When Sarah had been asked to join the Wolvertons for a ride and luncheon, she accepted because she knew she’d never hear the end of it otherwise. Thursday dawned warmer than usual, and the clear sky promised good weather for a ride. And in truth, it might be good to get out of the stuffy rooms she’d been hiding in for so long, and to appear among others doing a perfectly ordinary activity like horseback riding. A bright winter day, a gentle horse…Sarah could manage that. She hoped.
Sarah arrived at the Wolvertons’ feeling distinctly ill at ease. She had ridden in the past, since it was a common part of a young lady’s education. But she never felt at home in the saddle, and she so rarely found a need to ride that she was quite out of practice.
She also lacked the correct outfit. Georgia was as kind as ever, naturally, and told Sarah to come a bit early so she could borrow one of Georgia’s riding habits.
“Good morning!” Georgia called when Sarah arrived. “I had Annie put out two choices. Come upstairs with me and pick the one you like the best.”
Upstairs in Georgia’s room, Sarah saw the habits side by side on the bed. One was a dull buff color. The other was ruby red, a velveteen that looked lavish and extremely bold.
Sarah immediately pointed to the buff. “That one will do. Thank you.”
Georgia frowned. “Are you sure you won’t at least try the red one? Just here in the room? I hoped to see it on you.”
Sarah reached out to stroke the fabric. It was so lovely, and finer than anything she owned. The buff would be boring by comparison, but if it was just to try…. “If you insist, I can model it for you. Likely it won’t fit me very well anyway, as it’s been cut for you.”
However, once Sarah was attired in the ruby-colored outfit, wearing her own black riding boots, it was evident the habit fit very well indeed. The tailored cut of the outfit emphasized curves Sarah normally hid beneath looser fabrics.
“Oh,” she said faintly, looking in the mirror. “Thank goodness no one else will see this.”
But the others didn’t seem to think that way.
Georgia nearly shouted, “Annie, you’re a magician! That cut. The color. Miss Brecknell looks absolutely perfect!”
“It is a good color, ma’am,” the maid agreed smugly. “Quite fetching.”
Georgia giggled. “And look at the time! We must hurry down to catch the rest of the riding party.”
“But I can’t wear this!” Sarah protested, her heart dropping to her stomach. “It’s too bright. Too, um, trim. And too fine. I’ll ruin it.”
“Oh, not to worry, ma’am,” Annie said. “Never a spot I can’t get out.” A conspiratorial smile passed between Annie and Georgia. But Sarah could do nothing other than follow Georgia back down the stairs to the courtyard.
“Georgia,” she hissed, just before they reached the door. “You planned this!”
“You look lovely. I’m sure Lord Carlin will think so, too!”
“Oh, but—”
And then Sarah was out in the courtyard. The cloudy sky did little to dim the light she felt was beaming down on her, making the red outfit appear like a beacon.
Lord Carlin stood there, speaking to Mr Wolverton. When he saw Sarah, a look close to shock crossed his face. “Miss Brecknell?”
“Who else could she be?” Georgia said impishly.
“Good morning, my lord,” Sarah said nervously when she reached him. “Mr Wolverton, thank you so much for inviting me.”
“Glad to see you out again, dear,” he said, with a glance at the still mute Carlin. “Isn’t that so, man?”
“Yes,” Carlin said. Then he took Sarah’s hand and kissed it. “Miss Brecknell, you leave me speechless.”
“I hope not,” she said, completely sincere. “I like all your stories so well!”
He laughed, finally recovering his usual attitude. Carlin asked her if she brought her own mount, and Sarah admitted she didn’t own a riding horse. Carlin had already spoken about his interest in fine horseflesh, so she thought she disappointed him.
“I wish I had known,” he said. “I just bought a new one you would fancy. I could have arranged for her to be brought here today.”
Before she could respond, another voice called her name. “Miss Brecknell!”
She turned, and saw Theo standing by the stable door. “Miss Brecknell, you ought to come select a horse so the boys can saddle it.”
“Excuse me,” she said to the men, and then walked to Theo. “You needn’t shout like a fishmonger,” she reprimanded him when she came to the doorway.
He didn’t apologize. Instead, he surveyed her. “I thought you said you didn’t ride.”
“I don’t. This is Georgia’s habit. She insisted I wear it.”
“And for that, every gentleman here is grateful.” He smiled at her in a way that made her knees wobbly.
Sarah raised an eyebrow, but didn’t press him to continue. Instead, she looked over the horses still in the stalls. She was drawn to a white beauty, the prettiest horse in the stable.
Theo came up behind her. “Not that one,” he said.
“Why not?”
“Lightning is a good field hunter, but has his own mind. You’ll find Darling more to your taste.” He pointed to a less impressive animal two stalls down.
“Are you sure?” Sarah asked, moving toward the dappled brown horse.
“Trust me,” he said. “This one has a much better temperament. And she’s smarter, too.”
The horse he called Darling whinnied just then, as if in response.
Theo laughed. “See what I mean? She’s listening.”
He pulled a bit of apple from his pocket and handed it to Sarah. “Give her a bit and she’ll love you forever.”
“It’s that simple?” she asked.
Darling smelled the apple and quickly accepted Sarah’s offering. After a moment, Sarah stroked the horse’s forehead, murmuring a greeting.
“Ah!” called Georgia, who just peeked in. “Darling will be perfect for you. Well chosen!” With a gesture of approval, Georgia ducked out again, calling to the rest of the party.
“You picked the horse,” Sarah muttered under her breath.
“What does that matter?” Theo had stepped up closer to her again, and Sarah was terribly aware of him. The memory of his kiss the other night hadn’t faded at all, and he looked as if he’d do it again, if given the slightest encouragement from her. He’d already flirted with her when he told her how she looked in her borrowed outfit.
“We should rejoin the others,” she said, her voice coming out breathier than usual.
“So we should.” He escorted her out of the stable. Soon enough, all the horses were saddled and ready. Sarah was helped up by a groom, and hoped she did not look too ridiculous.
The beautiful white horse turned out to be Theo’s. “I see why you were so proprietary over him,” she said, laughing. Then she looked over the group. “Is everyone here?” she asked, hoping to delay the inevitable.
“Where is Lady Alyse?” Georgia asked suddenly, just realizing the other’s absence.
“She sends her regrets,” Theo said. “She was not feeling well.”
“Oh, no. I do hope she recovers. She’s never been ill a day in her life.”
“No,” Theo agreed with a frown.
So Theo had no fiancée to pay attention to, Sarah thought. Perhaps he simply had to waste idle flirtations on somebody, and she was available.
With Georgia in the lead, they began to ride, the group naturally spreading out as each horse and rider found their pace. Sarah dropped to the back, uncertain of her skills. She was also afraid to push Darling into anything rash.
After a moment, Theo glanced back and also slowed until he was next to her.
“I don’t need to be shepherded,” Sarah said.
“Who said anything about shepherding?” he retorted. “Perhaps I prefer to let the others go ahead.”
“Then why did you have to slow down so much?”
He bit his lip not to laugh. “You are clever, Miss Brecknell.”
“I’m sorry.” Charlie once cautioned her against appearing too clever. Watch what you say, Sarah. Other men hate it when a woman trumps them. Sarah remembered his warning as if it had been branded into her.
“You often apologize for something that is not a fault. Who taught you that?”
“I…don’t know.” It was a good question. Sarah hadn’t always done that. Or had she? Charlie often told her how adorable she was when she apologized, but he never told her not to do it. In fact, she seemed to remember feeling like she was always apologizing to Charlie for one thing or another. She apologized for worrying when he was late to call on her.
No, I said I would call on Thursday, not Tuesday. Don’t you remember, Sarah?
I’m sorry, she would say, so afraid she had upset him.
Theo didn’t say anything, but she could feel him watching her. They rode in silence for a few minutes. Sarah concentrated on handling Darling, and he seemed content to keep pace with her.
“You’re doing very well,” he said, after a while.
“Give me an assessment after I’ve faced a few challenges, my lord.”
“Haven’t you?”
Sarah looked over at him, well aware he wasn’t talking about her riding skills. “I think the greater challenge lies ahead. The date I’m to present my mysterious friend with a document is in two nights. And I have nothing to give him.”
“I’ve taken care of it,” he said, offering her a smile.
“How?”
Theo negotiated a patch of mud, which brought him a little closer to Sarah. “Using my various resources, I’ve managed to procure a document that will work for our purposes. You’ll meet Rossi, I’ll learn what I need to know before detaining him, and you’ll be free.”
“You make it all sound simple.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“I want to believe you, but I reserve judgement until it’s over and I’m still alive.”
“Sarah, I’m not going to let you die.”
“You shouldn’t say my name,” she warned him.
“I like your name,” he objected. “But I’d never say it where—” He broke off, looking down the path. “Your suitor is coming,” he noted, in a slightly annoyed tone.
Sarah turned to see Lord Carlin riding toward them.
“Miss Brecknell!” Carlin said, as he came up and circled around. “How are you getting on?”
“I am adjusting to it,” she said. “Lord Markham has been kind enough to see that I have not fallen.”
“Miss Brecknell exaggerates,” Theo said. “She is doing very well.”
“As much as the quality of the horse allows,” Carlin said. “On a proper thoroughbred, you’ll find the experience vastly better.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Theo disagreed. “I’ve found that the pedigree isn’t the best indicator of quality. Lightning might not have a famous sire, but he’s smarter than any overpriced warmblood, in my opinion.”
“Perhaps your horse is suitable for a daily ride, but that’s another thing next to showing or racing.”
Sarah listened to the two men, wondering why the issue should matter so much.
Theo shrugged. “I don’t care to show or race. Breeding means little if the match is poor. What do you say, Miss Brecknell?”
“I’m hardly an authority,” she said. “I’m content with Darling here. She is quite calm.”
“Excellent,” Theo said. He turned to Carlin. “She’s a natural, just as I guessed. Why not show her a faster pace, sir?”
“With pleasure,” Carlin said, with a quick, suspicious look at Theo. “Miss Brecknell?”
“Lead the way, my lord,” Sarah said. She glanced back at Theo. “Do you mind?”
He laughed. “Oh, I’ll catch up.”
* * * *
Theo watched as the red-clad woman rode away with Lord Carlin. He’d been astonished by the vision of Sarah in her pale ball gown the other night. But the riding habit revealed new facets of her. The vibrant red made the blond hair glow; her grey eyes were somehow deeper and more lovely too. The cold air made her cheeks and lips reflect the red of the habit, making her look more alive than ever. In fact, he contemplated how he might lose the rest of the riding party long enough to get Sarah alone for a moment. He wanted to kiss those lips again.
Which was a warning sign. Ever since Theo uncovered the secret in Charlie’s notebook, he found himself reevaluating nearly every exchange he’d had with Sarah, searching for some hint that she was more worldly than she seemed. But whatever had actually happened between Sarah and Charlie—and Theo had a few bad dreams about the possibilities—Sarah was still essentially innocent. She trusted Theo to help her. And he had no intention of letting anyone else know the truth he inadvertently discovered. After this was over, he’d burn the notebook. Then Sarah would be safe.
He shouldn’t even have flirted with her as much as he had, except that he couldn’t seem to stop himself. Her reactions were so priceless. But Sarah was not a plaything. And he was not available. The thought angered him. Carlin taking Sarah away angered him. The idea of not seeing Sarah again angered him. And when he got angry, he needed to get it out.
Thankfully, he was already on horseback. There was no better way to turn his mind off than to concentrate on simply riding. Theo let his horse loose. The animal knew him well, and surged forward, overjoyed to be free on a crisp winter day. He rode at a pace which would be insane for a less skilled rider. But Theo knew the terrain and his mount. He took jumps and dodged obstacles without even pausing. After a while, he forgot there were others around, especially when he saw the large meadow open up though a gap in the trees.
There was a clear path to the fence cutting through the meadow. He urged Lightning to run flat-out, and jumped the high fence without slowing. Lightning landed perfectly and Theo grinned, finally feeling the last of his negativity dissipate.
A cheer sounded from somewhere across the meadow. Surprised, he glanced over and saw the main riding party at the edge of the trees. They had seen his final stunt.
Now calmer, he rode to meet them. When he slowed the horse to a walking pace, the beast’s hide steamed in the chilly air.
He reached Sarah first. Her eyes were round. “You said you rode, but you didn’t say you rode like that.”
“A gentleman must have a few talents. Riding is one of mine. Did Charlie ever tell you about his carriage-chasing?”
“Yes. He was wicked. That’s so dangerous.”
“I know. I was the other one who always rode with him.”
“My lord! You shouldn’t have done that.”
Theo shrugged. “I know that now. When I was younger though, we thought it was fun.”
“Fun.” Sarah sniffed and looked away. “So you were a foolish boy after all.”
Georgia rode up to them then. “If you were anyone else, my lord, I’d say you were showing off.”
Theo smiled. “Just taking advantage of the day, Miss Wolverton. I was going stir-crazy with the cold. I needed to cut Lightning and me loose.”
“Well, you certainly did that!” With a glance at Sarah, Georgia circled her mount around. “Now let’s head back to the house. It’s high time for something warm to drink! Ride with me, Sarah.”
After a quick glance at Theo, Sarah nudged her horse forward to join Georgia and the others. Theo remained behind the group, not willing to strain his horse too much after the sprint. And it was clear Georgia wanted Sarah to have plenty of time with Lord Carlin.
* * * *
The relief Sarah felt at being outside, and momentarily free of everything pressing at her, evaporated on the return to the house. Georgia mentioned that Cook put together a “few bites” for after the ride. In fact, it was a feast on a level Sarah usually associated with holiday suppers. Virtually every kind of cold meat was available. Hothouse fruits lay on the sideboard, and an array of little pies—both savory and sweet—were there for the choosing.
Sarah permitted Lord Carlin to fill a plate for her. He brought her one nearly teetering over with food. “I fear I may have been excessive,” he said in apology.
“Oh, no,” she replied. “That looks just about right.”
Bryony noticed the exchange. “I should have asked for more. But until my ball, I have to watch myself to fit in my gown.”
“Bryony!” Georgia warned, upset at the subject matter.
But Carlin only laughed. “Your sister is perfectly correct, Miss Wolverton. She’s young and needs sustenance. For myself, I have never seen the appeal of ladies looking half-starved. A bit of weight enhances feminine beauty.” He looked at Sarah as he spoke, and she quickly dropped her eyes. Carlin wasn’t being terribly subtle about his interest any longer. And shouldn’t she be pleased by that? He was a very kind man, and she faced diminishing prospects.
“Tell me, my lord,” she said, hoping to divert the subject to something slightly less personal. “How often do you ride?”
“Oh, frequently enough, though not so much in town. In Kent, I ride nearly everywhere.”
That was enough to spark a more general conversation about where the best riding was, and Sarah could let the group talk without feeling she was at the center of it. The ride had brought out her appetite, and she ate nearly everything in front of her.
After a while, she excused herself, and went down a hallway without any particular aim in mind.
“Sarah!” a low voice called, from the opposite direction as the dining room.
She turned her head to see Theo standing in a doorway. “My lord?”
“Come here,” he said. “You’ll want to see this.”
She walked to him, curious but a little nervous. “What have you been up to? You never came in to luncheon.”
He took her hand and pulled her into a small room. It looked like it was intended to be a study, but it was filled with boxes covering nearly all the space. “What is all this?” she asked.
“Charlie’s things, from his townhouse, mostly. I’ve been looking through it.”
“And did you find anything?”
“Not yet. But with two of us, it should go faster.”
“Theo, I can’t be found in a room with you!” She hadn’t forgotten how he looked during the ride, especially at the end, when he’d pulled such a daring stunt, and then looked so content about it. She finally realized that beneath Theo’s often restrained demeanor was a daredevil, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about being so close to him. “What if someone comes by?”
“They’re all full on beef sandwiches,” he said, dismissing the threat.
“I had the egg pie.”
“Sounds delicious. I should have eaten something after all, but I didn’t want to get snared in some dull conversation about this season’s must-have hat.”
After looking around, Sarah went to an unopened box and lifted the lid. “Do you have a particular item you’re looking for?”
“No, unfortunately. I hope to find something new, that’s all.”
They fell silent, each searching on their own.
“This box has a lot of notes about art,” Sarah commented. “Not in code, so it must be even less relevant.”
They continued to search. Theo found a box of canvas and broken frames. “Why did they even bother packing this up?” he groused. “It’s rubbish.”
Before Sarah could respond, a shadow darkened the doorway. “I say, what is going on here?”
Sarah turned toward the door. The voice was Carlin’s, and he sounded furious.
“Go away,” Theo snapped back, in no mood to talk to the man.
“I will not. You’ve cornered Miss Brecknell alone in a room, and you expect me to look the other way?”
Sarah stood up, her cheeks already scarlet. “Please, my lord. He didn’t corner me. He’s not even near me.”
“Miss Brecknell, do not think you have to defend this man. You are far too intelligent a girl to be in such a situation.” He turned back to Theo. “I should call you out.”
“Is that still the fashion?” Theo drawled, deliberately stoking Carlin’s anger.
“Please!” Sarah said. “Both of you. There has been a misunderstanding. If either of you have any regard for me, you won’t make an issue of this. I certainly don’t want more attention.”
She was speaking particularly to Theo, and she saw him relent, his expression softening.
“Very well,” he said.
Carlin wasn’t satisfied. “Miss Brecknell, please allow me to escort you back to the dining room.”
“Of course, my lord,” she murmured. She didn’t even look at Theo as she took the other man’s arm.
As they left the room, Carlin said quietly, “I did not expect to find you in a room with Lord Markham. What did he say to you?”
“He was not attempting to…harm me. We were having a private discussion, and I did not think my absence would be remarked on.”
“What private discussion could you have with that gentleman?”
Sarah lowered her eyes, affecting more sorrow than she felt. “He had some news regarding my late fiancé,” she said. “And I insisted on hearing it straight away. If there is blame to be laid, it must be with me.”
Carlin shook his head. “It is always the gentleman’s responsibility to consider the appearance of these things.”
“As you have shown,” Sarah said. “I thank you for your consideration.”
Carlin pressed his free hand over her own. “You are worth every consideration, Miss Brecknell.”
“I would appreciate it very much if you would not mention the incident again, my lord. Truly, it was of no consequence.”
Carlin agreed easily, and seemed to go out of his way to turn the conversation to other subjects. Sarah noticed how he hovered near her, though, as if he were afraid Theo would return to sweep her away.