by Leenie Brown
“Is your room to your liking?”
“I like it very much.”
“If there are changes you wish to make…” Once again, those plates of iron rested on his shoulders. His need for her to like his home – their home — was nearly overwhelming. “They can be seen to after we marry.”
“I am certain that neither my room nor this room needs any changes.” Addie smiled at him. “They are quite to my taste.”
“They are?” Was she saying what was polite, or was she really pleased with the rooms?
“Yes.” She leaned toward him. “I especially like this room since you are here.” Her cheeks flushed. “Not that I am saying I would like you to be in my room or that it is lacking because you are not there or…” her voice trailed off. “I was just trying to assure you that I like your home.” She blew out a breath. “Not just because it is a fine house, but because it is your home.”
Ah, she was content, and he could breathe again without it being a herculean effort.
“This is one of Robert’s favourite rooms,” Faith said as she handed a cup of tea to him.
“I can see why,” Miss Atwood said. “It is so welcoming. I think any lady or gentleman could feel quite safely sequestered and comfortable for a great deal of time in this room.” She took a sip of her tea. “That chair by the window seems an excellent place to stitch or read.”
“I have not done any stitching in that chair, but I will assure you that it is very comfortable for reading,” Robert answered. He would have to see that a second chair was placed near the window so they could sit there together.
“Do you like to read?”
Robert nodded. “And you?”
“Very much.”
Robert put his cup down instead of taking a sip. “Regular books, as fits the standard for ladies, or are your tastes more irregular?”
There was still much he did not know about her. He knew her thoughts on the proper care of horses and in which activities she preferred to take part outside of her home. Those were some of the topics they had canvassed while he was helping train Damon and drinking tea in the sitting room at Silverthorne. However, he had little knowledge of her personal likes regarding such things as fashion, décor, and leisurely pastimes.
“To be honest, I enjoy a bit of both. Novels and poetry are excellent ways to while away a few hours, but an occasional book regarding something of educational value is also delightful.”
“Do these educational books pertain only to the administration of a house and the care of linens and the like?” He smiled as he put his cup to his lips. He suspected he knew her answer from the way her eyebrows arched.
“I do not confine my perusal of instructional books to those considered in the female domain.” Her eyes challenged him to condemn her.
“Good.” He returned his cup to the table. “I should very much dislike having a wife who was less diverse in her interest than the female with whom I have been longest acquainted.”
Miss Atwood’s brow furrowed.
“My sister,” he clarified. “Faith is trying at times, but I quite like being able to speak with her on a great range of topics.”
“But I do not know if I know as much as she!” Addie cried.
“You do not have to,” Robert assured her. He had not meant to cause her any unease.
“I have not studied investments.” Her nose wrinkled in an adorable fashion as she said the word investments. “However, I am certain I could learn about them.”
He had no doubt she could. Miss Atwood struck him as a lady who conquered whatever challenge she set before herself. In that way, she was also a great deal like his sister.
“Addie is keen.” James inserted but unfortunately, at least, for Robert, could not elaborate more on the excessively diverting topic of his sister as his aunt had just arrived for tea and was evidently not the sort who slipped into a room unnoticed.
“This is a small room,” Mrs. Bellingham said upon entering. “However, it does get good light.”
Robert was uncertain if that meant this room was acceptable or not, so he settled on that she found it marginally acceptable.
“It could use a bit of updating,” she added.
Or perhaps she found it a bit less than marginally acceptable.
“Do try to be polite,” James scolded. “Just because you are not pleased with Addie’s future husband, does not give you permission to be cantankerous. You do not need to stay here, you know.”
“And where else am I to stay? I must keep an eye on my charge.”
“She is not your charge.”
“But she will be, and she must know how to properly evaluate a home for when she actually finds a gentleman worth marrying. The fact that this room has not been updated in some time suggests that funds are not as abundant as they should be.”
“Or,” James countered, “it means that Mr. Eldridge is fiscally responsible and does not toss his money away on bits of fluff.”
“Bits of fluff,” Mrs. Bellingham muttered.
“Actually,” Robert said, “my sister updated this room not less than five years ago. Not much was done, as Faith is no spendthrift, but, to be honest, I have not, to this point in my life, been all that concerned with how a room looked beyond the fact that I liked it. Why change something if it does not need changing?” That he was more interested in spending his money on other pursuits was not worth noting at present.
“Indeed?”
She was looking down her nose at him, but she had not lectured him on not being bothered with décor and furnishings.
“Your sister has traditional tastes.”
“Only in décor,” Robert assured his guest. “She is less traditional in her outlook on life.”
“I believe in making changes where they are needed,” Faith said.
“I like tradition,” Mrs. Bellingham said.
That was no surprise!
“I am not opposed to tradition,” Robert said, “but I am not tied to it either.”
An eyebrow rose while her lips pursed.
“Nor is Addie, which makes Mr. Eldridge a most acceptable choice for her,” James challenged. “And until I have heard you appointed as guardian in my father’s will, your opinion on the eligibility of a match for Addie is of no consequence.”
Cups clinked softly against saucers for a moment before James added, “I dare say your opinion will not matter all that much to me after either.”
Mrs. Bellingham huffed and applied herself to her tea.
Again, silence ruled the room for a moment.
“What do you know of marriage?” Mrs. Bellingham said. “You have only just finished school. You have very little knowledge of what it takes to provide for a family. How then, shall you be able to decipher who is or who is not a good match for Adela?”
So the woman did care for her niece’s wellbeing in a roundabout fashion.
“Do you think I am incapable of knowing my mind?” Miss Atwood asked. “Do you think I have not seen what kind of effort goes into the management of a home and estate? Who do you think cared for the things my mother did before she grew too ill to do them? Who do you think saw to the estate while Father lay in bed?”
“Not your brother,” Mrs. Bellingham answered.
“No, not my brother because he had responsibilities elsewhere.” She fixed her eyes on that brother who was looking rather chagrined. “But, Aunt Edith, who do you think knows better what I need to be happy than the brother who saw to my happiness as often as he could while we were growing up and before he had to leave for school?” She turned to look at her aunt. “Not you. I do not know why my father gave my care to you. We have so little in common.”
“Perhaps,” Faith said softly, “if I may intrude, it was because your father knew your aunt could introduce you to a certain level of society that your brother, being young, might not yet be able to do. Your aunt might be your father’s way of providing assistance not only to you but also to your brother.”
Robert thought he had long since overcome being amazed at his sister’s astuteness, but, at the moment, he found her wisdom inspiring.
“And maybe, Mrs. Bellingham, your brother knew that his son was capable of selecting a capable and even excellent husband for his sister because he knew his daughter would make well-thought-out choices. Could it not be possible that he likely knew his son would see to the wellbeing of his sister for he had seen the love the two shared for each other?”
Mrs. Bellingham’s eyes roamed up and down Faith as if she were assessing her. “I will allow that it is possible.”
Faith smiled. “Then, could you, please, attempt to find some good in my brother? I assure you he has been foolish plenty of times while growing up – as most are — but his heart is good. I have never once doubted that he would put me in danger.”
“Never, you say?”
Faith nodded. “Never. Though I lectured him beyond reason for his errors, as any good older sister should.”
Mrs. Bellingham smiled? She actually knew how to form such an expression? Robert was both shocked and pleased.
“Well, then, I shall give him a chance.” Mrs. Bellingham shifted her gaze to Robert. “Do not disappoint me, young man, for I am still not inclined to accept you.”
Chapter 13
A breeze bent the grass and pulled at Addie’s skirt and bonnet. A blanket of grey clouds could be seen in the distance. Tomorrow, it would likely be too wet to race, and so it had been decided that one more pass down the course at Stonegate before returning to the stables would be an excellent idea.
Damon snorted and tossed his head. Even after having run as much as he already had today, he was eager for the race to begin. He had always been eager for a gallop, but since he had been training with Mr. Eldridge, that desire had increased. He was born to race. A love of racing flowed in his blood and twitched in every fiber of his being. Seeing him fly down the course was exhilarating, though not as thrilling as riding him while he flew would be. However, Addie was not to be granted the excitement of riding Damon, nor would she be given the chance to run Hugo against him. Since arriving at Stonegate, Addie had been relegated to watching the racing rather than participating.
It made sense, she told herself. She would not be riding in the race at the end of the week. Someone else would be and that someone needed time to become familiar with Hugo. But no matter how much she told herself it was what had to happen, she could not bring herself to be completely happy about it.
She caught Damon’s face in her hands and kissed his nose. “Fly like the wind,” she whispered. “You must win.” She gave Damon’s nose one more kiss and repeated her instructions to him. Oh, she would miss him – if their plan did not work and it came to that, that is.
“Must you put your mouth on that beast?”
Aunt Edith was less than pleased to once again be standing next to the track watching a race. It was not where she thought a lady should be. It was one thing to don a new hat and take in a race at a proper racing facility, but to stand out here in a field, as she called it, was another thing altogether.
“Yes, I must,” Addie replied. She smiled up at Robert. “Are you going to win?”
“I am shocked you should even ask.” There was a twinkle in his eye. “I do enjoy winning.”
“As do I,” Addie agreed.
“You are not racing,” Aunt Edith scolded. “Not even for a lark.”
Addie rolled her eyes, and Robert chuckled. Aunt Edith had been absolutely horrified to hear that Addie had been racing against her brother and Mr. Eldridge. Proper young ladies did not do such things. Racing was dangerous and rather hoydenish.
Addie did not agree, of course. Nor did Robert. This did nothing to raise Mr. Eldridge in the eyes of Aunt Edith. In fact, once she learned that Miss Eldridge also enjoyed an occasional race, she proclaimed herself to be utterly scandalized.
“Do not encourage her, Mr. Eldridge,” she added.
“Father did not mind my racing,” Addie countered.
“Your father…” Aunt Edith shook her head but said no more.
Addie breathed a sigh of relief. There were only so many times she could listen to how her father should have sought help raising a young lady well before it was too late. This would then dissolve into grousing over how she was ever going to make Addie presentable in time for next season, which, in turn, would set James’s teeth on edge and lead to an argument between aunt and nephew. Needless to say, the past three days at Stonegate had been trying.
“I will see you after I win,” Robert said with a wink. He was very good at ignoring Aunt Edith’s diatribes and taunting her with his unruffled appearance. However, Addie knew that he was not as complacent as he appeared, for she had heard him grumbling about her aunt to Damon on more than one occasion when she had arrived at the stables to meet him.
Addie was coming to love the stables even more than she already did but for a reason wholly unrelated to horses, for the stables were a place to which Aunt Edith would not venture. They were also the place where Robert had collected on his wins each day. He would hand her a brush to help him see to either Hugo or Damon, and then, when the grooms would conveniently find work elsewhere and the stall door was closed, he would toss the brushes to the side and gather her into his arms. She sighed. Those times were the only ones where any thoughts about horses or races being lost were nowhere near Addie’s mind.
“I will look forward to it,” she called after him as he joined her brother who was riding Pythias and Stonegate’s jockey who was riding Hugo. The comment was met with a wide grin and bow of his head as he touched his hat.
Was there anything more wonderful in the whole world than being loved by a gentleman such as he? Addie was not certain there was. Not even racing across an open field on Damon’s back could compare to spending time with Mr. Eldridge.
James reined Pythias into line between Hugo and Damon. Pythias was doing well, but he was a trifle skittish at times. However, of the three horses lining up to race, he was the one who was most likely to cause her lips to go without a victory kiss. Hugo was also a threat, but not like Pythias. Pythias’s youth and potential continued to amaze her and Mr. Eldridge as well. Both of them were hopeful that their plan to entice Mr. Camden into taking Pythias over Damon would work. It was only Pythias’s wariness and inexperience which posed a threat to their plan. Camden might not wish for a horse who was so green.
Camden had been seen in Newmarket, according to what James had heard at the Jockeys Club, but he had not yet come to Stonegate to see how Damon was progressing. Addie expected he would arrive soon, as the race was not many days away. She could not imagine anyone, let alone a man intent upon winning bets like Mr. Camden was, not checking on the likelihood of a win before the day of a race. However, she was not unhappy the man had not yet appeared.
As this last practice race of the day began, Addie divided her attention between Mr. Eldridge on Damon and James on Pythias. It did look as if Damon might not win this race. Not only was Pythias growing stronger, James had also improved his techniques. The two of them were moving so well together.
“There is something going on up there,” Aunt Edith said, pulling Addie’s attention away from the race.
“Where?”
“Up on the left near the thicket.”
“It is likely just some animal,” Miss Eldridge assured them.
And she was right for just a moment after she had said it, a hare bounded out of the thicket and onto the track. The sudden appearance of the creature startled Pythias, and he shied to the right.
“Oh no!” Addie was running down the track before Pythias collided with Damon.
With a scream that rose above the shouts of riders, Damon stumbled and fell, tossing Robert to the side of the racecourse.
“Oh, please, get up,” she begged with what breath was not being used to propel her forward. “Get up. Please, get up!” She could not lose either of them. She simply could not.
D
amon’s head lifted, and he attempted to rise but could not. Mr. Eldridge was sitting up and attempting to make his way back to Damon. Clearly neither had been left uninjured.
She tore her eyes away from them to search for her brother, who was still bringing Pythias under control a short distance away.
Reaching Damon, who was lying very still, Addie dropped down next to him and rubbed his side while surveying his limbs. It was as she feared. His leg was bleeding where a bone had torn through the skin.
“No, no, no,” she muttered as she fell on his belly.
“Addie.” Faith rubbed her back.
“He is gone,” Addie said between tears.
“Not yet,” Faith replied.
“But soon,” Addie lifted her head. “He should not suffer. I know how it is.”
“As do I,” Faith assured her. “Do you wish to stay with him until…”
Addie shook her head. “I cannot. I know it must be done, but I cannot be here.” A hand grasped hers.
“Addie.” Robert had made it to where Damon lay. “I…” He shook his head, unable to speak.
She squeezed his hand. “You could not have prevented it.”
“I wish I could have,” he replied before wincing as he shifted position.
Addie’s thoughts were immediately arrested by the sound. Her heart broke for the loss of her horse, but it raced with fear, unlike anything she had ever felt before, when Robert rested himself against Damon’s back and seemed to fade away.
She scrambled around Damon to Robert’s side. Faith was running her hands along her brother’s limbs.
“Is he –?” Addie could not form the word alive as her fear choked her.
“He has only swooned.”
Oh, that was good. Addie could breath. She took Robert’s hand which was closest to her and lifted it to her lips as her relief at his being alive set fresh tears falling.
“I cannot feel any broken bones,” Faith assured her. “However, that does not mean he has not sprained something.” Faith lifted her skirt and tore at her petticoat with a pocketknife she had found in the pocket of her brother’s jacket. “Hold his head while I wrap this around it. If we can stop the flow of blood, he may come to.”
