possibility they’d build a life together. No, he would never be anything but her reluctant test frog. Perhaps he’d get a kiss out of it in the course of her experiments.
That’s all he desired.
One kiss would satisfy him.
It would have to satisfy him.
But he knew it wouldn’t. No amount of convincing would ever make him believe it. Just one? He wanted to kiss this girl a thousand times and more.
When the ladies finished their lemonade, Poppy and Goose climbed into Goose’s waiting carriage. To Thad’s surprise, Loopy chose to walk back with him and Pip, even though the wind had picked up. It was a cooler, quite damp wind that threatened rain by this evening. She sidled up to him while Pip ran a little ahead of them down the road. “You were brilliant today, Thad. Thank you for what you did for Pip.”
“Nathaniel would have done the same had he been here.”
She smiled at him, and despite the gathering clouds, the sun seemed to shine a little brighter. Everything suddenly seemed brighter, no matter that the sun was now lost behind a gray cloud, and even if it hadn’t been, they were strolling down the roadway in the shade of the trees.
She smiled at him again.
The world lit up for him once more. The grass seemed a little greener. The wildflowers dotting the surrounding meadows bloomed with uncommon splendor. The stone of the walls lining the roadway shone a deeper, richer Cotswolds gold.
But the most beautiful colors were the auburn of Loopy’s hair, the soft apricot of her gown, and the glittering emerald of her eyes.
“Thad, how long will you be with us?”
He arched an eyebrow. “Looking to be rid of me already?”
She chuckled, knowing he was merely teasing her. “No, not this time. You are Pip’s hero. You’re even a bit heroic to me. But don’t get too full of yourself. I’m sure you’ll do something to irritate me before the day is through.”
She tucked her arm in his. “I was thinking of tomorrow evening’s supper. What do you think of mutton and Yorkshire pudding?”
“Loopy, lass, ye know how to entice yer test frog. Ye know it’s my favorite.”
She shook her head and laughed. “I have you all figured out. The way to your heart is through your stomach. You are ridiculously easy to please. You eat anything and everything. Is there a food that isn’t your favorite?”
“Certainly. Ye know I dislike eels.”
“Anything else?”
He shook his head. “That’s about it.”
Pip broke into a run once the manor house came into view. Since Addie was waiting on the garden steps for him, Thad did not feel the need to chase after the lad.
Neither did Loopy.
“So, how long will you be with us this time?” she asked again.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. It depends on when I get word of my regiment’s arrival in Plymouth. I’ll ride back there by the end of the week if I receive no news. I can be of some use organizing the settlement of the arriving troops, even if they aren’t my men.”
“Is there anything we can do to help?”
“Nathaniel has already offered. We’ll rely on your hospitality once my regiment arrives and we start the march north to Caithness. I’d like them to camp here for a few days while I ride to London and meet with Lord Castlereagh. He’s been running all over the Continent, but he’s due back in town by next week.”
Penelope held him back a moment. “Why must you meet with him?”
“I’m the surviving commanding officer, and yet he’s kept me here instead of on the Continent with my men. Now, I’ve heard rumors he plans to keep the Royal Scots Greys in France, those who are healthy enough to serve. So why am I here and not over there with them? I don’t like it. Not one bit.”
“Perhaps he has something more important planned for you.”
“Then why keep me sitting around, doing nothing all this time?” He gave a sigh of disgust. “After Major-General Ponsonby died in battle, I
led our regiment in battle. Now that the war is won, no one has been appointed to replace me. It churns my gut to be apart from them. I need to understand what is going on. I want answers, and not from some officious clerk who wouldn’t know the right side of a bayonet if it poked him in the arse. No, I’m going straight to Castlereagh, and if I canno’ find him, then I’ll seek out Wellington.”
“Is there not a field general or someone else of rank you can turn to instead? Beast, for example.”
“I may have to rely on him if I’m not granted an audience with either of them. But I doubt they’ll deny me. The Royal Scots Greys are like no other fighting unit. We’re the king’s finest dragoons.” He smiled wryly. “I suppose every regiment makes that claim. In truth, we saw little direct action until Waterloo. We were used primarily as support for the infantry, covering their retreat, securing the land they’d gained. Clearing the enemy nests that remained. Protecting the injured as they were carried back to the hospital ships.”
“How was Waterloo different?”
“We were no longer held in reserve, but placed in the thick of battle. My regiment led the cavalry charges. Our objective was to push back the French until they were forced into a disorganized retreat. Ponsonby fell rather early in the battle, so it was left to me to lead the men.”
Loopy’s eyes were wide as she listened with bated breath while he recounted the details.
He was merely reporting the facts of this final battle, but she looked at him as though he was her hero. He couldn’t bear it, so he turned away and continued to walk toward the house. She walked beside him, still holding onto his arm so that he had to slow his pace.
“Thad, we defeated Napoleon. Why does it matter so much to you that you were brought back here? You look so angry?”
“France is still a dangerous place. There’s much left to do to restore it to a real and lasting peace. I agree with Castlereagh’s desire to keep his light cavalry units on the Continent, at least for now. I hope that’s what he’ll do. If this turns out to be his plan, I want to be the one leading my men. I can’t sit around, twiddling my thumbs while there’s important work to be done. If pushed to it, I’ll resign the damn commission and go to France on my own.”
