“Humph,” was his only reply. Being confirmed that she was not injured in any way and desirous of knowing her tale, he called the dogs and started forward. He had thought of her plight briefly on occasions over the past weeks but had become reconciled to the thought that the mystery would remain unresolved.
Sophie had almost to skip to keep up with him and was glad that she had no skirts to hamper her. He strode on until, noticing her efforts to keep pace with him, he suggested that they sit on a nearby tree trunk which had been felled in some long forgotten storm and now only served as a welcome seat for weary travelers.
“Now then, Jack, you have my full attention, so speak,” he said, as they sat side by side on the log. “Tell me now what befell you when you so foolishly left my rooms. Did you still fear my intentions? For I tell you now, for once in my life, they were entirely honorable and even though I was a trifle foxed you could have trusted me.”
“Tell truth, sir, you were more than a trifle foxed,” she chuckled, raising her eyes to his face. “It was three sheets to the wind with you.”
Dominic grinned ruefully. “Devil a bit, but even so, you could have trusted me.”
“I have no doubt,” she replied soberly, “but I was afraid lest your mother should insist that I be returned to my family. I dared not take the risk, and whilst you were sleeping I took the key from your pocket.”
“I had gathered that much, but where the deuce did you go, and in that state?”
She would not tell him of the days she had spent wandering the streets and the hardships she had faced. It would only serve to prove how foolish she had been to abscond from his protection. Nor would she make mention that she had been present on the day of the race, preferring not to bring that to mind. Instead, she would gloss over that time and make little of her sufferings as it was all in the past now and it would serve no purpose to regale him with how desperate she had become.
“To tell truth, sir, I was not long away from home. I was on the point of returning when I came across David, my younger brother, looking for me...”
“What, you would have returned?” he asked in incredulous surprise, disbelieving that she would have willingly gone back.
“I had no option, sir, and I thought that by ways I would be able to reason with my brother. However, the matter did not arise. David found me and told me that Raymond had fled the country to escape his debts. I was then able to return home. However, we were almost immediately turned out from our home as he had re-mortgaged it to fund his gambling. That is how we come to be living with our aunt who, despite having a large family of her own and being a widow, felt obliged to put a roof over our heads.”
Vale’s face darkened and unconsciously he balled his hands into fists. “The damned cur. I will not forget his treatment of you. It’s as well for him that he has left the country.” Becoming aware of the tension that showed on her face at his sudden outburst, he schooled his countenance, saying in a more reasonable tone, “Now tell me why you did not make yourself known at the assembly?”
“I didn’t think it wise, sir. I knew not whether you would wish to be reacquainted with me.”
He grimaced. “Who should blame you for your reluctance? That dreadful woman had put me in the devil of a temper. What delicately bred female would not fight shy of me in that mood? I offer my apologies, though I can assure you that you need not have feared my reaction.”
“You are pleased to see me then, sir?” she asked, with more enthusiasm than she had intended.
“I am indeed, Jack, but tell me, why the continued masquerade as a boy? Are you not happy with your petticoats, do they confine you? And why the need to ride astride? You must be aware that if you are found out it will be severely frowned upon.”
She laughed up at him, her eyes full of mischief. “I do not care. For the first time in my life, I am free. My aunt cares not what I do as long as I’m not forever under her feet. As a boy, no one questions that I ride out alone; if I am seen in the countryside it raises no comment. Admit it, sir, life is so much easier for a boy, and besides, who in their right mind would prefer needlepoint and sketching when there is sport to be had?”
“Who indeed,” he agreed, managing to contain his amusement. “And no one is aware of your hoydenish ways?”
“Certainly not - well, only David and he thinks it a great game. These are his clothes by-the-bye. Neat are they not?”
Vale’s green eyes sparkled, but with a supreme effort he managed to keep an earnest tone to his voice. “Very appropriate and certainly a deal cleaner than that disgusting coat I last saw you wearing. Now tell me, young sir, exactly what sport is it that you enjoy, do you favor the rod or the gun?”
Sophie was not fooled. “Now you are laughing at me, my lord, and that is not fair,” she chided. “I have only been able to be a spectator thus far but it has occurred to me that perhaps you might be so obliging as to allow me to try a shot or two? That is, if you intend to continue with your shoot?”
“I will not, it is certainly no pastime for young ladies. Besides, females only get in the way with their wittering and complaining. More to the point, you would probably end up by shooting my dogs and I have an affection for them. No, best you should keep out of the way.”
“Please, would you not teach me to shoot?” she beseeched. “I have seen you shooting and you are such an excellent shot that I do believe that it would be beyond my power to distract you. Please sir.”
“No!”
“Then perhaps you would teach me to fish; and oh, I would so dearly love to fence. There is nothing I would love more than to be able to wield a blade. It would be perfect.”
“Why the deuce should I?” he replied in some surprise. “You are not my sister, and think of the impropriety of it should we be rumbled. No, I will have nothing to do with it.”
“I will teach you to dance in return,” she said hopefully.
“As I have already taken pains to explain, young lady, the fact that I chose not to dance at the assembly does not mean that I cannot. I dance very well thank you.”
“Prove it,” she demanded with a chuckle, rising from the log and striking a pose.
“That I will not,” he said, with a deal of indignation. “If I will not dance at an assembly I will certainly not partner you in a field, my girl.”
Seeing the humor of the situation they both burst forth into uncontrollable laughter and it took a few moments for them to recover and when they did his lordship surprised both himself and Sophie by saying as severely as he could manage, “Oh, very well then. I suppose I must.”
“Does this mean you will teach me?” she asked, looking up hopefully into his amused countenance.
“I suppose that it does, though what other proof you would need that I have lost my senses I know not. None must know of it. Think of the commotion it will cause if we are found out. You must cover up those damned curls and answer to the name of Jack and I will have none of your missish ways. You wish to be a boy, so you will act as a boy. Though why you find it so necessary, I don’t know. You do well enough as a girl and, though I know you will not thank me for saying it, I much prefer you as a girl.”
She turned a haughty shoulder. “As you have seen, and I think appreciated, I am a girl when I needs be, sir.”
A despairing look was his only reply.
“Then I can remain Jack?” she asked enthusiastically.
“If you feel you must, but we will begin the lessons tomorrow. I will have arrangements to make.”
“Then we shall do famously sir. Now all I need do is to persuade the gamekeeper to lend me a firearm.”
“You certainly will not! You will use my weapons. At least then I will know that they have been well kept and will not be a danger to anyone.”
Sophie smiled gleefully, resisting the impulse to hug her benefactor. “That will be perfect sir. Now I will be gone before you change your mind.”
“You will meet me at six in the morning at this spot,” comman
ded Vale.
“Six, sir?” she almost squeaked.
“Sacrifices must be made,” he admonished.
Laughing, she was gone, pausing only to wave a jubilant hand on reaching the boundary.
The earl stood nonplussed; wondering exactly what he had let himself in for as he called his dogs and then turned towards Stovely. If he should be found out, there would be hell to pay, but perhaps this would afford the diversion he was seeking, thinking that Sophie could be a pleasing enough companion even though she did wish to be treated as a boy. However, upon reflection, he had no objections. He had had enough of entanglements with the fairer sex for the present, and had he not promised himself a summer of sport whilst attempting to tolerate his enforced rustication? The girl had spirit, there was no denying it and she could not be accused of being a simpering miss. Indeed, he might well take pleasure in his role as tutor. It would certainly be a new experience and one that could prove quite entertaining. Perhaps his sojourn at Stovely would be more rewarding than he had envisaged.
Chapter Five
Sophie arrived at the meeting place the next morning well before the allotted time. She almost danced from foot to foot in her impatience for her companion’s arrival, anxious lest he should have thought better of it and decided not to come. However, it was not long before she espied him striding from the trees and down the pasture.
“I see you have not brought the dogs,” she said, laughing as he neared.
He grinned, thrusting a firearm into her hands. “I thought it prudent to leave them behind. You may use this; it is what my father gave to me when I was a boy. Even so, it still appears too big for your small hands but ‘twill have to do. I have no other that would suit. I see that you have covered your curls. The cap is perfect and you look like a boy, at least from a distance, though if truth be told, you would not stand close scrutiny.”
“That is only because you know me, sir.”
“Maybe so, but we will not put it to the test unless absolutely necessary. Come; let us see if we can find a suitable target for you to practice on, Jack.”
Sophie proved an apt pupil, her eagerness to learn evident in her endeavors. Her efforts did not go unrewarded as, after her first morning’s lesson, Vale was moved to comment, “By my word, but you are an unusual girl, Jack. I know of no other female who would have taken so readily to a firearm as you. Though you must try to curb your unseemly tendency for blood lust, it is quite unladylike.”
“But I have no desire to be a lady,” she replied, chuckling gleefully. “Did you not say that you would treat me as a boy, therefore I behave only as a boy? You cannot complain.”
“I do not complain. As a boy you are a pleasing enough companion but we must not lose sight of the fact that you are a girl.”
“I hardly think that likely, do you, sir?”
“Brat,” was his laughing reply as, making a short courtly bow, she departed for her aunt’s house.
*****
The days passed in much the same vein and it was soon seen that Vale kept company with a boy. They were seen fishing, shooting and riding together and after a while, their activities ceased to be commented upon. Those who saw them likened the boy to the younger brother the earl had never had, seeing no impropriety in their activities.
Vale being cautious not to excite too much interest in their actions treated her as such. It would not suit his purpose should Sophie be found out, indeed, treating her as a boy, he found it difficult not to think of her as a boy and he enjoyed the companionship and freedom that otherwise would not have been afforded them. Thoughts of London were pushed to the back of his mind and he gave himself over to the pleasures of the countryside, pleasures that he could not have envisaged so few short weeks ago.
*****
Sophie also enjoyed the freedom of these halcyon days. Never before had she been so free, free from Raymond Thornton’s tyranny. Her aunt proved a very indifferent guardian, never querying her actions or expecting her to be forever about the house. Under Vale’s companionship, she blossomed. Gone was the almost haunted look from her delicate features. In its place reigned a happiness she had not thought possible, though she would not allow herself to look beyond this one precious summer.
One particularly glorious afternoon, when she knew Vale to have gone into Portsmouth on business, Sophie decided to walk around the lake where they so often went fishing. Despite the heat of the day, as she had promised, she kept her tunic fastened up to the neck and wore her cap so that her gender would still remain undiscovered. Listening to the water lap invitingly against the bank, she wished that she had brought David’s rods but it was too far to return to the house for them and instead she had to content herself with just enjoying the day.
Eventually her walk brought her to where the woods reached the lake’s shoreline, their shadows providing welcoming shade, screening this part of the waters from view. Taking advantage of the cover they provided, she sat on a large flat stone at the water’s edge and, drawing up her knees, she removed her cap and shook free her golden curls. So inviting was the water that she removed her shoes and stockings and dangled her toes into its cooling depths, humming a little tune to herself in the process.
Looking around at the deserted fields a sudden thought came to her and would not be rejected. The waters looked so cool and fresh. Dare she remove her outer garments and wade out into the lake? It would be so refreshing. The temptation proved too much and she started to undo the buttons of her tunic.
Suddenly a well-known voice issued from the shadows of the trees. “I think it prudent at this point to warn you that you are not alone, Jack,” chuckled Vale. She spun round to see his lordship in shirtsleeves, arms folded across his chest, lounging against a tree trunk. He had obviously been standing there unseen for some while for the saddle had been removed from his horse as it stood in the shade.
He strolled forward from the shelter of the trees, a light of devilment in his eyes. “I could not let you go further without making my presence known, elf,” he said, grinning. “It would seem we both had the same idea. However, if you are still inclined to swim in the lake on so warm a day, you may be assured that I will have great pleasure in joining you. This heat is oppressive.”
Sophie hastily fastened the few buttons she had undone. “Sir, you startled me,” she accused, struggling not to smile in return. “We could not, and well you know it. I thought you to be in Portsmouth.”
“So I see, but my business did not take as long as I had expected,” he said, coming to sit on the stone beside her. “I used to swim here as a boy and thought I might do so again. I had not given it a thought for some while but, riding back in the dust and heat, it came to me. Are you sure I can’t tempt you? It is quite refreshing and none will see?” and he grinned mischievously at her.
“Dominic, you know we can’t,” she laughed, jumping to her feet. “If we were discovered everything would be at an end.”
“And that would be a great pity,” he said, of a sudden serious. “I would be loath to lose my pupil.”
“And I my tutor, sir,” she replied in return.
Grinning, he rose to stand before her. “Then we will let prudence win the day. Now away with you Jack before, whether you like it or not, I yield to an almost overwhelming temptation to throw you into the lake.”
“You would not, sir?” she cried, skipping out of his reach.
“But you know very well that I would, brat,” he laughed. “And enjoy myself hugely into the bargain. Indeed, I have half a mind to...” and he started toward her.
Snatching up her shoes and stockings Sophie ran laughing along the path, leaving his lordship to swim alone, only stopping when well out of reach to wave gaily in farewell.
*****
So much did Vale enter into the role of tutor that, knowing that balance and grip were paramount, he ordered a foil to be made to suit his pupil. He presented the blade in an intricately wrought scabbard one thundery afternoon when they were forced
to confine their lessons to the long picture-gallery at Stovely.
“It is perfect, Dominic,” she cried, holding the blade before her. “Now I have a foil of my own I can truly learn to fence,” and she lunged at an imaginary opponent.
“Not if you wave the damned thing about in that way,” he reproved forcibly. “You will have the button off, be still. I will teach you many movements but you will not, I repeat not, wave your blade about in that hoydenish manner. Not only is it inelegant, but it is dangerous. Swordplay is an art and should be treated as such. There are two styles to consider, French and Italian and though the French is the most popular, I will attempt to teach you a little of each. Firstly, we will go through the basics. I will demonstrate each formal movement and then we will attempt them together.”
Sophie seated herself on one of the chairs that ranged along the walls of the gallery. Drawing her feet up under her and resting her chin on her hand, she gave all her attention to his lordship, eagerly taking in each movement.
Vale stood before her showing his mastery of the art. “The basic attacking motion is the lunge,” he said, executing a stabbing action and thrusting forward on his right leg. “Then the parry. There are eight movements, each designed to protect a different part of the body.” He counted out each as he demonstrated, “prime, seconde, tierce, quatre, quinte, sixte, septime and octave. A riposte is the return thrust made immediately following a parry. A fleche is a running attack.” Suddenly he stopped. “Jack, are you paying attention to me?” he snapped, seeing her attention riveted on the further end of the gallery and at the sound of a dreaded voice he turned sharply on his heel.
“Very prettily done,” drawled the duke. “Pray do not let me distract you from your lesson. I heard rumors that you had acquired a pupil and I came to see for myself. It is indeed a novel situation and one that I would have been loath to miss. My observation however, is most enlightening. A word alone, if you please.”
Dominic (Books We Love historical romance) Page 5
