by Byrnes, Tess
A slow smile spread across Sally’s face, and she turned her head to meet Hugh’s face, a similar expression upon his visage.
‘If I’d only known,” Sally marveled. “That is well worth a ruined reputation.”
A surprised laugh escaped Hugh, and he pulled up on one elbow to look down at Sally. A sheen of sweat on her brow made her appear to be glowing, and a blush of color blazed on her cheekbones. Her eyes met his, open and smiling.
Hugh shook his head in awe, and raised one finger to trace the line of her jaw, down her soft white throat, to lay across her chest, feeling the gentle rise and fall. The smile died out of her eyes, to be replaced by an intent look that seemed to move right through him. Hugh slowly lowered his head, and pressed his lips to hers.
“How soon can we do that again,” she giggled against his lips, raising her arms up around his torso.
Hugh chuckled, but before he could reply, they both became aware of the back door of the cottage slamming shut.
“Millie,” Sally breathed guiltily.
Hugh closed his eyes. “My horse is out front.” He sprang from the bed, rummaging on the floor for his clothes.
“And your riding jacket is in the front room,” Despite the gravity of the situation, Sally subsided into helpless giggles. “Oh, my reputation,” she sputtered.
“That’s not funny,” Hugh looked over his shoulder at her as he pulled his breeches on, and slipped his feet into his boots.
Sally sat up, reaching for her chemise. “Sorry,” she said without sounding in the least sorry.
At the sight of her naked body, creamy pale skin and full breasts, Hugh’s hands stopped buttoning his shirt. “I can’t even think with you sitting there looking like that,” he admitted.
“Then don’t think, just dress,” she ordered, pulling on her skirt and shirtwaist, and going to the mirror to straighten her hair. “I will go downstairs and keep Millie in the kitchen, and you see if you can get your jacket and slip out the front. I will say that you left your horse there as you looked about the grounds, and then planned to leave directly.”
As she put her hand on the door knob, she paused and turned back to Hugh. With his hair in disarray and his shirt unbuttoned, he looked impossibly handsome to Sally, and much younger than he did when first she saw him. She walked slowly back to him, and, putting her hands on his shoulders, she reached up and kissed him.
“I had no idea,” she said simply.
Captivated, Hugh started to pull her back to him, but she whipped her hands behind her and backed away. With a mischievous smile, she slipped through the door and few minutes later, Hugh could hear her talking in the kitchen as he returned to the sitting room, picked up his jacket and slipped out the front door.
He threw himself into the saddle, and urged Rufus into a gallop, racing away from the one place he most wanted to be.
Chapter Eleven
Sallie paused before pushing through the door into the kitchen. She had watched Hugh swing gracefully into the saddle, admiring his seat as he galloped away from the cottage. She tried unsuccessfully to erase the smile from her face as she entered the small warm kitchen.
Millie looked up from the table, where she was assembling a tea try. “Miss Sally,” she greeted her mistress. “I must say that it seemed a terrible extravagance to buy that gig, but it makes the shopping very much easier, besides saving the cost of deliveries.”
“I am glad,”
“Whose horse is that, Miss Sally,” Millie continued. “I thought to find a visitor.”
“No. It was an agent from our landlord, I think, who was just looking at the cottage for repairs.” Sallie suddenly because engrossed in perusing the various groceries upon the table. “But it looks like you forgot to buy the beef, Millie,” she accused.
Her maid gave her a dour frown. “Now, Miss Sally, you know we agreed that we would have beef on Sundays only. We can’t afford to be living like kings.”
Sally grimaced. “Well, I’m starving for some reason, Millie. Can we at least have biscuits with our tea?”
Millie filled the teapot with boiling water, and before she could answer Bridget chimed in. “We bought you a Dundee cake,” she blurted out. “For a surprise.”
Sallie smiled and took the tray from her maid. “Delightful, thank you! I’ll carry that, Millie.”
Her maid tsk-tsk-ed at her, but yielded the tray, and preceded Sally out of the kitchen, holding the door for her.
Entering the sitting room, Sallie bent to set the tray down on a small table, and her eye was immediately caught by something winking brightly by the hearth.
“What on earth can that be,” her sharp-eyed maid queried, bending to retrieve a gentleman’s tiepin, an ornate piece with a very fine diamond sparkling in the center of the setting.
“Wherever can this have come from?” Millie asked, turning the jeweled pin so that the diamond seemed to shoot with fire.
Sallie blanched, remembering pushing Hugh’s jacket off his shoulder’s in just that spot. She must have inadvertently snagged the jeweled pin in his cravat. “That must be Rupert’s,” she made a quick recover. “He is so careless!”
“I’ve not seen him with such an expensive piece before, Miss Sallie,” Millie said thoughtfully.
“I think that pin was a birthday present from our father,” Sallie lied. “Rupert rarely wears it for just such a fear of losing it.” She plucked the pin from Millie’s fingers, and put it into her pocket. “I will return it to him when we meet on our ride this morning.”
“Very well, Miss Sally,” Millie let it go, and poured out tea.
Sally accepted a cup and a piece of the almond studded cake, and moved over to stand before the fire. Even though it was approaching April, the air was still chilly in the morning. There were definitely better ways to get warm than a cup of tea and a fire, she chuckled to herself, her cheeks reddening at the memory of Hugh’s touch.
“Are you feeling quite well?” Millie broke in upon her thoughts. “You look quite flushed.”
Sally pressed one hand to her hot cheek, and gave a laugh. “I’m fine, Millie. I think I will get changed for my ride. Will you ask Miles to saddle Beauty for me?”
“I will. But first I’ll run upstairs and fetch your riding jacket. I noticed a small tear in the front pocket the last time you wore it. I’ll just quickly mend that, or it will only keep tearing.”
Sally hastily set her cup down, and hurried to the doorway. She suddenly remembered the state of her bedchamber. The bed, which Millie had straightened for her this morning, was in complete disarray. ‘I’ll bring it down to you,” she said quickly. “Save you a trip up those stairs.”
“You are such a good girl,” Millie approved. “I’ll go speak with Miles.”
Sally’s conscience smote her as she hurried up the stairs to her bedchamber. “I am definitely not a good girl,” she admitted, the traitorous smile taking over her features again. As she straightened the bedclothes, the masculine scent of the man she had held there drifted up to her. She picked up her pillow, inhaling deeply, and feeling her senses quicken.
“Mother was probably right to be worried about me,” she chortled to herself. She stripped out of her clothes, ruthlessly trying to suppress the memory of the last time she did so. Donning her riding habit, and pushing her feet into her boots, Sally put the diamond pin into the pocket of her riding skirt, and trod quickly down the narrow steps and out the front door.
She allowed Miles to throw her up onto Beauty’s back, and she wheeled the brown mare around and urged her into a canter. As they gained the main road, Sally allowed Beauty to break into a gallop, enjoying the exhilaration of the speed and the wind blowing at her. She laughed aloud, her spirits high, as she headed towards the moors. She knew that she was early for her rendezvous with her brother, so she slowed the mare down, and dropped into a walk.
What a wonderful world existed that she had never dreamed of, she thought to herself, with a smile. A vision of Hugh as he had l
ooked in her bedchamber swam into her mind. Young, handsome, disheveled from their lovemaking. She knew she was grinning foolishly, but she couldn’t seem to stop. There was certainly some advantage in being a fallen woman without a shred of reputation, she thought to herself. Perhaps she would live to be grateful to Simon Atherly after all, she reasoned. Simon Atherly. Sally felt the smile fade from her face. The thought of Simon Atherly kissing her like that, touching her so intimately made her shudder with distaste. She remembered the self-satisfied look in his eyes as he had informed her that he had a special punishment in mind for her. Sally’s lips drew into a grimace. If escaping that fate was the only good thing to come from her flight from Denham Park, it was well worth it.
Sally looked up and realized that while she had been caught up in her thoughts, Beauty had continued to follow the road, and the manicured drive they were now on denoted that she had wandered onto the main drive up to the Castle. Curious to see the edifice that Rupert had been so enamored of, Sally allowed Beauty to walk on, and when they rounded a last turn in the drive, Castle Kane loomed before her. It really was a magnificent building, the extensive grounds beautifully maintained. It stood on a rise, and Sally imagined that the view from the walkways at the top of the Castle would be spectacular. In her previous life, Sally might have imagined being mistress of such an estate, but with a slight pang she realized that while she might indulge in a dalliance with the current Earl, she was no longer an eligible partner for him.
Sally turned Beauty off of the main drive, onto a lesser path that she thought would lead towards the moors. As she did so, she became aware of the sounds of a carriage coming down the drive behind her. A few minutes later, a large travelling carriage, pulled by four black horses, moved past in a swirl of dust. It was followed a moment later by a smaller carriage laden with trunks. Sally recognized it as the equipage of someone coming to pay a lengthy visit, and wondered who would be coming to see the Earl in the middle of the season. A wry smile crossed her face as she remembered that she had someone in the Castle who could keep her informed of all the comings and goings there.
Speaking of whom, Sally remembered that she was engaged to meet her brother in a short while, and she continued on her way, all thoughts of the Earl’s visitors forgotten.
Chapter Twelve
The Earl of Kane, having exchanged his riding dress for a coat of blue superfine, biscuit-colored pantaloons and gleaming boots, stood in front of his mirror putting the final touches to his elaborate cravat. A warm smile lit his brown eyes, as he remembered the fate of the cravat he had donned earlier that morning. As a grin spread across his face, a discrete knock sounded at the door, followed by the respectful entrance into his bedchamber of his butler.
“Do not speak until I am finished,” Hugh warned, as he finished tying his cravat, and looked carefully at the results. “That will do. Now Carr,” he said, turning to this retainer. “What is it?”
“Visitors, my lord,” Carr intoned in dour voice. “A Mr. and Mrs. Riding, and their daughter have arrived from London, sir. They have a quantity of baggage with them.”
Hugh’s eyes widened in astonishment. He had completely forgotten about Clarissa Riding. When he had left London, could it only have been a few weeks ago? he had been on the verge of offering for her hand. Then he had arrived at Castle Kane, met Miss Sarah Denham and her scapegrace brother, and had not given the blonde beauty another thought. What on earth could have brought them to Scotland?
“Thank you, Carr.”
“I have put them in the blue parlour, sir. Shall I have rooms prepared?”
“Of course. There can be no notion of their returning to London today. I’ll be down to greet them immediately.”
In the Earl’s well-appointed parlour, Mr. and Mrs. Riding were having a serious dispute.
“What possible excuse can we give the Earl for descending upon him without an invitation?” Mrs. Riding demanded of her harassed husband.
“I have told you, my dear,” Hubert Riding replied. “We shall say that we are travelling to meet friends, and hoped to break our journey for a night or two. Clarissa has become tired out by all the demands of the Season, and is need of a spot of rustication. Unless I miss my bet, his lordship will invite us to stay here for a few days. I will leave it up to you and Clarissa to take it from there.”
“Papa,” the beautiful blonde girl who had been gazing out the window, said plaintively. “You make it sound as if I am trying to trap the Earl into matrimony. You must not forget that I have not made up my mind that about whom I want to marry. There are several other gentleman pursuing me as well,” she reminded him with a complacent smile.
Her father gave an exasperated sigh and ran a hand over the sparse hair on his head.
“None as plump in the pocket as the Earl of Kane, my dear,” he reminded his daughter. Hubert Riding was not a very clever man, but he knew that his best and only asset was his beautiful daughter. With his pockets pretty well to let, he had been banking on the lovely Clarissa making a brilliant match to pull him out of all his financial difficulties. When the Earl of Kane had begun paying court to his daughter, it seemed as if Mr. Riding’s dreams of a generous marriage settlement were about to come true. He had made sure that Clarissa was present at every society event that the Earl was likely to attend. He spent money he could ill afford to gown her beautifully, and it had seemed for a while that his gamble was about to pay off. Hugh McLeod had paid his daughter extravagant compliments. He had sent bouquets of flowers, and other small gifts to her. He had solicited her hand to dance at every ball. And just when Hubert Riding was starting to count on a marriage settlement that would save him from all his monetary embarrassments, the young Earl and left London, and hidden himself away in his castle in Scotland.
Determined not to let Hugh’s ardor cool before he could be brought up to scratch, Mr. Riding had caused their trunks to be packed, rented a travelling carriage, and headed north to the wilds of Scotland.
His long-suffering wife knew that her husband was as stubborn as a pig, and when he had made up his mind there would be no changing it. She only hoped that this expedient would work. Looking at her daughter, she felt optimistic. Clarissa Riding truly was a lovely girl. From the golden hair that sprang in natural curls from her broad white brow to her dainty feet, Clarissa was perfection. Her eyes were a bright and unexpected green, her straight little nose wrinkled enchantingly when she laughed. Her figure was slim, her white arms graceful, and appeared to extraordinary advantage when she played upon the harp, which she did with proficiency. She was a good, biddable girl, her mother thought. She was not bookish, a quality with gentleman abhorred, and she never contradicted. Yes, Mrs. Riding thought, there was a very good chance that they would leave Castle Kane with a ring of engagement on her daughter’s slim white finger.
“See that you don’t overplay your hand, sir,” his wife advised. “You leave everything to me and we might just pull this off.”
Mr. Riding knew his limitations, and he nodded agreement as the door opened and Hugh stepped into the room. The Earl’s blue coat was fitted his broad shoulder perfectly, the breeches emphasized his muscular legs, and he looked very handsome as he stood with one eye brow raised.
“Mr. Riding,” he said in a surprised voice. “Mrs. Riding, Miss Riding.” Hugh bowed deeply, and then walked further into the room. ‘What an unexpected pleasure to see you. I was not aware that you had the intention of leaving London so soon.”
“Your lordship,” Hubert Riding exclaimed, coming forward to take the Earl’s hand. “We were just saying what beautiful country this is. Clarissa, come and make your curtsey to the Earl. You will see that she is quite pale, but do not be alarmed, my lord. She has been trotting a little too hard and her mother and I decided to take her out of London to get the bloom back in those pretty cheeks.”
Mrs. Riding deemed it time to step in. “My dear Earl,” she said calmly. “You are looking well. It is to be hoped the clean air of the countr
y will do the same for our Clarissa.”
Hugh bowed politely, and ushered the little family over to a set of sofas. “Please sit, while I ring for refreshments.” He pulled a velvet ribbon, and a few minutes later Carr appeared in the doorway. “Tea, Carr.”
“Very good, my lord.”
Hugh turned to the lovely girl standing by the window, who was trying to look pale and interesting.
“I am sorry to hear that you have been unwell, Miss Riding,” he said, indicating a chair and waiting until she was seated to do the same. He scrutinized her closely. “You appear to be much recovered already.” He raised her hand and kissed it, saying, “As lovely as ever.”
“Your lordship,” Clarissa chided gently. “You must not say such things.” She lowered her eyes, looking demure and lovely.
“Even if it’s true?” he challenged.
Mr. and Mrs. Riding exchanged a hopeful glance, and refrained from comment. They waited with bated breath.
“Oh, sir.” Clarissa eventually produced, with a modest smile.
Hugh was aware of a mild feeling of boredom creeping over him. He tried to remember the last time he conversed with the beautiful Miss Riding, and realized that the majority of their interactions had been in the ballrooms of various parties. She certainly sparkled when dancing, laughed politely at any witticisms. He shook away these thoughts and turned to her parents.
“My housekeeper is having rooms prepared for you. You must break your journey here tonight.”
“Thank you, my lord,” Mr. Riding exclaimed. “That is most generous, indeed.” He came perilously close to winking as he continued, “But I know that you will have your own reasons for keeping us close just now, eh?”
Hugh felt his face freezing, and tried to keep his look affable. He was rescued from commenting by Rupert, who entered the room at that moment saying, “By Jove it’s a beautiful day, Hugh. I think I’ll go for a ride, if you won’t miss me for an hour or so. I say, I didn’t realize you had guests. Forgive me!” Rupert stopped, bowing politely to the Ridings.
