by Claudy Conn
“Stop a moment, and let me tether my horse to the boot,” he said without preamble.
She sat rigidly. “I don’t think so.”
“Why?”
She couldn’t come up with a reason that she wanted to give him and shrugged, feeling once again, like a schoolgirl. What the deuce was wrong with her? She was a woman now, in every sense of the word. She could hold her own. Why did he reduce her to a bundle of nerves?
He hurried his horse into position in front of her driving horse, and the animal slowed to a halt. She made an impatient sound and told him, “It seems, my lord, you have a habit of hindering my progress.”
He jumped off his steed and took his horse to the boot, where he tethered it, but before he could walk around, she clicked and started off, a smile covering her face.
He caught up in no time, and nimbly, athletically managed to jump into the curricle and slide across the seat very close to her.
She could see him eyeing her quizzically and decided not to talk to him. Her jaw set, but his did not as he grinned and said, “You will find you cannot get away from me so easily.”
“You do realize, however, that I want to?” she answered.
“Yes, I do, but again, why?”
“You should know.”
“Serena … whatever I said to make you feel uncomfortable about … yesterday, I do beg your pardon. That was not my intention. You must realize that I would never knowingly hurt you?”
“Must I realize that?” she asked as she turned down a narrow dirt path. Up ahead was a small farmer’s cottage.
He frowned and asked, “What are you doing?”
“We have a sick tenant. I am going to visit with them and bring them a basket,” she said, still not looking at him, still holding herself erect, as she brought her curricle to a stop and put on the brake.
His lordship jumped down before her and reached out his hand for her hand. Instead, she put a basket into his and managed to get down on her own.
“Thank you, my lord,” she said, took the basket from him, and went towards the front door of the cottage, noting that he hurriedly followed her.
A middle-aged woman in a mobcap and a full blue apron opened the door and exclaimed, “Oh Miss Serena, you don’t want to come in here and take a chance of getting ill. No, I don’t—”
“Nonsense,” Serena said, cutting the woman’s objections short. “And good morning, Mrs. Tuttle. You look well.”
“And you, Miss Serena, like a ray of sunshine you be.”
Serena laughed and handed the woman the large, fully packed basked. “Mrs. Tuttle, Cook baked the bread and tarts fresh this morning. The apples are from our orchard, and there is some very fine cheese in there as well.”
“Thankee, Miss Serena. You are always more than kind, and do send our regards to Cook, and tell her I’ll be stopping by with some pickled tomatoes as soon as m’boy gets well.”
Serena frowned. “May I visit with Billy? I did not know he had fallen ill until Davis mentioned it to me last evening.” Of all her uncles’ tenants, the Tuttles were her favorite, and young Billy held a sure place in her warm affection.
“I don’t want ye catching his quinsy.” Mrs. Tuttle frowned.
“Nonsense, so if you think it won’t tire him?” Serena answered.
“Tire him?” Mrs. Tuttle laughed. “Why he would be that pleased to see ye, he would. Thinks the world of ye, he does. Tells everyone that ye be his Lady Sunshine. Ever since ye took the trouble to teach him how to fish and let him fish the Moorely pond … why, he tells anyone who will listen that you are a ‘right ’un’.”
Serena laughed and turned to his lordship. “You may go now.”
“May I indeed?” His eyebrow arched, and Serena had to remind herself to stay firmly hard-hearted. She must not think him dashing. She must not be drawn by his blue eyes. She simply must not.
He inclined his head as she turned slightly away from him and told her, “Thank you, but I would like to meet young Billy. He sounds to me to be a brilliant flirt.” The tease was in his voice. “Lady Sunshine, is it? The boy will do well when he attains his majority.”
Serena couldn’t help it—a laugh escaped her lips. Without waiting to see if he followed she went inside and made her way to Billy’s open door, where she knocked.
Billy was ten years old with wads of red hair around a freckled face and bright hazel eyes that were always laughing. He looked like the elfish, scampish youth he was as he sat up and called with vigor, “My lady Sunshine! Oi … I was wondering when you would be looking in on me.”
Serena tweaked his nose. “Brat! What makes you think I don’t have better things to do than to look in on a sickly slug-a-bed?”
“Coo …” breathed the boy, grinning widely. “Ye were worrit, weren’t ye?”
Serena laughed and proceeded to take the boy into a bear hug. “As I said, a brat of a lad,” she repeated and sighed with some relief. “You look so much better than Davis led me to believe. I was told you were flat on your back.”
“And so I was, but, ye know, it would take more than a dunk in the brine to do me in,” Billy boasted merrily. He looked towards his lordship and then toward Serena meaningfully.
She laughed and made the introductions. He eyed her thoughtfully after his lordship shook his hand, and he said in a lowered voice, “Well then, this one will do.”
She gasped, and her hands flew to her hips. “You, my fine boy, are begging to have your ears boxed.”
“Aye, so I am told by me mum,” he answered, both undaunted and beaming.
“Bold and audacious,” his lordship remarked with a wide smile. “Needs to be brought down a peg.” He looked at Serena. “By your leave, my lady Sunshine?”
“Oh do, bring the lad down two pegs if you please.” Serena laughed.
“Hold! Hold,” Billy cried, putting up a guarding hand. “Oi be sickly, remember?” Serena hid a smile at how his attempt to speak “proper-like”, as he had been working on when with her, slipped when he was flustered.
“Indeed, which puts me in mind of my next question. Just what were you doing in the brine at this time of year, young Billy?”
Billy frowned and looked past Serena as though looking to see where his mother was. He rebuked her softly, “Hush then, and I’ll be telling ye if ye promise to keep it between us.”
Serena was surprised but gravely replied though her dark eyes were dancing, “So be it.”
Billy looked at his lordship. “Ye look to be a right ‘un, and ye be with Miss Serena, but I have a reason or two for not wanting me business known. Do ye swear to keep mum?”
“Indeed, on my word of honor,” his lordship replied promptly.
“Right then. Me and the boys, Al, Davey, and Jeremy, well we borrowed it—Mr. Doogin’s little skiff—just for a lark, you know, and not meaning any harm. Well, I thought we might hang a line and catch a night’s dinner, so we went to our spot, not too far from this great big schooner just outside the harbor. That’s when it happened. There was these coveys … seamen all, but not the gentlemen. No these weren’t smugglers, even though Jeremy said they must be. I didn’t think it was free trading they was after, no, I didn’t. They had this trunk, and they couldn’t lift it. Took five men to lift it. A man in uniform caught them, and they shot him. Thought Al and I was going to have to knock Jeremy and Davey out to keep them quiet.” He shook his head. “We didn’t stay for more. We rowed back to the dock when we see more bobbery afoot. Zounds, Miss Serena, I’m supposing these were land-runners or leastways couldn’t figure what else they might be. Suddenly they was pointing in our direction, so I tells Jeremy, row, and we rowed faster than we ever had towards the beach—ye know the spot, where I found ye that prime shell last summer?”
“Yes, Billy, go on,” Serena said, with concern.
“Took the skiff to the beach, and we were ready to jump off and bring her in … Davey hollers like he visioned a ghost. He starts to fall, and whot must he do but grab me. Over
we both went, and when we come up, the bloke was nearly out of sight.”
“Who was he? Did you get a look at him?” his lordship asked.
“Not really, though there was something familiar about the cut of his shoulders and his gait.” He shook his head. “I just don’t know. Only saw a bit of light on him at the top of the down. ‘’Twas too dark, but he was dressed like gentry. Jeremy says we best say nuthin to nobody, but Mr. Doogin knew it was us who took the skiff, and he went to Jeremy’s father, who gave Jeremy a beating. Al didn’t get a beating, but his father made him haul wood and water for Mr. Doogin for a week. Me and Davey got sick, but Pa told me I’ll get my beating when I get better.” Billy grinned. “So I’m in no rush to leave this bed.” He wiggled his eyebrows, and both Serena and his lordship laughed out loud.
Ten minutes later, they had taken their leave and his lordship was helping Serena into her curricle and climbing in after her.
“What are you doing?” she asked, frowning at him.
“Escorting you home.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to,” he said simply, ignoring the coolness she had maintained between them.
She sighed and said, “Very well. What did you think of Billy’s tale?”
“I am not certain I have any answers, but you and I both know it has something to do with the robbery. Those boys actually witnessed it in progress.” He shook his head. “I have Freddy under lock and key at the inn with a guard at the front and back, but I have not one doubt that he will take to horse very soon.”
“Yes,” she said and bit her bottom lip. “I agree. He is young, and you can’t expect him to stay put. He won’t.”
Ignoring this he said thoughtfully, “I had hoped that Billy might have been able to give us a description of one of the men at least, but as it happens, he can’t, so his story doesn’t take us any further.”
“Who do you think was the man on the beach?” Serena asked, momentarily forgetting to keep aloof from him.
“I don’t have any idea, but I do believe he has something to do with it all … perhaps he is in charge. It would have to be a gentleman who had access to the information, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes, you are quite right.”
He eyed her for a moment, and against her will she looked into his deep blues and was caught up in the fantasy that she saw something there … something that spoke of ‘feelings’.
He said, “I like young Billy … and the way he addresses you. Lady Sunshine. He is quite right, you know. You do have a sunny disposition.”
She laughed. “Ah, but there are reasons beyond my disposition.”
“Out with it, girl. I am more than a little curious,” he asked, smiling warmly.
“It was three years ago and he was an imp of a seven-year-old, but he saved my life.”
His lordship cocked a look at her. “How did the little man do that?”
“A friend of my uncle’s came visiting with a lovely mare … chestnut with a perfect white star. Well, my uncle wanted to buy her for me, you see. Faith, the way she held her head high … and snorting fire …” Serena smiled and sighed. “Highly spirited but, as some mares are, temperamental.”
“I quite agree. Females …” He then clicked his tongue, and she glared at him.
“She was too beautiful, and I was fool enough to think that my experience might overrule her waywardness. Off we went for a run. We hadn’t gotten very far when she reared with me over some nonsensical thing, perhaps a rabbit. I don’t mind managing a horse with a buck or two in him, and I don’t mind managing a horse with spirit, but I do not like a horse that rears. She went from the rear flying and bolted out of control. Taught me a thing or two and brought me down in my own esteem. I zigzagged the reins. I brought them in sharply and released. I climbed onto her blasted head and took the bit into my grip, and she still would not stop. So I held on for dear life and decided to ride it out as best I could.” She sighed and continued, “We came to a fallen tree that was angled and stood a good three feet off the ground. What must she do but fly over it like a mad creature without any sense. When she landed, she lost her footing and went down, pinning me for a moment beneath part of her weight.”
“Certes, Serena!” his lordship exclaimed. “You could have been killed!”
Was that real concern in his eyes and on his face, she wondered. She gave him a half smile and said, “Yes. Well, I remember jumping to my feet and thinking that I was still alive, when I promptly passed out. The next thing I knew this angelic face was peering over me. “Sunshine … come on then, Sunshine, open your eyes. That’s the ticket,” Billy said as he patted my face. He told me later that even lying there I was smiling, so he called me Sunshine, and it stuck. He was then, even at seven, so very adult about it that I could not help but laugh right out loud. He grinned at me and said he had the ‘devil-mare’ tied up nearby, but that he had sent his friend to the squire to fetch help.” She shook her head over the memory.
“Well then, that explains everything,” his lordship said, suddenly running his finger down her arm.
His touch sent shivers through her, but she maintained her control and answered, “It does, doesn’t it?”
“Indeed,” he answered. “It would appear, my beauty, you capture hearts, young and old and without trying.”
She looked at him sharply, and he said, “What? What did I say to make you look at me like that?”
“I am not sure of your meaning. If you mean that I make friends regardless of their age, yes, why yes, I do.”
He laughed and changed the subject. “And what happened to the devil mare?”
“My uncle would have sent her packing, but I kept her and worked with her day after day after day. She ended up my pet and responds to me as such. She won’t allow anyone else on her back.” Serena smiled softly.
“You don’t give up easily, do you?” he asked, watching her face.
“No, I don’t, but I am not a fool. I know when to walk away,” she answered and was satisfied that her meaning was not lost on him because he frowned darkly.
“Still,” he said after a lengthy pause. “That friend of your uncle’s was not doing him any favors trying to sell him such an animal for a woman.”
She laughed. “You are quite correct. I have always thought him a ‘rum touch’.”
His turn to chuckle as he said, “Such language. Where did you pick it up?”
“Ah, you must know that I ride neck or nothing and thus end up forever in the company of Master and the whips and the men that can keep up with us.” She laughed. “So I have always been privy to all sorts of wondrous language.” She peeped at him and laughed at his expression.
“Enchanting. You have me completely under your spell. Do you know that, Miss Moorely?”
“No, I doubt that very much. You are a man, I suspect, that does not fall victim to spells and enchantment,” she bantered, totally aware that her heart fluttered in her chest and insisted she have at him. Perhaps, just perhaps, he did care? Perhaps, just perhaps, she could make him love her?
“You know, beauty, that you are in danger in my company … don’t you?”
“Am I? Should I be afraid?”
“Forewarned,” he answered.
“Too late for that,” she returned and had the satisfaction of noting the look that came into his deep blues. He was not unaffected by her. She knew it in that moment.
He took up her gloved fingers and put them to his lips. “Serena …”
“Hush now,” she answered. “Do not say something you might regret.”
~ Thirteen ~
LORD DANIEL PENDLETON was besotted. He knew it and was tearing himself up over it. He was the worst kind of cad. She had told him, on parting the day before, do not say something you might regret. He had wanted to tell her then how he felt. Why didn’t he? Was he afraid of what it would mean?
He had not meant for his overwhelming attraction for Serena to go so far, but she had been willing, so willin
g, and he simply assumed she was not a maiden. Wrong—he had been devastatingly wrong. Did it make a difference? No, he would have wanted her regardless.
He knew he had not behaved properly afterwards. Some demon had been driving him. She had not declared herself. She had not told him she loved him, only him, and he found he wanted to hear those words from her lips. He had thought when he told her to let Freddy down, she would have just simply said, ‘of course’. He had wanted her to say, I love you, Daniel. She hadn’t. It had driven him insane during then night, for he wasn’t sure of her. She had wanted him, yes, but now he discovered he wanted more from her than that.
In addition to his heartthrob problems, Freddy had been driving him mad. Finally Freddy had made his escape with Mr. Tenor in tow right after breakfast, saying he was going to Moorely to see Serena.
His lordship had called after him, but Freddy had only laughed and said, “Uncle … you cannot keep me holed up here any longer. If the murdering blackguard wants me, then let them try. I am armed and ready to shoot them dead.”
His nephew was right.
He could not keep him in the inn much longer, and besides that, if he didn’t send him on his way to Oxford soon, he would not be accepted for this term. Personally, his lordship was unconcerned about that. Freddy needed some growing up, and life had a more thorough style of helping that along than did school. He had written just that the day before to his sister.
Should he follow Freddy to Moorely?
A day away from her was driving him insane. He was sure of two things: she was the most fascinating woman he had ever known, and he was completely and totally in love with her. There was a pure honesty about everything she said and did. Yet how could he reconcile that with the fact that she kept Freddy forever dangling after her?
He had come to know her, and it no longer made sense to him.
What should he do?
Town! He would go to town and keep himself occupied.
* * *
It was at that very moment that Serena, deep in thought, meandered down the main road in Lymington. Her gloved hand rested on the crook of Warren’s arm, as she had literally almost bumped into him. Warren had steadied her and then put her gloved fingers on his forearm to stroll with her.
