“I daresay we are. After all, it is necessary.”
He rested a hand on the newel post and grinned at her parting thrust. Then he went to the library and poured himself a balloon of brandy. He wanted to go over this evening with a fine-toothed comb before he slept on it, although he was dashed if he knew why. He supposed he needed to understand what was occurring on that property a few miles down the road. Perhaps when he returned from London, he might persuade Madeline into telling him more.
*
In her bedchamber,Maddie rose from removing her stockings. She took off the pendant at her throat and her earrings, placing them in the jewel box on the dresser.
Jane helped remove her gown.
“Did you have a pleasant evening, milady?” she asked as she carefully arranged the fragile material over a chair and returned to untie Maddie’s stays.
“I did. It was good to be amongst bright company again.”
She hadn’t expected to enjoy it so much. An evening with her uncle portended a solemn affair. But she had sung for the first time in ages. How good it felt to laugh. She feared she’d forgotten how. Lord Montford made her laugh. Just his presence lightened the air around her. She stepped out of her petticoat. When their hands touched briefly during the card game, a spike of electricity lifted her gaze to his. His eyes searched hers for a moment before he continued the game. She liked him too much. How foolish. She must not make him the subject of her dreams. Nor should her morning rides take her closer to his estate with the hope of a glimpse of him. She had seen him earlier today, riding with a dog at his heels. How at ease he was in the saddle. She kept well behind a screen of bushes, afraid he might think she lurked for a sight of him. Which, of course, was true.
“My lady?” Jane had removed her shift while she was barely aware of it and now held up the nightgown.
“Thank you, Jane,” she said, smoothing it down. “You may go to bed. I will brush my hair myself.”
The door closed. Maddie went to the window and looked out at the dark night. The wind had washed the sky clean. The moon shone down and alighted on three figures slipping through the grounds. She shivered in her nightgown and, rubbing her arms, stepped back behind the curtain. Her uncle’s strange visitors were back again. They’d been gone for over a week, making her believe they would never return. And here they were.
She washed her face in the washbasin and cleaned her teeth, then sat before the mirror to brush her long locks. One night, she would creep to the top of the stairs and try to hear what was said. Tonight, she only wanted to think about the evening. And how wonderful it had been to be in society again, and have Lord Montford’s blue eyes smile into hers from across the table.
Chapter Four
Before he leftfor London, Hart took his gelding, Blaze, for some much needed exercise, Rasputin running behind, tongue lolling. He spied Madeline riding up a hill about half a mile away. Thinking it was very early for her to be out, Hart urged Blaze into a canter, jumped the small stream which divided their properties, and rode after her.
Reaching the top of the hill, he again caught sight of her, galloping over a long, straight stretch of ground. He had the impression she wanted to keep going, riding away into the early morning light. She rode skillfully, unconstrained by both her cumbersome dark gray riding habit and the sidesaddle. Impressed, he spurred Blaze into a gallop to catch up with her. His more powerful horse quickly reached her mare. She looked elegant in the riding habit, but he couldn’t help wishing she wore the breeches. Would he see her in them again? An erotic image flashed into his mind, which made him laugh and shake his head.
She saw him, her surprise turning to pleasure. Reining Pearl in, they slowed their horses to a walk. “Good morning, Lord Montford. Weren’t you traveling to London today?”
“Shortly. After I’ve given Blaze some exercise.” He gestured to the lush green landscape, breathing in the smell of pine and oak and damp earth, which evoked childhood memories. “I will miss this while in the city.”
She raised her slender, dark eyebrows. “You enjoy the country?”
“I grew up in the country.” He wondered if that was censure he detected in her voice.
“There’s always Rotten Row.”
“Doesn’t really compare, does it?”
Her lips lifted in a smile. “I imagine not. I’ve never been there.”
“Then you must visit it when in London.”
She ducked her head. “I will, one day.”
“Do you often gallop that mare of yours?” He admired how at ease she seemed on the gray.
“Pearl enjoys a gallop.” She frowned. “You’re not about to tell me I should be accompanied by a groom, are you?”
He faked alarm with a rise of his eyebrows. “I wouldn’t dare.”
A hint of a smile lifted her lips. “I suspect you were about to do precisely that.”
“I knew you would take me to task, and it’s too delightful a morning to argue, is it not?”
“Then I am glad you saw the sense of it,” she said.