by Regina Darcy
“I am very glad to hear it,” he said quietly. “I do not know why but there is something about you that makes me eager to share my troubles with you.” His smile broadened.
“Perhaps it is because I have your secret to keep too.”
Theodora wanted to provide a witty reply in return but found that her mind was quite fuzzy. Her thoughts were taken over with how he had touched her. She was quite taken aback. She had not expected such a reaction to his simple touch.
“Shall we?” he exclaimed, suddenly jumping to his feet and grasping his foil once more. “Come now, you cannot be as tired as that!”
Forcing her body to respond, Theodora got to her feet and reached for her own foil. Reality descending on her. Her mind emptied of all thoughts; her body tensed as he held his blade upwards ready to begin their battle.
***
William Sotheby sauntered towards his horse, placing the blades away carefully before mounting. He could not help but look back towards where Miss Winters had been, seeing only a small figure making her way down the hill back towards the large house she called home.
Turning his horse back towards Lord Raven’s estate, a ride which would take him no longer than half an hour if he rode quickly, William allowed the horse to set its own stride, his mind going back towards the lovely Miss Winters.
He had never intended to tell her anything about himself, preferring to keep her at a distance, but there had been something in her eyes that had simply beckoned him to share his secret.
At the start of their lessons a sennight ago, he had found her childish and almost ridiculous, but slowly that perception had dissipated as he realised that she was one of the most interesting young women he had ever come across. Fencing aside, she displayed a firmness of resolve that overcame the limitations of her sex and directed her towards the path she most wished to walk. It did not matter than ladies of her standing did not fence, for she simply wished to do what her mother had cared for the most. He could not find fault in that.
Smiling to himself, William recalled how determined she had been to improve, wiping the beads of sweat from her face with the back of her hand. She had made quite a picture, for she was always elegantly dressed but with a glint of mischief in her eye. The way her curls often came loose, tumbling around her face, made his smile widen. He had to admit that she was a most attractive young woman, despite her unladylike habits.
His horse turned into Lord Raven’s estate sooner than he had expected, He realised that he had been quite lost in thought over Miss Winters. Dismounting, he wandered back to the house through the gardens, his eyes flickering towards the roses where they had first met.
“Sotheby?”
Turning, he saw Lord Raven marching towards him with something of a grim look on his face. Frowning, he nodded and paused in his walk, waiting for Lord Raven to reach him.
“Is something the matter?”
Lord Raven’s eyes flashed, his jaw set. “You have been out riding again?”
“I have,” William replied carefully. “What of it?”
“I have just returned also,” Lord Raven continued, loudly. “Whatever are you doing with Miss Winters?”
A discomfort settled itself in William’s stomach. For some reason, it did not sit well with him that Lord Raven knew the activity he had been undertaking with the lady in question.
“It is not your business, Raven,” he answered as calmly as he could.
“Fencing?” Lord Raven spluttered, his eyebrows beetling together. “You are teaching a lady to fence? I cannot imagine her Father is best pleased about the situation if he is even aware of it at all!”
William felt a shot of annoyance rush through his chest.
“It is not your place to object, Raven.”
“It is my place to question what it is you are doing when it might very well jeopardise the investigation!” Lord Raven replied hotly. “You should not be riding about the countryside, Sotheby!”
“It is Weston, not Sotheby,” William reminded him. “And I am not riding around the countryside. We are quite well hidden up in the hills.”
“Not well enough.”
“Regardless,” William replied, knowing he was going to have to pull rank in order to bring this conversation to a close. “This is not something I need your input in, my dear earl. I am quite able to deal with Miss Winters myself.”
Lord Raven’s eyes flashed, aware that he was gently being put in his place.
“I know you are doing your very best for me,” William continued, not wishing to hurt his friend. “And I appreciate that more than I can say, but you must leave this alone. It is harming no-one.”
“I do not want you distracted from what is really important,” Lord Raven replied with a sigh. “To wake up on the battlefield and find your sword through one of your own men is no small matter. It is even worse that the enemy beside you was unconscious but alive.”
William clenched his fists. He could not help but recall that very moment. He felt sick to the stomach as he remembered waking up to see the dead man’s face lying next to his, the man’s eyes wide and staring.
“We are close to discovering who is responsible for trying to set you up,” Lord Raven finished, putting a hand on William’s arm. “I do not want you to jeopardise the situation, old chap.”
William nodded as he shook his hand off.
“I am aware of that, Raven. Rest assured, I will be more discreet next time I ride out and meet with Miss Winters.”
Lord Raven’s eyes flashed. “You do not intend to give up this folly then?”
“I cannot,” William replied with a grin. “And I find that, even if I could, I would not do so. I find her a most interesting young lady.”
“Does she know who you are?”
William nodded, ignoring Lord Raven’s swift intake of breath. “She does not know it all, of course, but enough. She keeps my secrets and I keep hers. Besides, I find her interesting to converse with when we have the time in between lessons. No, Raven, I shall not be giving her up. In truth, I intend to continue with her lessons for as long as I can.”
And with that, he turned on his heel and walked back towards the entrance of the manor, leaving a frustrated Lord Raven behind.
FOUR
“Are you sure Father will not mind our outing to town?”
Theodora smiled at her youngest sister Anna, from across the carriage. “Father gave me his express permission that we could go,” she said reassuringly. “In truth, I was as surprised as you appear to be this very moment, but I was not about to question him over the matter!”
“No indeed,” Beatrice, the second youngest sister replied, smiling at Anna. “You shall have to learn, Anna, that when Father gives his permission for something, we go at once without question. Least he changes his mind!”
Laughter rang around the carriage, filling Theodora’s heart with happiness. It had been too long since they had all managed to take a trip into town together, and she was glad for the opportunity to spend time with her sisters.
There was Anna, who at twelve years old was the youngest of the sisters and quite in awe of those that were already out. Then Beatrice, at fifteen years old, and finally Caroline, who was only just seventeen. At times, Theodora felt quite old. Despite being only a year older than Caroline, to have all but Anna out made the pressure on her to find a husband grow with each and every day that passed.
Despite knowing that it was not from a lack of trying, Theodora could not help but admit that she felt a slight wave of concern over the look in her father’s eyes of late.
She would often catch him regarding her steadily as though really seeing her for the first time. Was it because he was considering her future? At times, she had been worried that he had become aware of her clandestine meetings with Mr Weston, but she had always been able to dismiss that notion almost immediately, knowing that her father would have been in a rage had he discover her activities. His foul temper did not concern her in the least
, for she had assuaged her father’s wrath before, although she was not quite sure how she would manage such a thing again under these particular circumstances.
Her meetings with Mr Weston had now gone on for a little over a month, and Theodora had been greatly pleased with his teaching and her obvious improvement in skill. Of course, she continued to be frustrated with herself whenever she made a mistake, but Mr Weston was teaching her to control such emotions so that they would not affect her play. He seemed pleased with her and that in itself brought her great pleasure.
Theodora sat back and leaned heavily against the squabs, allowing her mind to wander as she looked out of the window, barely hearing her sisters chatter. Mr Weston was on her mind a great deal these last few days, and Theodora could hardly find a reason for it. Mayhap it was because they spent so much time together, but she often found herself considering him when they were apart.
She had been delighted, of course, that he had told her the truth about his past and his real identity, feeling as though she had got to know him a little better now that there was no façade between them. On one occasion, she had asked him if it was Lord Raven who was inquiring about the incident on his behalf, and although he had looked surprised for a brief moment, he had congratulated her on her insight and admitted that it was so.
Of late, he had seemed quite delighted with the progress that Lord Raven was making, telling her that he would soon be able to re-enter society and take his proper place amongst the peerage. She had never asked him what that particular place was, of course, thinking that it would be best not to enquire too much about what he had waiting for him. It would not be polite, and to be completely honest, she quite liked that there was still a little mystery about him.
There was something about Mr Weston, even though she knew he was Mr Sotheby, that was still hidden from her. A mystery that she did not as yet want to solve.
He had talked a little more about the circumstances that he had found himself in, and Theodora had found her heart aching for him. To give of oneself for one’s country only to find yourself then betrayed by someone you fought alongside – she could barely take it in. There was no doubt in her mind that Mr Weston was innocent of the crime he had been accused of; there was not even the smallest suggestion in her mind that he was an infiltrator of any sort. She had said as much to him and had seen the look of appreciation in his eyes, which had both made her smile and brought a fluttering to her heart.
That was the difficulty in all of this, Theodora admitted to herself. There was more in what she felt for Mr Weston than a simple friendship or camaraderie. It had not come at once, of course, but over the time they were spending together, Theodora found herself sometimes lacking in concentration due to his smile or the strange look in his eyes. She could not give reason to such a lack of attentiveness other than to admit that she found Mr Weston a highly attractive man.
That was difficult for her to confess, even to herself, for Theodora had never considered herself open to such foibles. All she wanted to do was learn to fence, and learn to fence well, but her heart was beginning to pull her in a very different direction.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The last thing she wanted was to fall in love with a man who might be forced to continue to hide from society for some time, never able to settle down, but it appeared that she was doing precisely that.
A vision of him appeared before her eyes, from the last time they had met to fence. They had sparred for a good hour, with Mr Weston shouting instruction over the top of the sound of clanging foils until Theodora had been unable to take any more. She had collapsed exhausted against the wall of the small, run-down shanty, letting the sun stream down to her already warm face, laughing at the sight of Mr Weston lying on the grass next to her.
When he had looked up at her, a boyish grin on his face and his deep green eyes flashing with mirth, Theodora had found that her heart had slammed into her chest with such force that it had taken her breath away! Her entire body, exhausted as it was, had come alive, sparking with a delicious sensation that made her stomach fill with butterflies and her cheeks heat even more than they already were. At the very memory, she could feel heat infusing her cheeks.
There was no doubt that they were growing more familiar. For he had held out a hand to her and helped her to her feet, only for his touch to linger for a moment or two longer. They had stood facing one another, their breath still uneven, their fingers still touching, and all of the world had seemed to slow around them.
Theodora had found herself itching to push back his hair from his forehead, wanting to let her fingers trace over his strong jaw just so that she might feel the touch of his skin on hers. He had not said anything to her but had simply stood there and looked deeply into her eyes, the muscles in his jaw jumping.
He had leaned closer at one point, only for the intimacy to be broken by the sudden, harsh call of a jackdaw, which had made them both laugh. He had let go of her hand and stepped away, encouraging her to return home so as not to engender the wrath of her father, and she had obeyed without saying much else. That moment had been on her mind ever since and continued to remain etched in her heart even now when she walked with her sisters in town.
“Where is Beatrice?” Theodora asked, only just becoming aware that one of her sisters was missing. Somehow, Theodora had managed to climb down from the carriage and start meandering through the cobbled streets without truly being aware of where she was and what she was doing, such was the power of the numerous thoughts about Mr Weston that circled her mind.
“She is talking to an acquaintance,” Caroline replied, falling into step with Theodora. “Goodness, Theodora, your head is quite in the clouds today!”
Giving her sister a self-conscious smile, Theodora paused in her steps and waited for Beatrice, who was giving her farewells to a young lady that Theodora had only had the chance to meet on a few previous occasions.
“Was that Miss Springburn?” she asked as Beatrice re-joined them.
Beatrice nodded, a smile on her lips.
“Indeed it was. She was informing me about some delicious rumours going about the town at this very moment!”
Theodora could not help but roll her eyes, shaking her head at her sister. “Rumours, Beatrice? Come now, idle gossip does not become you.”
“It is not idle if it is true!” Beatrice protested, her smile fading slightly. “She was telling me that there is a man named Mr Weston staying with Lord Raven.”
“Mr Weston?” Theodora repeated, her blood running slightly cold at the thought of everyone in society knowing about his presence. “With Lord Raven did you say?”
“No-one knows very much about him,” Beatrice continued as though she had not heard Theodora. “But there is talk that he is a peer of the realm, perhaps even a duke!”
Theodora stopped dead, staring at Beatrice.
“I know!” Beatrice exclaimed, mistaking the shock on Theodora’s face for surprise. “A duke, here in our very midst!”
Caroline sighed and shook her head. “He cannot be a duke if he is named ‘Mr Weston’, Beatrice.”
Beatrice squealed and clapped her hands together. “That is the most delicious part, Caroline! The rumour is that he is here to escape town, to find himself a bride that will not care so much for his title. He will reveal the truth of his identity once he has secured such a lady.”
Theodora blinked twice before straightening and clearing her throat. “You are suggesting that he is hiding his true identity so that a lady will not be swayed by the grandeur of his title?”
“It is most romantic!” Beatrice exclaimed, her expression joyous. “To think that a man with such a high standing seeks love and affection in his marriage as opposed to simply duty and obligation …it is almost unheard of!”
“It is a rumour and nothing else,” Theodora replied firmly. “I do not think that we should give it much consideration, Beatrice. What if Mr Weston turns out to be … Mr Weston? What shall we do th
en?” She attempted to inject a note of mirth in her voice, but her sisters dismissed it at once, preferring to believe that Mr Weston was a member of the peerage seeking a bride of his own.
Theodora, of course, knew the truth and became a little worried over Mr Weston’s new reputation. He would have to be told what was being said about him, of course, although she hoped that he would not disappear simply because his person was now the talk of their small county. Surely, even if society knew of his presence, that did not mean that he would immediately have to leave the vicinity? Lord Raven had been making substantial progress in his case, had he not? Surely if they were close to discovering the truth about who had set Mr Weston up, then he would not have to leave and find another place where he might hide. Chewing worryingly on her lower lip, Theodora walked a little behind her sisters, allowing their chatter on the subject to distract them from her anxious behaviour.
Surprised as she was by the rumour, Theodora could not help but have her heart beat a little faster when she thought of Mr Weston. He had told her he was Mr Sotheby, but she had never thought to question him further. Could it be that he was, in fact, a member of the peerage?
Could he really be a duke, even though he was now hiding from those who might seek his life? It was not unheard of for men of his rank to go out into the battlefield, although it was rare. Surely if it were true, then that meant that he was a man she could respect all the more, a man willing to lay aside the honour of his rank and all the wealth and pleasure that came with it so that he might fight for king and country.
For a moment, a hot blush climbed into her cheeks as she thought of how she had acted around him, even from their very first meeting. She had not been proper in the least, for what lady wished to seek fencing lessons for themselves? Very few, she was quite sure, and it was certainly not the thing to ask a duke to assist with either! However, it is not as though he turned you down, a small voice reminded her. He has been willing to teach you, to spend time in your company.