Chapter 5 #2
Sofia prepared to stand as she thought this conversation had continued quite long enough. The more time she spent with him more likely it was that she put herself to the blush again.
'One more thing, I believe I told you to address me as James. If you continue to call me sir, then I might not be answerable for my actions.'
She moved gracefully to the doors before replying. 'I shall endeavour to do as you wish but cannot guarantee it, my lord.'
Her departure was swift but she could hear him laughing and joined in. He might be the most infuriating of gentlemen but locking horns with him was going to be entertaining for both of them.
*
James remained on the terrace allowing the girl to make her escape. There wasn't an iota of doubt that he'd be the one to win any battle of wills between them, but he was going to enjoy every minute of bringing her around to his way of thinking.
He strolled along the terrace and vaulted over the windowsill of the study to rejoin his long-suffering man of business who was contentedly reading today's newspaper and not at all bothered about being left so unexpectedly.
'Now, where were we, Michael?' James said without preamble.
'Before we continue, my lord, I've never heard such exquisite playing. Dare I say it, sir, but the young lady is almost as good as yourself.'
James shook his head. 'Better than me, she plays with more emotion. I cannot imagine where she learnt to do this when she spent her entire life living in rural isolation.'
The meeting ended and Michael departed. Of the four men he employed to run his business all but his estate manager lived in the West Wing.
His appalling grandmother had the East Wing to herself and the centre of Avon Court was his.
He smiled wryly. Not just his any more, he'd now have the dubious pleasure of sharing it with four young ladies.
He couldn't do this alone and there was only one person he knew who could help him out of this tangle.
With a sigh he picked up a newly sharpened pen and began to write to his estranged sister, Lady Charlotte Upminster.
She was ten years his senior and had married a man almost twice her age who had been looking for a young bride to provide him with an heir.
James ground his teeth as he recalled that summer.
He'd been twelve years of age when his sister had left Avon Court and although Charlotte had seemed content with the marriage there was something about this union that had upset him.
His sister was an heiress, the daughter of an earl, both young and attractive.
She could have done so much better for herself if she'd been given a season in London.
He'd not seen Charlotte since then, eighteen years had passed and she'd never returned home. When he'd inherited the title, he'd reached out to her, but his letters had remained unanswered.
He'd heard a few days ago that her husband had died, that she had three children, two boys and a girl, and he hoped that in her changed circumstances Charlotte might be more ready to renew the connection.
He had, of course, sent his condolences and already offered his assistance but now he was prepared to offer her a permanent home if she so wanted.
He was hoping to persuade her to bring her family to Avon Court.
Then he would consider asking her to take over the management of his parcel of young ladies.
At least her being here would solve the problem of gossip even if he decided against making her his chatelaine.
He kept well away from routs, balls, assemblies and soirées.
He was well aware that he was a most eligible parti and as such would be overwhelmed by sycophantic mamas trying to entice him to offer for their daughters.
His charges would have to attend such events if they were to make successful marriages of their own sometime in the future.
They couldn't go unchaperoned, and he knew of no other suitable lady who could take on this task.
His grandmother would suffice for the moment to stop the tabby's gossiping about the girls living under the roof of a bachelor, but she was too old and too cantankerous to take on any responsibility for them.
In his letter he made what he considered to be a very generous offer. If Charlotte wished to reside at Avon then he would take care of her children and act as their guardian too.
He signed the letter with a flourish, sanded it, folded the paper and pressed his signet ring into the blob of molten wax to seal it. He addressed it and walked through to Smithers' office.
'Will you please see that this goes into the post tonight?'
The young man was on his feet. 'I'll take it down to the postal office myself, sir. I've half a dozen others that need to go. Do you wish to send it by express?'
James thought for a moment and then nodded. 'Yes, the sooner it arrives the better.'
He rarely played the piano during the day; this was a pleasure he reserved for the evenings when his work was done. Today, after hearing Sofia play so beautifully, he was drawn to the piano to see if he could match her expertise.
He'd been playing for about half an hour when something attracted his attention in the grounds. For a second his mind didn't register what he'd seen and then he slammed down the lid and was on his feet and staring out of the window.
Had he been mistaken? Nobody rode his stallion Lucifer apart from him and yet he'd just seen the horse disappearing into the woods.
Somebody had crept into the stables and had the temerity to steal his horse.
The quickest way there was out of the side door and along the flagged path.
He was on his way in minutes and collided with a frantic groom who was heading towards the house.
James turned the air blue, extricated himself from the hedge that bordered the path and roared at the unfortunate young man. 'God's teeth! What the devil do think you're doing?'
The groom was ashen faced. 'I was sent to fetch you, my lord, Miss Brotherton saddled up Lucifer herself and has took off with him. We didn't know she was even in the stables or we'd have intervened.'
From being enraged James was icy calm. Lucifer tolerated no one on his back, the girl had no chance at all of remaining in the saddle. If she was hurt then he'd never forgive himself. She couldn't have taken the stallion if he hadn't sent her the garments in which to ride.
He ran into the yard. 'Bring Rufus, do it now.'
His head groom had anticipated his command and the chestnut was already waiting for him. James vaulted into the saddle. Not something he'd done before as it could cause serious damage to the animal's back.
He galloped across the greensward sending huge divots into the air. Scarcely five minutes after he'd seen the girl disappear into the woods he was pursuing her. He prayed that she'd not take the right-hand path as that included several ditches and hedges to jump.
He slowed his gelding's speed as he approached the split in the track so he could look at the ground.
A heavy weight settled on his chest; he found it difficult to draw a breath.
The hoof prints led to the right. Even he found it hard to remain on board the stallion when jumping obstacles – the girl had no chance.
When she came off, she'd likely break her neck.