Theodora

by Christina McKnight

  Laughter broke out from the audience, and Theo gasped at his suggestive comment. The crowd was enjoying their back and forth more than the competition, though it was impossible they heard every word over the chatter of the people around them.

  “And you are the man to teach me?” Theo refused to cower under his wit or the embarrassment that flooded her as she pondered the promise behind his comment.

  “There is not another man more fitting for the task—and certainly, not another who’d commit to making an honest woman of you,” Mr. Price shouted to be heard over the growing noise from the spectators.

  How dare he suggest she was anything less than honest? The chuckles from the audience told her they enjoyed the accusation immensely—no matter if it were true or not.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer shouted for order—and silence. “Quiet yourselves until the final archer’s arrow has found its mark.”

  A shiver ran through Theo as she felt, rather than saw, Alistair’s intense stare settle on her as she raised her bow and pulled the string back. Without any further thought, she released it. It was only then that she allowed her nerves to overtake her calm external demeanor as her shoulders tightened and her lips compressed into a frown. Her bow, crafted to fit her size, felt unusually heavy in her hands.

  Her arrow stayed on its intended course, soaring higher to meet the raised target and passing nearly completely through the red center.

  She’d done it—she’d bested Mr. Price and won the tourney.

  With a squeal of delight, Theo hopped up and down as if she were a babe given a stick of sugary candy. Her hood wavered slightly on her head, causing her to halt her celebratory dance.

  The prize purse exceeded the amount needed for Adeline and Georgie to enter the Grand Archers’ Competition.

  Elation flooded her. Theo made no attempt to hide her smirk at her own skill.

  The judge was by her side in an instant, offering his congratulations and requesting to know where she’d gained her superior technique and altered archery stance. It all happened so quickly. He held her purse of coins before her and requested a name to give the crowd. His intense stare told Theo the audience members were not the only ones captivated by the mysterious, hooded, female archer.

  “You may call me Lady Archer,” Theo replied, slipping the prize money into the deep pocket of Georgie’s cloak.

  “And where did you study archery?” he inquired.

  The question had her floundering for a response. “I mastered the sport under the Lady Archer’s Creed in Canterbury, sir.”

  “An honor, indeed, to witness your skill, Lady Archer.” He gave her a curt bow before turning to the crowd.

  “That will do.” Mr. Price stepped to her side.

  She hazarded a sideways glance at him. If he were upset over losing the competition, he showed no signs of it.

  The spectators started to take to the field, quickly moving in her direction, their voices raised as they called congratulations to the tourney winner.

  “A word in private, Lady Archer?” Mr. Price spoke loudly for all to hear. “I would seek a rematch—at a time and place of your choosing—but I will have my chance.”

  His dramatic demand had the crowd halting, their breaths held once more as Mr. Price slipped his arm through Theo’s and pulled her away from the growing spectators—all eyes followed them, ravenous to witness the coming spectacle.

  “My good people,” Alistair called over his shoulder as he and Theo moved away. “I will return your victor shortly, but I must speak with her about offering me the opportunity for a rematch. Do forgive my wounded male pride.”

  The crowd cackled at his mention of his damaged sensibilities.

  To her, he whispered, “Let us depart without further delay. The crowd will not allow you to escape without revealing yourself—and angering a mob this large is not in either of our best interests.”

  Theo took in the advancing crowd. Alistair was correct, as much as she dreaded admitting it. Their only recourse was to flee the park, out the entrance near where the hack had dropped her off—all without giving him the satisfaction of admitting he was right.

  Alistair held his bow out to an elderly man who stood by the rope holding back the spectators, before nodding to Theo—it was time they left.

  No one stopped them as they pushed through the milling crowd, all eager to depart and arrive home before the sun fell below the horizon.

  “Sorry for the delay, Alger. Here is a bit extra to make up for missing the tourney.” Alistair flipped a young boy several coins and collected his horse before signaling her hackney driver who waited not far from them.

  “It be a’right, sir,” the boy called, shoving the coins deep into his trouser pocket.

  Theo’s fingers searched the folds of her cloak for her own pocket and the purse pouch hidden within. Its hefty weight and warmth satisfied her.

  Theo should resist Alistair’s domineering manner, insist she could arrive home without his assistance, but his scowl told her he would not allow her out of his sight until she’d entered her family home. And she’d already agreed to allow him to accompany her.

  At his insistent stare, Theo clamored into the hack, placing her bow in the open boot behind her as Alistair tied his horse to the back and climbed up next to her. “Keep your hood up until we reach Mayfair, my lady. People are watching and will likely come in search of us once they realize we’ve fled. Driver, to Mayfair, as quickly as possible.”

  Nodding, she kept her head lowered as the hack took off. The wind from their movement made it necessary for her to securely hold her hood on her head as they hurried around slow carts and pedestrians on foot. The farther they journeyed away from the East End the dress of the lower class increased to middle class, and finally to fine brocade as they reached St. James Street and the elite of society finishing their day of luxury on Bond Street.

  Mr. Price’s breathing grew deeper as they got closer to the Cartwright townhouse.

  “Turn here,” he commanded. The driver immediately obeyed—much as his siblings likely hurried to follow their eldest brother’s wishes. All except Adeline, that is.

  He glanced over his shoulder repeatedly as they fled Whitechapel, returning to a more respectable part of London. “I do not believe we were followed, Lady Theodora.”

  She pushed back her hood and patted her hair into place. “Thank you, Mr. Price.”

  Alistair shifted in his seat to stare at her, his eyes penetrating. “You can thank me by not doing such a senseless thing again. The risk that you and Adeline—as well as Lady Georgina—took was reckless and foolish.”

  “None of us were recognized, Mr. Price,” Theo argued.

  “Do call me Alistair, and stop with the pompous ’Mr. Price.’ My father is ‘my lord,’ and older men are Mr. this or that. I am only Alistair, Mr. Price in public, if you insist upon formalities.” He took a calming breath, something she’d noticed he did quite often when he was angry or irritated. “Your brother would do well to keep a firm hold of you.”

  “As you do with Miss Adeline?” Theo risked asking, her throat tightening on the words, almost keeping them within. It was crass to question his skills at presenting—and guiding—Alistair’s sister.

  “No, as I attempt to, but as we both can see, I haven’t succeeded in doing so,” he snapped.

  “Maybe if you were not so demanding and overbearing, Adeline would heed and consider your advice.”

  “I do not give advice, Lady Theo,” he said. “I am in charge of all of my siblings while we are in London. It is my responsibility to keep them safe and their reputations intact—as well as my family name beyond reproach. I am unable to do that if they lie to me and sneak from the house on fool’s errands.”

  “All I am saying is that if you worded your demands as requests, maybe they would not fall on deaf ears.” The carriage hit a deep pothole, causing Theo to careen into Mr. Price—Alistair. “My apologies.” She pulled herself back to an u
pright position.

  “Deaf ears? You think my siblings do not hear a word I say?”

  “I think”—Theo swallowed before continuing, selecting her words carefully—“I think your siblings, Adeline especially, are very much like you. How would you react if someone shouted orders at you continually? Spent their days telling you what to do and when to do it? I am certain you would not take kindly to that.”

  “That is neither here nor there,” he responded. “It is a great undertaking to present a debutante to London society, especially when it is your sister and she is beautiful and captivating and cunning—and she is well aware of all those things. I am completely unprepared to rein her in.”

  “She is not a horse,” Theo laughed. “Maybe a whip and lead rope are not the way to guide her.”

  “And what am I to do if a particularly loathsome man takes a liking to her—or worse yet, she finds herself in love with a rogue?”

  “I cannot speak to that, sir,” Theo responded. “This is to be my first season, as well.”

  “What if your brother—or mother—found a man favored you, but was not worthy of your hand?”

  Theo thought for a moment. It was not a situation she expected to be in—certainly her mother had designs for her future, but nothing would come to pass without her agreement, and if her agreement were lacking, then Cart would never allow the match.

  “What of you and Mr. Oliver Gladstone?” Alistair asked when she remained silent.

  “What of him?” His question brought back the time she’d spent in his presence earlier in the day. Alistair must have seen the man entering her home.

  “He is courting you, is he not?”

  A shudder went through her at the loathsome question. “He most certainly is not,” Theo responded in denial. Gladstone may think to have a vested interest in her, but the man was detestable. “We only met today.”

  “And you do not favor his courtship?”

  “I have not decided on the matter.” Theo had no intention of allowing any courtship between her and Gladstone to develop, but that was none of Alistair’s concern. “My mother thinks we will suit, though we hardly know one another, and I have not assessed his suitably yet.”

  “He is not suitable in any way,” Alistair growled.

  Theo’s eyes widened in surprise. “I was unaware you were acquainted with Gladstone.” Alistair’s high-handed reaction was in line with all she’d witnessed of him, but the venom in his tone was too harsh, even for the likes of Gladstone.

  “I would not say ‘acquainted,’ Lady Theo. I loathe the man and everything he stands for.”

  There was more Alistair wanted to say, but he kept quiet as their carriage turned into Mayfair. Theo only had a few brief moments to find out all she needed to prove to her mother Gladstone was not a favorable match. “And what, may I ask, does he stand for?”

  “Come now,” Alistair said. “He did not regale you with all of his charitable contributions and holier than thou views on society and their immoral transgressions?”

  Theo shook her head, remaining silent, but shifted her position to face Alistair more directly. It was an invitation for him to continue.

  “He speaks of the evils of society and debauched upbringing, and all the while, he seeks a title of his own—as his gaming debts increase and his collectors hound him at every turn.”

  “How do you know this?” Theo knew London’s tendencies for latching on to a man’s worse qualities and spreading the news far and wide. Her own family had known disgrace at the hands of society’s gossip rags. “Sometimes, things are not always as they appear.”

  Theo knew firsthand the unjust light the ton cast on any man—or woman—at the slightest hint of scandal. Cart had sent Theo to Canterbury to keep her from the rumors swirling around his marriage to Miss Judith Pengarden. And the simple fact was no one took the time to listen to Cart, nor meet Jude. If they had, then they would have seen through the malicious gossip.

  “Do you not believe me?” He didn’t allow Theo time to respond. “I was at my club not long ago and witnessed him being cast out due to his unpaid debts.”

  “That is very troubling, indeed.” Theo nodded in agreement. Being thrown from your club did certainly appear very damaging.

  “How do you know him?” His stern demand alerted her to the gravity of the purported situation.

  “My mother is involved in several charitable groups Mr. Gladstone’s mother coordinates.” Her muscles tightened, and she sat up a bit straighter.

  “You would do well to stay far from the man.” His jaw clamped shut as if he hadn’t meant to issue the warning with such force. “Lady Theodora, it is only—“

  “As I said, I have not made any decisions about him or entertained any interest he may have in courting me.” Theo should explain Alistair had nothing to fret over. She had no intention of encouraging Mr. Gladstone in his endeavor to court her. “But I thank you for your…concern.” She cast her eyes to the clock, fearing what he’d see in her eyes.

  “Your decision is clear, is it not?” he asked.

  “There you start again. You would do well to learn that a forceful approach to every situation is not the most favorable way to gain what you seek or the best way for your advice to be heard.”

  “You would risk your future on a man I’ve told you is unworthy?” he asked. “For what, Lady Theodora? To spite me and teach me a lesson about my deplorable methods for handling situations and people? It would be far easier if my siblings—and others—found value in my words and ignored my way of communicating them.”

  Mr. Price was in no way listening to her—yes, he was hearing her words, but he was making no attempt to process and listen to what she was actually saying. Never in her life had she occasion to discuss a topic of such great import with a man who could not move past his own pride and arrogance to truly understand what she said. “Be that as it may—and I do take your warning seriously—it is my duty to take all available information and make my own decision for my future.”

  “A future tied to a scoundrel does not sound appealing.”

  “I agree, Alistair; however, my future is my decision to make. And I assure you, I will think through everything before making any determinations. Besides, I am uncertain marriage is something I am meant to do at all.”

  At this, he fully turned toward her, his knee resting against her thigh. His body heat seeped through her skirts and the heavy cloak. “Does not every woman seek marriage?”

  “Most do, yes,” Theo admitted. “But I have much to experience before conceding to marry and start a family.”

  “This is very forward-thinking of you,” he commented, turning back to face forward, the pressure of his knee against hers disappearing. Theo yearned to make another shocking statement that would cause him to turn toward her once more. “Not many fathers—or brothers, in your case—would agree with that course of action.”

  “I am very grateful to have a brother who is as forward-thinking as I. In fact, it is one of the traits I learned from him.” How to tell a man such as Alistair the wonderfulness of knowing her future was not predetermined or in the hands of anyone but her. “For now, I will attend my first season in London while helping my brother at the museum—after that, I may travel before deciding where my future will be spent.”

  Theo was unsure why she shared so much with him—maybe it was to help him understand there were other options open to Adeline that did not consist of a hasty marriage to the first notable man who requested her hand. Maybe it was to show him women were capable of determining their own future—and could succeed at it.

  Though she sensed he was not as close-minded at Mr. Gladstone, Alistair would benefit from listening to Theo’s beliefs about a woman’s place in life.

  “Coin!” the driver called.

  They were parked in her drive, and the hackney driver stared at them from his perch, anxious to collect his coin and be on his way to the next patron.

  Theo scrambled to withd
raw her purse with her prize money and counted out the correct amount before flipping it to the driver.

  “Lady Theo,” Alistair said, attempting to halt her. “I will pay the fare.”

  “Certainly not,” she countered. “It is you who did me the favor of making sure I arrived home before a scandal erupted—not to mention besting you before a crowd of a hundred archers, irrevocably wounding your male pride. The least I can do is pay for the transport home.”

  She smiled when he made no further move to dissuade her.

  But he did reach behind them and collect her archery gear before hopping down and offering his hand for her to depart.

  The man confused Theo—one moment, he was all indignant over some inconsequential subject; and the next, he was giving orders as if he were her guardian and not Adeline’s. And still, in the next moment, he was the perfect gentleman, helping her down from the hackney. It would be far simpler to put him—and his demands—from her mind if he were consistent in his demeanor instead of continually drawing her attention.

  Once she stood next to the hackney, he handed her the bow and quiver. Theo slung them over her shoulder, her string catching on her cloak. “Thank you for seeing me home, Mr. Price.”

  “It was my pleasure, Lady Theo.” He inspected her. Neither turning away nor breaking eye contact. His horse remained tied to the back of the hack. The driver huffed, attempting to get their attention. “Please call on me if you are in need of assistance.”

  “What could you possibly help me with,” she asked. “I am more than capable of taking care of myself.”

  “Of that I have no doubt, my lady.” He took a step closer, his hand touching hers. “But it is not only your reputation and safety that concern me, it is also my sister’s. Do send for me if you need anything. It would behoove you—and your friends—to avoid trouble, at least until you are all well and married.”

  Alistair leaned forward and placed a kiss to her lips before Theo knew what he intended.

  His mouth pressed firmly to hers, yet didn’t seek to overpower her. Theo breathed in, allowing his scent of sandalwood and musk to envelop her.