Dare to Love

by Alleigh Burrows

  “I suppose it’s not the horses themselves I hate. But given my size, riding them always seemed rather mean.” She dreaded bringing attention to her weight, but she had never been comfortable balancing herself on a beast with such spindly legs. She knew it was irrational, but there it was. She did not ride.

  “Come now,” he said, waving toward the black beasts, “they are powerful enough to pull a sizable wagon with no trouble. We’ll be fine.”

  “No! We will not be fine! I have no intention of riding that thing anywhere.” Nivea crossed her arms across her bosom and glared at him.

  Her response didn’t impress him in the slightest. Reaching into the rear of the carriage Dare pulled out his bags. “As you wish. I will offer your apologies to your family.” He motioned to Weldon who transferred his possessions into a pair of saddlebags and slung them over the horse’s back.

  She couldn’t believe her eyes. “You cannot be serious. You are just going to leave me here…unescorted?”

  “My coachman is quite respectable. I’m certain he will ensure you are protected. Isn’t that right, Weldon?”

  “Yes, milord,” the man snapped to attention.

  Nivea was dumbfounded. He must know he was putting her in an impossible situation. Either she could go back to town, escorted only by a coachman, for an uncertain length of time and risk missing her sister’s wedding, or she could continue the trip, riding a horse. Good God, there wasn’t even a saddle! She would kill herself for certain.

  “Well, I’m off. Are you coming or not?” Dare asked. Unconcerned by her predicament, he swung himself up on the enormous horse’s back and grabbed the makeshift reins. He didn’t even require the assistance of a groom. That feat of athleticism helped Nivea to make up her mind. Even atop a coach horse, Dare was a breathtaking sight.

  She could not pass up the chance to be with him, no matter how distressing the circumstances. “I’m coming,” she huffed and turned to search through her bags.

  “Only grab your necessities, please. The rest will catch up with us sooner or later. In fact, you will be better suited to pack more serviceable attire. This trip may be a bit dusty.”

  Naturally. Knowing she’d be riding with Dare for three or four days, she’d packed her most attractive outfits, and now she was being asked to stuff them into a sack. With a sigh, she dug through to find her most comfortable clothes. She changed into a pair of serviceable boots and handed her bag to the coachman.

  Using the coach as a stepladder, Weldon helped hoist her up onto the horse. She settled on its back and trotted over to Dare, about as comfortable as a fish riding a crocodile.

  The first few miles were exhausting. Nivea used all her strength to stay upright. The constant rocking of the horse made her slightly sea sick, and the jolting rattled her. Dare seemed perfectly at ease on his massive mount, riding it like a thoroughbred. He would turn back every so often to make sure she was still in attendance, but did not offer any encouragement.

  After what seemed like an eternity, they arrived at a small hamlet and Dare slowed his horse. “I had hoped to be farther along today, but in light of our difficulties, I suggest we stop here. I will endeavor to find a place for us to stay tonight.”

  She could do no more than nod in response.

  Thank God, this nightmare was almost over. She hoped she could survive until tomorrow.

  Chapter 3

  Dare took one look at Nivea’s grateful expression and felt a pang of remorse. He should be more solicitous of her. True, she was not his most shapely companion, but she was much less disagreeable than most, barely voicing a word of complaint.

  It wasn’t her fault he was so ill tempered. It was his blasted carriage that had broken, after all. And now he was forced to ride through the countryside on a coach horse, looking like a farmhand. Dear God, how his family would laugh if they saw him. Their ridicule would be endless.

  Thinking of his family brought on a familiar surge of anger. Unwilling to give in to such a relentless emotion, he slowed down and returned his attention to his companion trailing behind.

  “Don’t worry, it won’t be much farther.” He offered her an encouraging smile.

  Her response was a tired shrug.

  Fortunately, the second building they came upon had a small, faded sign out front, declaring itself a respectable establishment for travelers. As they turned up the entrance, a young man emerged from the stable.

  Dare said under his breath, “It would be best if we pose as brother and sister, to avoid any impropriety. The rest of our story is innocent enough.”

  Nivea nodded, her eyes fixed on the approaching stable hand.

  “Good day, sir,” the young man said with a tug to his forelock, “are you anxious for a bit of rest tonight?”

  “Yes. Do you have rooms available?”

  “Oh, yes, milord. Mr. Ludlow will be more’n pleased to find a room for you and your…”

  “Sister,” Landis finished for him.

  “Sister. Yes, milord.”

  Dare sprung from his horse, wincing as he landed. The large nag was by no means as comfortable as his usual mount. He handed off the reins and strode over to Nivea to help her down.

  Keeping her eyes averted, she mumbled, “Why don’t you go inside. I’ll join you in a moment.”

  In no mood for games, he reached up his arms and gestured irritably for her to dismount.

  Still she didn’t move. Instead, she said, “Perhaps you could ask for some assistance. Or I could climb down onto that block over there.”

  Dare couldn’t wait to get inside to wash off the dust from the road. It coated his face and hair—even his teeth were gritty. This was no time for arguments. “Come, it will be fine. Let’s get inside where we can rest.”

  “I don’t think I can.”

  Now she was being ridiculous. “Nonsense. Throw your leg over and slide down. I’ll catch you.”

  As much as she wanted to get down from the dreadful beast, Nivea hated to appear ungainly in front of him. But what choice did she have? If she continued to fuss, it would irritate him.

  So, rucking up her skirts as best she could without exposing her entire thigh, she took a deep breath, heaved her leg over the horse, and plummeted down into his arms. He staggered a bit, but managed to guide her to her feet without incident.

  As always, the touch of his hands sent a pleasant shock through her. But it only lasted until her feet hit the ground and her knees buckled. She’d never felt so sore in all her life. She hoped she could make it inside without collapsing.

  Mr. Ludlow was waiting at the front door and snapped to attention as they approached. It was obvious that years of service had taught him to recognize Quality even if their mounts were not the usual snuff. “Milord, welcome to our establishment. Will you be dining with us this evening or do you and your lady require a room?”

  “My sister and I will require two rooms. You may bring us both a hot bath and set up a meal in a private sitting room. If you can have everything accomplished in the next three quarters of an hour, there will be an extra shilling for you.”

  “Yes, milord! Please make yourself comfortable in our parlor while I see to your rooms.”

  He led them to a tidy little area off the front hall. Dare surveyed the accommodations before stretching out his long frame on the damask sofa. Nivea sank into a sturdy chair by the door, grateful for the steady surface.

  She smiled at the sound of footsteps racing up and down the stairs. It was obvious that Mr. Ludlow was intent on meeting their needs as soon as possible.

  The door opened and an older woman approached with a tray of glasses.

  “’Ere is some sherry for you and your lady, sir. Sure to clear out the dust from the road.” She placed the tray on the table and left with a nervous curtsey. Dare eyed the glasses warily. Picking one up, he held it up to the light. Finding it to his standards, he took a small sip and handed the other glass to Nivea.

  Reaching out to accept the glass, she did
her best to hide a grimace of pain. Uncertain how it would go down, she took a small, cautious sip. There was a slight burn, but after a few swallows, her jabbing pain mellowed to a dull throbbing.

  “Better?” Dare asked.

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine,” she said, not at all confident. Every bone, muscle, and sinew in her body ached. She wasn’t sure she could even get out of the chair once their rooms were ready. In fact, she would have been happy to fall asleep right there, perhaps never waking up again.

  “It was a bit of a bumpy ride. I assure you, we will be more comfortable tomorrow.”

  Nivea managed a nod, before setting down her empty glass and closing her eyes.

  After what seemed like a cruelly short period of time, Mr. Ludlow reappeared and announced their rooms were ready. Dare helped her from the chair—for all appearances, acting as a solicitous brother, but in reality, he had to exert a hearty tug to get her upright. While the tingle from his touch was still there, it dimmed to a faint flicker as he helped guide her up the interminable amount of stairs and into her room. She let out a sigh of relief when the door closed. A young miss was already in attendance, and Nivea was immensely grateful as she helped her remove her travel clothes and eased her into the soothing bath.

  If she had ever doubted her aversion for riding, today solidified it. How could anyone enjoy being bounced around on such an ungainly beast? Every inch of her felt bumped and bruised. Thank goodness, she would never have to go through that again.

  The water was starting to get cold when there was a knock on the door.

  “Supper is ready, miss,” the maid called out. “I will help you get dressed so you can join his lordship.”

  Nivea was too tired to eat, but spending time in Dare’s presence was tempting enough to drag her from the bath. She let the maid help her into her least rumpled gown and then headed across the hall.

  Dare was standing by the window with his snuffbox in hand. Even without a valet, he looked impeccable. It was so unfair.

  She gingerly took her place at the table, her posterior so sore, she wasn’t certain she could sit through the meal. It was evident that Dare was not experiencing a similar sensation. Without offering a word of conversation, he sat across from her, his posture erect, his movements precise, as formal as he would at Court. This time, Nivea was too tired to care.

  She picked at the roast turkey and forced down a few potatoes, before giving in to exhaustion. Laying her fork aside, she asked, “May I assume we will wait here for the carriage tomorrow?”

  “I am afraid not.”

  What? “But I thought you said we would be more comfortable.”

  “Yes, we will. Mr. Ludlow has acquired two passable horses for us…with saddles. It will ease our ride considerably. The carriage will no doubt catch up with us by mid-day, but it would not be prudent to wait.”

  The news sapped the last of Nivea’s energy. “Please excuse me. I would like to retire now,” she mumbled.

  “Yes, of course.” Dare stood and walked her to the door. “We will leave at eight o’clock, so don’t dawdle getting ready.” He bowed as she passed through the doorway, missing her blazing glare of contempt.

  Chapter 4

  Dare neglected to tell Nivea that he had been given the option of a carriage, but turned it down for the freedom of riding on a well-bred horse. He had forgotten how pleasant it was riding unrestricted through the countryside. While Nivea wasn’t the trial he had expected, he preferred not being cooped up inside with her.

  Aware she was uncomfortable, he stopped more often than he would have needed. No point in abusing the girl too much, since all she wanted was to see her sister’s wedding. A noble sentiment, considering her sister was five years younger than she, and her with no hint of a marriage prospect.

  His sisters had all been married by the end of their first season. Not hard to do considering they were all reasonably attractive, well-mannered, and dowried. And, of course, their father wouldn’t have had it any other way. Whether they were happy or not, was not an issue. They had done their duty and continued to do so, breeding a son or two as expected.

  No doubt, they had all assumed Dare would have done the same by now too, but marriage was something he was determined to avoid at all costs, at least for the next dozen years or so. Narrowly missing the parson’s trap with Constance Abbington had convinced him of that. And raising children was a nightmare he refused to contemplate. At some point, he would have to produce heirs, but once they arrived, they could stay buried in the country with their mother.

  It was disheartening how many of his friends had already succumbed to marriage. Then again, they had never had the opportunity to enjoy the unmarried state as he did.

  William Horsham, his closest friend, had little talent with women. He had a heart of gold and Dare loved him like a brother, but the man was no conversationalist. How his wife managed to pry any communication from him that did not involve horses, he could not fathom.

  Then there was Joseph Duxbury. Charming and witty, he could be counted on to liven up any room. If only the man had an ounce of fashion sense. He had prided himself on being a dandy, but in truth was an overdone peacock. Fortunately, his wife had managed to tone down his abominable choice of colors, or at some point Dare’s eyes would have jumped out of their sockets and gone running down the street in agony.

  Thomas Godwin, who was no means a friend, leg-shackled himself to Abby Abbington. He shuddered to think how she could bear to look upon his scarred visage day upon day. If Dare had married Constance, he would have been forced to associate with her brother-in-law on far too many occasions.

  It still stung to know Constance had tossed him over for a crippled soldier, but fortunately, her foolishness freed him up to continue his rakish lifestyle.

  And he enjoyed that lifestyle at every turn. After all, a man with his looks, wealth, and title had no trouble attracting women. His pool of prospects was expansive, helped in no small measure that he made no distinction when it came to class or social status. Kitchen help or countess, it did not matter as long as they were attractive and willing. And with the slightest effort on his part, they were always willing.

  There was one category of women he excluded from his conquests. He had learned not to be too pleasant to debutantes and their ilk. Not only was their innocence bland and unappealing, but showing them interest led to dangerous situations. He’d almost been trapped by several young ladies who, dazzled by the allure of becoming a marchioness, were willing to risk their reputations with a known rake. Yes, he’d made a few foolish missteps in the past, but now he knew better.

  That was why he exerted such little effort entertaining Nivea. A woman of her age? Ho, no, he was not stupid enough to risk building up her hopes.

  She should be content he agreed to accompany her this week, instead of haranguing him like a fishwife. He couldn’t imagine what had gotten into her during their stop at Bunch of Grapes. She was usually such a biddable thing.

  That’s why he had intended to issue her a proper set down, skewering her with his most insulting expression. She needed to understand her role—travel companion, nothing more.

  But when he had given her his full attention, he’d made an unexpected discovery.

  She was no beauty, that much was certain, but she wasn’t as plain as he remembered. Her outfit of dark green was quite stylish. The sunlight that had been streaming through the window had transformed her mousy brown hair to a golden chestnut. It had curled around her face, highlighting the soft pink tint of her cheeks. But it was her eyes that had caught his attention. Flashing with anger, they had sparkled a sapphire blue.

  He had been surprised by the fire he’d spotted lurking behind her benign facade, and it had caused him a moment of speechlessness. A rare occurrence indeed. Fortunately, he had been able to recover and regain the upper hand by threatening the one thing women couldn’t abide—being abandoned by a man.

  Now that he’d set her straight, she wouldn�
�t use such a tone with him again, of that he was certain. Content, he gave his horse a sharp tap of his boots.

  Nivea was horrified when Dare disappeared around the bend. Too tired and sore to even consider catching up to him, she let her horse plod along. That she was so undesirable he couldn’t even stay within shouting distance was just too much. It was not as though she wasn’t aware of it every second of the trip.

  Her overwhelming frustration was more painful than the ride itself. She had planned so hard for this. She had suffered through dress fittings, had her hair yanked and tugged into fashionable coiffures designed to dazzle, and had even rehearsed engaging small talk in a desperate attempt to secure his affection.

  As always, she wondered why she should be so steadfast in her desire for a man so completely out of her reach. But she only had to remember that day fifteen years ago when he first appeared at her house.

  Her brother had invited him to stay with them during summer break from Harrow School. Having missed her brother tremendously while he was gone, she had jumped up from her desk when she heard him arrive and raced down the hall. She had halted at the top of the stairs and watched as William strode in, his face wreathed in smiles.

  Switching her gaze to the boy next to him, her heart had stopped. Never had she seen a boy so beautiful. She had known it was not a word you were supposed to associate with the male gender, but no other description would fit. He had been tall, towering over her brother by about six inches. Where William was softly rounded, this boy had the lean form of a man. His dark hair had caught the rays of the sun coming through the windows and gave it the look of a sleek cat. His face was firm and strong, with full lips, a straight nose and the most striking black eyes she had ever seen.

  She had frozen on the stairs, unable to descend. She hadn’t been a shy girl, but she certainly hadn’t been worldly enough to converse with this vision of manliness. She’d hurried back to the classroom, hoping by dinnertime she’d be composed enough to utter a coherent thought. Unfortunately, in the hours, days, and years to follow, that had never happened.