by Vella, Wendy
“The problem here, Nicholas,” James snapped, “is that you still don’t see yourself as part of this family. If you had, you would have never done such a reckless thing. You would have alerted one of us to your actions!”
They did not often see the duke angry, but he was now.
“I did what I felt was right. What was reckless was Alice leaping on that man’s back!”
“This is not about me, so do not try and deflect away from your reckless actions, Nicholas.” Alice’s anger flared once more at the risks he’d taken. He censured her, but his actions had been worse.
She’d been so scared when she realized he was being hurt. Unsure what they would find when they reached him.
“Well, it bloody well should be about you! You need to make sure she is not so foolhardy again, Wolf. In fact, lock her in her room until she promises to behave!”
Wolf looked from Alice to Nicholas, and she had no idea what he was thinking as she could not read the expression. Looking around the room, she encountered similar expressions from her family members. It was unsettling that everyone but she and Nicholas appeared to be considering something.
It disturbed Alice enough that she got out of her seat and stormed from the room without saying good night. Of course, as she was in James’s house she could not leave, but still, she’d find a room to wait in that was not near that foolish man, Nicholas Braithwaite.
Chapter Fourteen
Three weeks after the Mueller Ball, Nicholas decided it was time to reenter society. Today there was to be a ride in the country with a picnic beside a lake, which sounded perfect and not overly taxing.
His body had surprisingly not taken much healing. He’d first thought his ribs broken, but they had stopped aching almost immediately. The cut to his face, black eye, and damaged nose had taken longer. But Essie’s potions had aided his recovery.
What had taken longer was what was going on inside his head. He’d needed time and distance to no longer be consumed by thoughts and visions of Alice Sinclair. For days, he’d felt the soft weight of her breasts in his hand. Known the terror of seeing her on that man’s back after she had leapt recklessly to his rescue, but no longer.
Nicholas now believed he was over that particular infatuation. Although she had come to him last night demanding he find that babe yet again, and the other in her arms, at least now he felt he could see her and feel nothing.
“A momentary insanity.” He put it down to that.
“Pardon, my lord?”
“Nothing, Percy. The brown jacket, if you please.”
“Surely not, my lord? The green is far better for such an event, and may I suggest the ivory and black waistcoat?”
Nicholas had woken today feeling different and couldn’t quite put his finger on why. Lighter inside somehow, which was surely only due to the fact that he’d finally caught up on sleep and read more books than he had in a single year.
“The brown, Percy.”
His valet made a small sound reminiscent of a wounded animal and exchanged the green jacket for the brown.
“I am wearing a waistcoat of bronze and cream, surely the brown goes best with that?”
The color was a hideous mustard. Mud brown and horse excrement green are not the rage this season.
Alice had said those words to him. Perhaps he hadn’t quite eradicated her from his head entirely, but he would. It was vexing how he didn’t seem to be able to forget anything she told him, and yet he couldn’t remember what he’d done yesterday... not actually true, as he’d read whilst reclining in his favorite chair, as he had the day before that.
“And it is very nice, but surely the occasion warrants the ivory and black?”
His valet was a small man with boundless energy and bright eyes. He had been with Nicholas for many years through many trying times.
“No,” Nicholas said, holding out his arms for the brown jacket.
“Very well.” Percy’s lips pursed.
“Cheer up, there is after all the Stratton Ball tomorrow night. I shall wear exactly what you wish to that event and shine like the brightest beacon of sartorial elegance.”
Percy did not comment but looked skeptical.
“All right, I may not, but surely I will cut an adequate figure. Besides, had you your way, I would leave the house looking like a dandy.”
Percy looked wounded. Nicholas knew better; the man had the hide of an elephant.
“Gloves, please.” Nicholas held out his hand, and his valet showed restraint and placed them in his palm gently.
“My wish is for your day to improve, Percy.”
“Mrs. Brown has made plum cake, my lord.”
“Excellent. Have two helpings, it will restore your humors. You can moan extensively about your tiresome employer while eating it.”
“I believe you may be onto something, my lord.”
Nicholas was laughing as he left his room. He had spent the last few weeks alone for the most part, something he rarely did as he did not particularly like his own company, but strangely he had this time.
Of course, his family were constantly on his doorstep checking up on him. And maybe that was part of the reason he felt lighter. They were forcing him to accept he was part of them, and perhaps he finally had.
Unfortunately, with them came Alice, but he hoped she married her sainted Barty with expediency, then he could forget about her entirely. But not Captain Young of the shifty eyes. The thought of her marrying either left a vile taste in his mouth, so he swallowed and ignored it.
Today he was to ride with his family and friends and then attend a picnic that Lord and Lady Levermarch had organized. He hoped the day uneventful of anything but what it should be. Food, companionship, and exercise. All things he was ready for.
He thought about that night at the Mueller Ball often. The knowledge that had settled over him when those men had appeared to harm him. He wanted to live, but to do that he had to fight to survive. When his family had arrived, he’d been doing just that. They’d waded in without hesitation. The duke, the lord, the captain, and Cam. Giving no thought to their own welfare. He, Nicholas, had been in danger, therefore they would help.
It was a humbling thought on top of the knowledge that he now wanted to be part of their family.
He’d put distance between them because he believed himself unworthy, they had not allowed that.
At his cousin’s prompting, yesterday he had employed the services of one Mr. Spriggot, a small innocuous man who James and the Sinclairs had assured him was a superb investigator. With him came Mr. Brown, a large, bullish fellow who was a Bow Street Runner.
An odd pair, but James had assured him there were none better. He had set them to investigating the matter of the missing babies and who had attacked him at the Mueller Ball.
Leaving the house, Nicholas mounted his waiting horse.
“Thank you, Joshua.”
“Have a good day, my lord.”
He rode through London, enjoying once again being outside doing what he loved, riding. They were to meet in the park and ride out from there. Those not riding would take carriages.
The sky wasn’t exactly blue, but he saw no sign of rain clouds and hoped it stayed that way. Enjoying the sensation of harmony within his soul, he reached his destination to find several people milling about on a large stretch of grass.
“Nicholas, good to see you.”
“Will.” Nicholas nodded, reaching over to shake the hand of the man who rode forward. He had not been close with many noblemen for years, but the changes in him had adjusted that. This man he now counted as a friend, as he did his family.
“Come, our party is over there, join us. Your disreputable family are with us.”
William Ryder was a well-respected member of society with a duke for a brother and a marquis for a brother-in-law. Nicholas had always liked him, because when he was the cad he’d been, Will had always spoken with him as if he was worthy of his time... which he certainly hadn’t be
en, but Nicholas appreciated it all the same.
“Nice mount.”
“His sire is Jezzop, from the Halton stables,” Nicholas said as Will studied his horse, Ferdinand, which he’d recently found out his stable master had shortened to Freddy.
“Obedient?”
“Extremely.” As the words left his mouth, Freddy stretched his neck, jerked the reins from Nicholas’s hands, and charged forward.
“Stop at once!”
The horse did, coming to an abrupt halt wedged nicely between Alice Sinclair and her brother.
“Hello, Freddy.” Wolf stroked a hand down his neck.
“Do that again, and you’ll be put out to pasture in a paddock with no grass,” Nicholas growled in his horse’s ear.
“He likes Apollo.”
“I don’t know why; your beast is always trying to nip him.”
“They have a love-hate relationship.”
“Come now, surely your ego can stand what just occurred, my lord?”
Of course she would never just settle for “hello” after what they’d shared. Alice was no shy miss who would blush and stammer or avoid him.
The emerald green of her riding habit did startling things for her already amazing eyes. It had black braiding marching down the front in the military style that was currently in fashion, and a black hat sat on her head. She was beautiful, but no more so than others, so he refused to feel anything other than admiration. And would not give that kiss in his carriage another thought. Which he just did and wanted to kick himself for.
Stop now!
“Good day to you, Miss Sinclair.” The use of her full name was to put distance between them.
“Why is she Miss Sinclair?” Wolf asked.
“I am being polite.”
Wolf hooted with laugher, and Alice had a look on her face he couldn’t read.
“Can your ego not cope with such behavior from your horse, Lord Braithwaite?”
“My ego has nothing to do with it, Miss Sinclair. I simply have no wish for my horse to disregard my orders in favor of seeking out your brother’s beast.”
“My brother has an affinity with animals.” She tilted her head slightly to study Wolf. “I’m not entirely sure what that says about him.”
“It says that animals are fine judges of character,” Wolf drawled.
“Or understand when someone is at their level,” Cam added from behind them. “Hello, Nicholas.”
“Good morning, Cam.”
“I thought we discussed you gadding about London with a groomsman from now on, or one of us.”
“I have never gadded anywhere and was in no danger riding from my house through the busy streets to here.”
“Just don’t take any notes from footmen,” Cam added.
“Unless they are on horseback, I think I am safe.”
Their party was a large one, with many of society’s more prominent members in attendance. All the Sinclair and Raven clan were here, as were the Langley sisters and their husbands.
Warwick was to ride, but the twins, Samantha, and the children who were with nannies were in carriages, as were Essie, Kate, Rose, and Emily.
“We shall be off now, as I have no wish for the ices to melt,” Lady Levermarch declared.
“Hello, Nicholas. I did not see you at Tattersalls yesterday.”
Recently married, Benjamin Hetherington and his twin Alex were the Marquis of Levermarch’s brothers. Once, they’d gambled with him, but their big brother had soon put an end to that.
“I had another appointment.”
“’Tis a shame, as Linley put that black stallion of his up for sale.”
Nicholas bit back a groan. He’d been after that horse for years.
“I hope you purchased it for me.”
“I purchased it for myself, and if you are good I will let you come over and pat it occasionally.”
Nicholas said something foul, and Benjamin rode off laughing.
“There will be other horses, my lord.”
“Not like that one,” Nicholas said to Alice as they left their meeting place.
She slowed her horse, and he was glad she was soon behind him somewhere so he wouldn’t have to look at her the entire journey.
“I can just not get past the fact that someone is stealing babies, Nicholas.”
“Good morning, sister.”
“Good morning, brother.”
Lilly wore blue, the skirts darker than the jacket. She looked happy and content, and he loved seeing her that way.
“And yes, it is not a comfortable thought.”
“Are you feeling completely healed?”
“I am, thanks to the care of you and Essie. I thought my ribs would take longer to heal, but they gave me no pain at all.”
“Strange things, ribs, but I have heard they heal fast. Now tell me what you plan to do next about these babies. Without taking any further risks, of course.”
He talked as they rode out of London and headed over the hills and valleys to the location Lady Levermarch had designated for their picnic.
“They are good men, Mr. Spriggott and Mr. Brown. I’m sure in no time you will have news. Until then, do not walk anywhere alone,” Eden said, joining them.
“I am now not the only one who knows about the babies, ladies. I’m sure there is no longer a threat to just me.”
“You started it, so the threat is still with you as far as I am concerned,” Lilly said. She then rode off to Dev’s side. Clearly the conversation to her mind was concluded.
“Miss Gillett is looking lovely today, don’t you think, Nicholas?”
“Is she, I hadn’t noticed, Eden.”
“Well, I will be sure to introduce you.”
The duchess wore red, and it looked stunning on her.
“I have already met her, so there is no need to go to the trouble. Thank you.”
“She plays the piano and sings also.”
He turned in his saddle slightly to look at her. Clearly he needed to be blunt.
“I have no wish to marry Miss Gillett, Eden.”
“I think you’ll change your mind before the season is over.”
“I doubt that.”
She rode away looking annoyed. The conversation with Lilly in the carriage the day they went to The Trumpeter came back to him then. Was it possible his family was trying to marry him off this season? He would be putting a stop to that.
“I understand your horse is sired by Jezzop, from the Halton stables, Lord Braithwaite. I have a mare with the same bloodlines.” Lady Levermarch took Eden’s place at his side.
“Yes, he is a wonderful horse when he’s behaving.”
“My mare is the same, extremely strong willed.”
Once he got over his surprise to be discussing bloodlines with her, he enjoyed the conversation very much. Nicholas had been guilty of placing women in two categories: those who wanted to bed him, and those who didn’t. He’d rectified that now he was sober.
“You can stand on your horse’s back?”
She flashed him a smile that Nicholas was sure brought her husband to his knees often.
“Indeed. I can do many tricks. Will had a groom called Moses, who used to ride tricks in a carnival, it was him who taught me.”
“Good Lord. How did your brother in law and husband cope with that?”
She shot him a wicked smile. “Badly.”
He laughed as she rode away.
She was considered one of the most beautiful women in London society, and with her pretty face, honey-blonde curls, and lush curves he could see why.
“If you are about to drool, I shall find someone else to ride beside.”
He turned to find Alice beside him once more.
“I beg your pardon?”
She nodded to Lady Levermarch, who was now beside Lilly. “She is a beautiful woman. I have seen men trip over their own feet when she is near.”
“Do I seem like a man who would trip over his own feet when an attractive
woman is around? And surely if that was the case, I would have done so before now around you Sinclairs and Ravens.”
She didn’t blush. Nicholas knew this as he was looking at her. Instead she made a scoffing sound.
“Don’t play the pretty with me, my lord. I know what I am.”
“And what is that?”
Alice waved a gloved hand about.
“What does that gesture actually mean? You appear to do it a great deal when you can’t find the right words.”
“It means I don’t have to explain, and I don’t want you to add anything further, and I can always find the right words.”
“All that from a hand wave? How clever at communicating you are. But getting back to the subject at hand, am I to understand you do not think you are beautiful... or more importantly, as beautiful as Lady Levermarch?”
She ignored him, turning away, which allowed him to run his eyes over the delicate curve of her jaw... the jaw he’d kissed.
“I have spent a great deal of time in the company of beautiful women, and I find it is not just the outside beauty that matters.”
She turned to face him.
“I’m not sure if that is bragging or just the simple truth.”
“Simple truth. I have been in society for many years.”
“Not many men feel that way.”
“Many men are fools, Alice. Remember that. I have firsthand knowledge of this, as I was one once.”
Their eyes held, and Nicholas felt it again, the tightness his chest.
“And how is your sainted Barty?” he made himself ask.
“Sssh, I have no wish for Wolf to overhear your words.”
“Because?”
“Because I don’t.”
“What is wrong with Barty? You both seemed upset the other day in the men’s fashion establishment.”
The frown formed lines between her eyes. Nicholas had the ridiculous urge to reach over and smooth them.
“He needs to go home,” she said softly.
“Alice, if you need help—”
“No, I have it under control, thank you, my lord.”
“I’m sure you do.” How did he convey to her that she needed to show more care? “But I would still caution you to take care.”