"Ha! Arthur doesn't frighten me," she lied valiantly. "He may make things unpleasant for a while, but I can cope with his moods. I've managed thus far."
From his vantage point in the front parlor of Berry House, a pleasant, seventeenth-century manor set in formal grounds, Freddie Lynton watched the chaise approach with a great deal of trepidation. He knew not what to expect.
Over the past few days he'd fallen prey to all manner of fears and had scarcely dared leave the security of the house. Mrs. Rutledge and her son were at present engaged below stairs and were unaware of the pending visitors.
As the chaise halted at the door, Freddie stood anxiously waiting for sight of its occupants, not daring to leave his post until he knew their identity.
Seeing Sinclair step down and hand his sister from the carriage, Freddie hotfooted it to the door, flinging it wide before a startled maid could perform the service.
"Jenny!" he cried, hurrying forward across the gravel drive. "And you, sir." He took Sinclair's hand in a painful grip, a look of vast relief on his youthful countenance. "I thought you were the runners. How did you know where to find me? Have you come to inform me that I'm a murderer? For I tell you, I've been expecting it these four days or more"
He appeared to be in great agitation, and the earl laid a calming hand on his shoulder. Raising his chin slightly, he looked in the direction of the coachman and postillion, indicating that Freddie should show more caution and quell his outpourings. "Take Jenny inside while I dismiss the coachman," he said. "I will follow directly."
Freddie did as he was bid and took his sister into the sunny entrance hall of the house, where they stood awaiting the earl. Placing a comforting arm about his shoulders, Jenny covertly searched his face and was concerned to see the effects his sleepless nights had taken on his pale countenance. However, before she could make any comment, Sinclair joined them, and Freddie turned fearful eyes toward him.
"What am I to do, sir?" he cried. "I know I should have stayed to face the consequences, but my first thought was of flight."
"There's no need for all this," stated the earl calmly, eager to allay the boy's fears. "Your opponent does very well. He was no more than stunned and recovered immediately, as you would have seen if you'd not been so intent on escape. Indeed, whatever the outcome of the bout, you should have come to me, instead of haring halfway up the country."
"Then I'm not a murderer?" breathed Freddie with great relief. "I can return home?"
"Not just yet," replied Jenny, speaking for the first time. "We must take a slight detour, but I will explain all to you later... 11
At that moment, the door that led to below stairs opened, and Mrs. Rutledge and her son emerged and came quickly across the hallway. Briefly Sinclair looked his amazement but quickly schooled his countenance to hide his surprise.
He'd expected Phillip Rutledge to be the same age as Freddie. He had not been prepared for the handsome, blond-haired man who appeared to be his own age and who came quickly forward to embrace Jennifer warmly. Watching the joyous reunion, he knew a moment of intense disquiet before he took himself severely to task.
Mrs. Rutledge, a pleasant-faced widow in her early fifties, pushed her son aside to gather Jenny to her. "I can't tell you how prodigiously pleased we are to see you, my dear," she said, smiling warmly. "Indeed, we were on the point of sending a letter to Hawley."
"Thank goodness we arrived in time to prevent that," breathed Jenny, pulling away.
Once more stepping forward to reclaim Jenny's attention, Rutledge said, "We saw the situation immediately and thought it only right that he should be made aware of Freddie's whereabouts"
"Arthur knows nothing of the situation," Jenny confessed. "Ned and I set out in the hope of righting the matter and preventing him from finding out."
Thus far the earl's presence had gone almost unnoticed, but her outburst drew attention to him.
"And who is this who accompanies you, Jenny?" asked Phillip, turning to face the earl with a superior air.
"Judith, Phillip, allow me to introduce the Earl of Sinclair," said Jennifer, smiling at her companions.
Sinclair made a small bow. "Your servant, ma'am," he said, accepting the hand Judith extended in greeting and taking it dutifully to his lips.
Phillip stood slightly aloof, regarding the earl with a perplexed frown. "Aren't you ...? Weren't you and Jenny ...? In short, sir, are you or are you not Jenny's betrothed?"
"Not," replied Sinclair stiffly. "As you may be aware, we ended our engagement by mutual agreement. I but accompany her to retrieve Freddie."
A look almost of relief flitted across Phillip's countenance, and he came forward to warmly shake the earl's hand, the meaning of the moment's hesitation not being entirely lost on Sinclair.
"I must thank you for giving our dear Jenny your protection," said Phillip. "It's not at all seemly that she should have traveled here alone, though one would wonder at the propriety of her traveling at all without a female companion."
Liking not his air of familiar possessiveness, the earl gave a brief nod in reply.
Judith smiled and, recollecting her duties as hostess, spread her arms wide as if to gather her flock together. "Whatever am I at, leaving everyone standing in the hall?" she said. "Let us go into the parlor, and tea will be served immediately."
As everyone repaired to the parlor, Freddie took the opportunity to pull the earl aside and draw him into the shadow of the stair.
"I say, sir, I can't tell you how relieved I am," he said earnestly. "I know you will say I deserve it, but I've been in torment these last few days"
"Then you may safely put all thoughts of it out of your mind," assured Sinclair. "It was nothing but a bout of fisticuffs that resulted in an unfortunate accident-a stupid act that will have no lasting consequences. No ill will come of it. Perry was beside himself when you disappeared, but instead of coming to me with the story, he regrettably took it to your sister. Thankfully, she did come to me, but how Hawley will react, I don't know."
Freddie's face fell. "Arthur already thinks me a numbskull, and now he will have an even lower opinion of me."
Sinclair smiled, patting the boy's shoulder reassuringly. "Then we must see what can be done to salvage the situation."
Freddie appeared much relieved but sobered as a thought came to him. "There's another matter, sir," he said hesitantly, obviously embarrassed by the situation. "I didn't have sufficient funds to pay off the chaise that brought me here and had to ask Phillip to advance me the blunt. He says he will ask my brother to reimburse him to ensure that I am made aware of my folly. He knows it will make Arthur even more furious with me. I offered to repay him as soon as I received my quarterly allowance in three weeks, but he would have none of it. I know I've no right to ask, but could you ...? I would be so grateful, and you know I would repay you as soon as I am back in funds."
"I will square matters with Rutledge," the earl assured him, surprised that their host had taken such a hard line when Freddie was in such obvious distress. "However, it's not your money I require in return. You will repay me by giving your sister no more cause for alarm. I want your promise that if you ever again find yourself in a like situation, you will come to me °"
Freddie, suppressing the urge to throw his arms about his benefactor, merely grinned and, reaching for Sinclair's hand, grasped it firmly in both of his. "By the saints, I wish you were my brother, sir. You are always so understanding of the situations we chaps find ourselves in."
"You will find me less than understanding if you and my addle-brained brother don't moderate your ways," admonished Sinclair.
When they rejoined the others, the earl noted that Phillip and Jenny appeared engrossed in a cozy tete-a-tete, and he was aware of the smiles his former fiancee bestowed on her companion. Judith attempted to draw him into conversation, but he gave only half a mind to what she was saying until he saw her looking at him with a raised eyebrow, as if she was awaiting a suitable answer to a questio
n.
"I do beg your pardon, Mrs. Rutledge," he said, smiling. "I'm afraid that for a brief moment my thoughts were elsewhere."
Casting a glance in the direction of her son and his companion, Judith gave a knowing smile and repeated her previous question. "They would make a handsome couple, don't you think, my lord?"
"Of a certainty," replied the earl, thankful that she couldn't read his thoughts.
"It was Jenny's mother's most fervent wish that they should make a match of it, but when she died, the child's father took it into his head to find her a more suitable husband"
"In the form of myself!"
"It would seem so. Though now that the engagement is at an end, perhaps Hawley could be persuaded to look kindly on the match. They deal prodigiously well together, as you can see"
"They do indeed," agreed Sinclair pensively. Then, after a moment's pause, he said, "I would say they deal extremely well together."
"I knew you would see it," enthused Mrs. Rutledge. "'Tis plain for all to see. If only Jenny would acknowledge it."
"She has reservations?"
"The child states she thinks of Phillip only as a brother, though, seeing them together, one would question it. What think you, sir?"
The earl considered the pair before giving his answer. "It's not for me to say, madam. I'm not privy to Jenny's thoughts"
"'Madam'?" Mrs. Rutledge chuckled. "I will not have you stand on such ceremony. You must call me Judith, as do Freddie and Jenny."
Sinclair smiled, bowing slightly in his seat. "Then Judith it will be, and you, in turn, must address me as Edward. I am not overly fond of titles either."
"Freddie told us what a top-rate fellow he thought you"she smiled-"and, in confidence, I must tell you just how disappointed he is that you are not to be his brother-in-law."
The earl studied Freddie, who had joined his sister. "He's very much akin to my own brother, and the door to my home is ever open to him, though I've no wish to encroach upon his relationship with Hawley."
"From what the boy says, he stands somewhat in awe of his brother, and when I told him that Phillip was intent on sending a letter, he was most distressed. Indeed, I can't help but regret Phillip's haste in the matter."
"I agree. Without it, we might have a chance to salvage the situation, as was our intention. But if Hawley had been informed, we would have had little chance of achieving it. However, I am hoping that with my sister, Flora's, assistance, we may yet be able to avoid a scandal. We left London in some haste, none being aware of our whereabouts, and it will take a good deal of ingenuity to bring about a satisfactory conclusion to the matter."
"You are rather flouting propriety, you know, accompanying Jenny without as much as a maid for chaperone," said Judith. "Forswear, if the nature of your journey should become known, she will be ruined, and you would be obliged to marry her, whether it's what you both wish or not"
"Even though we are no longer betrothed, you must know that I would go to any lengths to preserve her reputation," Sinclair assured her.
"I do believe you would," said Judith, considering the point. "I see that Freddie did not exaggerate when he stated his opinion of you, and I can understand his regret that the engagement was broken"
The earl smiled, appearing somewhat discomfited. "You give me more credit than I deserve. I do no more than would others in a like situation."
To Sinclair's vast relief, the maid entered the parlor bearing the tea tray, thus bringing about an end to the conversationa conversation on a topic he'd no wish to pursue.
Supper at Berry House proved to be a jovial occasion. Freddie, released from his dread of prosecution, was full of high spirits. However, as his schoolboy jokes drew naught but a groaning response from his companions, he eventually contented himself with listening to the general flow of relaxed conversation.
"How long do you intend to stay in Buxton, Sinclair?" asked Phillip, offering up his wineglass to the maid so that it might be refilled.
"I believe it would be prudent to commence our journey on the morrow," replied the earl. "It would not do that we delay our return. We will travel separately, of course. Jenny and Freddie are to go to my sister's house, while I return to London"
Turning to Jennifer, Phillip smiled. "I will, of course, put myself at your disposal. I will escort you and Freddie to Ravensby." When Jenny would have protested, he shook his head. "I insist upon it. I can't allow you to career over the countryside in a hired chaise when I can provide the comforts of my own"
Jenny cast the earl a hasty glance. "There is absolutely no need for your concern, Phillip," she replied. "Freddie and I will manage quite well."
"Come, Sinclair, support me in this," Rutledge demanded. "Don't you think it wise that I accompany them? Surely you see the sense of my suggestion."
"In truth, I do," replied the earl, "but I leave the decision to Jenny. Though one would suspect she has had a surfeit of hired vehicles."
"Could we not travel part of the way together, Ned?" she asked.
"I think not. We should be cautious and take separate routes if we're to maintain the ruse. Let Phillip accompany you. I will feel easier in my mind knowing you have an escort"
"What about me?" cried Freddie indignantly. "Am I of no account?"
"No!" came the laughing reply from his supper companions.
Later that evening, as the company prepared to retire, the earl and Jennifer found themselves seated alone in the parlor.
"I'm glad they've gone," said Jenny quietly. "It's so much more comfortable when there's only the two of us, Ned." She was silent for a moment, seeming to consider a point before she continued. "I realize now that I shouldn't have involved you in all of this, and I quite see the impropriety of the situation. I've placed you in an invidious position."
"Nonsense, my dear," he replied, leaving his seat and coming to sit beside her on the couch. "I've enjoyed our escapade enormously, but now is the time to bring it to its close."
"Are you sure Flora will not resent our being thrust so unceremoniously onto her generosity?"
He smiled reassuringly. "I have every confidence that she will welcome you with open arms. As I've explained, I know my sister well. She will be delighted to be made privy to our little venture. Indeed, I would guess she will be most disappointed not to have been included earlier."
Jenny chuckled. "If she had been included, there would not now be any need for subterfuge"
Sinclair smiled ruefully. "I love my sister dearly, but I positively refuse to travel half the country's length in her company. She chatters incessantly."
Jenny gave a small trill of laughter. "So do I"
"Yes, that thought had crossed my mind," he replied, grinning openly.
"You're laughing at me," she accused him with an irrepressible twinkle. "I dare say you find me amusing, but you will soon tire of your sport"
"I never tire of laughing."
"Wretch" She chuckled. Then, contritely, she asked, "Dear Edward, have I plagued you dreadfully?"
"Quite," he responded in a much altered tone, his mood taking a sudden change. She raised inquiring eyes to his, and for a moment he studied her face. "Jenny, I . . " he began, but before his words could go further, his arm reached out of its own volition and drew her to him. Bowing his head, he tenderly kissed her with a poignant longing made all the more sweet by her tentative, naive response.
"Marry me, Jen," he whispered against her cheek when they finally drew apart.
"No ... No ... Please, Ned, there is no need," she cried, pulling away. "I quite understand your motives, and I am truly grateful. Because of what has been said, you feel you've compromised me, but indeed you have not. It's vastly obliging of you to offer for me, but I assure you, there's no need."
"'Obliging' of me? What nonsense is this? Surely, you must realize ..
At that moment the parlor door was opened, and Freddie came quickly into the room, and whatever words the boy would have uttered, clearly died on his lips as he
took in the scene before him.
The earl immediately came to his feet and, taking Jenny's hand, bowed over it. "Forgive me, my dear," he said quietly. "I forget myself. Have no fear-I will not embarrass you by repeating my indiscretion. You may be perfectly easy in my company when next we meet." Turning abruptly on his heel, he strode from the room, seeing not the bewildered look on her pale countenance.
Closing the door to his bedchamber, Sinclair placed the candle on the mantel and sat in the hearthside chair. Closing his eyes, he rested his head against the chair back, silently cursing himself for being a fool. He could not believe how close he'd come to revealing his closely guarded secret. It had not been his intention to utter a declaration; the words had come unbidden, and, witnessing Jenny's reaction, he wished them unsaid. He'd come within a hairsbreadth of forsaking his resolve to deny his emotions. It was a resolve he'd fought hard to control over the past days they'd spent together, and he inwardly cringed at what a fool he must have appeared.
Jenny had given no indication that she thought of him as anything other than a friend, and who could blame her? Certainly not he! He would not, could not, allow his feelings to rule him. He loved her too well. He could not believe, after valiantly concealing his deep affection for so long, how easily his barriers had been breached in that one unguarded moment.
He sat thus for some while, having no desire to retire, until eventually he went to his valise. Placing his hand inside, his fingers sought the portrait, but as they did not immediately encounter the silver frame, he took the candle and held it aloft. Still no portrait, and for a moment he couldn't comprehend its loss. All of a sudden the memory of placing it beneath his pillow the previous night came to him. With Jenny's arrival so early that morning and their hastened departure, he'd given it no thought, and a sense almost of panic overcame him. No matter what, he could not lose it; it was too precious to him. His instant thought was to return to the inn immediately, but he realized that would be foolish. However, he resolved to leave for The Sow's Ear at first light.
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