“The latter,” Dodson ground out.
Thompson nodded to Harris, who went about his task with the slightest grin on his face. Joseph made a note to himself to check into Dodson’s finances, which he assumed from Thompson’s display were not everything they should be.
“What did you have planned for us today, Mr. Dodson?” asked Evelyn.
“I thought we might take a sleigh ride through the countryside as I tell you about my latest treatise on animals of the Amazonian wilds.”
“A sleigh ride?” asked Evelyn.
Joseph could barely keep from groaning. Now his arse would be frozen solid two days in a row.
Evelyn continued. “Did you bring a sleigh, Mr. Dodson?”
“Well, no. I thought you might have one.”
“Unfortunately, I do not.”
“Perhaps you and I could ride horses while I tell you of the treatise.”
“That would be lovely. Inspector, I trust you have stabled Rocinante here?”
“I have, my lady.”
“Excellent. Thompson, do be so good as to have our horses brought around.”
“’Our’ horses?” asked Dodson. “Yours and mine?”
“Yours, mine and Inspector Stapleton’s.”
“Can he not take himself off on his own for a few hours?”
“No,” said Joseph. “He cannot.”
So it occurred that not half an hour later the three of them were riding through snow-covered fields. Rocinante was taking the outing much better than Joseph. But then the horse didn’t have to listen to bloody Dodson drone on and on about his blasted treatise.
“I tell you that the savages of the Amazon valley have a veritable cornucopia of medicinal plants at their disposal, but they’re too ignorant to know it.”
Joseph bit back his retort about calling the tribes “savages.” He was Lady Evelyn’s guest and there to vet her marriage prospects. He was not there to teach manners. Although he’d be damned if he let her marry this horse’s arse. So instead of what he wanted to say, he asked, “When did you travel to the Amazon, Professor?”
“Why would I want to do a fool thing like that? I have learned from those who have been there. Learned men, all of them – many of them my former students. My treatise is based on their work.”
“How did they know about the medicinal purposes of the plants?” asked Evelyn.
“I dunno. I suppose the locals told them.”
“You mean the ‘savages’ who were ‘too ignorant’ to know what they were?” she asked.
“The details of who told what to whom do not signify. What is important is that my treatise will gain me more recognition from the Royal Zoological Society and possibly a knighthood. Some fortunate lady may one day be known as Lady Dodson.”
Joseph hardly thought any Lady Dodson would be fortunate, title or no. And she certainly would not be Evelyn, if he had any say in the matter.
Dodson continued. “Evelyn, when you mentioned Lynwood earlier, it reminded me that I owe Arthur Kellington my thanks. That bit of business he was involved with concerning all the antiquities resulted in the arrest of one of the university’s most prominent dons. And that ended in a tidy promotion for me. Have you met Arthur, Stapleton?”
“Yes. I was also involved in the arrest of the professor, though Lord Arthur and his wife Lady Vanessa were the ones to uncover the plot.”
Dodson’s expression soured somewhat. “I am sure Arthur deserves most of the credit. And it was your job, after all, to catch the villain. But speaking of Arthur, I was rather surprised to hear he married that Vanessa creature. I was ahead of Lynwood at school, so I know the family a little. From what I hear, her background is distinctly suspect. There were even rumors she was…well, it is not a topic fit for ladies.”
“It is not a topic fit for gentlemen, either,” said Joseph coldly. “I have nothing but respect for Lady Vanessa and I know the Duke of Lynwood was pleased to have her join the family. Neither he nor I would take kindly to anyone maligning her name and reputation.”
“I would never malign a lady,” said Dodson. “At least a true one. Perhaps, Evelyn, you and I can continue our ride on our own, if my words offend Stapleton so much.”
Evelyn smiled civilly, though her eyes had none of the warmth Joseph was used to seeing. “I have no fondness for gossip, sir. And from what I have heard of Lady Vanessa, I very much look forward to meeting her.”
“I admire Lady Vanessa very much,” said Joseph. “She is extremely brave and extraordinarily clever, not to mention she helped save the life of Lord Arthur. She is, from all reports, one of the best spymasters the Home Office has ever had.”
“But she’s a woman,” said Dodson.
“Quite,” replied Joseph.
Dodson was blessedly silent for a few moments. But then he struck on another tack. “What kind of education do you have, Stapleton?” asked the professor.
“Not any kind of formal one. I was fortunate to have been taught by a very kind, learned man. Much of my knowledge has been gleaned from books, as well as on the streets of London.”
“So you can read? That says something about you, I guess. I had no idea Bow Street Runners had a need for it. From what I understand, you’re mostly wanted for your brawn, are you not?”
“We occasionally use our brains, as well.”
“Extraordinary. Shall we ride through the woods?”
* * *
Evelyn was seething and could barely contain her anger. Dodson was being incredibly rude and Joseph quite gracious. Dodson was a gentleman by birth, the son of a baronet. But Joseph was the true gentleman by behavior.
The woods were a shortcut back to the house, so Evelyn was happy to pass through them, though it would necessitate a slower pace to ensure the horses did not lose their footing. Dodson, who was boorish in the best of times, was being a complete arse and she could not wait to be rid of him. From his behavior, it was obvious he considered Joseph competition. If only Joseph thought along similar lines.
Dodson’s appeal – as limited as it was – lay in the fact that he was a university professor. He was an educated man and since she enjoyed discussing subjects beyond fashion and the weather, she had thought he might be an interesting companion. But to hear a learned man call Amazonian tribesmen savages reminded her that a formal education said little about intelligence. At least the kind she valued.
It was an overcast day and the woods further obscured even the hint of sunlight that was to be found. The crowded path made it difficult to ride abreast.
“Why don’t you ride on ahead, Stapleton,” suggested Dodson. “We cannot all fit on the path.”
“I shall fall back behind you,” he said.
Evelyn was disappointed to lose Joseph from her side, though she felt somehow comforted that he was behind her, no doubt keeping an eye on Dodson.
“What say we do a little jumping?” asked Dodson.
“It isn’t safe,” said Evelyn.
“Nonsense. There are enough fallen trees to make it interesting and they’re low enough that I can’t imagine any of our fine horses stumbling. Oh, I forgot. Stapleton, you probably do not know how to jump. But I am sure Evelyn has been doing it since birth. I had a gentleman’s education, so of course I am adept at it as well. Well, you can always catch up later.”
“I do not think this is a good idea,” said Evelyn.
“Why? Because Stapleton can’t do it?”
Evelyn was at the end of her patience. “I do not know whether Inspector Stapleton jumps. However, I do know a bad idea when it is presented. I will not risk my horse to go along with this plan. You should not, either.”
But instead of being chastened by her lecture, Dodson only laughed. “I do like a woman with spirit. I plan to do some jumping whether or not you join me. I shall see you on the other side.”
With that, the arse took his horse over a fallen tree, then trotted him to the next one.
Evelyn took a deep breath until Joseph drew
abreast of her.
“If you agree to marry that man, I shall personally commit you to Bedlam.”
“And I would thank you for the service. I must apologize for his boorishness. I believe he is intimidated. Though I do not know why he thinks to appear in a better light by imitating an ass.”
“So I take it you will strike him from the list of possible husbands?”
“Immediately and irrevocably.”
They continued to plod through the woods, allowing their horses to take their time.
“Do you have an opinion on Viscount Smithton or Mr. Kensington?” she asked.
He took a moment to answer. Then another one. “At this time, I have nothing to disapprove of. I do not know enough about either of them to make an informed decision. For that matter, I can think of no real reason why a match with Dodson would be ill-advised other than you deserve a better man.”
“What kind of man would that be?”
“One who is smart enough to recognize your intelligence. One who would allow you to continue to make your own decisions, while offering you his protection. One who would not be threatened by who you are or expect to always be the one to take charge of your lives. One who would love and respect you.” He paused for a moment. “And one who is, of course, of your class.”
Of course. He would say that. His list would have been perfect had he not added that last requirement. “I see. I do not know where I shall find such an exemplary husband, but if you do run across him, please let me know.”
She heard a loud crack, but didn’t know from whence it came. Then there was a thundering noise and her horse reared. Suddenly, she was swept off her horse into Joseph’s arms, as Rocinante smartly stepped to the side right before a towering tree fell beside them. Her own horse had reared, then leapt freely away.
Evelyn could hardly breathe from fright, not to mention how tightly Joseph held her. She was relieved to see her horse several feet away, unharmed but terrified. She knew how the mare felt. And she could feel Joseph’s heart beating frantically. Only Rocinante was calm.
They sat for a moment like that: Evelyn held securely against Joseph with her arms around his neck, Rocinante perfectly still beneath them.
Then, as if finding his voice for the first time, Joseph drew back to study her. “Are you hurt, Evelyn?”
“No. Just frightened. But if you had not…I mean.” She tried to draw a calming breath. “You saved my life.”
He had no response. With words failing him, he kissed her. Hungrily. Greedily. As if by kissing her, he could reverse time and prevent the tree from falling.
She was overwhelmed by the sensation. His firm lips on hers, probing, melding. His tongue met hers and for a moment she was unsure what to do. She’d been kissed before, but her lips had never parted. This was new. This was sublime. It filled her with heat.
And hunger.
Her hip was wedged against him and she could feel how hard he was. She had never known anything like it. She pressed against him gently, only to be rewarded with a groan and his deepening the kiss. He kept her held against him securely with one hand, and with the other he gently squeezed her breast.
She gasped and deepened the kiss.
Rocinante sidled, and Joseph pulled back. She tried to pull him back to her, but he whispered “Dodson is on his way back.”
“Drat!”
“My thoughts exactly, though not quite the wording.” He tried to put a bit more space between them.
Evelyn felt every inch of the loss.
“I must dismount for a moment,” he said. “I would like to check something.”
He brought one leg over Rocinante’s neck, then slid to the ground, taking Evelyn with him. He only reluctantly lowered her feet to the ground, but held on to her arms until he was sure she was steady.
Then he walked to the base of the large tree that had fallen.
“What are you looking for?” she asked, surprised the kiss had not robbed her of the power of speech. “Because of the heavy snow, a few trees fall every winter. I should have thought of that before agreeing to ride this way, but…”
“But you wished our outing would end as soon as possible? I could not have agreed more. Look at this,” he said, pointing to the base of the tree. “It appears that someone sawed about halfway into this tree. It was only a matter of time before it fell.”
“That is unusual,” said Evelyn.
“Or perhaps not.” His gaze was on her, oddly intent. “What would happen to your land and fortune if you died?”
“It would revert to my cousin. But surely you do not believe anyone tried to kill me? That tree could have fallen at any time. How could a person plan for it to happen just as I was passing by?”
“Perhaps your cousin has an accomplice.”
“What, ho!” said Dodson, as he returned. “I’ve been waiting for you above a quarter of an hour. I know Stapleton doesn’t ride well, but, Evelyn, my dear, you’re going quite slowly.” Then, after surveying the scene, he added, “Is something amiss?”
“A tree fell into the clearing, almost crushing Lady Evelyn. Did you not hear it?”
“I cannot say that I did. Once I start thinking about my work, I’m lost to the world. But, Evelyn, you are not harmed, are you? That would be terrible luck, what with the assembly tonight.”
“No, I am quite unharmed, thanks to Inspector Stapleton.”
“Well, it is his job, after all. Now, have I ever told you about the commendation I received about my treatise on the flora and fauna of the North Pole?”
“Dodson,” said Joseph. “When was the last time you were in London?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Suffice it to say I have a reason. When was it?”
“I was there last week on a visit to the Zoological Society. I presented the most fascinating…”
“And where were you just a moment ago?”
“I told you. I had ridden on ahead and was waiting for the pair of you. I do not like your tone, Stapleton.”
“And I do not like how close Lady Evelyn came to being killed. Someone cut into that tree.”
It took a moment for the accusation to register with Dodson. “You do not think I had anything to do with it?”
“I do not know what to think.”
“But I was in the exact opposite direction.”
“Were you?”
“I give you my word. That should be more than enough. Do you think I doubled back, sawed through the tree, then waited for the exact right moment to push it the rest of the way over? That is preposterous.”
Joseph studied the professor for a moment, his face giving no clue to his thoughts. Finally, he said, “We should return to Lady Evelyn’s.”
“And I shall take this opportunity to expound on my theories about the flora and fauna of the North Pole.”
“Mr. Dodson,” said Evelyn, wearily. “It has been a long day.” Though they had only been gone from the house not quite an hour. “I should like to travel back to the house in silence.”
“But my theory is most interesting.”
“In silence,” repeated Evelyn.
Dodson puffed himself up. “Well, I certainly would not wish to insert myself where I am not wanted.” Then he waited for the protests ensuring him he was certainly wanted.
They did not come.
There was nothing to it then but for them to depart. “I shall ride on ahead to tell Thompson you are overset, Evelyn. Perhaps you will feel less hysterical when you are back home.”
“Only if you aren’t there,” she said quietly enough so that only Joseph could hear.
“Off you go, Dodson,” said Joseph. “I shall see to Lady Evelyn.”
When the man was finally on his way, Joseph took Evelyn’s hand. “Do you wish to remain here for a few more moments or go back?”
“I am ready to ride again. I would not mind relaxing in a nice hot bath as soon as I return home.”
He nodded, then effortlessly lifted
her to her saddle. Which discomposed her almost as much as nearly being hit by the tree. But in a much nicer manner.
By the time she reached her home, she’d mostly recovered from the shock of the falling tree. But she was beginning to think it would take her quite some time to recover from the touch of Joseph Stapleton.
CHAPTER TEN
There was something about the accident that didn’t sit right with Joseph, but he couldn’t come up with an adequate explanation. There were easier ways to injure or kill someone than sawing halfway through a tree then waiting for your prey to make her way through the woods. Dodson – or whomever – would have had to have been waiting beside the tree. And it was true that he had come from a different direction when he returned.
Dodson also didn’t seem the type to actually do the labor required to make such a feat happen, though he could have hired someone to do it. Was he in league with Evelyn’s cousin? Perhaps a deal had been struck where the earl would split the inheritance with an accomplice.
But for that matter, the accomplice could have been anyone, including Smithton and Kensington, both of whom they’d passed on the road back to Evelyn’s.
There was the possibility that someone had simply tried to fell the tree some days or weeks earlier, then given up. The tree could have fallen today by sheer coincidence. But Stapleton did not like coincidences.
After returning to the house, Evelyn disappeared into her suite to take her bath. That was an image best not dwelled upon. Joseph decided to use the time to send letters to Lynwood, Riverton and his sergeant, Ambrose Fisk, informing them of the latest development. If it even was a development.
He was doing a terrible job at both of his tasks: keeping Evelyn safe and vetting her potential husbands. He’d been so glad to be rid of Dodson that he’d almost allowed a tree to fall on Evelyn.
That was hardly keeping her safe.
As for vetting her potential husbands, he was beginning to get a distinct dog in the manger feeling about himself.
None of the three men he’d met were good enough for her. But while the selection of eligible gentlemen in London was larger, he doubted he would approve of any of those candidates, either, simply because he thought no man was good enough for her.
Never Turn Away (Kellington Book Six) Page 8