Chapter 14
Shifting her heavy reticule, Kyra climbed over the stile and hurried to the footpath leading along the perimeter of the grazing field.
In the distance, sheep dotted the long meadow grasses, white flecks in the ripples of green and gold.
Overhead, the scudding clouds mirrored the pastoral scene, their wispy puffs moved lazily across the sea of blue.
Her spirits, already buoyed by the beautiful morning, rose even higher as the bag bumped up against her hip.
The book inside it was a serendipitous discovery, and she couldn’t wait to share it with Rafael.
Her emotions too unsettled for sleep, she gone down to the library in the wee hours of the morning.
Books were always a calming influence, and on a whim, she had chosen to wander through one of the back alcoves that held a collection of dusty old tomes acquired by her grandfather.
To her delight, one of them had turned out to be a journal from an early explorer of the New World containing copious sketches of the local flora and fauna—including Theobroma cacao!
Kyra smiled, imagining his expression on seeing such a treasure.
His curiosity was one of the things she loved about him.
Unlike most gentlemen of privilege, he was so imaginative, open to new experiences, new ideas.
Not to speak of being kind, compassionate and shockingly radical in his acceptance of women as equals.
Skirting a rock outcropping, she followed the path into a glade of coppery beech trees. Shards of sunlight glittered through the canopy of leaves, diamond-bright flashes that softened the shadows. Filling her lungs with the cool, earth-scented air, she let it out with a silent shout of joy.
Love. Giddy with wonder, Kyra finally dared to believe it was possible.
Rafael hadn’t found her despicable or disgusting.
He knew her darkest secret and still he had kissed her so sweetly, so tenderly.
She touched her lips, and felt a quiver of wry laughter.
Oh, if not for Hero’s bark it might have turned more passionate than tender—and the idea sent a lick of fire tingling down her spine?—
A low growl jerked her from her reveries.
Hackles raised, Hero was standing stiff-legged in the path. He snarled again as a figure stepped out from the trees.
“I was hoping your habits hadn’t changed and I’d find you out at this ungodly hour traipsing the fields.”
Matherton’s voice seemed to turn the air cold as ice.
“Call off your watchdog.” Her former fiancé brandished a stout, iron-tipped walking stick. “We need to talk.”
She gave a soft whistle and called the hound to her side. Fisting a hand around his collar, she gave a curt nod. “Go on.”
His handsome face pinched into a malevolent scowl. “Don’t take that high and mighty tone with me, my dear. Have you forgotten that I can ruin your family with no more effort than this!” He snapped his fingers.
Kyra held back an angry retort. Rafael had given her the courage to believe such threats would soon cease to have any teeth. But as she had yet to explain the particulars to him, she decided to bide her time.
“I’ve not forgotten,” she answered.
“Then I suggest you look a little more pleased to see me.” He took a step closer. “After all, we’re soon to be leg-shackled and for now, people must believe that our rekindled romance is a match made in Heaven.”
Or rather Hell, Kyra thought.
When she didn’t answer, Matherton went on, “Indeed, I’ve decided the perfect place for the announcement of our nuptials is at your father’s ball for Leete. Resurrection and redemption—it will bring tears of joy to even the most jaded of hearts, don’t you think?”
What she thought was that he was a cold, calculating monster.
With a flick of his stick, he reached out and tipped her chin. “Speechless with joy, my dear?”
Hero lunged and snapped.
Kyra managed to keep hold of his collar and drag him back, just in time to avoid the vicious blow aimed at his head.
“Oh, fie,” she cried. “Only the most craven of cowards takes pleasure in hurting animals.”
“Watch your tongue, Kyra,” he warned, jabbing the iron point perilously close to her face. “I’ll soon be the one who is holding the leash on both of you, so you ought to be trying to turn me up sweet, rather than hurling insults.”
The thought made her feel a little nauseous. “Why so soon?’ she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Because I’m badly dipped, and my creditors are hounding me unmercifully.
” His eyes sparked with malevolence as they narrowed to a slitted stare.
“Do as I say and you’ll have a pleasant enough life.
You’re interesting enough in bed that it won’t be a hardship to beget a brat or two on you.
Rusticating at the Grange will suit your country habits, while your father’s money will allow me to have a handsome townhouse in London. ”
Not a penny of the Pierpont coffers would ever find its way to his pockets, vowed Kyra.
“But if you try to make trouble . . .” Menacing as a cobra, the stick swung back and forth in front of her face. “Just remember, I am a dangerous man to cross.”
She was saved from having to answer by a loud hail. “Halloo, Kyra!”
Thanks God. Relief flooded through her as she returned Harriet’s greeting.
“A lovely morning for a walk, isn’t it?” added Theo as she and Harriet hurried down the twisting path to join them.
Matherton’s face underwent an utter transformation as he quickly schooled his features to assume a cherubic expression of sunny charm.
“Good day, ladies. I couldn’t agree more.
” He gave his walking stick an innocent little twirl.
“There is nothing like a brisk stroll through the splendors of Nature to put a man in a good mood for the rest of the day.”
“Oh? Is there something wrong with your mood this morning, Lord Matherton?” asked Harriet coolly.
A flicker of irritation marred his mask of gentlemanly virtue for just an instant, but he quickly resumed his polite smile. “If there was, it was quickly put to flight by the presence of three beautiful ladies.”
Ignoring the florid compliment, she turned to Kyra. “We are just returning to Northfield by a shortcut through the orchards. Why don’t you come along and join us for tea.”
“That would be lovely.”
“Hero is of course invited, too,” said Theo as she exchanged caresses with the hound. “Isn’t he a delightful dog, my lord?”
“Delightful,” growled Kyra’s former fiancé through gritted teeth.
Hero wagged his tail and gave Theo’s hand another wet kiss.
“If you’ll excuse us, sir, we ought to be going.” Theo fixed him with a frosty smile that did not begin to reach her eyes. “My aunt tends to fret if we are late.” A small laugh. “As if there are predators lurking in these fields and forests.”
“But of course.” Matherton touched a hand to the brim of his hat, but the gesture did not quite hide the petulant scowl.
His expression, however, quickly changed to a sneer as he added, “Thank you for the invitation to call on you at home, Lady Kyra. I will do so without delay, for I’m quite anxious to pay my respects to your father.
Indeed, it will be delightful to renew the reacquaintance—I’ve sorely missed his company. ”
Kyra felt the air squeezed from her lungs. Dueling with the Devil was dangerous. He wielded weapons with far more skill than she did.
Harriet linked arms with her. “Good day, sir,” she said firmly, then turned for the fork in the path.
Theo took up position on the other flank, and off they marched, Kyra wryly feeling like a downy chick guarded by two mother hens. It was, she realized, a very comforting sensation.
After checking over her shoulder that Matherton had disappeared in the opposite direction, Harriet came to a sudden halt. “Sit,” she ordered, gesturing to a fallen tree trunk. “You are pale as a pot of cream.”
To her dismay, Kyra felt her limbs were trembling as she dutifully obeyed the order. “Sorry,” she said. “I will be fine in a moment.”
“Ballocks,” swore Harriet. “You won’t be fine until whatever threat that dastard is holding over you is rendered toothless.”
“She’s right,” chimed in Theo. “If you tell us what is it, perhaps we can help.”
Her emotions must have been more tightly wound that she realized, for Kyra all of a sudden burst into tears.
“Oh, dear. I am not in the habit of turning into a water pot,” she stammered in between sobs.
“But I am a little overwhelmed by your kindness. I am unused to having f-friends, especially female ones.”
“You had best become accustomed to it,” replied Harriet dryly. “The League of Wallflowers has officially adopted you as one of their own.”
“And as ladies are far wiser than men, we know that bearing a burden is made much easier by sharing its weight.” Theo sat down beside her and patted her shoulder. “So as Calliope Wolcott would say—by the by, you would like Callie very much—it’s time for you to spill the beans.”
That turned her sniffles into a watery laugh.
“And to let us help you sort out the rotten ones and put the rest back in the jar,” offered Harriet dryly. She, too, sat down.
“Would that it was so easy.” Kyra sighed. “I fear that in telling you, I may be drawing you into danger. Lord Matherton is not only a very disreputable man, but he is also desperate.”
“All the more reason to involve others. It will make it harder for him to implement whatever evil plans he has in mind. There is, you know an old adage that says there is strength in numbers.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “As to that, I was actually on my way to Hendrie Hall.” For an instant she hesitated, a little shy about revealing the reason.
But her new friends had earned her unconditional trust. “To confide in Mr. Greeley. Contrary to what you think, some gentlemen do encourage sharing troubling secrets.”
“He does strike me as very sensible,” remarked Harriet.
“Very,” agreed Theo. “He is an excellent ally. And so are we.”
“I . . . I . . .”