Chapter 6
The stablemaster’s eyebrows hitched at Colin’s request. “Major is a fine animal, my lord, but he can be difficult to control at times.” The man chuckled. “Except by His Grace, that is. The two seem to be bonded at the hip.”
Colin tugged on his riding gloves. “I assure you I’m an accomplished rider.
In fact, I used to go riding with His Grace when he was a groom on my father’s estate.
” Pride kept Colin from admitting that practically every time the two raced or had any type of contest, Drake would win.
Not to mention the few times Colin won were by the slimmest of margins, leaving him to suspect Drake had thrown the race.
To that day, it galled him. “And it was Her Grace who suggested I take Major.”
The stablemaster nodded and began saddling the beautiful white gelding.
“We’ll need three more readied. One for Mr. Grey, and one each for Lady Miranda and Miss Weatherby.”
The man stopped tightening the girth fastening the saddle and peered up at Colin. “Yes, sir. His Grace already sent word.” He pulled off his hat and scratched his head. “I’m a little worried about Miss Weatherby. She took a terrible fall the last time she was here.”
“Inviting her wasn’t my idea. But perhaps the gentlest mare you have would be prudent.”
The man grinned. “Already done. I’ll give her Dolly. She wouldn’t run if the stables were on fire.”
Colin barked a laugh. “Perfect. And for Lady Miranda, what would you suggest?” He’d hoped the stablemaster would recommend a spirited animal, just to annoy the red-headed nuisance when he and Lady Miranda left her and Mr. Grey far behind.
“Let me see.” The man rubbed his chin. “If I recall, she rode Ginger the last time without any trouble, but she just foaled. Perhaps Mercy. She’s spirited, but not as much as Buttercup. Besides, His Grace gave strict orders no one other than Her Grace should ride him.”
Footsteps and feminine laughter sounded behind him, and he turned to find Mr. Grey escorting both Lady Miranda and Miss Weatherby toward the stables.
Lady Miranda sent him a sweet smile. “I tried to explain to Mr. Grey the horses would be brought to the house, but he insisted we come and join you.”
Miss Weatherby gazed around, ignoring him.
The stablemaster craned his neck and stared at Mr. Grey. “Well, it’s probably for the best. Not knowing your experience, I was going to saddle Brownie for you, but, considering the size of you, I best give you Hero.” He pointed to an enormous black beast of a horse.
While a groom assisted the stablemaster in preparing the horses, Colin did his best to initiate conversation. “Lady Miranda, your father’s seat is in Dorset as well, correct?”
Although she was lovely, with her thick chestnut hair and warm brown eyes, when she smiled at him, Colin felt . . . nothing. No stir of excitement, or intrigue, or—his gaze flicked to Miss Weatherby—annoyance.
“It is, sir. East of here near Wimborne.”
If he became earnest about courting her, the proximity of their family estates was advantageous. Not to mention the fact that she was accustomed to this part of the country and would easily adapt to a new home.
“I had the pleasure of speaking with your brother earlier yesterday.”
“About one of his and Bea’s inventions, no doubt.” Lady Miranda gave a little laugh. “I hope he didn’t bore you to tears about some silly contraption he and Bea were concocting.”
“Not at all.” Colin reassessed her. A good sense of humor. Attractive. Poised. Unlike . . .
Speaking, or rather thinking, of the red-headed nuisance, Miss Weatherby forced herself into the conversation. “Bea seemed a little preoccupied yesterday. Is she feeling well?”
“I expect it’s simple exhaustion,” Lady Miranda said, then turned her attention back to Colin. “Laurence and Bea’s son, Nicolas, was just born a little over a month ago. Bea insists on providing much of the child’s care herself.”
“Perhaps that’s where my sister got the idea, as Honoria seems to have followed suit. Odd notion not using a nurse.”
“Oh, they have a nurse, but considering they’ve had four daughters and Nicki is their only son and Laurence’s heir, well, they’re especially vigilant regarding his care.”
For several reasons, Colin understood that. “I must congratulate your brother, then. He must be relieved.”
Once more, Miss Weatherby added her unwanted opinion. “As if girls are nothing—useless, to be forgotten as soon as a boy is born.”
“Hear, hear, Miss Weatherby,” Mr. Grey said soto voce.
Colin cast a glance at Grey then turned toward Miss Weatherby.
Taut frustration banded his lungs, and his rising ire matched the lift of his eyebrows.
“No one implied girls are useless or forgotten. I merely said Lord Montgomery must be relieved to have an heir. Any man with a title understands the responsibility placed upon him to continue the line.”
Mr. Grey hitched a brow in return. “Which explains my ignorance, no doubt.” Before Colin could respond and explain he meant no disrespect, Grey put the whole matter to rest. “Here come our horses. Shall we, Miss Weatherby?”
Colin held out his hand as Lady Miranda stepped onto the mounting block, but from the corner of his eye, he watched Mr. Grey perform the same action for Miss Weatherby, and his stomach tightened.
Anne slipped her hand into Mr. Grey’s, waiting for the electric sensation to slip up her arm. But like the night before, when he escorted her to supper, she felt nothing other than the pressure of warm fingers.
At least she’d begun to get used to his enormous size. She settled into the saddle of a horse the groom called Dolly, while Mr. Grey mounted the huge black horse named Hero.
“I believe that’s the horse Mr. Pratt rode during the hunt four years ago,” Miranda said, bringing up that horrible event again.
Anne would have words with her later.
Especially when she continued. “You weren’t the only one to be injured, Anne. I believe Mr. Pratt tumbled off and twisted his ankle when jumping the same group of fallen trees. So perhaps you should be careful on that black beast, Mr. Grey.”
“I think I can manage, my lady.”
A peculiar uptilt crossed Mr. Grey’s lips as he addressed Miranda, but Anne had little time to ponder what it meant when Mr. Grey turned his attention back to her.
“Have you known Lady Miranda long, Miss Weatherby?”
Had Miranda captured the notice of every single man in attendance?
Still, Anne pasted on a smile as she answered, “Ages, sir. Lady Miranda was out several years when I made my debut.” As the only two unmarried women left in the League—unless she counted Mrs. Merrick and the Countess Gryffin, who were both widows—Anne took a little self-serving pride knowing she was two years younger than Miranda.
“And Lord Manning? Is he considering remarrying?”
“As I’ve only met him yesterday, I couldn’t say. But if his comment to Lady Miranda about Lord Montgomery’s son is any indication, one would presume he must remarry at some point. Whether he is actively seeking a bride is anyone’s guess.”
A muscle in Mr. Grey’s jaw twitched. “In your opinion, is he a good man?”
What was Mr. Grey’s fascination with Lord Grump? “As I stated, I’ve only just met him. However, personally, I find him most disagreeable.”
As if to prove her point, Lord Grump maneuvered his horse ahead of them, urging the mount forward at a brisk trot with Miranda beside him. Distance between the two pairs of riders grew.
“Perhaps use your crop, Miss Weatherby,” Mr. Grey said. “We’re falling behind.”
Anne hated using the crop, but Mr. Grey was right.
And the kick she gave Dolly with the heel of her riding boot did nothing to spur the mare faster.
Giving a little tap to Dolly’s hindquarters, she added a bit of bribery as incentive.
“Please, Dolly. I’ll see that you get a nice apple, or even some sugar cubes. ”
Impervious to coercion, Dolly continued to plod along. Even snails passed by in a blur.
Mr. Grey pulled back on the reins of his monstrous black horse. “Whoa, Hero. We can’t leave Miss Weatherby and Dolly behind.” Tension filled his voice, and Anne wasn’t sure if it was due to frustration with their glacial speed or something else.
Soon, Miranda and Lord High-and-Mighty rounded a group of trees and disappeared from sight. “We’re terrible chaperones,” she said.
Mr. Grey gave her a gentle smile. “We could say the same about them. I wonder when they will realize they’ve lost us. I’m sorry to have placed you in such a position.”
For a gaming hell owner, Mr. Grey’s manners and consideration were impeccable, and his concern for her reputation admirable. It’s more than she could say for Lord Manning, who had left them behind without a thought.
“If you wish to ride ahead and alert them that my horse is being uncooperative, please do, sir.”
Lips pressed in a tight line and attention turned in the direction of their companions, Mr. Grey obviously considered it. “No. I can’t in good conscience leave you alone. What if something happens with your horse?”
Anne wanted to scream. She wasn’t still in leading strings, or even Eleanor and Indira’s age.
“I vow on my life that I will not attempt anything foolish. However, if you don’t trust me, I shall remain here and wait patiently for your return.
” It was ridiculous, of course. If Mr. Grey rode ahead and she followed, albeit plodding sluggishly along, they would all be reunited much sooner.
“Or you and I could return to the house without them.” She really had no desire to be out riding anyway, especially around Lord Manning. Who had left them in his dust!
Poor Mr. Grey seemed torn, his head swiveling back and forth from her to where Lord Grump and Miranda had disappeared. “Your brother will have my head if I leave you alone.”
Anne laughed at the very idea. “Mr. Grey. If you haven’t noticed, you intimidate everyone. I doubt my brother will say more than two words of reprimand, and those would be directed at me, not you. Besides”—a wicked grin formed—“what Andrew doesn’t know won’t hurt him—or us.”
“Odd as it may seem, although I own a gaming hell, I’m not much of a gambling man. However, I’d wager one night’s profits from The Knave that you were a handful growing up, Miss Weatherby.”
“A wise wager, sir. Now, it appears to me that you wish to rejoin the rest of our party rather than return to the house. Why don’t you ride ahead and alert Lord Manning and Lady Miranda of my horse’s recalcitrance, and I shall do my utmost to catch up.”
“You are certain you will not attempt anything . . . ill advised?”
She laughed, growing to like Mr. Grey more each moment. “Foolish, you mean? I promise on Dolly’s frustratingly slow gait.”
Dolly gave a soft neigh of either agreement or offense.
“Very well. I will suggest we all double back and meet you.” He kicked Hero into action, hooves pounding against the ground.
Anne sighed with envy as she watched him ride away. She tapped Dolly’s hindquarters again. “Come on, Dolly. Let’s at least try to move ten feet before they return.”
Ugly shame wound like tendrils around Colin’s lungs, compressing his chest until he could barely breathe.
Lady Miranda gazed over her shoulder. “I don’t see Anne or Mr. Grey. Perhaps we should slow our pace.”
Her statement did nothing to alleviate the nagging voice saying, “That was not very gentlemanly of you to leave Miss Weatherby unchaperoned.” Odd that the voice didn’t mention the fact that he had also placed Lady Miranda in a delicate position.
The voice accused him of doing it on purpose, knowing that Miss Weatherby’s horse would be unable to keep up. “Don’t you trust Mr. Grey to be a gentleman?” Another pang squeezed his chest from his callous and accusatory remark.
Lady Miranda’s eyes flared. Surprise, offense, or something different?
“To be honest, it’s not Mi-Mr. Grey I’m concerned about.”
Of course. She would have her own reputation to consider.
He could think of worse things than being forced into a marriage with Lady Miranda.
As she had so unintentionally reminded him, he did need to remarry and do his best to produce an heir.
Perhaps fate would take the reins and make the choice for him. But what about her choice?
“Forgive me. You are correct. I apologize for putting you in this position. I wasn’t thinking. Perhaps we should go back.”
She smiled. Strange. “Have no doubt, Lord Manning. I trust you to be the perfect gentleman, as I do Mr. Grey. It’s Anne I’m concerned about. She can be rather reckless at times. The fall she took during Burwood’s fox hunt proved dangerous for more than herself.”
“So my sister told me. Are you concerned that she might do something foolish, causing Mr. Grey to rescue her and fall victim to her machinations?”
Lady Miranda laughed, the sound pleasant, but other than that, generating no other sensations in him.
“Anne has learned her lesson with regard to leaping to conclusions about a gentleman’s affections.
And if she were to set her sights on Mr. Grey, I doubt her brother would approve of her marrying a gaming hell owner born on the wrong side of the blanket.
” A note of sadness colored her last words.
“No, I am merely concerned she may injure herself attempting to force that poor horse to move a modicum faster.”
As they prepared to turn back, the sound of approaching hooves stopped them. “Ah, here they come now.” Colin was unsure whether the fact relieved or annoyed him.
Mr. Grey raced toward them.
Where was the Nymph of Nuisance? Had something happened? Colin sat straighter in the saddle, his nerves firing to attention.
Upon seeing them, Mr. Grey reined in the black beast of a horse, his gaze darting between Lady Miranda and Colin.
“Where is Anne?” Lady Miranda had the common sense to ask. “Is she unharmed?”
Mr. Grey nodded. “She’s coming. That mare of hers is stubborn and slow. I offered to ride ahead and bid you to wait while she catches up.”
“How far back is she?” Colin gripped his reins a little tighter with one hand, using the other to pat his horse’s neck. Major was already pawing the ground, eager to begin moving again.
“Only about a hundred yards or so. We lost sight of you at that curve on the path.”
“Should we go back and meet her?” Lady Miranda asked.
Damnation! Did everyone coddle that woman? “I don’t see why. It’s only a hundred yards. She should be here in moments.”
They waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Major whinnied and sidestepped. Gave a little tug with his head.
“Where the devil is she?” Colin all but yelled.
Lady Miranda’s dark brows lifted, and Mr. Grey’s mouth twitched.
Without waiting, he kicked Major into action. He would retrieve her himself!