His Impetuous Deputante (A Gentleman's Guide to Once Upon a Time - Book 1)

by Charles, Jane

  “Phoebe?” He let his question linger. She turned from him and marched into the road. “We should be on our way if we wish to reach the town before darkness falls.”

  “In one moment.” If Phoebe were in pain he was certain she would tell him. She was simply frightened, that was all. Truth be told, he was a bit shaken himself. Taylor walked around the conveyance and stopped where the wheel had come loose. He would need to inspect it further at a later time. Right now, they needed to get to the town. “Are you sure you can walk a few miles?”

  She smiled reassuringly. “I believe I can manage it.”

  Starting off down the road they didn’t speak. Taylor was wondering about the wheel. It was a new carriage and the wheel should not have come loose. They had hit a few bumps in the road, but still, the wheel should have stayed on. Was he paranoid, or had someone tampered with the carriage? He didn’t voice any of his concerns because he didn’t want to alarm Phoebe. At least not until he had a chance to check on the matter. As soon as they were settled, he would have the carriage brought back to the house for inspection.

  Phoebe concentrated on keeping up with him and on her breathing. Each breath caused a sharp pain. She clenched her teeth, praying they would arrive soon. Tears formed in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

  Taylor stopped and Phoebe did the same. He placed a finger beneath her chin and lifted her face. “What is wrong?”

  “Nothing,” Phoebe responded pasting a smile on her lips.

  “Don’t lie to me. I detest lying.” An edge came to his voice. “Something is wrong and I want to know what.”

  The tears that had been threatening came to her eyes. She stiffened. Now was not the time to cry. “I have a little discomfort.”

  “Good God, you are in pain. Why didn’t you say something?”

  “Would it have changed matters?” She bit back, hating to be yelled at or patronized.

  “No. Still you should have said something.”

  “I didn’t see the need.”

  Taylor shook his head with astonishment and stepped closer. “What hurts?”

  “It only hurts when I breathe.”

  He muttered a curse under his breath and gently touched her ribs. His eyes came up to hers. “Dear wife, you are not wearing a corset.”

  Phoebe giggled, then suddenly stopped herself due to the pain. “When you told me not to wear pantaloons, I wasn’t sure what you had in mind. Besides, I’ll grab any excuse to go without the blasted thing.”

  “I admire your forethought. Had I known...” His voice trailed off as he felt her ribs and was rewarded with a gasp. “We need to get you to a doctor.”

  “I was going to mention that as soon as we arrived at our destination.”

  “I don’t think you should walk that far.”

  “Do you intend to leave me stranded by the road?” She asked mildly.

  “No.” Pausing he looked around. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “I can walk. I promise to let you know when I need to rest.”

  “Are you sure?” Taylor was unconvinced.

  “I promise.”

  “I don’t like this, but I see little choice.”

  Slowly they began to walk down the road and Taylor kept the pace almost to a stroll. He watched her closely for any discomfort. Hours later they finally arrived at the small town, and Taylor sought out a doctor before anything else. She had three injured ribs, and though they did not appear to be broken, it was possible they were cracked. Whether it was from the fall, or Taylor landing on her, the doctor wasn’t sure. Binding her tightly, he showed Taylor how she should be wrapped. The doctor assured him that she would recover in no time at all.

  They finally arrived home well after dark, to a house of worried servants. While assisting Phoebe up the steps, he explained their delay and his wife’s injuries. He didn’t miss the looks that passed between the servants, but it wasn’t something that hadn’t gone through his own mind several times since the accident. After ordering her a hot bath, he escorted her to their chambers. There he assisted in disrobing her before wrapping one of his robes around her. He did not want to take the time to go through her belongings. By this point, Phoebe was beyond exhaustion. He would slip a bit of laudanum in the tea he had requested and give it to her once she was in bed.

  Helping her into the tub, he assisted with her bath with none of the seductive attention he had shown the day before, much too concerned with her state. Binding her once again, he kept apologizing as she grimaced. Pulling a nightgown over her head, he helped her into bed and handed her the tea.

  Phoebe thanked him with heavy lids and was fast asleep before the tea was gone. As soon as she was resting peacefully, he returned to his worried servants. He knew they would still be about, waiting for word from him. He found his entire staff in the large kitchen. When he explained what had happened, his men set out to retrieve the carriage and its parts to bring back for inspection. The only person who didn’t seem upset by the occurrence was Holly, Phoebe’s maid.

  “You don’t seem overly worried. Why is that?” He asked.

  “When you have been with Lady Phoebe as long as I, you get used to these things happening.”

  “She has been in a carriage accident before? She has cracked her ribs before?”

  “Yes, but not at the same time. I believe she was racing the carriage when it overturned. The cracked ribs occurred when she fell from a tree, I believe.”

  “But those were caused by her own actions. Today she was a passenger in my carriage.”

  Holly’s eyes softened towards him. “Lord Sandlin, your servants filled me in on your past wives and I am deeply sorry for you. But you need not worry where Phoebe is concerned.”

  “How can you say that?” He demanded.

  “Because I have seen her get into more scrapes than the rest of the community combined and she always prevails. She is destined to live a long life. If God had meant to take her at a young age, he has already had plenty of opportunity.”

  “You truly believe this?”

  Her face softened further. “Yes, my lord. I have been seeing to Lady Phoebe since she was an infant. That one has too much life in her to be taken before she has seen her great-grandchildren enter the world.”

  Turning to the rest of his staff, Taylor declared. “I am sure we are probably over reacting to the situation.”

  “We have good reason, my lord,” the elderly cook offered.

  “That we do,” Taylor acknowledged. “But for my peace of mind, please keep a close eye on her.”

  Chapter 17

  “It has been four weeks since the accident and I am more than healed.” Phoebe stood in the foyer, arms crossed over her chest, and tapped her foot.

  “It is not safe and I will not have you injured again.” Taylor ordered back, voice rising.

  “I will not be injured. I have ridden for years.” She was not willing to give on the issue.

  “Not with healing ribs, I’m sure.”

  “No, but with a broken arm,” she retorted in anger.

  Taylor muffled a curse. “Well, I will not sit around while you continue on your reckless course.” Approaching her, he bent and lifted her, throwing her over his shoulder, and turned toward the stairs. “I would really like to blister your bottom, but see I must use some sort of distraction to turn you from your path of destruction.” He mounted the stairs to the bedroom.

  Phoebe pounded on his back and began kicking her legs. Taylor quickly subdued her legs. She proceeded to pound on his back again, yelling at him to put her down. The maids in the hall scampered out of the way when they reached the landing and proceeded to their room. He kicked the door closed behind him and he tossed her onto the bed. Phoebe sat up quickly and defiantly.

  “Don’t you dare think you can use this tactic to keep me from riding.”

  “I hadn’t planned on it, my dear. I just didn’t want the entire household to hear our argument.”

  Phoebe got off the
bed and set to putting her hair back once again; it fell coming up the stairs. A comb was missing. She stood to walk to the door.

  “Where do you think you are going?”

  “I dropped a comb and would like to retrieve it.” Her chin jutted out in defiance.

  Taylor grabbed her arm and whirled her about. “The comb can wait. We need to discuss your reckless nature.”

  “Wanting to ride a horse doesn’t exactly qualify as reckless.”

  “It does when you are injured.”

  “I am fine.”

  “Perhaps I should examine your injury once again, to make sure you are fit,” he suggested and reached out for her.

  Phoebe danced backwards. “You just threw me over your shoulder and carried me up the stairs. If that caused no pain to my ribs, then horseback riding won’t either.”

  His hand dropped to his side. “I didn’t hurt you, did I? I didn’t even consider. How could I have been so foolish to treat you in such a manner?”

  Phoebe laughed, though she really shouldn’t. Taylor looked horrified with his open mouth, pale skin and wide eyes, but he now understood that she was fine. “Now, if you will excuse me.” She left the room and started down the stairs.

  “If you are so bent on doing this, then I see I will be forced to accompany you, to keep you from trying anything foolish.” He caught up to her.

  Phoebe stopped in the middle of the stairs and turned toward him. “Such as?”

  He shrugged. “I am not so sure, but I will be there just in case you get some wild idea in your head.”

  Phoebe huffed, turned and marched down the stairs.

  He grabbed her arm to stop her. “There will be no wild running,” Taylor stated with more seriousness then she had ever seen.

  Looking deep into his eyes, she wondered what he was thinking. Worry marred his brow.

  “I would rather you got used to the lay of the land before you run madly across it.”

  She knew he wasn’t giving her the true reason, but she would accept it. In time she would be able to read him more easily and judge what he was really thinking. “I’ll do as you wish. Today.” She preceded him out the door to the stables.

  * * *

  A week later Taylor finally relented and allowed Phoebe to ride the stallion she had her eye on. After the way she had handled all the other horses, he was confident she could control this horse as well. Besides, she grew up in a family that bred horses, and he now understood why she had felt insulted when he asked if she had fallen from her horse.

  They came through the trees at the west end of the property, open fields stretched out before them. Phoebe stopped her horse and turned to him. She smiled at him mischievously, her green eyes twinkled with delight and she bent over slightly, held tight to the reins and with one quick nudge of her knee, the horst bolted, flying across the field. Her midnight hair flew behind and her laughter could be heard in the wind. Cursing, Taylor pushed his own horse to follow, leaning forward for added speed. He hoped to catch her, almost believing he wouldn’t. He had to admire her style. She rode the horse as if she were a part of him. Never once did she use a crop to urge the animal to go faster, only encouraging words, which he caught bits and pieces of.

  She glanced back and must have realized how close he was getting because she leaned forward and was practically laying her head on the horse’s neck. First the horse neighed, pulled up and stepped right before rearing. Phoebe sat up and held the reins tightly. Taylor watched the scene unfold in slow motion. Unable to reach her, panic built inside him. He was positive he would witness her fall and watch her be trampled by the hooves. She hadn’t been thrown, but held on like the magnificent horsewoman she was. Unfortunately, even though the horse was no longer rearing, he was very agitated, and Phoebe struggled to bring the animal under control.

  Coming to her side, Taylor threw his arm out, wrapped it around her waist, and lifted her from the horse, setting her in front of him. The magnificent beast she had been riding danced to the side, turned and headed back to the stable, just as Taylor was slowing his own horse, bringing it around.

  “I can’t imagine what caused him to react such a way. I did nothing to hurt the poor animal.” Phoebe appeared more bewildered than scared. She wasn’t even shaking from the ordeal and, as a matter of fact, she was quite composed. In that moment, Taylor was glad she was before him, so she couldn’t see his face or the raw fear he knew must be present. He tried to bring his breath and racing heart under control and set a slow, steady pace for the horse.

  “It is certainly uncharacteristic for the beast.” He hoped she didn’t recognize the anxiousness in his voice. “I’ll have to check with the stable master to see if something has happened that I am unaware of.”

  “I would be interested to find out, Taylor. I haven’t had to control an animal like that since I was helping my father break some newer breeds he had shipped in from America.”

  Taylor stiffened. “You helped break horses?”

  “Yes. The ones from America were far from wild, but they were not as calm and obedient as those raised in our own stables.”

  “I had no idea.” No wonder she had held her seat so well. How often she had landed on that pretty bottom before she learned to hold on and keep her balance. If her father had allowed such activities for the young lady, no wonder Phoebe was so reckless.

  The horse Phoebe had been riding made it back to the stable long before they did, as it had run full speed until it entered the yard. As they rode up, there was no sign of the horse, but Nelden was waiting, worried.

  “Is the Lady unhurt, Lord Sandlin?”

  “I am fine,” Phoebe laughed. He didn’t throw me. He just became a little irritable.

  “Thank the Lord.” He looked up to the sky before he turned his eyes to Taylor. They held something more than concern and relief and Taylor knew there was something wrong.

  “Is Romeo unhurt?” He dismounted and then helped Phoebe from the horse.

  “In a manner of speaking, my lord.”

  Taylor noticed his hesitant tone. The hairs on the back of his neck rose and a chill raced down his spine.

  “Has he been injured in any way?” Phoebe asked.

  The groom cast a quick glance to Taylor before he answered. “More anxious than anything, my lady. It appears something spooked him.”

  “He did certainly act spooked when he reared. Didn’t he, Taylor?”

  “That would be one way of describing the situation,” Taylor responded in a dry tone. “See to the horses, I’ll be out later to check on him.” With a hand in the small of her back, Taylor escorted Phoebe into the house.

  “Do you think we should go check on him now?” Phoebe looked back over her shoulder.

  “No,” he dismissed. “I have the best stable master in the country. He will determine what is wrong.” He steered her toward his library. She took a seat after he closed the door. He walked directly to the decanter, poured two tumblers full of brandy and handed one to Phoebe.

  “Taylor, you are shaking.”

  He sighed heavily and sank into the seat across from her as he drank deeply. “The incident has upset me more than it did you, I can see.”

  “The horse simply was spooked and reared.”

  He held up his hand to stop her. “That isn’t all of it, Phoebe. Nora, my first wife, was killed when a horse threw her. She broke her neck.”

  Phoebe’s eyes went wide and she visibly paled. “I am so sorry,” she whispered.

  “When I saw the horse rear, I was scared to death this was a replay of before.”

  “Were you with her when it happened?”

  “No, I wasn’t.” Taylor sipped, a bit calmer now.

  “Still, no wonder. I am sorry I made light of the situation, but I truly felt I had matters in hand.”

  “You did. I over-reacted to the situation. You handled the horse admirably.” He tilted his glass in salute, before he refilled it.

  “Tell me about them. Your other w
ives.”

  He studied her for a moment, not really wishing to discuss the past. Yet, she did have a right to know. Perhaps then she would better understand why he was so protective. “Very well. My first wife was Nora and a huge mistake. I was so anxious to marry and produce an heir as dictated by the will, I didn’t really stop to consider that the woman I married would be with me my entire life.” He downed his drink. “Of course, I didn’t know then what the future held. I met her during her second Season. She knew what to say, how to behave and how to play the role that would catch a titled husband. I fell for her shy flirtations and married her. Within weeks the lady showed her true colors. She made it very clear that she had no desire to live in the country longer than necessary and would not miss a minute of the Season. She required clothing and jewels due her standing within society.”

  Phoebe’s eyes were now wide with shock. She stared, mouth open. With a half-smile and chuckle, he added, “She was equally thankful the child would be born almost three months before the Season began, so she would have ample time to recover and order new clothing as a reward for providing an heir.”

  “Was she the one killed while riding?”

  “Yes. The horse threw her a week after she told me she had conceived.” Bitterness remained in his tone.

  “My goodness. How you must have suffered.”

  “I mourned the unborn child more than I did the mother,” he ground out.

  “And your second wife?” Phoebe prompted.

  The thought of Heather brought a smile to his face. “That would be Heather, sweet Heather.”

  “At least you remember her with some fondness,”

  “You would have liked Heather. I met her during her first Season and her only desire was to marry, retire to the country and have as many babes as allowed.”

  “Much different from Nora.”

  “As different as night and day. We did well together. She made an excellent friend and would have been an excellent mother.”