by Gayle Buck
The equestrians awaited Megan at the bottom of the steps. Captain O’Connell had brought a handsome hack for her use, as she had asked him to, and Megan thanked him with a quick smile as she mounted with the help of a groom.
Captain O’Connell saluted her with lazy affection before introducing her to his friends. He was surprised when three of the gentlemen claimed previous acquaintance with Megan, greeting her with the gallantry reserved for eligible and lovely young ladies.
Lord Dorsey and Sir Lawrence were members of the Lifeguards, for like Captain O’Connell, they were well over six feet in height and sat their horses as though they were one with the magnificent animals. Lord Haven and the other two sporting gentlemen were slightly raffish fellows, dandified in high shirt points and elaborately cut coats. These high-spirited gentlemen made a practice of enjoying life as hard and fast as they possibly could. Their conversation was larded with references to gaming and sporting events and social functions.
Casting a glance about at the escort her brother had provided, Megan thought she could not have done better herself in gathering together such a splendid example of hedonistic gentlemen.
Mrs. O’Connell was with the gentlemen, mounted on a fine bay hack. Her habit was celestial blue, trimmed with quantities of gold lace that complimented her blond hair. She greeted Megan with an amused expression. “My dear! You should have warned me. I had no notion that I would be taking my reputation in my hands with a simple ride in the park.”
“Unfair, Mrs. O’Connell! We are the very pink of gentility,” exclaimed Lord Haven.
This roused laughter and sallies from the other gentlemen.
Megan took the opportunity to inquire the whereabouts of the Misses Stallcroft and Miss Bancroft. “They will be meeting us at the park,” said Mrs. O’Connell. “I suggested to Lady Stallcroft that it might be preferable for Annabelle and Phoebe to meet Miss Bancroft before going to the park. They would then have the benefit of an extra groom in attendance.”
“I am glad that her ladyship consented to allow Annabelle and Phoebe off the leash, if only for a little while,” said Megan.
Mrs. O’Connell laughed. “If her ladyship had known what sort of party it was to be, nothing could have persuaded her to allow those two girls to come out, even if it is under my aegis. My dear, whatever were you thinking of to ask Colin to provide our escort? Surely you must have known the sort of gentlemen that he would bring!”
Megan laughed. “Of course I did. What could be more entertaining than riding with a set of sad rattles?” She said nothing more, believing that it was not the right moment to divulge to her sister-in-law the little scheme that she had revolving in her head. There were too many ears that could catch a careless word.
One of the dandies, Mr. Peasbody, took instant good-natured exception to her description of himself and his companions. “I say, Miss O’Connell! I may be a rattle but I am rarely sad! Now Newton here can fall into the mopes easy as falling down.”
The other dandified gentleman shook his head in a mournful manner. “Miss O’Connell, I crave your opinion. I ask you, can one regard that cravat without one’s sensibilities suffering?”
“Here, now!” protested Mr. Peasbody, raising his fingers gently to his exquisitely tied neckcloth. “I’ll have you know that it took me two hours and half a dozen destroyed neckcloths to achieve this.”
Mr. Newton shook his head. “You see how it is, Miss O’Connell. But one must make the best of it when one’s friend has done his poor best.”
The raillery continued with much laughter and exchange of outrageous insults, which amused Mrs. O’Connell and Megan very much.
The riders approached the gates of the park. Just outside waited the other ladies of the party, accompanied by a trio of grooms. Fresh introductions were made. Miss Stallcroft regarded Captain O’Connell with dismay and she cast a glance of reproach at Megan and Mrs. O’Connell. “Oh, Mama shall be so displeased!” she murmured.
“Never mind, Annabelle. I shall make all right,” said Mrs. O’Connell reassuringly.
Without seeming to do so, Megan watched curiously the meeting between Miss Phoebe Stallcroft and her brother. Miss Phoebe colored prettily as she nodded to him, while Captain O’Connell made a stiff bow from his saddle. Neither spoke a word to the other. Megan noticed that Miss Phoebe was not as reticent with any of the other gentlemen, greeting them easily and with a bright smile; nor was Captain O’Connell backward with either Miss Stallcroft or Miss Bancroft. It was apparent to Megan that there was indeed something of moment between her brother and Miss Phoebe.
When the party started through the park, their close formation relaxed so that the riders were not so bunched together. Mrs. O’Connell seized the first opportunity and offered to hold a few private words with Megan. “My dear, I must thank you for the warning that you gave me,” she said in a low voice. “I at once issued directions to my staff that I was not receiving. I was in a positive quake that Lionel would come to the town house and he did! I saw him from the window. He was very angry to be turned away, let me tell you!”
“So that was why he was in a black temper when I left,” said Megan cheerfully. “But then, Lionel is scarcely ever in good humor. I have often wondered whether he suffers from biliousness.”
Mrs. O’Connell glanced quickly at Megan. “Was Lionel at the house just now? Do you know if he saw me from the window? He is quite capable of following us if he did.”
“No, I do not think that he did. He came out of the back drawing room to speak to me,” said Megan. She cast a curious glance at her sister-in-law. “Why ever did you not let him come up to see you this morning? Surely you intend to talk to him, now that he has come to town for that purpose.”
Mrs. O’Connell flushed. “You will think me a coward, Megan, but I do not feel able to do so just yet.” She looked away to stare between her horse’s ears as she frowned over her thoughts. “It is difficult to explain. But before I condescend to speak privately to Lionel, I wish him to see me in society first. I want him to see me as I am now, not as the same woman that I was before I left. Does that make any sense at all?”
“Yes, of course it does. I do not blame you in the least, Sophronia. Lionel is used to dealing with you in a certain way. It will do him a world of good to realize that he must learn new habits,” said Megan warmly.
“That is it precisely,” said Mrs. O’Connell with a quick smile.
At that moment Mrs. O’Connell’s attention was claimed by Sir Lawrence and she dropped behind. Her place was taken by Captain O’Connell, who sidled his horse up beside Megan. He wore a frown and his voice was clipped. “You did not tell me that the Miss Stallcrofts would make up part of the party, Megan. I would not have consented to it if I had known.”
“Why, what is there in that, Colin? Do you not like Miss Stallcroft and Miss Phoebe?” asked Megan, glancing at him.
He shook his head impatiently. “It is not that! Perhaps you are not aware that— But that is neither here nor there! How did you come to meet them, Megan?”
“They are Sophronia’s cousins. I do not think that any impropriety or surprise can be attached to Sophronia inviting them to accompany her on an outing such as this,” said Megan calmly. “But perhaps you are put out because you and Miss Phoebe have been the subject of gossip?”
“So you have heard that, have you?” Captain O’Connell regarded her grimly, his blue eyes hard. “Just what is in your head, dear sister? I warn you, I shall not have you or anyone else interfering in my affairs.”
“Is it an affair, Colin?” asked Megan quietly.
“Megan! I should say not!” exclaimed Captain O’Connell. His gloved hand had jerked on the bridle and his horse tossed its head in protest. “I scarcely know the girl! What happened was blown completely out of proportion. It was merely the impulse of the moment that led me to— Nothing would have come of it, except that Lady Stallcroft chanced upon us at that moment.”
“That was careless of you, Colin. Completely bacon-brained, in fact, and quite unlike you. Surely you knew how closely Lady Stallcroft watches over her daughters. Of course you did! And yet you were caught in the very act of kissing her daughter. What might one suppose from that, Colin?” said Megan, looking over at him and smiling a little.
“It was an unfortunate thing all around. That is all!” snapped Captain O’Connell.
“Oh, I think it a bit more. I think that you engineered your own fall from grace so that you would have an excuse for keeping away from Phoebe. In the process, you also held Phoebe up to public censure, which I think is quite despicable. However, all must be sacrificed to your own self-interest, must it not?” said Megan.
She did not wait for her brother to shake himself out of his astonishment and reply, but set heel to her horse. The mare bounded forward to catch up with the lead riders.
“That is absolute rot!” exclaimed Captain O’Connell hotly to his sister’s back. He started to say more, only catching himself back when he saw a couple of interested glances thrown his way by his cronies.
“Anything wrong, Colin?” asked Lord Dorsey.
Captain O’Connell shook his head. He made a remark about Tattersall’s next auction, calculated to draw interest away from himself and so it did. For the next several minutes there grew a heated debate among the gentlemen about a certain celebrated team that was said to be going on the auction block. Even Lord Haven and his companions, who had been paying extravagant compliments to Miss Bancroft and Miss Phoebe, suspended their delightful byplay to offer their opinions.
“Monty would never be selling them unless he was completely rolled up,” said Lord Haven positively.
“He would if they’ve slipped their wind,” suggested one of his friends.
There was a general outcry at this, most of the gentlemen coming down heavily on the side of the theory of the Honorable Montebatten Swail’s pecuniary circumstances as having been the reason for his getting rid of such a fine team.
“The man is a hardened gamester and his luck has been fairly out this last month,” observed Lord Dorsey. “I’ve heard that he is pretty heavily into dun territory.”
“He always seems to come about, though,” said Captain O’Connell with a shrug.
“Look! There is Monty himself. Why don’t you ask him about his team?” challenged Sir Lawrence.
“You’re mad! The man takes a distempered freak if one chances to look at him in the wrong way,” muttered Lord Haven.
The gentleman in question, himself mounted on an elegant hack, slowed when he saw the riding party. “Ah, O’Connell! Dorsey, Lawrence and Haven, as well!”
“Hallo, Monty!” said Captain O’Connell, reaching over to shake the gentleman’s hand. “Let me make you known to my sister, Miss Megan O’Connell, and the Misses Stallcroft. You will know everyone else, of course.”
“I am well-acquainted with Mrs. O’Connell. How do you do, ma’am? And Miss O’Connell! Enchanting! Did you say Stallcroft? But of course! I am delighted. Miss Stallcroft, Miss Phoebe. Ah, Miss Bancroft, your obedient servant,” said the Honorable Montebatten Swail, bowing with a flourish from his saddle. He stayed a few moments, talking easily to various of the gentlemen. His unreadable gaze dwelled thoughtfully on Miss Bancroft and Miss O’Connell. He declined an offer to join the party, but set himself to call upon the ladies at some future date.
“Mister Swail seems a nice enough gentleman,” ventured Miss Stallcroft.
One of their escort chuckled. Sir Lawrence said earnestly, “You stay as far away from Monty Swail as you can, Miss Stallcroft. He is well enough, but not of the best ton.”
“Oh, has he a wicked reputation?” asked Miss Bancroft innocently. “I mean, besides that of being a hardened gamester?”
“Just so,” said Lord Dorsey with a smile. “I would not wish any young lady to fall captive to Swail’s importunities, Miss Bancroft.”
“Do you mean that he is on the lookout for an heiress, my lord?” asked Miss Bancroft with a hint of mischief in her expressive eyes. “Then certainly I, for one, shall be very careful of him!”
“Oh, I don’t know! It might be rather fun to be the object of interest to such a desperate character,” said Miss Phoebe contemplatively, watching the gentleman ride away. “Not that it should ever come my way, for I am scarcely an heiress, after all!”
The gentlemen all laughed at Miss Phoebe’s merry declaration, the sole exception being Captain O’Connell. He scowled and looked at the young miss with a hard glint in his eyes.
“Phoebe!” uttered Miss Stallcroft. She had seen the captain’s glance and read condemnation in it.
“You embarrass your sister, ma’am,” said Captain O’Connell shortly.
Miss Phoebe tossed her head. Her blue eyes flashed. “I am tired of such a snail’s pace. May we not exercise the horses a little?”
“Indeed we may,” said Mrs. O’Connell cordially. “There is a short green up ahead that will do very well. But mind, Phoebe! It must not be a race!” Heedless of the admonishment, Miss Phoebe set heel to her horse and bounded swiftly away.
“Yoiks!” exclaimed Lord Haven. “It’s a race! Tally-ho!” He and three of the other gentlemen set themselves to catch up. Captain O’Connell muttered something under his breath and spurred his own animal.
“Forgive me, Megan, but I must not let Phoebe out of my sight. Drat that girl!” exclaimed Mrs. O’Connell, also taking flight. One of the grooms also kicked his horse forward.
Megan laughed and watched what was assuredly beginning to assume a mad scramble over the green.
“I do envy Phoebe her liveliness,” said Miss Bancroft, also laughing.
“Miss Phoebe is an engaging romp,” agreed Lord Dorsey. “However, I fear that I am more inclined to favor a more restful style.” Miss Bancroft cast down her eyes demurely, quite content to bask in his lordship’s admiration.
Miss Stallcroft, thoroughly mortified by his lordship’s speech, sent an agonized glance in Megan’s direction. “Mama will be so very angry,” she whispered.
“Your mama will know nothing about it,” said Megan firmly. “Her ladyship will ask Sophronia for a report and that will be the end of it, for Sophronia stands your friend, as I think you already know.”
“Yes; I do know it.” Miss Stallcroft breathed a sigh of relief. She raised an uncertain gaze to Megan. “You must think me a regular noddy for caring so much, but— “
“Nonsense, I understand perfectly,” said Megan gently.
“My word, who is that magnificent horseman?” exclaimed Miss Bancroft.
Megan looked around quickly. Coming toward them was a very large gentleman on a powerful chestnut stallion. Beside him rode a diminutive man, equally well mounted. She felt her heart give a great leap in her breast.
“Whoever he is, Miss Bancroft, he has excellent taste in horseflesh. Where the devil did he get that animal, for I swear I’ve not seen its like before,” said Lord Dorsey, his gaze fixed on the prancing stallion.
“Why, he is coming straight over!” Miss Bancroft looked quickly toward Megan, to whom the gentleman had touched his beaver. “Do you know him, then, Miss O’Connell?”
“Indeed I do,” said Megan. She smiled and reined in as Prince Kirov stopped before them. “Prince Kirov, it is delightful to see you again.”
Prince Kirov bowed from the saddle. “Mademoiselle O’Connell, well met. You will remember Fedor, whom you kindly asked about at our last meeting.”
“Of course I do.” Megan greeted the dwarf with polite friendliness. She saw that Miss Bancroft was agog with curiosity. “Allow me to introduce you to some of my friends,” she said, performing the office quickly. She watched in amusement as the prince set himself to charm Miss Bancroft and Miss Stallcroft. The two ladies succumbed almost immediately to his glinting smile and polished compliments.
Lord Dorsey was equally impressed, but more with the horse than the man. Almost at once he launche
d an easy discourse about the stallion. His lordship was greatly astonished that Prince Kirov had actually brought the horse all the way from St. Petersburg. “I wonder that you should have exposed him to the rigors of such a long journey, your highness,” he said.
Prince Kirov flashed a gleaming smile. “But I had no choice, my lord! I could not be assured of finding another mount in England that suits me as well.”
“That is true,” agreed Lord Dorsey, shrewdly weighing the prince’s large frame with his eyes. “I imagine it is difficult to find a horse that is up to your weight.”
“Prince Kirov is related to some of the most famous horse breeders in Russia,” said Megan, smoothly breaking into what was promising to degenerate into a sporting conversation. She could tell that Miss Bancroft, for one, was becoming slightly bored. “The rest of our party is unfortunately not with us just now, Mikhail, or I would make you known to them as well. There was got up an impromptu race across the green and we four have been quite abandoned.”
“A race!” Prince Kirov’s brows rose. “Here, in proper England? You astound me!”
Miss Bancroft giggled. Lord Dorsey gave a hearty laugh, saying, “Yes, you may well say so, your highness! But there was no stopping it once Miss Phoebe took it into her head to set spur to her mare. It was a challenge not to be easily overlooked!”
“My sister is impulsive and young, your highness,” said Miss Stallcroft with quiet dignity.
“Then I shall like her very much, Miss Stallcroft. I, too, can be impulsive, although I have long since outgrown my foolish youth,” said Prince Kirov.
He slid a glance in Megan’s direction. “I am well able to set my mind with purpose to a difficult task and accomplish it. I do not know that I have ever failed in my objectives. I sweep all before me, in fact.”
He was satisfied when he saw a faint tinge of color come into her cheeks, even though she did not look at him but instead seemed intent on the twitching of her horse’s ears. “My Lord Dorsey, do you not find it to be the same for you? Do not the years prove to be a tempering force upon one’s character? One comes to know one’s own mind better than ever before.”
