When You Wish

by Alexandra Ivy

  Besides, he had told himself, he still had a few last-minute touches to finish with his current invention.

  But after an hour in the stables he had reluctantly acknowledged that he could not stay away.

  Rachel was youthful and passionate enough to plunge herself into disaster. And Anthony had little faith that her unpredictable uncle could hope to restrain her. It was clearly his responsibility see to it that she did not become too outrageous.

  Convincing himself that his urgency to be at Rachel’s side was more a matter of duty than a mere aching desire to see her smile, he had hurriedly bathed and changed. Then, deciding it would be quicker to walk than call for his carriage, he had cut through the nearby woods and angled across the parkland to arrive directly in the gardens.

  He had just reached the hedge when he heard the sound of Rachel’s voice, clearly followed by the pleas of Lord Newell.

  At first Anthony was forced to exercise undue restraint to keep from plunging through the hedge and blackening the forward fool’s eye. Absurd, considering he had never experienced a twinge of jealousy in his life. But even as his hands clenched at his side he heard Rachel firmly threatening the boy with visions of dueling her uncle.

  His annoyance had fled to be replaced with undeniable surprise. Hearing Lord Newell scurry away, he stepped around the hedge to confront the woman who was a constant plague to his thoughts.

  “Well, I must admit to being rather bewildered, my dove,” he said in low tones.

  Her eyes widened at his sudden appearance, appearing quite fetching in a brilliant sapphire gown and straw hat with matching ribbons.

  “Anthony, I did not think you would be here,” she said, not bothering to disguise her pleasure at his sudden appearance.

  Anthony’s heart warmed and any unease at the knowledge he was not nearly so comfortable alone with his work as he used to be was dismissed.

  “I became bored with my own company. I thought I w—would amuse myself by watching you vex Lady Broswell. It appears that my trip was in vain, however.”

  Her expression became guarded at his words. “I do not know what you mean.”

  “Oh, come, Rachel, you have obviously lured young Newell into your web for the sole purpose of making Lady Broswell gnash her teeth.”

  “Perhaps I simply find him charming.”

  Anthony stepped forward, clasping her chin in a firm grip. “N—no, he is far too weak and easily swayed to tempt you.”

  The hazel eyes sparkled in a deliberate challenge. “Surely a lady of sense would prefer a gentleman who is malleable? Far more comfortable than a gentleman who refuses to do as one wishes.”

  His gaze swept over her pale features, lingering on the stubborn line of her jaw.

  “You would be bored witless in an hour. Only a challenge would suit your passionate nature.”

  “You are very confident that you know me.”

  “Not nearly as well as I would desire to know you.” Her eyes abruptly darkened at his soft words and Anthony felt a fierce stab of need. He remembered the evening two nights ago when he had held her and caressed her with such intimacy. Good heavens, he had never wanted a woman as desperately as he wanted this one. “By God, you could tempt a saint. And I have n—never been a saint.”

  She swayed forward, then seeming to abruptly remember that they were in full sight of the other guests, she took a hasty step backward.

  “I should return to my uncle.”

  “In a moment.” He halted her retreat. “First I wish to know why you chose to send that eager whelp back to Lady Broswell rather than further your revenge.”

  She gave a shrug. “Does it matter?”

  “Yes, I rather think that it does.”

  She paused for a long moment before giving a restless shake of her head.

  “In truth I am not certain,” she grudgingly admitted. “I merely was in no humor to endure his tedious company.”

  Anthony smiled with gentle understanding. “Perhaps you are beginning to realize that revenge is a hollow triumph.”

  Not surprisingly, she promptly shied away from the hint that her determination might be weakening.

  “More likely I ate something that did not agree with me,” she said tartly. “Shall we join the others?”

  Anthony chuckled in appreciation at her undeniable spirit as he firmly placed her hand upon his arm.

  “By all means, my dear. We shall retrieve some champagne to settle that sour stomach of yours.”

  Ten

  The morning had dawned with a dismal promise of rain. Heavy gray clouds hung low in the skies, making most guests linger in their beds and sip their hot chocolate rather than brave the chilled rooms downstairs.

  Anthony, however, ignored the impending rain and attiring himself in his black coat and breeches, he made his way downstairs to partake of a generous breakfast. Once finished, he left a brief note that he commanded to be delivered to Miss Cresswell after luncheon and headed for the stables.

  Nearly three hours later he was at last satisfied that his project was perfected. Saddling his horse, he made his way to the distant dowager house, a smile touching his mouth as the clouds began to flee and the sun made a welcome appearance.

  It promised to be a glorious afternoon, he acknowledged. Perfect for his plans.

  He managed to slip Julia from the house with his usual ease, pushing her chair out of the fenced yard to the meadow beyond. Once there, he calmly settled her on the gentle mare he had brought with him to the house and carefully strapped her into the saddle he had devoted the past fortnight to constructing.

  It was ingenious in design. The high back supported her spine while a number of padded straps were attached to the saddle along with buckles so that Julia would be firmly locked into place.

  It took some time for him to satisfy himself that there would be no danger to the young girl. Without the use of her legs it would be entirely the saddle’s responsibility to hold her upright and in place.

  His careful inspection was accompanied by ceaseless chatter from Julia, who was utterly delighted by his surprise. Glancing at her animated countenance, he realized that she was a far different child from the one he and Rachel had discovered sitting listlessly beside the window.

  That young girl had been resigned to her life of bored loneliness. There had been no hope, no spark within those pale blue eyes. Now they shimmered with an undeniable excitement.

  A faint pang of unease entered his heart at the knowledge that both he and Rachel had unwittingly made a mark on Julia’s life. Her placid world had been temporarily disturbed and she had tasted the world about her. What would happen when they left and she was once again on her own?

  He abruptly shoved the question aside to be brooded upon later. Today he intended to see to it at least one of her dreams came true.

  “I believe we are prepared,” he at last announced as he straightened. “Now we have only to wait for Miss Cresswell to arrive.”

  “I can not wait for her to see me,” Julia breathed.

  Anthony heard the faint click of the front gate and he flashed his anxious companion a reassuring smile.

  “I do not believe you will have to wait long.”

  “How surprised she will be to see me.”

  “Surprised, indeed,” he agreed, glancing over the buckles once again to reassure himself they were tight. “You are certain that you are quite secure?”

  She gave a small wiggle. “I could not fall if I attempted to do so.”

  “And you will remember to hang on tightly?”

  “Do you always fuss so?” she demanded with a laugh.

  He offered a rueful smile. “Yes, I f—fear that I do. One must take care when one is preparing to fly.”

  “I will hold tightly,” she promised with a twinkle in her eyes.

  “Good.”

  Knowing that she was indeed safe, Anthony took the reins of the mare firmly in hand before pulling himself onto his own mount.

  In a conspir
atory silence they listened to Rachel cross the yard. He had specifically requested that she meet him behind the dowager house in the note that he had left. He hadn’t, however, revealed the surprise awaiting her.

  “Hello?” Rachel at last called out in puzzlement. “Julia?”

  “She is here,” Anthony retorted with a glance toward his companion.

  “I am ready,” Julia whispered in answer to his silent question.

  From behind the trees that hid them from view, Anthony watched Rachel push open the back gate and enter the small meadow. She glanced about in obvious bewilderment and Anthony gave a firm nod to the waiting Julia.

  “Here we go.”

  Urging his mount into a canter, Anthony pulled the mare behind him, keeping careful watch on the girl, who was grinning with obvious delight. Together they circled the meadow nearly a dozen times, Julia’s laughter ringing through the air. The blond hair tumbled about her flushed countenance, making her appear as young and carefree as a child.

  “Look, Miss Cresswell, I am flying,” Julia called in pure happiness.

  “You most certainly are,” Rachel readily applauded. “It is wonderful.”

  “Faster, Mr. Clarke,” the girl urged.

  With an indulgent smile Anthony increased the pace for one more turn about the meadow before bringing the horses to a halt beside the gate. Vaulting to the ground he moved to undo the numerous buckles.

  “I believe that is enough for now,” he said in firm tones. “I would not wish you to become stiff.”

  “Very well,” she agreed with a faint sigh.

  In moments he had her free and was lifting her down to carefully place her in the bath chair and covering her with a blanket.

  “Well, it appears, my dear, that you have fulfilled one of your wishes,” Rachel said as she gently brushed a strand of blond hair behind the girl’s ear.

  “It was most wonderful,” Julia breathed. “I felt as though I were indeed flying.”

  Rachel abruptly lifted her head to regard Anthony with a warm smile. A smile that Anthony felt to the very tips of his toes.

  “It was very clever of Mr. Clarke,” she said softly.

  “I am glad you approve,” he murmured with a dip of his head.

  “And very kind,” she concluded.

  “Oh yes,” Julia promptly agreed.

  Anthony gave a chuckle. “Enough. You shall quite put me to the blush.”

  Julia reached out to grasp his hand. “But I do not know how I can ever thank you.”

  “No thanks are necessary between friends.” He gave her fingers a slight squeeze. “And we are friends, are w—we not?”

  “I should like to think so,” she said wistfully.

  Freeing his hand, Anthony reached into his pocket to retrieve the small horse he had carved from a piece of mahogany. Although it was no masterpiece it was delicately detailed with a pair of dainty wings set on the back.

  “Here. I made this so you could always remember the day you flew.”

  With reverent care the maiden took the horse from his hands, running a finger over the polished wood.

  “Oh, it is beautiful. Do you see, Miss Cresswell? It has wings.”

  “It is perfect.” Rachel obligingly admired the carving. “Quite perfect.”

  Julia lifted the horse to press it to her cheek, then without warning she promptly burst into tears.

  Caught off guard, Anthony bent beside the chair.

  “Here, here. I meant for you to smile, not drown yourself in tears.”

  Julia managed a watery smile. “It is just that I have never had a real friend before. I believe it is just as wonderful as flying.”

  “Yes, I do believe you are right,” he said gently. “Now, as much as I regret ending our afternoon I fear it is time to return you to the house.”

  The glow in the blue eyes dimmed at his regretful words.

  “So soon?”

  Anthony disliked the thought of her returning to the dark house as much as the young girl. But he was sensible enough to realize they had courted enough danger for the moment.

  “We do not wish to be caught. It would be an end to our afternoons together.”

  “I suppose.”

  “We shall see you soon, my dear,” Rachel promised as Anthony moved to the back of the chair.

  “I am glad that you came to see me fly.”

  Rachel smiled. “As am I.”

  “I will return in a moment,” Anthony said to Rachel as he pushed the chair back through the gate and toward the house.

  It took a few moments to settle Julia beside the window, her new wooden horse hidden in a small drawer, before he was able to return to Rachel.

  He discovered her waiting for him patiently beside the horses, and collecting the reins, he indicated that he was ready to leave.

  They skirted the wall about the dowager property, heading toward the nearby woods. Feeling Rachel’s gaze upon him, Anthony turned his head to meet her quizzical regard.

  “Yes?”

  She slowly smiled. “You are an amazing gentleman, Mr. Clarke.”

  “Hardly amazing, my dear.”

  “But you are,” she protested. “I know of no other gentleman who would have given a second thought to Julia, let alone devote so much time to granting her wish.”

  His smile became rueful as he thought of the vulnerable child. “Well, I have a peculiar s—sympathy for those less than perfect.”

  The hazel eyes darkened with an indefinable emotion. “I happen to think you are quite perfect, Mr. Clarke, and I would thank you to halt your persistence in believing otherwise.”

  His breath caught at her fierce words, a magical sense of wonderment flowering in his heart. Suddenly he realized that when he was with Rachel he did feel perfect. Gloriously perfect with no need to remain in the shadows or disappear into his workroom.

  “Would you, indeed?”

  “Yes.”

  He allowed his gaze to lower to the full promise of her lips. “And I happen to think you are the most bewitching creature it has ever been my pleasure to encounter.”

  Those lips parted in the most enticing manner, but even as he considered the logistics of maintaining control of the horses while thoroughly kissing this adorable minx, there was the distinct sound of footsteps running deeper into the woods.

  Rachel came to a startled halt, her eyes wide. “Anthony?”

  “I heard,” he said quietly, pressing the reins into her hands. Moving forward, he peered through the heavy underbrush, unable to catch more than a brief glimpse of a fleeing form. “Damn.”

  “Do you see anyone?” Rachel called.

  “They have disappeared.”

  About to return to Rachel, he was suddenly distracted by a glint of gold upon the ground. Bending down, he scooped the small button from the dirt.

  “What is it?” Rachel demanded as she moved to join him.

  Anthony studied the object in the dappled light. “A button from a uniform, I believe.”

  “Heavens, what odd objects we seem to find in these woods. First a brooch and now a button. Perhaps this place is haunted.”

  Anthony could envision a far more prosaic reason for the woods to be littered with bits and pieces of clothing. He flashed her a wicked grin.

  “I w—would guess that the specters haunting these woods have not yet seen the inside of a grave.”

  She was swift to follow the direction of his thoughts and her golden brows lifted.

  “A lovers’ tryst?”

  “Yes.”

  She glanced around the thick line of trees, then noted the underbrush that would offer protection from the hard ground.

  “It is rather a romantic location, you must admit.”

  Anthony gritted his teeth as a predictable heat surged through his body. A heat that was becoming more and more difficult to contain.

  “Good gads, do not put such dangerous thoughts in my mind.”

  Her expression became coy as she fluttered the ridiculo
usly long lashes. “Do you mean to tell me they were not already there?”

  Anthony gave a bark of laughter. He never felt so alive as he did with this woman.

  “Minx,” he chided, taking the reins from her hands. “Let us go while I am able to maintain a thread of common sense.”

  He firmly led them from the tempting isolation of the trees, for once aware that his legendary self-control was in dire danger of going up in flames. Rachel readily followed his lead, although there was a decidedly pleased smile on her lips.

  Clearly she enjoyed the sensation of rattling his composure, he wryly acknowledged.

  They crossed the parkland and as they entered the courtyard Anthony lifted a hand toward a young groom. The servant hurried forward to offer a swift bow.

  “Sir.”

  “Take the horses to the stables.” He held out the reins to the lad.

  “At once.”

  With an odd glance at the unusual saddle on the mare, the servant hurried away, leaving Anthony free to concentrate on the maiden at his side.

  Turning, he met her teasing glance.

  “Are you not about to disappear, sir?” she asked in light tones.

  He raised his brows. “Not unless you wish me to, my dear.”

  “Of course not.” Her swift denial stirred a glow of satisfaction within him until she managed to dampen his smug pleasure with her artless smile. “Indeed, I particularly have something that I wish to show you.”

  His smile was wry as he gave a faint nod of his head. So much for his irresistible charm.

  “I am at your disposal.”

  With a mysterious smile she headed straight for the house. Anthony readily followed, amused by her obvious anticipation.

  There was a vivid energy about her that was utterly captivating. This woman would never be content to live her life in the quiet, placid style that was expected by society. She would charge boldly through the world with no concern that she was not nearly as comfortably predictable as most gentlemen preferred.

  They entered the house through a side door and leading him to a narrow staircase used by the servants, she began climbing to the third floor.