Dreamspinner Press Year Five Greatest Hits

by Tinnean

  It was a four-mile run over hedgerows, through fallow fields, and across the stream, which was too wide to jump, although shallow enough to cross in the spot I chose, sending up sheets of water. In less time than a prudent man would have realized at a more moderate pace, Laytham Hall came into view, but still it took too long. I pulled Blue Boy to a skidding halt and vaulted from his back, leaving him standing in the courtyard, lathered and blown.

  I did not look much better. I’d lost my hat over one of the jumps, there was a streak of mud across one cheek, and water dripped from my hair and spattered my trousers from crossing the stream, but I couldn’t be bothered to consider my appearance.

  David was in the Great Hall as I bolted toward the staircase, and his mouth dropped. “Sir Ashton?”

  “Where is Mr. Stephenson?” I demanded over my shoulder.

  “In his room, sir.”

  “Has Dr. Medford been sent for?”

  “Dr. Medford?” Confusion was in his voice. “No, sir.”

  I stumbled to a halt in mid-stride. “Blister it, man, what’s wrong with you?” Good God, Geo could be dying, and no one had thought to fetch the doctor? “See he’s sent for immediately!”

  “Ve… very good, sir.”

  I resumed my breakneck pace up the stairs, blown myself at this point, and with perspiration dripping into my eyes. Perhaps that was why on the first floor landing I barreled into the man who was descending and bounced back against the wall.

  I didn’t recognize him, but he was dressed in the unrelieved dark clothing of a servant. He was also carrying a portmanteau. “Why don’t you watch where you’re going, man?” he barked.

  “What?”

  A frown darkened his visage. “What are you doing here? It’s the height of ramshackleness for a groom to be above stairs!”

  I was a trifle untidy, but surely not to the point where I could be mistaken for a servant!

  “I shouldn’t be surprised, I suppose,” he muttered more to himself than to me. “Considering whose household this is….”

  I drew myself up. “I am Sir Ashton Laytham, and this is my household. You will not address me in that manner in my home.” The only reason I didn’t knock him down for that remark was because he was a servant.

  “You’re….” He looked aghast. “I… I… I was told you were not at home. I did not expect… and you look… I beg your pardon, sir. I am Kincaid, Mr. Stephenson’s man.”

  “What are you doing here already? There hasn’t been enough time for the gig I sent to have reached London and then made the return journey.”

  “We must have crossed paths, all unknowing. A… message arrived for Mr. Stephenson, and I took it upon myself to ride down with it.”

  “A message? And it was that urgent that you yourself came down to deliver it?”

  His eyes slid away from mine.

  “Kincaid, have you….” Geo came limping down the stairs, hale and whole, his Benjamin draped over his shoulders. “Ah, there you are, Ashton.”

  “Yes,” I said tightly, tempted to knock him down. He wasn’t a servant, after all, and he’d given me a fright. “Here I am.”

  “Jem found you all right and tight then. I was hoping to have a word with you before I left. I’ve been called back to Town.” He eyed my disheveled appearance with interest.

  “I see.” I pretended to brush some mud off my coat sleeve.

  “Been going over some rough ground, dear boy?”

  I ground my teeth and ignored that remark.

  “Sir, I….”

  I ignored Kincaid as well. “I expect you’ll want to be off, then. Don’t let me detain you, sir.”

  “I’m afraid my bays aren’t fresh enough to make the trip to Town.”

  The road to St. Andrew’s was kept in good repair, and there should have been no need for him to press his pair. “Are you so ham-handed as to exhaust them on such a short outing? Really, sir, you disappoint me.”

  A snort of laughter, hastily changed to a cough, came from Kincaid, and Geo himself wore a slight grin.

  “I need to return as quickly as possible….” He paid no heed to Kincaid’s startled expression. “And while my bays aren’t in the least distressed, I’d prefer a fresh team. A fast team.”

  I blinked but didn’t question him. “Very well. Sir Eustace’s greys are beautiful steppers.” They weren’t quite as perfectly matched as the blood bays or the chestnuts, which was why as yet no one had expressed the desire to purchase them. “I’ll send word to the stable to… ah, Colling.”

  The butler was hurrying up the stairs. “Sir Ashton, I beg your pardon. David was a trifle confused by your order, and so he came to me. Are you sure the doctor should be….”

  I felt my color mount. “No, that will not be necessary, Colling. However, since Mr. Stephenson will be leaving and is in need of fresh horses, let Mr. Ruston know he’s to have the use of Sir Eustace’s greys.” He opened his mouth to say something. “At once, if you please?”

  “Of course, sir. I’ll send David.” He turned and made his way back down to the ground floor.

  “That should speed you on your way, sir,” I tossed casually to Geo. “If you’ll excuse me, I must change out of these clothes. Have a safe journey.” I took a step up.

  “Ashton, I must speak to you.”

  “A pity, but I’m afraid I haven’t the time. I left the men in the midst of harvesting the hops and must needs get back immediately.”

  “Nevertheless, you will spare me a few moments.” His fingers closed around my arm, and he turned and retraced his steps up the stairs, dragging me along willy-nilly behind him, moving quite well for a man who needed the aid of a walking stick. “Kincaid, see everything is in readiness for our departure and make some arrangements to have the hack you hired returned to London.”

  “Yes, sir. My humblest apologies, Sir Ashton.”

  “Yes, yes!” I snapped over my shoulder. “Kindly release my arm, sir!” I snarled at Geo. “There is no need for you to manhandle me.”

  “I beg your pardon.” Geo didn’t sound repentant, however, and he made no move to release me. The door to his room was open, and he shoved me inside and slammed the door shut.

  I expected to find myself whirled around and carelessly thrust back against the door, an action my still-tender back would regret, but before I could open my mouth to object, Geo pulled me against him with negligent ease.

  Oddly enough, I didn’t in the least feel overpowered, but nevertheless, I did feel the need to protest his handling of me. “Sir, I—”

  I was silenced by his mouth.

  The fight went out of me immediately. I’d thought what with him being the first man to kiss me that perhaps I had built it up all out of proportion, but it was even better than I’d recalled. I kissed him back with everything I had, my fingers kneading the muscles of his shoulders as they bunched and flowed, uncaring that I might be revealing too much.

  Finally he released my lips.

  “Really, sir. There was no need to maul me,” I murmured as I pressed myself against him and nuzzled the side of his throat.

  “I apologize, Ashton. I hadn’t expected to leave just yet, at least not until we’d had more than one night….”

  I leaned back and opened my eyes, then gasped. His face was a blur before me. Dear God, was there something wrong with my eyesight? Geo chuckled and adjusted my spectacles, which had been somehow knocked askew, and his face became clear once again. He ran the pad of his thumb over my lower lip, and my lip felt plump and swollen. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and brushed it over my cheek.

  “You are a sight, dear boy.” Then he groaned and leaned toward me again, this time to trail nipping kisses along my throat and jaw.

  I wound my fingers in his hair, shivered, and tilted my head back. I’d never… no one had ever…. I wanted more of that delicious sensation! Eventually, however, he drew away, once again having to straighten my spectacles. “You do tend to get liverish upon occasion, don’
t you? Why were you in such a taking?”

  “You’re all right.”

  “Of course I am.” He raised an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Jem came haring out to Three-Penny Field. He said….” It occurred to me that he hadn’t said anything; it was simply my imagination that had run wild. A flush colored my cheeks, and I looked away. “I thought an accident had befallen you,” I said gruffly.

  “And so you came riding ventre à terre to my side? Ah, Ash.” He planted a final kiss on my lips and stepped back.

  My cheeks, which had been cooling, heated again as another flush rose high in them, and I was about to insist I had done nothing of the sort when his last word distracted me. “You… you’re calling me Ash again.”

  “Am I?” He frowned. “Does it matter?”

  More than he knew, but how could I tell him that? “Of course not.”

  His expression became brooding. “I’m afraid I must go now. That was what I wished to tell you before I became distracted. Kincaid brought me word that I’m needed in Town.”

  I asked, hesitation in my voice in spite of myself, “You’ll… you’ll be back, Geo?”

  “Of course. Didn’t I tell you I would be? In a sennight, possibly, but in any event before next week’s end. After all….” He set me aside and opened the door, and abruptly the distance between us seemed to become not only physical but emotional as well. “It will take more than one night to pay off your debt.”

  “My uncle’s debt, you mean.”

  “It’s much the same, isn’t it?”

  Unfortunately, I was afraid he was correct. I dropped the topic. “Geo, I… I could drive your bays to Town in a day or so, when they’re fresher,” I offered.

  “No need. I’ll return the greys next week.”

  “Well, if you must go….” I glanced away and strove for indifference. After all I had revealed—for he would have to be as blind as I was without my spectacles not to realize I cared enough that I had indeed come riding ventre à terre—I was not about to give him more. “Until next week, sir.”

  “Quite.” He walked down the corridor to the stairs, and I stood staring after him, wondering if he would glance back to give a final wave, a final smile….

  He did neither. For a moment I’d hoped… well, it had been a foolish hope at best. Setting the matter of the debt aside, it was obvious I was nothing more to him than a handy physical release. Because of the situation, I was as good as won; there was no need to woo me.

  I sighed and started toward my room. I needed to get out of these clothes and return to Three-Penny Field. And then I remembered the condition in which I’d left Blue Boy and came to a halt.

  It wasn’t like me to neglect my mount. Hopefully, Mr. Ruston wouldn’t rake me over the coals for leaving Blue Boy without seeing to his care.

  Geo would no doubt see the gelding, and since he didn’t know me at all well, he’d most likely believe that I knew no better than to leave my cattle standing in that condition.

  If not for the fact that I never wept, I could have done so then, and gladly. This would give him one more reason to hold me in contempt.

  I straightened my shoulders. I had made enough of a fool of myself for one day. I turned and followed in Geo’s footsteps, praying he would be gone by the time I got to the courtyard.

  For once my prayers were answered. His curricle was just disappearing down the drive at a clipping pace. Blue Boy, however, was nowhere to be seen.

  “Hell and the devil!” I groaned under my breath. It wasn’t like the gelding to go off like this. I made my way to the stable to get another horse so I could go in search of him.

  Mr. Ruston stood there frowning, his arms akimbo.

  “I seem to have lost Blue Boy, Mr. Ruston. If you’ll saddle….”

  His frown deepened as he took in my mud-bespattered clothing. “He’s here, Sir Ash. David brought him when he came with the order to see the greys harnessed to Mr. Stephenson’s curricle.”

  “Where is he?” I was relieved for more than one reason. The gelding must have wandered to the back of the Hall, otherwise David wouldn’t have seen him. That meant that Geo hadn’t had the opportunity to see the condition in which I’d left my mount.

  “Jem is cooling him down. It’s fortunate Blue Boy didn’t bow a tendon.”

  “It is, and I’m thankful.” I couldn’t tell Mr. Ruston I’d ridden neck or nothing on a fool’s errand, risking my mount for naught. “I want to see him.”

  “He’s yonder.” Mr. Ruston pointed, and I could see the gelding being led in a circle at the far end of the stable yard, a blanket draped over him to protect him from draughts. “I’ve had Mr. Stephenson’s horses let out in the far pasture. They didn’t need much cooling down.”

  I was glad to hear that. It proved that Geo was considerate of his cattle. And also, unless he sent someone back for them, that he had every intention of returning to Laytham Hall himself.

  “By the bye, Mr. Stephenson asked that we see about returning his man’s hack.”

  “Yes.”

  “I think I’d best do it myself. None of the boys has any experience in London, and the last thing we need is having one of them beguiled by Town ways.”

  I nodded. “Before you do, have Avalanche saddled, please, and brought up to the house. I need to change out of these clothes, but then I’ll be returning to Three-Penny Field.”

  “Very well, Sir Ash.”

  I could feel his eyes on my back as I walked away from him.

  Jem dipped his head when he saw me, but didn’t stop walking Blue Boy, and I fell into step beside him. “How is he, Jem?”

  “He’s taken no hurt, sir.”

  “Stop for a moment.” In spite of what both Mr. Ruston and Jem said, I ran my hands over the gelding’s legs. There was no heat in them, and his breathing wasn’t labored. I breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest. “I’m sorry,” I murmured in his ear.

  “If you’ll pardon me for saying so, sir, this isn’t like you.”

  “No.” I could no more tell Jem what had possessed me to leave a horse in that condition than I could tell Mr. Ruston. I knew what a fool I’d been, and that was more than enough. “Once he’s cooled, see he has an extra ration of oats.” I patted Blue Boy’s neck, cast a quick glance into Jem’s concerned eyes, then turned to walk back to the Hall. The day had not ended, and there was still much to do.

  THAT EVENING, as had become usual after Sir Eustace’s death and the Hoods’ departure, we three sat down to dine. Arabella, exceptionally gay, trilled over the time she’d spent with her dear Mr. Stephenson.

  “He’s such a skilled driver, and never once did I fear he would overturn us, Aunt Cecy!” She glowered at me as if ever she’d been in danger when I handled the ribbons, but that slur on my driving ability disturbed me not a whit, since she and Aunt Cecily were either driven by Thomas Coachman or one of the Hood brothers. She sipped at her lemonade, then continued. “He showed me every courtesy, and he handed me out of his curricle ever so gallantly, but I truly do wish you had suggested someplace other than St. Andrew’s to visit. The graveyard is so gothic; I vow no sooner had we entered than clouds appeared and the place darkened!”

  “Perhaps it is haunted,” I murmured.

  She shuddered delicately, her bow-shaped mouth tipped down in a moue. “I was reminded of Mrs. Shelley’s novel.”

  “I should never have permitted that horrid book in the house, and William should never have given you it to read. You had nightmares for weeks after.”

  “Please don’t mention that name in my presence, Aunt Cecy.” Arabella gave a sniff, then gushed on. “Mr. Stephenson is truly everything that is gentlemanly. It quite makes one overlook the fact that he hasn’t a country estate.”

  “How kind of you,” I remarked dryly. Of course it helped that Geo was plump in the pocket. “Anything else?”

  “Well….” Arabella worried her lower lip.

  “What is it, dear child?”
>
  “Well, truthfully, Aunt Cecy, I fear seeing the injury that caused his limp will quite put me off on our wedding night.”

  The thought of her with my lover… I couldn’t help myself. “Don’t be common, Arabella!”

  Her eyes widened. “Oooh! I am not common! You wouldn’t say that to me if William was here.”

  “You wouldn’t be thinking along these lines if he were. You’ve been in love with him for donkey’s years.” And she cared nothing for Geo. “Would you condemn yourself and Mr. Stephenson to a loveless marriage?”

  Her eyes narrowed, and her mouth took an unpleasant twist. “I don’t see why it should matter to you, Awful!”

  My hand connected with the table, sounding like a gunshot, and both ladies startled. “You will cease calling me ‘Awful’, Arabella, or you may look elsewhere for a dowry!”

  Her eyes widened. Never once had I raised my voice to her. “Aunt Cecy! Tell him he must supply my dowry!”

  A number of expressions chased across Aunt Cecily’s face, so rapidly I was sure I was wrong about one being guilt. After all, about what had she to feel guilty?

  “Ashton is the head of the household now, dear child. You must accord him a measure of respect.”

  “Very well, but I don’t see why he should care. It’s not he who’ll be involved!” Beyond that sotto voce grumble, Arabella subsided.

  “Tell me, Ashton, do you like Geo?”

  “Well… well, er… that is to say….”

  “I should be very pleased if you did, you know. I was… distressed that you never seemed able to form a friendship with my poor Marian’s boys. If you should become friendly with my dear George’s son….”

  I felt my face go up in flames. The last thing I wanted her to realize was how “friendly” her dear George’s son and I had become.

  “I couldn’t help but notice that he calls you by your Christian name.” She looked… I tried to decipher the expression on her face, but found I couldn’t. “Geo needs a friend as well. He was always a lonely little boy, the more so because his mother passed on when he was so young.”