Dark Rider

by Iris Johansen

  “I see nothing of the sort,” Carolyn Carradine said. She took a step closer to Jared and placed her hand on his arm, smiling sweetly up at him. “Jared, be guided by me in this. We must be very careful of Josette. Let me take her back to Carradine Hall, where no breath of scandal will touch her.”

  “No scandal will touch her here.”

  She shook her head and her smile became arch. “We’ve discussed this before. You’ve been too much a rake for anyone to believe you’ve reformed. Not while you’re still unmarried.”

  “But I have a chaperon.” Josette turned to Jared. “Did you tell her about Madam Deville?”

  “Since you weren’t here, I had that privilege,” he said dryly.

  “A widow.” Josette added for good measure. “And old. Almost thirty.”

  Lady Carradine, whom Cassie judged to be over thirty, was not pleased. Her lips tightened. “I’d like to meet Madam Deville.”

  “She’s ill and not able to receive visitors,” Jared said. “She’s a fragile creature, and the journey was too much for her.”

  “Then she should not have the custody of two young girls.”

  “She’ll be better in a day or two,” Cassie said. The words tumbled from her lips unbidden. She had not meant to involve herself any more than she was forced. “Lani has a strong constitution.”

  “Lani?” Carolyn Carradine’s tone became speculative. “What a strange name.”

  “Not as lovely as ‘Carolyn,’ certainly,” Jared said with a warm smile. “You can meet Madam Deville at a later time.”

  “I’d like to meet her now. Isn’t it—” She met Jared’s gaze and accurately read the inflexibility of his expression. She surrendered at once and gave him another brilliant smile. “Of course, if she’s not well, I’ll not disturb her. But I feel it necessary to make sure dear Josette is in safe hands. I’m giving a small ball in six weeks’ time. If Madam Deville’s as resilient as you say, I should be able to meet her then. You’ll make sure she’s there?”

  “Who would dare miss one of your soirees?” Jared lifted her gloved hand to his lips. “Of course we’ll be there.”

  She lingeringly removed her hand and patted his cheek. “Splendid.” She turned and moved brusquely toward the door. “And I want to hear no more of these trousers. You must exercise some control over your ward, Jared.”

  Jared gave Josette a barbed glance. “You’re probably right. I’ve noticed she’s been somewhat out of control lately.” He followed Carolyn to the door. “Let me escort you to your carriage.”

  Josette gave an explosive sigh as the door closed behind them. She plopped down onto a chair. “Thank heaven that’s over.”

  “I’m not sure it’s over. It sounded like a postponement to me.”

  “Well, at least it was a good beginning.” She threw one leg over the arm of the chair and began to swing it. “I was afraid it would go much worse.”

  “She seems quite … determined. I’m surprised she gave up so easily.”

  “She didn’t want to cross Jared when she saw he wouldn’t bend. She wants to be a duchess.” She raised her brows when she saw Cassie’s expression. “Why are you surprised? Half the women in England want to marry Jared.”

  She shouldn’t be shocked. She had thought of Jared in connection with mistresses but not marriage. She tried to make her tone casual. “Have they known each other for a long time?”

  “Over seven years. She was married to a friend of Jared’s, Lord Marcus Carradine. When his horse threw him and he was killed, she was left with nothing but a few pounds and Carradine Hall. She turned it into a school for young ladies.”

  Cassie tried to be fair. “Very commendable.”

  “Ambitious,” Josette corrected. “She’s insinuated her way into the most powerful houses in England through their daughters. She’s now looked upon as the standard setter for decorum in the county. She’d like nothing better than to extend her influence to Prinny’s court through Jared.”

  “Prinny?” Cassie asked.

  “The king’s son, of course.”

  “I see.” She remembered the seductive smile Jared had bestowed on Carolyn Carradine. “And how does Jared feel?”

  “Well, he won’t tolerate my insulting her. I don’t know if it’s because he wants to encourage respect and keep the peace, or if he likes her.” She started to swing her other booted foot. “Is your Lani as comely as Joseph said?”

  “She’s truly lovely.”

  “Then I’m glad she wasn’t here. The gargoyle doesn’t like beautiful women around Jared, and it would have caused endless trouble.” She grinned. “It’s just as well you’re looking so plain and frumpy today. She paid little attention to you.”

  “Very fortunate,” she said with irony.

  “Oh, I didn’t mean—I told you my tongue runs away from me.”

  “At full speed,” Jared said dryly from the doorway. “What indiscretion have you committed now?”

  “Is she gone?” Josette asked.

  “Yes.” He shut the door and came toward them. “And none too soon. I felt as if I were going to trip any second on one of those lies you concocted.”

  “You’re much too clever to do that.” Josette grinned. “You did very well.”

  He bowed mockingly. “Thank you. But it would have been more clever of you to change before running in here. You know she hates those trousers.”

  Cassie frowned. “You’re not going to forbid her to wear them?”

  Josette chuckled. “Why would he do that? Jared gave me my first pair of trousers when I was four years old.”

  “Fashion is all very well, but riding sidesaddle is a death trap if a horse falls,” Jared said. “That divided skirt you wear is safer, but there’s still too much material. You’ll wear trousers, too, while you’re here.”

  She did not question the intense pleasure she received at his small defiance of Josette’s “gargoyle.”

  “Then you deceived Lady Carradine.”

  He smiled crookedly. “On any number of issues. There’s usually a price to pay for deceit. I hope it doesn’t prove too high.”

  “Well, I think everything is proceeding splendidly,” Josette said. “And the only price would be for Lady Carradine to expel me from school, and that’s no price at all.”

  His smile disappeared. “It’s a very great price, and one I won’t have you pay. Carolyn can have you ostracized from the ton with two sentences. I won’t have her say those words.”

  Josette made a disgusted snort. “You care little for your own reputation. It’s not fair to make me—”

  “Hush.” His hand gently covered her lips. “A woman is different, the consequences are heavier.” He smiled warmly as he coaxed. “Trust me in this. Have I ever done anything that wasn’t for your good?”

  “No.” She kissed his palm and pushed it aside before saying gruffly, “But I still don’t think it’s fair. I should make the decisions as to what is important to me.”

  “When you’re older.” He leaned down and brushed her forehead with his lips. “I’m not the best guide for a young girl, but I’m all you have. You don’t want me torn with guilt, do you?”

  Cassie felt an aching loneliness as she watched them. She had never seen Jared this tender before. The strong affection between the two was bright, warm, and clearly of long standing. For some strange reason it hurt her to look at them together. She quickly turned to leave. “I have to see Lani. She’s not truly ill, is she?”

  “No. I had Bradford whisk her away when I saw Carolyn’s carriage. I thought it best.”

  Josette smiled slyly. “Because the gargoyle is too vain to tolerate comely women?”

  Jared’s lips tightened. “How many times do I have to tell you not to refer to her by that term?”

  “Sorry,” she said. “But she is vain.”

  “A trifle,” Jared allowed. “At any rate, I thought it best not to complicate matters.” He glanced at Cassie. “And there was no reason to distress Lani.�
��

  “How kind.”

  He frowned. “Dammit, I’m trying to do what’s best for everyone.”

  “Then I’m sure you were right to whisk Lani away. She’s lovely enough to make anyone jealous.” She moved toward the door. “While, as Josette pointed out, I’m too plain and frumpy to present any threat at all.”

  “Plain?” he said thickly. “My God, plain!”

  She glanced over her shoulder and inhaled sharply as she saw his expression. She quickly tore her gaze away and encountered Josette’s speculative stare. The girl was too shrewd not to realize the implication in that single expletive. “I have to see Lani,” she repeated in a muffled voice as she jerked open the door.

  “May I go?” Josette asked. “You promised to introduce me.”

  “Not now.” She needed to get away from both of them. “Later.” She slammed the door behind them and fled down the corridor.

  “Cassie.” Jared was beside her. “What the devil is wrong?”

  She didn’t look at him. “What could be wrong? Other than that I seem to be getting deeper and deeper into a web of lies.”

  “You could have told Carolyn the truth.”

  “I didn’t want to hurt Josette.”

  “Neither do I. And I also didn’t want you hurt. Your presence here could be looked upon as improper. It seemed to be the way to serve both purposes.”

  “Proper?” She looked at him in disbelief. “Propriety is the least of my concerns. You know why I’m here. What do I care what any of your friends think of me?”

  “I care,” he said harshly. “And I hate it. I don’t know why I care, but I do. Do you think I like being as strict and mincing as some pruny old dowager?”

  She looked at him, shaken. “I won’t let that—” Then the full impact of his words hit home, and she suddenly started to laugh.

  He scowled. “I don’t see anything amusing.”

  “I was just picturing you mincing into a ballroom.” She shook her head. “I really don’t think you’re capable of ‘mincing,’ Jared.”

  “Lord, I hope not.” He smiled grudgingly. “Perhaps a poor choice of words.” He moved to take advantage of her softening. “Helping Josette will do you no harm. Will you continue the charade?”

  She thought about it. “If it doesn’t prove too difficult.” She frowned. “This ball you promised to attend is—”

  “More than a month away,” he finished. “Who knows what will happen in a month? If you’re still here, we’ll just have to think of some reason to avoid it.”

  If she was still here.

  The phrase gave her a feeling of desolation. Foolishness. If she was not here, she would either be on her way to France to Papa, or they would both be on a ship bound for Hawaii. Either journey should bring her only satisfaction.

  She nodded. “Very well, if Lani agrees.”

  “I don’t believe there will be any difficulty with Lani.” He hesitated. “Why do you look like that? What’s wrong?”

  Intimacy. Laughter. Involvement. All the things she had avoided on the ship. All of this was very wrong, and she suddenly felt helpless to keep the bombardment at bay. “Nothing,” she muttered.

  She turned and hastened away from him.

  Cassie took Josette to the library to meet Lani before they went riding the next day.

  “The gargoyle mustn’t ever see you,” Josette said as soon as she caught sight of Lani. She emphatically shook her head. “Not even a glimpse from a mile away.”

  “Gargoyle?” Lani asked.

  “Lady Carradine.”

  “Oh, yes, Cassie has told me about her,” she said. “Surely to refer to her as ‘gargoyle’ is a little cruel?”

  “Actually, it’s cruel to gargoyles.” Josette paused and then said awkwardly, “Cassie said you’d agreed to help me. I … thank you.”

  Lani chuckled. “Why should I not help you when all it means is not running to this unpleasant person and telling her you had lied? It’s true that I prefer to be honest, but this is no sin.”

  “We’re going riding,” Cassie said. “Will you come with us, Lani?”

  Lani shook her head. “I’ll stay here by the fire. It’s too cold for me.”

  “It’s only fall,” Josette said. “It’s not cold at all. The snows won’t come for another two months.”

  “Snow?” Lani shuddered. “I’ve read about this snow, and I think it’s best viewed from a window. Though Cassie remembers it with pleasure.”

  “It doesn’t snow on your island?” Josette asked. “How odd.”

  “Not odd at all. It’s snow that’s against nature.” Lani smiled. “Someday you must come and see how beautiful it is in our land.”

  “Maybe,” Josette replied. “But Cassie says they don’t have wonderful horses as we do here.”

  “A serious fault, I agree,” Lani ceded solemnly. “Much greater than your abundance of snow.”

  “Are you laughing at me?”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t like people who laugh—” Josette stopped and then said grudgingly, “But I owe you gratitude for helping me with the gargoyle. You may laugh at me, if you like.”

  “Only with kindness,” Lani said gently. “Laughter is a balm for the soul. It would be an arid world without it.”

  “Those silly girls at school laugh at me, and they don’t mean it kindly.” She raised her chin. “But I pay no attention to them.”

  “Only with kindness,” Lani repeated, meeting her gaze. “I promise.”

  Josette stared at her for a long moment. “You mean it?”

  “Lani always means what she says,” Cassie said.

  A sudden mischievous smile lit Josette’s face. “Then I guess I’ll not put cockroaches in her soup as I do those ninnies.” She waved her hand airily. “It’s too much trouble catching them, anyway.”

  “Much too much trouble,” Lani said. “But you have imagination. Cockroaches in the soup are far more disgusting than the frog Cassie put in my bed when I first came to the cottage.”

  Cassie laughed. “I was younger than Josette.”

  Lani exchanged a smiling glance with her. “But we had our own gargoyle.”

  “Did you?” Josette asked, curious. “Who?”

  Lani waved a hand. “Cassie will tell you about her. Run along and have your ride.”

  Cassie moved toward the door but Josette hesitated. “I’d like … You’re not like those other—” She stopped and then said in a rush, “Come with us.”

  Lani was touched. The girl was clearly so accustomed to battling that to accept an adult readily was nearly impossible for her. Should she go? No, she would be in the way of the two girls getting to know each other. Cassie was going to find it very difficult here, and if she made a friend of Josette, it could only be for the best. “Another time,” Lani said. “But you’re welcome to come to me here whenever you wish.”

  Josette nodded jerkily and strode toward the door.

  Lani moved toward the window and watched them as they crossed the courtyard. They were both talking animatedly, Josette gesturing, Cassie nodding. Lani felt a wave of loneliness. She had a sudden urge to open the window and call out to them to wait, that she had changed her mind. Books were always friends, but she needed human companionship in this grim fortress.

  She did not call.

  She turned away from the window and picked up the book she had laid down when Cassie and Josette had come in to the library. They would be better off without her, and she needed time to herself to call up memories of Charles and home. That she found those memories slipping away frightened her. In this cold, chilly land it was difficult even to think of Charles and their life together. If France was like this England, no wonder Charles had been so happy after his flight.

  Yet he had still clung to his foreign ways and traditions and had never been able to embrace fully the island ways. Why? She understood his reluctance even less now than she had before.

  Why was she brooding about things she
had accepted years ago? Think of the good times. Charles’s sweetness to her, his need of her.

  “May I come in?”

  She turned to see Bradford standing in the doorway, smiling at her. That almost boyish smile was always so surprising in his lined, craggy face.

  She should send him away. She had been about to refresh her memories of—

  “Please?” he coaxed. “I’m lonely.”

  It was a lonely day in a lonely land. She should not condemn herself for seeking to ease that loneliness for them both.

  “Come in.” She settled herself in her chair before the fire and opened her book. “But don’t expect to be entertained. This book is much too interesting for me to put down.”

  “Cassie!” Josette’s shout echoed off the hall rafters.

  “I’m in the library with Lani,” Cassie called.

  “Well, both of you come and meet Rose.”

  “Rose?” Cassie exchanged glances with Lani.

  Lani shrugged and stood. “Coming.”

  The thin woman standing beside Josette was nearing forty, with a lovely fair complexion and a pleasant expression. She beamed as Cassie and Lani approached. “Ah, lovely. What a pleasure you’ll be to dress.” She bustled toward the staircase. “Now, come along to Josette’s room. I must get your measurements.”

  Neither Lani nor Cassie moved.

  Rose turned to Josette. “They don’t trust me. Tell them how splendid I’ll make them.” She proceeded up the steps.

  “Rose?” Cassie asked Josette.

  “Rose Winthrop. She’s the finest seamstress in Cornwall. She made me my first pair of trousers.” She made a face. “She was disapproving, but Jared convinced her.”

  “She’s going to make me a pair of trousers?” Cassie asked.

  “And a few gowns.”

  “I don’t need any gowns.”

  “Jared thinks you do, and after seeing you last night at dinner, I agree.”

  “I’ll take the trousers, but I—”

  “It will do no harm to accept a few gowns,” Lani interrupted. “I’m growing weary of seeing you in those garments Clara chose for you.”

  “And what if someone sees you when they drop in to visit Jared?” Josette asked. “They would never believe Jared would permit a kinswoman to receive guests in those hideous garments. They’re terribly out of fashion, and he’s far too knowledgeable about females’ wardrobe.”