The Rake to Reveal Her Page 6

  Setting her shoulders, she walked back to the pony trap and hauled herself to the bench before her escort could offer a hand.

  Which didn’t mean she was any less cognizant of the simmering heat of him, once he climbed up beside her, she thought with a sigh.

  ‘That was exceedingly dusty,’ Mr Ransleigh said as he set the vehicle in motion. ‘Can I offer you tea when we get back?’

  Theo steeled herself against the temptation to accept. ‘That’s very kind, but I shouldn’t.’ A more disturbing thought occurred and she frowned. ‘Indeed, now that I think of it, with you being a bachelor and having no lady mother in residence, I seem to recall that it would be considered improper of me to take tea at your house—or indeed, even to call upon you.’

  She sighed with exasperation. ‘English mores! Dashed inconvenient, with you being our landlord, but there it is. I only hope I haven’t blotted my copybook already! It wouldn’t help the children’s reception—already dubious, according to what you’ve told me—if your servants carry tales hinting that I’m a lightskirt.’

  Her companion choked back a laugh. ‘You really are plain-spoken, aren’t you?’

  ‘I’m completely devoid of maidenly sensibilities,’ Theo admitted. ‘Perhaps I should try to acquire some, if it will make the idea of the school more acceptable to the neighbourhood.’

  ‘Though you may be right, I’d hate to see it. I find your candour refreshing.’

  ‘So is a dunk in the Channel, but most people would rather avoid it,’ Theo said wryly. ‘I’ll have to learn to curb my tongue—and think more carefully about my actions.’ She made a mental note to ask Aunt Amelia, before she returned to London, to review with her the most important rules of propriety.

  ‘You’re probably right about tea,’ Ransleigh allowed. ‘Talking over experiences on the Peninsula, it’s too easy to fall back into army ways and forget the rigid notions of conduct that apply here. Since I’ve been back in England less than a month, after years away, my memory of those rules is probably as rusty as yours. But let me assure you, no tales of our lapses today will be heard beyond the walls of Bildenstone—or the offenders will answer to me.’

  Surprised, she looked up at him. Though linked by their memories of campaign, he was still little more than a stranger. No connection between them required him to watch over her reputation, and she was impressed that he intended to do so.

  He truly was an officer and a gentleman.

  ‘I wouldn’t expect you to go to such trouble, but I do appreciate it.’

  ‘Don’t want you to run afoul of the Lady Wentworths of the county before you’ve even got your building renovated,’ he said, turning his attention back to his driving.

  * * *

  All too soon, they arrived back at Bildenstone Hall. Once again resisting the temptation to continue their conversation, Theo refused his offer to proceed to the drawing room while a groom fetched her horse.

  ‘There’s no need for you to tarry here, truly!’ she said when he gallantly insisted on waiting outside with her. ‘I shall be off as soon as Firefly is brought up. The children will be missing me, and there’s still so much to do, getting the house up to snuff and filling in until I can secure a teacher.’

  He raised an eyebrow. ‘You don’t intend to teach the children yourself?’

  ‘No. While we were with the army, I helped Jemmie with his letters and sums, but we hadn’t the materials, nor I the training or inclination, to give him a proper schooling. Not that the children should study languages and philosophy—just gain a thorough grounding in reading and arithmetic. While they learn, we shall ascertain what most interests them, then train them to that trade, for which I’ll need to hire instructors as well. I doubt I could sit still long enough to manage a classroom. I have to be out and about, moving around, accomplishing things.’

  ‘I can appreciate that. After months of being cooped up, mostly bedridden, I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed this drive in the fresh air.’

  ‘Then you must drive about often—as long as you don’t tire yourself. You’re not fully healed yet, remember.’

  ‘Don’t worry. My arm and shoulder will remind me, should I be tempted to forget.’

  From the stable lane, a groom paced up, leading her mare. ‘Here’s Firefly,’ she said, turning back to him, ‘so I will take my leave.’

  After giving the mare a quick inspection, Mr Ransleigh nodded his approval. ‘Good, deep heart, nice level croup, and well muscled—she must be a fine goer.’ Reaching out to stroke the horse’s neck, he crooned, ‘What a lovely lady you are! Such a graceful neck, pretty eyes and small, perfect ears!’

  As the mare nickered and leaned into Ransleigh’s massaging fingers, Theo chuckled. ‘I believe she’s preening for you. Which is quite a compliment! Firefly doesn’t take to just anyone. You must have a way with horses.’

  ‘I’ve always loved them. Spent most of the last fifteen years when not in the army breeding and training them. Hunters and steeplechasers who—’ Abruptly he went silent, leaving the sentence unfinished.

  Even if I just had my limitations forcefully demonstrated, his cryptic comment came back to her as she recalled the fractious stallion who’d almost trampled her. But oh, he can fly like the wind and jump anything in his path.

  ‘You trained that black beast from yesterday,’ she said, putting it all together.

  ‘And many more like him,’ Ransleigh said tightly. ‘For all the good it does me now.’

  All horses he could no longer ride. Theo felt an ache in her chest. One more loss, one more joy stolen from him. How terribly cruel life could be!

  ‘It must have taken remarkable skill, just to get him to accept a rider,’ she said, wanting to ease the tension in that clenched jaw. ‘He looked like he would have enjoyed running us down.’

  He rewarded her with a slight smile. ‘He would have, the evil-tempered devil.’

  The urge to linger and question him further teased at her. Clenching her teeth against it, she told herself she should bid him farewell before this intriguing man charmed her any further.

  ‘Well, I must be off. You’re welcome to call any time at Thornfield Place and meet the children. Or not, as you choose,’ she added, unhappily aware he was unlikely to take her up on that offer.

  Before the groom could assist her, Ransleigh offered his hand. ‘You were right,’ he said as he lifted her into the saddle. ‘I can do it, if I want to.’

  Our last contact, she thought with a little sigh as he released her boot. ‘I am sure you will soon be able to do whatever you wish, Mr Ransleigh. Thank you again for giving my orphans a chance.’

  With a wave of her riding crop and a foolish sense of regret, she turned Firefly and set off towards Thornfield.

  She felt the warmth of his gaze on her back, all the way to the turn in the drive.

  * * *

  By the time she’d ridden most of the way home, Theo had convinced herself she’d not really responded as strongly to Mr Ransleigh as she’d first imagined. After all, it was only natural that she would feel comfortable around a man who’d spent nearly as many years with Wellington’s army as she had, especially after more than a month of dealing with civilians.

  Nor did she deny he attracted her. The scarred face and eye patch did nothing to detract from his commanding profile, nor the missing arm from the vitality that emanated from him, despite the fact that he was not fully recovered from his injuries. Indeed, in her eyes, the marks of the suffering he’d endured in defending his country enhanced his already arresting physical attributes.

  But that attraction, like the welcome relief of finding herself once again in a soldier’s company, had doubtless been heightened by not having experienced the feeling in so long.

  She could only imagine how much more potent his appeal would be when he wa
s fully healed. A heated flutter stirred in her stomach.

  Fortunately, she was too old and wise now to be caught again in passion’s snare. Or she certainly should be—she need only remember the agony she’d suffered over Marshall.

  Still, she was a woman, and vain though it might be, she was glad she’d worn the most attractive of her gowns for the call. She’d couldn’t help being pleased that, if her instincts were correct, that compelling man had found her attractive as well.

  A flush of embarrassment heated her face as she suddenly recalled she’d actually told this wealthy, well-connected bachelor how handsome she thought him.

  Drat candour! Hopefully, he would only think the comment shameless—and not suppose her to have marital designs upon him. The very idea that he might interpret her comment in that manner made her a little sick.

  Nothing she could do now to correct that impression, if he had so interpreted her remark. With any luck, there’d be no further need to contact him, so any awkwardness on that score could be avoided.

  Then perspective returned, and she had to laugh at herself. How foolish of her to think this commanding man, whose wealth and pedigree doubtless focused upon him the attention of every woman in the vicinity, would think twice about any supposed lures cast his way by a plain, outspoken spinster—with a crowd of orphans in tow!

  The only lasting result of her visit today was her landlord’s agreement to lease her the property. Once she was immersed in overseeing its renovation, adding that task to those of getting Thornfield running properly and finding the necessary teachers, today’s interlude would fade to a pleasant but vague memory.

  Ignoring the eddies in her stomach that warned otherwise, Theo fixed that conclusion firmly in mind and turned Firefly down the drive to Thornfield’s stables.

  Chapter Six

  Dom awoke the next morning with a sense of anticipation, the first he could recall since his injuries. Questioning the source of that unexpected sensation, he remembered meeting his unusual new neighbour the previous day, and smiled.

  The drive to the stone barn had been energising. As he recalled, there was a tilbury in the carriage house and a high-stepper with a bit more fire to pull it. After his successful driving of the pony cart, he was reasonably sure he wouldn’t end up flat on his back in the mud again if he tried taking it out.

  This morning, he decided as he rang for Henries, he would.

  * * *

  After consuming breakfast with a keener appetite than he’d possessed in some time, Dom walked down to the stables to collect horse, carriage and a stable boy to watch them, should he need to stop and inspect a field or cottage. It required but a moment’s thought to decide where he meant to drive first.

  Miss Branwell had invited him to call at Thornfield Place, and so he would.

  Setting the carriage in motion, he wondered at himself. After all his firm intentions to avoid contact with the neighbours, here he was, the day after meeting Miss Branwell, ready to encounter her again. If he felt like visiting, he ought to first return the Squire’s call.

  He pictured his bluff neighbour and frowned. Stopping there didn’t appeal in the least.

  Seeing Miss Branwell again did.

  Perhaps it was because she didn’t expect anything of him but to be her landlord. Unlike every other resident in the county, she didn’t know his reputation, had no connections to hunting or its enthusiasts—she didn’t even recognise the name of the great Meynell! And, praise heaven, she wasn’t evaluating his worth on the Marriage Mart.

  Indeed, Miss Branwell, self-confessedly ignorant of English customs, might not even be aware that, with his wealth and connections, he was still a prime matrimonial prospect.

  No, all she had seen was a dishevelled one-armed soldier walking down a lane—and decided to offer him employment. He laughed out loud.

  Direct, plain-spoken and completely focused on her objectives, she worked and thought like a soldier. Only she was much better to look at.

  Picturing her immediately revived the strong attraction she’d inspired yesterday. His mind explored the idea of dalliance and liked it, his body adding its enthusiastic approval. However, Miss Branwell was still a miss, a gently born virgin. As strongly as he was attracted to her character and her person, he’d never debauched an innocent, and he wasn’t about to start.

  With a disappointed sigh, he allowed himself to regret she wasn’t the widowed Mrs Branwell. They couldn’t, alas, be lovers. But perhaps they could be friends. A friend who knew him only as the man he was now.

  There was freedom in that: no preconceived notions to meet, no pressure to perform up to the standard of what he’d once been.

  Besides, he had to admit he was curious to see this assortment of orphans she’d collected. He tried, and failed, to imagine the problems one must overcome in order to follow the army with a troop of children in tow, then to transport them to England.

  He shook his head and laughed again. What a remarkable girl!

  Without doubt, calling on her would be much more interesting and enjoyable than perusing the London papers to determine the current value of hunters.

  * * *

  An hour later, at Thornfield Place, Theo was sipping a second cup of coffee while her aunt finished breakfast when Franklin informed them that Mr Ransleigh had called.

  Surprise—and a delight far greater than it should have been—sent a thrill through her. After instructing the butler to inform the visitor that the ladies would receive him directly, she turned to her aunt.

  ‘Thank goodness I had Mrs Reeves straighten the parlour first thing this morning,’ she said, trying to pass off her enthusiasm as approval of prudent housekeeping. ‘It appears my new landlord is paying us a visit.’

  Her aunt opened her lips to reply, then froze, her eyes opening wide. ‘Did Franklin say a Mr Ransleigh had called?’ she asked at last.

  ‘Yes. Mr Dominic Ransleigh. The building I want to turn into the children’s school sits on his land. I told you I planned to call on the landlord yesterday, remember?’

  ‘Of course I remember. But why didn’t you tell me your landlord was a Ransleigh?’

  ‘The owner of that much land would doubtless be a member of a prominent family. I didn’t think it mattered which one.’

  ‘Not matter? Good heavens, child, don’t be ridiculous! One must always be aware of the social position of the individuals with whom one associates—as you army folk want to know the rank of a military acquaintance.’

  ‘I suppose you’re right,’ Theo conceded. ‘Enlighten me, then.’

  ‘Do you know anything of his background?’

  ‘Only that he was in the army for the duration of the war.’

  ‘So he was—he and his three cousins. The ‘Ransleigh Rogues,’ the boys have been called since their Eton days. They grew up inseparable, and when Alastair Ransleigh ran off to the army after being jilted by his fiancée—quite a scandal that was!—the other three joined up to watch over him. The eldest, Max—younger son of the Earl of Swynford, who practically runs the House of Lords!—was involved in a scandal of his own, something about an affair with a Frenchwoman at the Congress of Vienna and an assassination attempt on Wellington. The youngest, Will, the illegitimate son of the Earl’s brother, spent his first decade on the streets of St Giles before being recovered by the family.’

  ‘My, that is an assortment!’ Theo said with a laugh.

  ‘Your landlord, Dominic, was known as “Dandy Dom”, the handsomest man in the regiment, able to ride anything with four legs and drive anything with four wheels.’ I don’t know about the former, but I’ve seen him in Hyde Park, impeccably dressed, navigating a coach and four through the crowd as easily as if it were a pony cart on an empty country lane. He is—was—absolutely fearless on the hunting field, I’m told. His late father m
oved the family to Quorn country so long ago, I’d forgotten their primary estate was in Suffolk.’

  The details about his family drifted into the background of her mind like dust settling on a window-sill. All that struck Theo was the image of a runaway horse and a one-armed man shuffling down the lane, his garments spattered with mud and leaves, his face strained and angry. Able to ride anything with four legs...

  Her heart contracted with a sympathetic pain. How much more bitter it must be to bear his injuries, knowing he’d been renowned throughout the polite world for those skills!

  ‘Does he seem...recovered?’ her aunt asked, pulling her from her thoughts. At Theo’s questioning look, she continued. ‘I only wonder because he was engaged to a duke’s daughter, and broke with her as soon as he returned from Belgium. It was quite the on dit before I left London, the young lady making it known that it was Mr Ransleigh who wished to cry off, not her.’

  ‘I had no idea,’ Theo said. She ran through her observations of his behaviour before continuing, ‘He didn’t seem to be brooding over a lost love, but then a man would hardly wear his heart on his sleeve, especially before a stranger. Certainly he’s not yet fully recovered physically.’

  ‘Retired to the country to finish healing,’ her aunt said, nodding. ‘Here, rather than in Leicestershire, where the memories of his hunting days would be sure to torment him.’ Lady Amelia shook her head wonderingly. ‘Dominic Ransleigh, living practically at your doorstep! Thank heaven you wore something at least moderately attractive when you called on him yesterday!’

  Then she realised what she’d just said, and gasped. ‘Oh, Theo, you called on him? You took Constancia with you, I hope?’

  ‘I’m afraid not. Really, Aunt, I had no idea my landlord was a bachelor. I was expecting a doddering old man with an ear trumpet, rather than a most attractive young man.’

  ‘He is—still attractive? I’d heard he was grievously wounded.’

  ‘He lost an arm and an eye, and his face is scarred. But he’s still a very handsome man.’ A heated awareness shivered through her as she remembered just how arresting he was. ‘Perhaps even more compelling now, given the grace with which he bears his injuries.’