A Match for Mother

by Mona Gedney, Kathryn Kirkwood, Regina Scott

  Cynthia was surprised to find how easy it was to talk to him about matters. Whenever she’d raised such issues to Nathan, he had laughingly scolded her for worrying too much. “I think the vicarage school would be wonderful,” she agreed. “There are some things, however, the good reverend won’t be able to teach them, such as horsemanship.”

  “We used to have an excellent stable,” Daniel replied thoughtfully. “I rode every morning for years, but I somehow lost interest after my sister Cerise married. I suppose it was just one more thing to do alone. I’d be delighted to take the boys riding whenever you’d like. And you, too, of course.”

  “You’ll have to get us riding outfits, then,” Cynthia laughed. “There isn’t much call for horsemanship on the Bristol docks.”

  “Done,” he grinned. “We’ll have a tailor and seamstress in from Wells tomorrow.”

  But even when the tailor and seamstress had measured them and scurried off to make riding outfits and several other items Daniel commissioned, riding proved to be difficult. Daniel took the boys and Cynthia down to the stables to inspect the horses; however, Cynthia was disappointed to find the animals old and entirely too docile for all but Adam. Seeing her disapproval, Daniel suggested they purchase suitable mounts. Cynthia brightened, until he called for the carriage to take them to visit Enoch McCreedy.

  Mr. McCreedy was well known about Wenwood for two things: fine horses and a foul temper. Even when he was a young man of twenty her father had refused to deal with him, and she could only assume that Jonathan had followed suit. She remembered her mother sweeping her skirts aside to keep from touching him as they passed in the village. He had leered at her and spat on her shoes. It took a strong person to deal with Enoch McCreedy and come out the better for it. She wasn’t sure Daniel had that strength.

  She managed to convince him to leave the boys at home with Evenson and the footman to watch them, soothing the boys with the idea that the exact color of their horses would then be a surprise. She kept him busy during the ride across the village by asking him questions about his sisters—when they had married, how they were getting on, how many children they had by now. She nodded and chatted, but all the while her mind was elsewhere. She kept trying to think what skill she possessed that might allow her to help Daniel. She had learned to bow and scrape to the servants of the merchants in Bristol so that she might earn a living darning socks and mending clothes. She seemed to remember how to behave with arrogance befitting gentry if her handling of Monsieur Henri was any indication. But would either approach allow her to help a kind man like Daniel purchase horses from a tyrant like Enoch McCreedy?

  Daniel was more than happy to recount tales of his many nieces, all his sisters having had daughters so far, but he knew by the way Cynthia’s eyes kept darting to the window that her thoughts weren’t entirely on what he was saying. He supposed she’d heard stories about Enoch. The man certainly had figured largely in local lore. Daniel had met him a few years ago at a horse auction and struck up a conversation. He had been the only one to stay when the man began cussing and spouting bile, amazed by how easily Enoch vilified anyone who crossed his path. It was obvious to him that the man was as alone as he was, and once he had shown Enoch he wasn’t to be turned aside so easily, they had struck up an odd friendship. He had little doubt the man could sell him some prime blood, but he wasn’t sure how Cynthia would react to the man’s personality.

  “Perhaps you should wait in the carriage,” Daniel tried when they arrived at the farmstead. “It’s a bit dusty, and I wouldn’t want you to ruin your gown.”

  As she had chosen to wear the black dress again, she could hardly agree with him. “I’m not afraid of a bit of dust. I would like to help you select the horses for the boys, if you don’t mind.”

  He could hardly gainsay her. Glancing out the carriage window, he saw that several horses were already out in a paddock some distance away from the main stable. “All right, then. Suppose you go with Jeffers to have a look at the mounts and I’ll see if I can’t scare up Enoch.”

  It wasn’t exactly what she had had in mind, but she couldn’t find a reason to argue. With great misgivings, she allowed the footman to lead her over to the fenced area where she could survey the horses.

  Daniel let her go with equal misgivings, then hurried into the dark stable to find his friend. Enoch was exactly where he’d thought he’d find him, back in one of the stalls, checking on one of the stallions he used for stud service. The tall, thin, craggy man glanced up as Daniel neared, running a hand back through black hair that was graying at the temples and narrowing his sharp blue eyes.

  “Didn’t think to see you so soon,” he muttered, setting down the stallion’s hoof and patting the brute as he exited the stall. “Married folks usually have better things to do.”

  “Nice to see you again, too, Enoch,” Daniel grinned at him.

  He stumped along the aisle, and Daniel fell in beside him. “I suppose she made you come.”

  “We need horses. Where else would we go?”

  He spat into the straw at his feet. “I heard she was a tartar. You were lucky when you were a lad—she ran away on you before you had to offer. Should have learned your lesson then.”

  Daniel couldn’t imagine why, but for once Enoch’s words stung. He tried to ignore it and focus on what he had come for. “So, what would you recommend for three boys and a lady?”

  They were out in the sun now and Enoch waved toward the paddock. “Looks like she already made the decision.”

  Cynthia saw them coming. The man beside Daniel was taut as a halyard and as hard as a whetstone. She’d dealt with his kind many times in the Admiralty. Arrogance was the only approach they understood. She drew herself up to her full height for the oncoming battle. Unfortunately, that only put her eyes on a level with Enoch’s collarbone. She craned her neck to meet his gaze as Daniel introduced them.

  Enoch spit at the ground only inches from her feet. She refused to move. “Well, which horses do you want?”

  Even though she had been expecting it, his insolence annoyed her. “I’m sure my husband knows what we need for our stables.”

  “Your stables, eh?” He quirked a bushy eyebrow. “Last time I checked, they were Mr. Lewiston’s stables.”

  She started to bristle, but Daniel slipped an arm about her waist and she froze in surprise. “Now, Enoch, you know how things are with newlyweds. We do everything together. And right now we’d both very much like your advice on horses.”

  Cynthia sucked in her breath, but whether it was a result of Daniel actually treating this creature politely or how warm his arm felt all the way through her black gown, she wasn’t certain. “I’m sure you’re quite capable of determining which horses we should purchase, Daniel,” she murmured as firmly as she could.

  “He wouldn’t know good horseflesh if it sat on him,” Enoch grumbled. “Any more than he knows a good woman when he sees one.”

  Daniel shook his head. It was obviously not one of Enoch’s better days. The only thing he could do was take Cynthia home before matters worsened. “Never mind, Enoch. I think we’ve seen enough for one day. Cynthia, let’s go home.” Cynthia trembled in suppressed rage. How dare the man speak that way about Daniel? How dare he imply that she was less than a good wife to him? “You’re quite right, dear,” she sniffed, head high as she turned away from the paddock.

  Enoch chortled. “Give it up, missy. You just like to let him think he’s running things. Everyone knows who wears the pants in your house. The only shame is, Daniel doesn’t get to see what goes into them.”

  Cynthia turned bright red. There was nothing for it. Daniel turned and slugged him right in the jaw.

  Pain shot through his hand and he hopped back out of reach before Enoch could return the swing. The older man’s head had rocked back with the blow, but he didn’t stumble. He rubbed his jaw and winced. “Well then, I guess we all know how things stand. The three ponies, I think, for the younger ones, and the bay mare
for the lady. No charge. They’re my wedding present to you. I’ll have one of the boys bring them round tomorrow morning. Good day to you both.” He knuckled his forelock in Cynthia’s direction and turned back to the stables.

  Daniel stared after at him, hand smarting and thoroughly confused. He realized Cynthia was staring at him, eyes wide, all color fled, and he could only hope she didn’t think him as great a beast as Enoch.

  “Oh, Daniel,” she cried, throwing herself into his arms. “That was magnificent!”

  She was so close he could smell the scent of roses in her hair. Her body next to his was soft and curvy and seemed to fit against him in all the right places. It took every ounce of strength he possessed to force himself to push her gently away before she could see how she was affecting him. “Thank you, my dear,” he managed, wincing at the pain in his right hand. “But would you mind returning with me to the carriage? I’m not feeling particularly well.”

  Cynthia found she wasn’t feeling particularly well, either. The feel of Daniel’s arms about her had been surprisingly good and the summer day had suddenly felt much cooler when he had set her back from him. She tried to reach out to him but he turned quickly before she could touch him. Self-conscious, she let her hand fall to her side and followed him back to the waiting carriage. Yet, she could not help marveling again at what she had seen. Daniel Lewiston, knight errant. It was a side of him she had never suspected existed. Could she have misjudged her husband after all?

  EIGHT

  Daniel’s defense of Cynthia’s good name was not the last of the surprises in store for her. She soon found that she didn’t really know her new husband well, if she had ever known him at all. Growing up, she had assumed his timidity and awkwardness around her was part of his personality, that he approached everyone that way. Certainly nothing that had occurred until his gallantry at the stables had led her to believe otherwise. But a number of events over the next few weeks made her realize that there was a great deal more to Daniel than she had ever thought possible.

  The first event was the arrival of the horses from Enoch McCreedy. True to his word, he had sent sturdy ponies for Adam, James, and John, and a darling spirited mare for her. In earlier days she would have thought the idea of Daniel riding the brute of a stallion Enoch sent as a surprise for him preposterous, but Daniel had no trouble mounting and galloping about the estate with evident glee. Soon she and the boys were cantering alongside him on a daily basis, the boys proud in their matching black trousers and jackets, and Adam proudest of all in his long pants. And she had to admit, as she admired the way the sky blue wool riding jacket and skirt flattered her figure and coloring, that Daniel’s taste in clothing was bang up to the mark as well.

  The second event was a visit by several of the village matrons, including Squire Pentercast’s wife Genevieve and her sister Allison, to congratulate her on her marriage and welcome her formally to Wenwood. Since she had run away to be married to Nathan and neither his family nor her own had ever approved of the match, she had never had such a visit in her life. She wasn’t at all sure what to say or do, but Daniel welcomed the women to their house. He chatted with them about their own families as if he’d known them for years, which of course he probably had, and in general let it be known that he was utterly enchanted with his new bride so that the ladies left singing her praises without her having so much as to remember to pour the tea.

  If she had thought Daniel was impressive at home, she was equally surprised to find him adept at social gatherings as well. Allison had ordered Daniel to bring Cynthia to the next assembly at Barnsley Grange, but Cynthia had hardly taken that seriously. She hadn’t danced in years, and she certainly didn’t want to subject Daniel to something he might find uncomfortable. Besides, except for her pink wedding dress, all her dresses were much too dark and of poor material to make a good showing even at a country dance.

  She was therefore surprised to return from a ride with Daniel and the boys to find a rather large box sitting on her bed.

  “Oh, a present!” Adam squealed, having followed her into the room before continuing to his own to change. He clambered up onto the bed and bounced on his knees, setting the box to rocking. “Open it, open it!”

  James and John crowded in the doorway. John frowned. “A present for Mother?”

  Daniel put his arms across their shoulders and bent to speak in their ears. “Certainly. After all the toys we’ve bought, not to mention the new horses, don’t you think she deserved something all for herself?”

  Cynthia frowned at him, then at the box. “Well, I don’t think I deserve it. What have you done, Daniel?”

  His gray eyes twinkled with blue. “Open it.”

  Grimacing, she reached down and shook off the lid. Whatever was inside was wrapped in yards of white tissue. She glanced back up at him. He grinned at her.

  “Open it, Mother!” Adam urged, bouncing again in his excitement.

  She shook her head in exasperation and began unpeeling the wrapping. As the tissue began to open, she caught sight of rose satin, as soft as the petals of a flower. Eagerness seized her, and she practically tore the last of the paper off. In her hands lay the most beautiful dress she had ever seen.

  All of it was made of the delicate rose satin, with darker rose ribbon in triple rows around the high waist and full skirt. The rounded neck and small puffed sleeves were edged with intricate embroidery of white roses on emerald leaves. In the center of each rose was a small pearl. Similar roses seemed to climb from the ribbon at the hem to blossom under the gathered bosom.

  “Oh,” John grunted dismissively, “it’s just a dumb dress.”

  “Very nice, Mother,” James nodded dutifully before John pulled him across the corridor toward the well-furnished playroom. Adam reached out and patted the soft material.

  “It’s very pretty, Mother. You’ll look just like the roses in Mr. Daniel’s garden.”

  Cynthia smiled at him, feeling her eyes moisten. “That’s right, Adam.”

  He crawled down from the bed and skipped off across the corridor. Watching him, Cynthia glanced up to find Daniel watching her.

  “I don’t know what to say,” she murmured, oddly embarrassed. “It’s absolutely beautiful.”

  “Good,” Daniel nodded. “Then you’ll have no trouble accompanying me to the assembly this Wednesday.”

  “No, I suppose I won’t,” she couldn’t help laughing.

  And she had worn it to the assembly, with a nosegay of rosebuds at her wrist and roses entwined in the braid in her hair. And Daniel had danced every dance with her, and she had felt more beautiful than she had ever felt—even the night she had met Nathan. In fact, Nathan had never seemed farther away and for once the thought didn’t terrify her.

  Daniel couldn’t help noticing the change in her. All his efforts to bring them closer were beginning to work. She was laughing again, not the teasing laughter he remembered as a young man but a joyful sound that did something to his heart to hear it. He ordered a dozen more dresses, each in a different style and all in shades of violet and blue and pink that complimented her fair coloring. Whether it was the dresses or laughter he didn’t know, but he was pleased to see that the dark circles disappeared from around her eyes.

  He was also pleased and a little surprised to find that virtually none of his own clothes were fitting. Between the improvement in Monsieur Henri’s cooking and the exercise he was getting with the boys, he had lost a good fifty pounds. When he put on the new clothes he ordered for himself, he had to admit that he cut a rather dashing figure. Perhaps ; Cynthia hadn’t married herself such a frog after all.

  There was one thing more he felt he must try to change, however, and that was Cynthia’s inability to play with the boys. While he would cheerfully wrestle and dash about the house with them, Cynthia always watched from a distance.

  She watched with an indulgent smile on her face, that was true, but she refused to join them. At first he wondered whether she was hampered by her
new gowns, but she didn’t seem more likely to enter their games when she wore the hideous black dress, which was rarely now. More likely, he decided, she had had to be both mother and father for so long that she was unable to unbend to be herself even long enough to play a game of hide-and-seek. It seemed to him a symbol of their relationship—while it was pleasant, the joy was missing. If he could get her to unbend in one area, perhaps the other would follow.

  His opportunity came one afternoon when he had been playing a boisterous game of touch and run with the boys through the hedges of the maze. He had stopped to catch his breath near one of the entrances when he heard Cynthia calling to the boys to come in for tea. James and Adam dutifully appeared from behind various shrubs. A half-hearted scuffle behind him could only be John. He held out one arm to stop them and put a finger to his lips.

  “Let’s see if we can’t get your mother to play for a bit,” he whispered. All three of them brightened and they scampered off into hiding. Daniel sauntered out of the maze right into Cynthia’s path.

  “Hello, my dear. Did I hear you calling?”

  Cynthia smiled at him over the basket of roses in her arms. She had to admit that even with his new clothes powdered with dust and thoroughly rumpled, he was looking rather handsome. She’d never realized in fact how handsome he really was. His jaw was firm, his profile strong, his shoulders were impressive, and his legs long and powerful. The strength of her possessive feelings surprised her and she had to look away with a blush that rivaled the blooms in her arms. “Yes, well, I’ve finished with the roses for the day and I thought it must be time for tea.”

  “Well,” Daniel grinned at her. “If you really want tea, you’ll have to come fetch us.” He tapped her gently on the arm. “You’ve been touched.”

  She blinked, and Daniel pelted off into the maze, his husky laughter floating behind him.