by Rebecca King
“Would you ladies like a lift home? I am passing your house,” Simeon called as he pulled up beside them.
“Oh, no thank you. It is very good of you but I don’t like to travel on anything that isn’t closed in,” Ruth said with dramatic despondency.
“Miss Georgiana? Can I offer you a lift? With your aunt’s permission of course,” he stepped down as he spoke and stood expectantly beside the conveyance.
Georgiana looked hesitantly at her aunt.
“Go ahead, dear,” Ruth replied with a nod. “I will catch up with you.”
Georgiana studied the curricle with a wild thrill of excitement. She had seen such transport many times but had never ridden on one.
“Thank you,” she smiled, making a snap decision.
“I take it you have been on one of these before?” Simeon asked as he handed her up to the high bench.
“No. I have to confess that it is something I have always wanted to do though,” she said enthusiastically as she took a seat.
She watched Simeon climb effortlessly onto the seat beside her. They were so high off the ground that when she looked down she gasped at how far away the ground was. When fingers touched her chin and tugged her face around, Georgiana looked at him.
“Rule number one, never look down. The road passing beneath you will make you fall forward and under the wheels. Keep your eyes on the road ahead,” he murmured gently. “I will take my time. These curricles do sway a little more than closed-top carriages but they are perfectly safe.”
“How fast do they go?” she asked as the horse pulled them slowly and carefully toward Ruth’s house.
It was wonderful to sit so high up and relish the morning sunshine. In a way it was a shame that Ruth’s house wasn’t further away. Even though the journey was short, it was delightful. Georgiana was vaguely aware of several passers-by watching at them curiously, but didn’t look at them. Nothing was going to dampen her enjoyment of this rather unexpected adventure. It was far more than she had ever stopped to consider she might experience and was every bit as wonderful as she had imagined.
Simeon laughed. “As fast as the horse can run,” he replied dryly. “And the driver can cope with. I take it that you like adventure?”
“Not really, but I have so wanted to ride on one of these.” She looked at him and smiled. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome,” he replied, blinking in astonishment at how a smile transformed her face.
“I understand that these are all the rage in London.”
Simeon laughed. “That they are, my dear. That they are.”
“I have seen a carriage race once, several years ago. It looked incredibly dangerous,” she said.
“Was it curricle racing?” Simeon asked her a mock frown. “That is illegal.”
Georgiana shook her head. “No, they were closed-top carriages I am afraid, and it was only a small race. It would be incredibly daring to race one of these wouldn’t it?”
Simeon laughed uproariously. “It would be reckless,” he replied once his mirth had died. “Reckless, but incredibly good fun.”
Georgiana’s smile widened.
Simeon grinned at her in return. “Allow me one day to fulfil your every wish. If we can persuade your aunt to let you come out with me, I shall take you on a drive. Maybe when we are out on the country lanes, with no other traffic around, I will allow the horse to trot for a while so you can get an understanding of just how dangerous curricle racing can be. It isn’t just dangerous for the curricle’s passengers it puts the horse in danger as well. No respectable driver would ever put their animal at risk by racing their horses while attached to these things. I cannot see there being any harm in allowing you to take the reins for a while, though.” He glanced about them and then leaned toward her. “Just don’t tell anybody I said that.”
“I won’t,” she promised, and threw him a worried frown. “Please don’t misunderstand. I am not reckless.”
“I was only teasing. While I am happy to trot him while pulling this thing, galloping him while in pursuit of someone else is nothing short of suicide.” He threw her a somewhat limpid smile that made her stare at him warily. It was too smooth, too charming, and a little insipid. “I wouldn’t put someone as beautiful as you at risk like that.”
Unsure what to say without encouraging him, Georgiana tried to find something else to talk about. “Would you really let me drive this?”
Simeon smiled at her but looked at the road ahead for a moment. Strangely, he then guided the carriage to the side of the road and stopped.
“Here, hold these.” He guided her fingers around the reins with gentle hands. “Flick them gently like this when you want him to walk on but don’t slap him too hard. He has had plenty of hay last night and might run for miles. When you want him to stop, tug gently on the reins but not too hard because they are attached to his mouth and can hurt him.”
Georgiana stared at him aghast when he leaned back against the seat and braced his arms behind him as he waited.
“You want me to drive this to Ruth’s house?” She asked in astonishment. She glanced around them, painfully aware that Simeon had been touching her hands in public. Still, her concern faded into insignificance beneath the magnitude of what he expected her to do.
“Of course,” Simeon replied with a wave toward the road ahead. “Off you go.”
Georgiana stared at the reins in her hands but was more focused on the gentle touch of his fingers on her shoulder. They weren’t doing anything more scandalous than touching her but they were there for the world to see and hinted at a closer connection than they truly had. She glanced around and saw a group of elderly women standing at the end of the road watching them. It was clear from their furtive looks and the scandalous glares that they were disapproving of what they were seeing. They weren’t the only ones either. Will was also glaring at her as though she had committed a sin. Guilt swamped her, especially after what they had shared the other night.
Desperate to get away from such scrutiny, Georgiana gently flicked the reins as instructed. To her amazement, the horse dutifully began to walk.
“Now relax,” Simeon soothed gently. “The horse will pick up on your tension if the reins are so tight.”
Painfully aware of the impropriety of Simeon’s posture, Georgiana’s back remained ramrod straight as she carefully steered the curricle down the street. In spite of her discomfort she revelled in being in control of such a powerful contraption, and the journey was over all too soon.
“That was wonderful,” she breathed when she had pulled to a stop. “Thank you for allowing me to do this.”
Simeon stared at her in amazement. Now that all pretence of politeness and rigid formality had gone, Miss Bentley was the most wonderful, vibrant creature he had ever clapped eyes on. It was difficult to connect her to the same stilted and awkward young woman he had said hello to in the churchyard just now. Determined to discover what other secrets lay beneath that ladylike persona, Simeon handed her down and waited patiently with her for Ruth to join them.
“Your niece has expressed a wish to race curricles,” he informed her aunt. “While I don’t recommend that your delightful niece should put herself in such danger, I don’t mind allowing her to try her hand at driving my curricle again - under the direct supervision of myself of course. You are quite welcome to come along if you want.”
“Well, if that is acceptable,” Ruth spluttered, completely shocked that he should suggest such a thing.
In spite of her delight, Georgiana cast a wary glance at the people still chatting away at the end of the street.
“I-I am not sure,” she muttered.
Eager to appease her, Simeon’s smile deepened. “It is really no different to what you have just done. It will just be a longer journey that’s all.” When she still hesitated he mentally swore but persisted. “Maybe you would let me take you for a drive tomorrow? Before you talk yourself out of it and regret missing such a wonderful opportunit
y.”
Georgiana would. She studied the group of people at the end of the road going about their business.
They are doing what they want to do. Why shouldn’t I do the same?
“Alright, I will,” she replied with a firm nod. “Thank you. It is very generous of you.”
“I have to take my turn cleaning the church tomorrow,” Ruth replied without even a hint of apology. “But I am sure you will enjoy yourselves nonetheless.”
“Don’t worry about the gossips,” Simeon assured them as he glared down the street. “They daren’t pass around scandal about my family.”
Georgiana studied him. There was a hint of menace in his eyes as he studied the small group of elderly women that brought a shiver down her spine. She drew her shawl tighter around her shoulders and tried to shake off the lingering disquiet but it refused to leave her. Did she know him, really? Was he all that reputable after all? Were the rumours true about his uncle?
It is too late to back out now, she sighed. Not without upsetting someone else in any case.
With that she took her leave of Simeon and hurried toward the house.
“I will call by at eleven,” he called after her before he clambered aboard his curricle and turned it back around.
Georgiana was too busy in the hallway and didn’t see him suddenly pull to a stop alongside the group of ladies.
Will watched the man drive away from the gossips, who suddenly scattered to the four winds. The urge to saddle his horse and go after him to warn him to stay away from Georgiana was strong, but he knew that by the time he had saddled his mount the man would have gone back to whatever cave he crawled out of. Instead, Will slammed into the tavern and stomped up to his room to contemplate what he should do about the lecherous fop who had spent most of the morning fawning all over Georgiana.
The following morning, Georgiana sighed in delight as the sunshine bathed her in warmth. The gentle breezed teased loose tendrils of hair about her face which danced and bobbed happily about her, eliciting a small smile of happiness when they tickled her cheeks.
“You seem happy,” Simeon declared with a smile.
“This is wonderful,” she enthused.
“Worth ruining your reputation for?” he teased.
Georgiana threw him a mock-dark glare. “Well worth it. I will have you know that my aunt was most concerned that the villagers were scandalised by my shocking behaviour yesterday. You made quite a display of us.”
“Me? What did I do?” Simeon cried in mock outrage.
“You put your arm around me you bounder,” Georgiana teased. “Right up here for the world to see. You not only rode alone with me, I was high atop a curricle which, according to people around these parts, is the most shockingly scandalous behaviour.”
“Phah! The fools around here live in the dark ages.” The contempt in Simeon’s voice was strong but something Georgiana could relate to given the gossiping and whispers she had been subjected to. Unfortunately, the risk of added scandal made this morning’s excursion all the more daring. “I drove a curricle with a single man, unchaperoned, who sat with his arm around me. It is hardly the correct behaviour required of a lady of my age.”
Simeon smiled. “I was there, remember?”
“You don’t have to sound so blazé about it,” she scolded.
“I am not,” Simeon protested. “I just don’t care what the gossips say.”
Her gasp was loud.
“You cad!” She whacked him in the shoulder with a playful fist, eliciting a loud and unrepentant boom of laughter. “You don’t care do you?”
“Of course I do, but I saw the only beautiful woman in that graveyard yesterday. I had to make a move on you before someone else did. So I swept you away in front of them. Ladies like you don’t come into this village every day. You are a veritable gift from the Gods. So I decided to make your acquaintance. Alas, you spent most of the time studying my curricle, and barely noticed me. What is a man supposed to do?”
“Suggest a venture such as this?” Georgiana teased.
“It worked, didn’t it?” Simeon replied, making no attempt to deny the accusation.
“I must confess that I was disappointed the journey ended so quickly yesterday,” she admitted ruefully.
“Good, then take these and you can drive the rest of the way.”
“Where to?” She asked as she took the reins off him and tried to remember what he had told her yesterday.
“Morning,” a dark voice drawled suddenly from beside her before Simeon answered.
Georgiana started and turned to glare at the owner of that achingly familiar voice.
“Will,” she whispered in dismay as an area somewhere in the region of her heart treacherously flipped over. “What are you doing here?”
It was a ridiculous question to ask. She knew already.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Georgiana reluctantly introduced Will to Simeon and watched the men size each other up like prize fighting cocks. In spite of their civility, tension hovered in the air. They were never going to be friends. It made her own day suddenly cloud over, and all trace of her earlier enjoyment vanish. In its place was a wariness that left her nervous and on edge, and desperate to find a way to break the uncomfortable atmosphere.
“I didn’t realise you had business this way?” Georgiana asked of Will in bored tones.
“Is your aunt aware you are here?” Will demanded, ignoring her question.
He had no intention of telling her that she was the reason he was there. He had been looking out of the tavern window, debating whether to pay her a visit, when he had seen Simeon arrive at the house. It was galling to have to stand and watch Georgiana head off alone with this stranger, but she had. Given her penchant for getting into trouble of late, Will knew he had to do everything possible to forestall any scurrilous gossip, and limit the damage to Georgiana’s sterling reputation and good character.
“Of course,” Georgiana snapped.
“And she allowed you out unchaperoned with this man, did she?” The disgust in Will’s voice was clear as he raked Simeon with an insulting glare that blatantly cast doubt upon his character.
“Ruth Bentley trusts me,” Simeon announced pompously. “She has known my family for nearly thirty years. I am sure that if anyone can vouch that I am of good, solid, moral fibre then Ruth can. Why, anybody in the village will tell you that if Georgiana is safe with anyone, it will be with me. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Georgiana has a tendency to be rather reckless,” Will snapped with an air of dismissal that assured Simeon had no idea what he was talking about. As if to prove his point he glared accusingly at the reins Georgiana held. “Like curricle racing.”
It was one of the items of her list of adventures. He was just shocked she had decided to experience it with this oaf, and shook his head in disgust.
“Do I have to remind you what the gossips are likely to do if they see you sitting so close, unchaperoned, Georgiana?” Will snapped.
“No, you don’t,” Georgiana replied pertly. “I don’t care what anybody says. There can be no harm in what I am doing. I am merely holding the reins while the horse plods along, anybody who reads anything into that has a serious problem they need to be dealing with before they criticise me in any way.”
“But you are out in the middle of nowhere unchaperoned, Georgiana,” Will argued.
“I am not any threat to her honour,” Simeon replied unconcernedly. “Besides, if anyone does vociferously object and her reputation is scandalised because of this then I shall just have to do the decent thing and marry her. Then we can go curricle racing whenever we want and anybody who doesn’t like it can find something else to do.”
Georgiana lifted a snooty brow at Will when she sensed he was staring at her. She was aware that having the reins gave her an element of escape she had never had before, and didn’t waste a moment in taking advantage of it. Unfortunately, she momentarily forgot Simeon’s instructions yest
erday and slapped the reins on the horse’s backside far harder than she should. This resulted in the horse leaping into action, and the curricle lurching forward and tearing down the road at breakneck speed.
“Oh, Lord,” Simeon muttered, clinging on for dear life as the curricle swept around a corner and barrelled down another lane. “Keep hold of the reins. Haul back!”
His orders were carried on the winds, and barely understood by Georgiana who, rather than being scared by the speed in which the hedgerow flashed past, revelled in being free at last.
“For God’s sake, will you watch where you are going?” Simeon scalded when she grinned at him. He nodded to the hedgerow directly before them. “Pull back, or we are going to go through it.”
Georgiana did as instructed, mindful that she didn’t want to hurt the horses’ mouth. She slowed down enough to traverse several bends in the road without issue but kept the horse at a fast trot. Once the pace had eased the sound of thundering hooves rent the air. Seconds later, Will appeared beside them.
“Oh, Lord, not again,” Georgiana murmured with a heavy sigh.
“What the Hell did you do that for?” Will snapped.
Georgiana threw him a defiant glare and made no attempt to answer. Instead she slapped the reins on the horse’s backside again but this time a little gentler.
Simeon glanced over his shoulder as they left Will behind and then looked at her knowingly. “There is a history between you,” he murmured thoughtfully.
“Is there? We were childhood friends,” she replied unconcernedly. “I am no longer a child.”
Simeon looked as though he was about to push for more information but nodded at the end of the road instead. “Go left,” he ordered.
“Do you like to gamble?” Georgiana asked, desperate to stop him probing further. She had no idea why she chose to ask him but she did.
“Not on a curricle,” Simeon replied flatly. “Now slow down because the corner up ahead is a sharp one.”