“You pushed him?”
“He was forever dawdling,” Alex defended. “And it wasn’t that far down.”
“At least that will be the last of him. I’m so sorry you had to deal with that.” Emma sighed. “If I only had your troubles.”
“You want to be married to some fat bore?”
“Not to some fat bore. I only wish Marcus would see me as a woman he could love.”
“Ahhh. The earl again.” Alex thought about the man with whom her friend believed herself in love. He was handsome. Nearly as tall as the blond giant and shoulders that seemed to appeal to women. She also guessed he possessed a bit of steel. Lean and fast. Dangerous if you got on his wrong side. Not as pampered as she had initially imagined. His hair had been ruffled and overlong for the current style, but not unattractive.
“He returned early this morning,” Emma said. “Without even a warning. And drunk!”
“Drunk?”
“Well, I’m guessing quite intoxicated by the vague description, and disapproving expression on Langley’s face. He said they entered singing.”
“They?”
“Oh, yes,” Emma gushed, clearly intending to play matchmaker. “He and the duke.”
“A duke!”
“Yes,” Emma confirmed. “A tall, blond, broad, handsome, blue-eyed duke.”
Alex thought of the impressive, albeit irritating giant and couldn’t have been more annoyed.
“Also, your neighbor.”
“Not Worthington?”
Her friend nodded.
Alex was wrong. She could be more annoyed. She loved the Worthington estate. She had even wanted to purchase it for herself only to be told it was subject to yet another foolish English law, entailment. Every time she visited she had explored and imagined the possibilities. Not that she would ever leave America, but she was in England enough to consider another home. She could share it with her brothers. Clearly the owners didn’t care for the place as it had fallen into ruin. And Aunt Maggie hadn’t had anything nice to say about the previous dukes, which didn’t reflect well on the current one. She tried to picture the man she met last night as a duke. It was all wrong. His hands had been large and work worn. Not soft and pale like so many of the men she had met in the aristocracy. And his voice, the accent had been tempered by travel. The earthy timber, so deep, rich … and familiar. Goose bumps ran up her arms at the memory. She straightened, irked at herself. Silly to have thought they could be the same man.
“And does this duke have a name?” Alex managed. “A real name?”
“But of course. It’s Joshua.”
Alex nodded.
“Joshua Leigh,” Emma finished.
Alex pulled the reins on Salem so hard he reared up.
“Alex!”
Emma reached over, and grabbed Salem’s reins to prevent him from running. She needn’t have worried. Alex quickly gained control of the horse. And herself.
“Well. That’s a common enough name, I suppose.”
“Not really,” Emma answered.
“How long has he been a duke?”
“A year at least, but he didn’t know it. He has spent most of his time in the West Indies,” Emma explained. “But now he is home. Where he belongs. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, yes. I’m fine.” Alex breathed slowly, trying to calm the unusual pounding in her chest. “He will live here?”
“Well, I don’t know exactly since I was asleep when they stumbled in, but I presume he wants to examine the estate and see what needs doing. You will like him. As much as you are able to like any Englishman,” Emma offered. “And last time I saw him, he was very attractive.”
“And what of the earl? Are you switching your affections?” Alex teased.
“No!” Emma blushed. “Marcus is the most handsome, wonderful man in the world. Just not the most intelligent,” she clarified. “Otherwise he would realize I am perfect for him.”
“Obviously,” Alex drawled. She smiled and stroked Salem’s mane thoughtfully, putting her own concerns aside. “You will have to make him jealous, you know. He must see you differently—as a woman, not a girl.” She leaned down to whisper to her horse affectionately. “I may not know much about English society, but I do have three brothers. If you make him jealous, he will realize he has feelings for you. Then he will make a fool out of himself pursuing you. It’s a tragedy to watch.”
“So speaks the voice of wisdom,” Emma mocked.
“Trust me, it’s much easier to get men to obey you if they think it is their idea to begin with. However, I admit, I am not very good at it. Which is why I pay my crew to do as I say.
“Come to tea this afternoon,” Alex continued. “Aunt Maggie wishes to thank you for the party. She will likely just be getting up by then. After, we will meet in the war room and plot your future romance. Come now. I’ll race you back. I can’t wait to hear how your earl is doing this morning.”
“He’s not my …” Emma stopped midsentence and urged her mare forward. Alex had to turn Salem around, and Emma took advantage to garner the lead.
Emma was a very accomplished rider, but so was Alex. The only edge Alex had was a fierce determination to win at all costs. She also had Salem. Salem was too arrogant to comprehend ever following another horse.
Alex saw Emma just ahead. The morning sunshine heated her skin as they raced. There was a border of shrubs too high for most horses to jump, and Emma made the turn to go around. Alex knew her only chance for winning was to make the jump. From there on it was open field to the stables. She pushed Salem on and felt his excitement at the obstacle ahead. Their timing had to be perfect.
Joshua Leigh, Duke of Worthington, had a hangover. He blamed the Earl of Stonewood entirely. After their intriguing encounter with the American woman, he had only wanted to plot how he would see her again. Marcus, on the other hand, was more concerned as to whether this new “friend” of Emma’s would be a bad influence. The whole idea of having an arsenal under one’s skirts did not sit well with him. Joshua smiled, wondering to himself what else she might have up her sleeves and skirts.
He went to the window, grateful for being in a room that didn’t get morning sun blaring in too early. The weather in England had been unusually nice. He couldn’t remember such a perfect spring, and summer was just around the corner. It made a pleasant change from the tropical humidity to which he had grown accustomed.
His eye caught a movement on the distant lawn. A rider came into view. A female rider he realized, recognizing the rush of Emma’s blond hair flying onto the field. An instant later all he saw was black, as a huge stallion flew over a towering hedge. He gasped unconsciously, fearful for Emma, then fearful for how the other horse would land.
He needn’t have worried. Horse and rider landed, completely as one. He also noted that the other rider was a woman. Her hat, like Emma’s, had blown off and her long hair mixed with the horse’s mane to create one magnificent, speeding blur as she gave the horse free rein across the long meadow.
Emma pushed her mare to keep up, and he laughed as he noted another thing for Marcus to worry about. Apparently Emma had grown comfortable riding astride.
Joshua admired the rider as she got closer. He knew instinctively that this was the same woman he met last night. Another accomplishment to add to Miss Stafford’s list.
She glanced back at Emma, then pulled in the reins to stop, magnificent red hair swirling about in the sunlight. His heart jumped unexpectedly as he reached for a familiar chain lying on the table next to the bed. He slid the chain over his head and touched the ring at the end thoughtfully. He had given up on finding the owner, or so he had told Marcus. But he had still hoped that fate would one day smile on him. He had even tried to find Paxton once, when he learned the man was in the West Indies. But Paxton was gone before he arrived, as elusive as the woman who linked them.
He tucked the ring under his shirt as he dressed. Miss Stafford could not live far he estimated. With any l
uck, he could catch up with her on his morning ride. He smiled, his headache clearing. Perhaps this was his day.
A duke! That had to be practically the king of English pains in the arse. It took Alex’s race on Salem and three long laps of swimming across the lake to be relieved of the tension she got when thinking of her aunt’s new neighbor. Relaxed at last, she floated under a shady area, contemplating Emma and the earl. There’s a situation that will require a special strategy.
It was a shame Emma wouldn’t join her, but now that the earl was back it wouldn’t do to show too much impropriety all at once. Emma was afraid he might think Alex was a bad influence. No one said this, but Alex knew.
Alex let her hair halo out around her as she paddled slowly on her back to a sunnier spot. The day was already warm, and the cool lake was her favorite place to visit after a morning ride. There was even a small, intimate waterfall at one end, hidden by rocks and overgrown trees. She thought the place had an element of magic to it. Apparently the first Duke of Worthington had good taste. He must have married badly she decided. Ruined all the offspring of future generations.
Alex dove underneath the water and swam several strokes before coming up for a deep breath of air. She lifted her head and stretched her arms to the sun in appreciation. It was rare that she could enjoy this kind of solitude.
A loud splash immediately disturbed her serenity. Her body froze in terror. To be discovered would be embarrassing to say the least, but she never thought bathing here would be dangerous. No one was ever at this end of the property. Which made it good for privacy, but dangerous if she needed assistance. No one would hear her if she cried for help, and her only weapons—a knife and long whip—were on shore with Salem and the rest of her clothes. She cursed her foolishness. Perhaps the intruder would not stay long.
A male body popped up less than a hundred yards away. Any hope that he would not see her disappeared when his head turned and he spotted her clothing. She heard Salem neigh at the intrusion. It was a warning too late. The man immediately began to turn to find the owner of the clothes. Alex got an impression of massive golden shoulders before she silently ducked underneath the water and swam as far as she could in the opposite direction. For good measure, she held her breath while making sure she was hidden behind the enclosure of rocks near the falls.
Joshua laughed to himself as he followed the gentle ripple in the water. He had caught up with Miss Stafford by pure luck and had been shocked to find his mysterious redhead swimming confidently across his very own lake. She had twisted gracefully on her back to float in the late morning sun and it was then that he thought a cooling swim was not a bad idea. This clearly was not Miss Stafford’s first time in the lake, and apparently she did not believe in swimming costumes. He grinned rakishly at the boon and his decision to take her lead.
She was swimming toward the enclosed waterfall. He followed her and positioned himself on the other side of the rocks.
Alex carefully came up for air, causing only the slightest disturbance in the water. She listened desperately for sound. There was none. She forced her breathing to slow, resisting the temptation to gulp much-needed air. Perhaps he was a gentleman and after seeing her clothes quietly disappeared. Yes, that would be the gentlemanly thing. She hugged the rocks, waiting.
A whistle on the other side dashed her hopes. The hairs on her neck stood up straight. He was just feet away.
“Is someone there? Show yourself, friend.” The male voice boomed with a tone of mild curiosity.
Alex panicked. Her long silence was interrupted by a deep sigh from the man, as if to indicate he had all the time in the world. She dare not speak and give away that she was female.
The silence continued until he spoke again. “Perhaps you need some assistance. Are you injured?”
She wanted to injure him. “Sir,” she cried, alarmed. “You are trespassing on private property! I demand that you leave at once or I will be forced to call my groomsman. He is an excellent shot.”
A splash of someone coming out of the water made her gasp. Rising on the other side of the rock was a giant figure of a man. He pulled himself up to his waist and leaned over the rock as if to observe her with the interest he would grant a small bug. His size blocked out the sun behind him, rendering his figure in silhouette.
Alex realized she had never genuinely screamed before. The shocked sound that came out of her throat was strangled in terror, indicating she needed practice at the activity.
He smiled with good humor, observing her panicked expression with obvious amusement. When his eyes lowered and lingered she lifted a hand to cover her bare breasts underneath the water, and instinctively swam backward with the other.
“Actually miss, you are the one who is trespassing, and if you did have a groomsman, he definitely would have shot me by now.”
Alex recognized the duke’s voice and was immediately infuriated. She quickly tried to swim away and heard a disturbing splash behind her. Her heart quickened. When her ankle was clasped in a big hand, she nearly blacked out from panic only to be tugged underwater until she was completely submerged. In other circumstances it might have been described as playful.
He released her ankle while pulling her thrashing body closer to him. They surfaced together with only a foot between them. He was blocking the way to the main portion of the lake where her horse and clothing awaited. Her only choice was to fight in the water or climb out and expose herself.
She chose the water. Her eyes focused on the giant in front of her. He seemed even larger without clothes, a thought she preferred not to dwell on. His blond-streaked hair was dark and plastered to his head. Two hands came out of the water to comb it back, exposing large, muscled arms that flexed nearly as big as her thighs. She would be wise not to underestimate his strength. She did not know yet if he recognized her from the night before, but likely her accent would give her away if it hadn’t already.
Joshua enjoyed looking at his water nymph. He had the benefit of the sun behind him and didn’t waste the advantage. Long dark hair floated in a shield around Miss Stafford. Eyes shimmered in the sunlight, willing daggers in his direction. Her expression said she was prepared to kill him, and still she managed to look utterly enchanting.
“Hello.” He smiled broadly. She did not respond. He could tell by the direction of her gaze that she was assessing her escape route options. “Hmmm.” He made the sound seem thoughtful. “Not the friendly type, I see.”
Alex sputtered. “Sir, you did try to drown me just now.”
“Oh, that.” He shrugged, grinning mischievously. “I had to see if you were real or a mermaid.”
“Mermaid?” His damn grin was beginning to annoy her immensely.
“Yes. Half maiden, half fish.”
“I know what a mermaid is, sir.”
“Then why did you ask?” He appeared genuinely perplexed. Alex thought him either a complete dolt or the most infuriating person she ever had the misfortune to meet.
“It was not a question regarding definitions. It was a question as to your answer. The truth of it to be more specific.”
“Oh, I see. You don’t even know me and yet you accuse me of being a liar? Well. I wonder what the duke would say to having guests of his insulted by trespassers?”
“You’re a friend of the duke?” she asked, knowing full well exactly who he was.
“Yes, and you?”
Alex’s eyes narrowed to slits. “I would never be friends with a prissy, pompous, ignorant blue blood who doesn’t know his head from his arse.”
“Oh, I see. You know him well then?”
Alex smiled at that. “Enough to last a lifetime.”
“How pleasant for you.”
“On the contrary.”
“Truly? You didn’t find him incredibly handsome?” The duke firmed his shoulders as if preening.
Alex wanted to laugh. “Handsome? Oh, no! Ghastly features at best, sir. Not the type any woman could gaze upon without becoming quit
e ill.”
“Ghastly, you say?” Worthington looked disappointed. “But what of his fine and manly figure?” Alex tried to tread water around the wall of muscle in front of her.
“Lace and puffy clothes can hide a lot. I have no doubt his spindly legs can barely support him. And the protruding belly is uncommonly grotesque,” she added for good measure.
He appeared deflated. “Spindly legs and a protruding belly? I can hardly believe we speak of the same man.”
Alex pretended to soften up, while inching away. “ ’Tis unfortunate, but men do tend to have a rather overinflated view of themselves.”
“And what of his wit?” the duke persisted.
“Witless,” Alex stated, as if a foregone fact.
“Is there not one good thing you can say about the poor man?”
“Aye. He’s not here,” she stated, daring him to deny the truth. With a smirk, Alex ducked underwater and made a desperate swim out into the center of the lake, away from the intimate confines of the rocks. He followed her, keeping pace easily. After a short swim he pulled at her ankle again, drawing her body even with his so that he could pass in front of her. Alex tried to control her fit of temper as she surfaced, but not before cupping her hand to send a splash of water in his face. She regretted the impulse immediately.
Worthington grabbed the offending hand with ease and returned the splash with his other. He laughed outright at her outrage.
“Let me go, you beast! Have you no common decency? You should have left when you saw my clothes instead of hunting me down to humiliate me. What kind of man are you?”
“An Englishman.” The duke grinned, as if knowing to her that was the worst kind of curse.
“Damn bloody right!” Alex struggled to get away, but kicking in the water was futile. Her feet only came into contact with bare thighs that felt like granite beneath her toes. The more she struggled the closer they came together. She was acutely conscious that they were both bare skinned. Her entire body flushed with the thoughts that raced through her head and the speed at which her heart beat made it most difficult to breathe.
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