A Suitable Bride (6 page)

Unfortunately most of the volumes were religious texts, mathematical treatises and on other boring subjects. There didn’t seem to be a novel anywhere that would keep her occupied. The trunks were already unpacked so she couldn’t busy herself with that. After pacing up and down the room for half an hour she decided she would try and find her way to a side door and let herself out for surely she would go mad with
ennui
if she remained cooped up in here another minute.

After tossing the skirt of her habit over one arm, she picked up her gloves and riding whip and headed for the door. With a candlestick in the other hand she was unable to close the door behind her and hoped it wouldn’t bang shut and wake the other guests who were sleeping in this part of the house.

The shutters and curtains at the far end of the passageway hadn’t been drawn and sufficient light came in from the oriel window to guide her towards it. Hopefully she would be able to see something through the glass that would give her her bearings and allow her to negotiate the way around this vast establishment without becoming completely lost.

The first glimmer of dawn on the horizon meant she could see she was facing east and acres of immaculately manicured parkland rolled away into the distance. There were stands of handsome cedar trees, yews and oaks and also what looked like a racetrack of some sort. She hadn’t been aware that this family were interested in racing and her pulse quickened.

Did this mean there would be an opportunity to show off the prowess of her stallion? He was already in great demand for breeding and his progeny were much sought after in the locality. However, she’d yet to make any inroads with the gentlemen of the
ton.
If Rufus were to win a race or two whilst she was staying here this might make all the difference to her stud.

Although ostensibly she was here to find herself an aristocratic husband she now viewed this as an opportunity to further her business interests. The trust fund would not become available until she married or reached the anniversary of her twenty-fifth name day. Her brow furrowed as she considered the implications.

The ideal arrangement would be for her to marry a compliant husband, someone who would make no demands on her whatsoever and allow her a free hand to run the stud. The exact opposite of Lord Sheldon. It was as if a great weight had lifted from her shoulders. Now she could be herself, not worry if she offended the prim and proper matrons and their simpering daughters – she had no wish to attract the sort of gentleman who was looking for a young lady of good breeding and impeccable manners.

From this point onwards she would search for either a very young gentleman who could be easily influenced or an older man who would be so besotted with his young bride he would allow her to do as she wished. The gentleman she was looking for must be an aristocrat of some sort, be kind and not lack for wit. She would prefer him to be personable, but the other criteria were far more important.

Surely there must be someone who would do amongst those spending the summer at Silchester Court? Someone her father would be happy with so he would give his permission and thus release her funds?

Chapter Six

Grace tiptoed along the silent corridors until eventually she found the main staircase. She thought there might be maids on their knees scrubbing the floors but she was in advance of even those girls. There must be a side door that led directly to the stables and this would be easier to open than the front door.

After several false ventures she arrived at an exit that would do. This had no key, just two bolts which she pushed back easily enough. She pulled the door closed behind her and stood on the flagstone pathway that ran between two high hedges, listening. Yes – this led to the stables for she could hear horses not far away.

The path ended at an archway and she stepped through into an immaculate yard – not a wisp of straw or fork full of manure to be seen anywhere. Even here no one was yet at work. The loose box doors were closed and she could hardly go from one to the other looking in until she found Rufus.

Then the familiar bark from one of her dogs led her to the rear of the stable block and she ran to unbolt the door that held them captive. She dropped to her knees and they jumped all over her. ‘Good morning to you, boys, I see you have comfortable accommodation and have been well looked-after. Now, show me where Rufus and the other horses are stabled.’

The dogs danced around her feet and then Toby shot off towards a paddock she could see in the distance and she gathered up her skirts and ran after him. The other two animals raced after their brother and by the time she reached the fence her stallion was galloping towards her.

He skidded to a halt, sending divots of grass flying up behind him and lowered his massive head onto her shoulder. ‘I’m glad they turned you out, you’ll be much happier here.’ She stared around the field and could see several empty fields stretching ahead which would be ideal for an early morning gallop. As she had no notion where his tack was she would have to ride astride and bareback.

‘Stand still, Rufus, I’ve no wish to further damage my head by falling on it again.’ The horse calmed and remained stationary a few inches from the fence whilst she scrambled on his back. After arranging her skirts to her satisfaction she was ready to go.

‘Remember, sweetheart, I’ve no saddle or bridle and you must be careful not to tip me off.’

She gently touched her heels to his sides and wound his long wiry mane around one hand. He needed no further encouragement and moved smoothly from trot to canter, increasing his stride when he saw the obstacle in front of them. She leaned forward, staring through his pricked ears, her blood pounding with excitement.

Rufus soared into the air and cleared the fence with a foot or two to spare and then they were galloping. The pins in her hair came out and it was streaming behind her. Forgetting she was at the home of the Duke of Silchester and that she was here for the sole purpose of finding herself a husband, and that her outrageous behaviour would offend, she laughed out loud.

*

Bennett had retired as early as he could do so without seeming uncivil, he wasn’t a heavy drinker nor a gambler and found the twittering of society ladies unbearable after his years spent on the Continent as a soldier.

He rose at dawn as he always did, dressed quickly and took the backstairs so he could leave the house without disturbing anyone. He arrived at the side door and was startled to find it already unbolted. Surely no one else had come out so early?

As usual the stable yard was empty of grooms, he didn’t expect one of them to get up just to saddle his horse as he was quite capable of doing so himself. He was walking to the tack room when he heard the uninvited dogs barking and was almost sure he also heard Miss DuPont.

He must have imagined this as she would hardly be out here at dawn when she had been so sorely injured less than a day ago. Although she’d looked well enough when he’d seen her sleeping, being out and about was another thing entirely.

The noise had come from the paddocks at the rear of the stable block where the chestnut stallion and the four grey carriage horses had been turned out. He couldn’t believe his eyes and increased his pace until he was running flat out in a vain effort to reach the fence before the girl mounted her stallion.

Calling out would be disastrous, he would startle the animal and she would fall a second time and might not be so lucky. He arrived too late and watched helplessly as the horse took off. Then his horror turned to admiration as he realised the girl was in complete control and had a better seat than anyone he’d ever seen astride a horse.

He held his breath as the animal approached the fence and sighed as Miss DuPont, mounted astride and bareback, landed safely and continued her wild ride. Her three canine companions scampered after her. He turned and raced for the tack room and within five minutes he was on his own horse and galloping after her.

His initial admiration for her horsemanship had turned to fear that she was risking her life so casually. Lucifer cleared the fence with ease and thundered across the grass enjoying the unaccustomed race. The girl would have to slow her pace, if she was capable of doing so, when they reached the fourth fence as this bordered the woods that surrounded the property.

She might be an expert horsewoman but it defied credibility to think she could control such a powerful horse with no saddle or bridle. His worst fears were realised when he caught a glimpse of the chestnut without his rider on the far side of the hedge that bordered the final paddock.

‘Steady, boy, we must not arrive at this speed.’ He pulled on the reins and transferred his weight to the back of the saddle and the horse responded immediately, dropping from a gallop to a canter and then to a walk.

He was about to call out when three overexcited dogs shot through a hole at the bottom of the hedge and their sudden appearance caused Lucifer to rear at the precise moment he was dismounting.

*

After jumping the hedge Grace realised her small dog pack was several fields away. ‘We will wait for them here, Rufus, I’ll walk you until you’re cool enough to graze.’

It took a while for the animals to catch up and by that time Rufus was happily munching at the lush grass that grew along the edge of the hedge in the clearing she’d jumped into. She greeted the dogs and then decided to explore before remounting. Although there was a track leading into the trees she wasn’t sure it would be suitable to ride along, as it looked more like one used by deer.

Suddenly the dogs turned tail and ran back the way they’d come and she could hear their excited barking in the distance. Something had attracted their attention so she followed them, hoping they didn’t scare her horse as he could be somewhat temperamental. The hedge was too wide for her to see over when standing next to it, although Rufus was standing with his ears pricked looking in the direction of the noise.

There was a gap she could peer through. She was about to do so when the unmistakable sound of Lord Sheldon made her pause. Then something prompted her to peep through the shrubbery and her heart all but stopped.

His lordship was spreadeagled on the grass, there was no sign of his horse and her dogs were bouncing up and down around him. He was unhurt, which was fortunate, but so enraged she thought it better not to announce her presence. With luck he would think Toby and his brothers had arrived through their own volition and not associate her with his accident.

She clicked her fingers and the stallion trotted over to her. There was no way she could mount without something to stand on unless she removed her skirt. She hesitated for a moment, then decided it would be safer to remove herself from Lord Sheldon and risk being seen in men’s attire than remain where she was.

She unhooked her skirt and draped it around her neck then grasped a handful of her stallion’s mane and vaulted up. There was no need for her to urge Rufus into motion, he shot forward almost before she was settled and only her excellent balance kept her on his back.

Her horse had chosen to canter along the track adjacent to the hedge and Grace crouched over his neck making sure she couldn’t be seen from the field on the other side. With luck the dogs would be so interested in Lord Sheldon they wouldn’t attempt to follow her and thus reveal that she’d been present and seen his humiliation.

The sun was slowly rising and there would soon be servants about and she’d no wish to be seen dressed as she was. The track eventually emerged at the rear of the stables and there was the clatter of buckets and the sound of voices. She dismounted and refastened her skirt. ‘You must find your own way back to the field, Rufus. I daren’t be seen.’ She turned his head in the direction of the paddocks and slapped him on his hindquarters.

He whinnied loudly and his stablemates responded from the field. He needed no further encouragement and took off; she held her breath as he approached the fence but he jumped it with feet to spare. The horse was safely home, now all she had to do was get herself inside without being seen. She was certain there would be no guests down so early but there would be members of staff and they were bigger gossips than their masters and mistresses.

The house was rousing, there were maids and footmen already about their duties. She checked her skirt was correctly arranged, repinned her hair and then walked boldly through the side door. If she was going to be seen then she needed to look confident, not skulk about as if she had no right to be there.

She regained the sanctuary of her own apartment unobserved. She glanced at the overmantel clock and saw that the hour was still early – Annie would not be here until seven o’clock which gave her almost an hour to recover her equilibrium and remove the evidence of her escapade.

There was little point in putting on her nightgown as she had no intention of going to bed. Therefore, she would wash and put on clean underpinnings and by then her abigail should have arrived to help her dress. Her head ached and she thought perhaps she’d overtaxed herself.

When she looked in the mirror she was horrified to see a trickle of blood running down the side of her face. She touched the wound and was unsurprised when her fingers came away red. The doctor had left no replacement dressings so she would have to improvise.

Tearing up a perfectly good petticoat was not an option, so she would have to find something else. Then she remembered the bandage she’d pulled off earlier – perhaps that would do. She was obliged to rummage through the laundry bin until she located it. The pad that had been pressed against the stitches was unusable but the bandage would do very well.

She wound it around her head and secured the end. She could hardly go down for breakfast as she was, so would have to send for something. If she was honest she was relieved she could postpone making her curtsy to the other toplofty guests for a few hours more.

‘Good morning, miss, I’ve brought you a tray as I wasn’t sure if you would be well enough to go down,’ Annie called out cheerfully as she walked into the sitting room.

‘I’m afraid I’ve overexerted myself this morning and have started the wound bleeding again. I think I might have loosened one of the sutures.’

Her maid dumped the tray on the sideboard with scant regard for the contents and was at her side in seconds. ‘It’s bleeding badly, miss. I’ll send one of the girls down and ask for the doctor to be fetched back immediately.’

‘He said he was returning this morning, there’s no need to make a fuss, it can wait until he comes. We just need to apply a better dressing. I’m sure you can find something suitable that doesn’t require destroying a chemise or petticoat.’

Annie looked unconvinced but didn’t argue. Soon the bleeding was staunched by a second bandage being applied over the first and all traces of gore had been removed from Grace’s face and she was dressed in one of her new gowns.

‘There, that should hold until the doctor gets here. Now, miss, where do you want to eat your breakfast?’

‘If you would place it on the hexagonal table that would be perfect. There’s no need for you to remain, Annie, go and have your own meal and then bring me any titbits of gossip you might glean.’

‘I shall be back very shortly. If the physician arrives I’ll come at once. Are you sure there’s nothing else you want to eat or drink?’

Grace waved her away. ‘Everything’s perfect. One thing’s for sure, I shan’t go hungry here for there’s more than enough for a family on this tray.’

Although she’d thought herself hungry, she scarcely did justice to the delicious food. However, the jug of coffee was exactly what she fancied. She poured herself a second cup and carried it carefully to the upholstered window seat.

From here she could see the rose garden and, as soon as her wound had been tended to, she was determined to go there. She placed her cup and saucer on the windowsill and then positioned herself so her back was supported and she could stretch out her legs in front of her.

A short while later there was a sharp knock on the door. Good heavens! The doctor had arrived far earlier than she’d anticipated and her maid would still be eating her breakfast. She was reluctant to ask him to enter without a chaperone but decided as a medical man he would be exempt from the usual rules governing such things.

‘Come in,’ she called.

The door swung back and to her horror, instead of the gentleman she was expecting, Lord Sheldon opened the door. Before she could protest he stepped in and she scarcely had time to swing her feet to the floor before he began his tirade.