by Claudy Conn
He lost Freddy’s direction for a time, and then made a discovery that wrenched a few curses from his throat.
He found not only Freddy’s horse, but another as well, and one he recognized immediately, Serena’s mare. What the devil was going on?
This was not acceptable. He had to put an end to this absurdity.
Serena, what are you doing, Serena? How could she meet alone with Freddy. It could not mean … no, she had been an innocent. She would not.
She was his and no other’s, and yet … what was she doing here with Freddy?
He had hoped that Serena loved him as he loved her, and here she was frolicking about in the woods with his nephew! Jealousy, incredulity, and irritation worked itself into a frenzy that made a stew in his head as he waited for them to return to their horses.
A sound in the woods caught his attention, and he led his horse off. A bit further down the road he saw two men before they split up and rode off in different directions. It was too dark for him to make out their faces, and besides that he was fairly certain they had the hoods of their cloaks pulled low over their heads. What the hell was going on, and did it have something to do with Serena and Freddy being here? He did not believe in that kind of coincidence.
When he got back to the place where Serena and Freddy had left their horses, the animals were gone, and there was no sign of his nephew and Serena.
He hurriedly made his way to the main pike just in time to see Freddy embracing Serena, and as best as he could see, it appeared as though they were kissing one another. His heart stopped. His mind burned as lava poured into it. Logic and good sense were lost in the heat, and he sat his horse and glared because, for that moment, he could not speak.
Serena was the first to see him and exclaimed in worried accents, “My lord.”
He saw a look come over her face that gave further proof of her guilt.
“Uncle Danny,” Freddy said in some surprise.
“What the deuce do you two think you are doing?” he demanded in a total fury of emotions.
“What do you mean?” Freddy frowned and appeared to be ready to take offense.
“Answer the question! How dare you take Miss Moorely into your arms, here on the open road!”
“Uncle Danny!” clearly Freddy was shocked. “What are you talking about?”
“When I saw you steal out of the stables, Frederick, I rather thought you were up to mischief, which in itself is naught, but under the circumstances is inexcusable. I did not think, however, that you were meeting Miss Moorely clandestinely, thus putting yourself and her into considerable danger,” his lordship snapped.
Serena’s lower lip quivered. He saw it, and he saw her eyes wide with shock. Why should she be shocked? And those eyes, those dark eyes were suddenly wet. What the devil was that?
She said, “Hold just a moment. You, my lord, are not behaving like the gentleman I have always known you to be. This was not, as you think, a clandestine romantic meeting. However, I take leave to tell you that you are too quick to judge something you know nothing about.”
“Did you agree to meet my nephew in this secretive fashion, Miss Moorely?” He snapped the question at her.
“I was the one who asked him to meet me, my lord,” she said, her chin well up.
Something about her, the honesty with which she replied, softened him, and he frowned but said, “Just so, then?”
“You, my lord, are insufferable,” she answered, and he did, in fact, see a tear quietly roll down her lovely cheek. She turned her mare away from him.
His nephew eyed him and said, “Well, I mean to see Serena home, Uncle. You, I think, probably should leave her be. You are out in this.”
His lordship’s temper had subsided, and good sense had begun to make its way through his jumbled brain. There was more here than actually met the eye.
~ Eighteen ~
HIS LORDSHIP COULD not remember ever having experienced the degree of anger that had just surged through him. When he saw Freddy leaning in to embrace Serena, it was as though his mind actually crumbled and took his heart along with it.
His reaction was not disproportionate with the situation. He had been jealous. Insanely jealous and furious with his nephew as well as with Serena, who should not have been in such a situation.
Upon reflection he immediately saw that it was probably innocent, and yet, just what the bloody hell were they doing at such an early hour, and did it have something to do with the two men he had seen on the open road?
He knew his reaction was caused by a primal desire to keep Serena for himself. He had no right, for he had not declared himself, and still, he felt she was his, only his.
Reason became convoluted with emotion. Good sense was wiped away by anger. Why wouldn’t she confide in him? Why had she gone to Freddy?
He had totally lost his control, and off he galloped at a thunderous pace to cut them off and stop them from getting any further. He had more to say.
He passed his nephew, he passed Serena, just a bit ahead of Freddy, and in a whirl of fury and dust he blocked their path.
Both slowed their horses, although Serena was forced to swerve a bit to the right, whereupon she attempted to ride past him. He was a determined and a bold man. He moved to block her once again, pulled her reins into his hands, and brought her to a halt.
Although she made no move to stop him from taking control of her reins, she regarded him coldly.
Freddy, who was looking more than a little perplexed at his uncle’s bizarre behavior, said in shocked accents, “Uncle?”
She did, however, demand, “How dare you? I don’t know who you think you are, but I take leave to tell you that I think you are a horrid man. Kindly release my reins and get out of my way!”
He saw her dark eyes glint with fury, and oddly enough he found himself calming down. His answer was cool but polite. “Yes, I can see that you think badly of me, and I do beg your pardon. My anxiety over the safety of my nephew this morning when I discovered he had broken his promise to me and snuck off clouded my judgment. When I then saw that you too could have been in some danger of being shot, well, indeed, I allowed my temper to get the better of me. Again, Miss Moorely, Serena … please forgive me and explain what is going on.”
He saw her soften. Her body language and her eyes gave her away, and he was again struck by the knowledge that she was a kind-hearted girl ready to see the good in people, always ready to be reasonable. She said, “Well, perhaps we were wrong to cause you so much concern, and I was wrong to ask Freddy to meet me. I had not realized he made a promise to you … at any rate, I take the blame. It was all my fault.”
“Will you trust me enough to tell me why—what is going on, love?”
Love? Would that he meant it. She could not meet his gaze, “I … I am not ready to tell you, and I don’t wish to lie to you.”
Damn but he loved her. Honorable little chit. “Come now, trust me, Serena.” He could see that both his nephew and Serena could not meet his gaze. Just what were these two up to that they felt they couldn’t confide in him? Why all the secrecy?
“Sorry, Uncle, but I don’t think we should be standing about on the open road. I suggest we see Serena home.”
“Ah, am I now to be allowed to accompany you two?” He smiled, now determined to find out what they were up to, one way or another. “Thank you.”
Serena eyed Freddy, and because her face gave so much away, he could see she was torn with indecision. One of them was bound to give over and confide in him. He was sure of it, but which one?
* * *
It was early afternoon of the same day that Davis announced the Reverend Eustace at the library door.
The squire was out for a visit to a neighboring friend, and Serena was curled upon the sofa with a collection of Byron’s narrative poems. She looked up from “Don Juan” and felt a certain trepidation when she met Eustace’s gaze. Did he know? Had he seen her and Freddy at the tomb?
Eustace inclined h
is head as he entered, and she unfurled to sit straight up on the sofa and greet him politely. He bent over her extended fingers, and his eyes were warm with something she recognized as admiration. She breathed a sigh of relief. He showed no sign of knowing.
“Exquisite,” he said softly. “When I first came in you looked like a veritable kitten, all soft and lovely.”
Something about him was different, though she could not say what. She smiled a welcome and said, “Eustace, as always, so gallant.” She waved him to the leather-bound wing chair opposite her and was surprised when he sat instead on the sofa by her side.
He had not yet released her hand, and she gently pulled, but even so, he did not release it. She arched a brow but felt a tremor of nerves shake her.
“Serena, you must know why I am here,” he said on a low note.
“Must I?” she returned cautiously.
“Indeed, I believe I have made it obvious. I have displayed my decided partiality for your company in the hopes that you might give me a sign.”
Serena almost sighed with relief. He didn’t know; this was about a proposal. She rushed in to stop him. “Eustace … do not—”
He cut her off. “I must. I believe our friendship has grown to the point where I might have a hope that you hold me in the esteem with which I hold you.”
“Eustace, you are too good, but I … well …” She did not wish to hurt him but had to nip this. “I don’t wish to leave my uncle.”
“Serena, I don’t mean to whisk you away to a foreign land,” he said and chuckled. “Your concern for your uncle does you credit. I have been hopeful, however, that I might have won a place in your heart. There will be time enough—”
She cut him off again. “No, stop, Eustace … don’t say anymore. I can’t.”
His lips tightened. “’Tis Pendleton, isn’t it? He has turned your head. I knew it yesterday when I saw the way you looked at him.”
“Don’t be absurd,” she answered but did not meet his eye.
“I wasn’t worried about the boy. I knew you were just humoring him, and Warren … well, Warren needs to make a marriage of convenience. Thus, I took my time with you …” He stopped himself then as he feverishly kissed her fingers.
She pulled them away roughly, and he exclaimed, “Serena. Don’t you see? He won’t marry you. He will only rake your heart and leave it broken.”
The door opened, and Davis announced, “Lord Daniel Pendleton.”
Serena saw his lordship’s eyes flicker from the reverend to her. He had seen her pull her hand out of Eustace’s hold. Her cheeks felt as though they were on fire. Her eyes opened wide, for as Eustace got to his feet his entire face looked to be on fire.
“My lord,” Serena greeted him gratefully. “What a pleasant surprise.”
“I am sorry,” said his lordship, a wicked grin lighting his face. “Do I interrupt?”
She heard the tease in his voice and wanted suddenly to stomp on his foot. She said instead as calmly as she could muster, “No, indeed, my uncle is away this afternoon, and Eustace was just leaving.” She turned to the reverend, clearly dismissing him. “In fact, I really should not be receiving gentlemen visitors in his absence.”
“Indeed,” his lordship agreed with an inclination of his head. “’Tis why I have your man at my horse’s head. I came in the curricle in the hopes you might take a little drive with me. It is a remarkably fine day, and I thought you might enjoy the last of our warm fall afternoons.”
Serena was on her feet. “Lovely, yes I would like that very much.” She turned and extended her hand to Eustace with a polite dismissal on her face. “Reverend.” Then back to his lordship, her face bright with pleasure, she said, “I will fetch my cloak and be back in a moment.”
The two men watched her leave before they faced one another. Eustace broke the contact by picking up his hat and gloves from the sideboard table as he started for the door. He turned suddenly and said on a hard note, “In the end, she will be mine.”
“Indeed,” his lordship said, his lip curling. “I rather think the lady has a mind of her own.”
“You are turning her head with attentions. You are leading her on, but eventually, you will tire of the sport and she will turn to me. I can wait. She is worth waiting for.”
“Very calculating,” his lordship said contemptuously. “I did not realize a man of the cloth could wield matters on such a level.”
“I am both reverend and a man, my lord. You would do well to remember that.”
“Are you, indeed,” his lordship challenged. He didn’t like the reverend and took no pains to hide this.
Eustace turned then sharply and left his lordship to await Serena’s return, and his lordship frowned, for Eustace had the look of a ‘driven’ man. Such a man could be dangerous …
* * *
Serena discovered that his lordship had not exaggerated. The afternoon was beautifully warm, the sky clear and blue. The sun lit on autumn leaves, and the color of the leaves was stunning. Everywhere red, yellow, and bronze met the eye as she stared up.
“The color is at a peak now … lovely,” she said as she looked and sighed with pleasure. She eyed him and changed the subject abruptly. “I should like to ask you about Eustace.”
“Don’t marry the fellow,” his lordship answered immediately. “It would be doomed to failure.”
She put up her chin. “That is not what I was going to ask. I don’t need advice regarding my choice of husband. I will follow my heart when I make such a choice.”
He regarded her, and his voice was low and tinged with impatience or something else, she could not quite tell, as he said, “Do you mean to marry for love?”
“I do.”
“Warren?”
“I don’t love Warren—you know that,” she answered, eying him sideways. What was this?
“And besides that, Warren is penniless and, though gentry, holds no title.”
“Why do you think that would matter to me?” She was irritated with him and his constant innuendos. “You have a poor opinion of me, and I don’t know why that is.”
“Indeed, I do not. Serena, you are a mystery to me … I am never sure what to think. You say one thing, and indeed, I find myself believing it, and then you throw me into confusion with your actions.”
“My actions?” She was astounded. “What can you mean?”
“I mean that you keep a bevy of suitors at your beck and call—” he started.
She cut him off. This was certainly not what she had expected from him on this ride. Truth be told, she had assumed Freddy had not told him why they had gone into the woods earlier that morning and that he meant to get it out of her. She was, in fact, ready to divulge it all, for the entire escapade worried her. Instead, he had gotten her into a state of frenzy and irritation. “If you meant for me to enjoy this drive, you are doing a poor job of it.”
He laughed, but she could hear no pleasure in the sound. He said, “Am I? Do not misunderstand me. I am familiar with a young maid’s predicament. She is raised to make the best match she can. Wealth, title … coming first and then perhaps affection if she is lucky.”
“I was not raised to give such considerations much weight,” she answered simply.
“How can that be? Your uncle loves you. He would want the best for you …” he answered on a frown.
She laughed. “You have no notion what my uncle thinks is the best for me.”
“Do I not? Then tell me, if that is true, and you are following your heart … why give yourself to me and then chase after my nephew still?”
She was stunned. She could not believe he had just said such a thing. Whatever made him think that she chased after Freddy? It was outrageous. She calmed herself. Was he jealous of the time she spent with Freddy? She hoped he was jealous and unwisely said, “As to your nephew, can’t you see the truth of it? Freddy is a bubble of zest and good fun, and I quite adore him—”
He cut her off with an oath, stopped the curricl
e, and turned on her, his face drawn in anger, “You adore him? How much do you adore him, Serena?”
She was again astounded by the heat behind his words. Then suddenly he reached for her and crushed her in his strong arms as his lips murmured into her mouth, “Like this, my love? Do you adore him enough for this …” His mouth took hers, and his tongue danced against the velvet of hers. Some moments later, she was still reeling from the passion of his kiss, the extreme ardor of her response. He came away from her, bending his head back to look into her eyes and asked, “Like that, Serena, do you love him like that?” He took her chin and said, “Because if not, you must let him go.”
She was confused by him, by his actions. What was he doing? Why didn’t he understand? She answered hesitantly, “I have told you over and over again and in so many words, I have asked Freddy to return to school and—”
“And I believe you mean to marry him before that happens,” he answered sharply.
She was suddenly outraged with him. She had done nothing to give him such an opinion of her. She snapped, “Believe what you like, as I do that you made love to me to pry me away from your nephew.” A catch in her throat made her turn her face away. She wouldn’t allow him to see her cry.
“Blister it, yes, I thought that was what I was doing—” he started.
“Take me home, at once,” she said, and this time it was all she could do to prevent the sob from escaping. “You are a cad, and I am a fool.” Her eyes narrowed. Freddy had already agreed to return to school, but she was angry, so angry, and she lashed out without thinking. “Perhaps I shall have your nephew after all!”
“Doxy!” he seethed.
“Am I? Let’s see if you are right. You should know, I am certain you have had any number of them,” she answered, her eyes ablaze.
“You, my beauty were the best of them all, and I mean to tell my nephew immediately just how good your innocent body was beneath me. We’ll see if he wants you after that.”
