Eleanor And The Duke (Berkshire Brides Book 1) (24 page)

“Why, it is the Misses Easton!” the young reverend said to his wife as Eleanor stopped the gig. Another young man in work breeches came up to them and held the horse while Reverend Gedding assisted Minerva from the small conveyance. Joshua held out his hand for Eleanor.

“What a pleasure it is to see you here,” Gedding said.

“And you!” Eleanor let go of Joshua’s hand and welcomed Caroline’s light embrace.

Reverend Gedding introduced Eleanor and her aunt to the horse breeder and the other man who’d been standing with Joshua – Hermon’s son. Eleanor explained that she intended to buy a horse for herself. They started walking toward the paddock, and Gedding stayed close to his wife, taking her elbow and guiding her steps across the uneven ground.

Even though Joshua offered Eleanor his arm, she felt a twinge of envy over the obvious devotion of her friend’s husband. Josh would never be anything but an old friend, not after she’d experienced Beckworth’s kiss. Beckworth’s intimate touch.

Oh, no. She would not think of that.

“Thank you for staying for supper last night, Joshua,” she said.

“Did it accomplish what you intended?”

Eleanor swallowed thickly. She did not know what she intended any more.

Joshua cast her a questioning look, but Eleanor could not answer him. She was more confused than ever after making love with Andrew last night.

“How is the duke’s secretary this morning?” Joshua asked.

Eleanor shrugged, glad to change the subject. “He was badly injured, but I understand he fares well enough today.”

Josh nodded. “Do they know what happened to him?”

“Only that some rogues in town went after him . . . for what reason, I’m sure I do not know.” Eleanor really needed to get to the bottom of Andrew’s animosity toward Weatherby. Perhaps then she would understand their accusations against each other.

They caught up to Caroline, and Eleanor walked alongside her. “I did not know you would be here this morning, Caroline.”

Caroline laughed happily. “We’ve come to find new breeding stock for my husband’s . . . hobby.”

“You breed horses, Reverend Gedding?”

Caroline placed her hand against her husband’s chest for a moment, and he covered it with one of his own. The affection they shared could not have been more obvious, and Eleanor swallowed back a pang of envy. It was clear Caroline and her husband shared an unreserved love and trust. “He breeds the very finest horses, Eleanor.”

“How marvelous. Then perhaps he can help me select a good riding hack.”

“I would be delighted, Miss Easton,” Reverend Gedding said, turning to speak to her. “But first you must answer some questions for me.”

“Of course.”

A servant came out of the house and invited the ladies in for refreshments with Mrs. Hermon. Eleanor and Caroline declined, but Minerva followed the footman inside. The others walked outside the paddock while Reverend Gedding asked Eleanor all sorts of questions about the type of rider she was – her experience level, her preferences for riding, and that sort of thing. Then he went with Joshua and the Hermon men into the field to look at some horses, leaving Eleanor with Caroline.

“I’m so happy you are here in Berkshire, Caroline. I would have been quite sorry to have missed you.”

“I wanted to visit my parents at Stillwater House before . . . well, before I am unable to travel.”

“Yes, your blessed event in the autumn.”

Eleanor smiled and slid her arm through the crook of Caroline’s elbow while saying a silent prayer that she would not find herself in the same situation – or rather, predicament, in her case. Oh, how could she have been so foolish last night? She’d been lucky a year ago not to have found herself with child. She could not take the same risk again.

“And we came, of course, for the race,” Caroline said. “Robert never misses the Reading Stakes.”

“I haven’t gone since I was a child and my father . . . Of course this year, I won’t be able to attend.”

“That is a shame. I am so sorry about your father, Eleanor,” Caroline said. “Even though he was not the best parent, I know his loss must affect you deeply.”

Eleanor had no reply to this. She had yet to sort out her feelings on what she had so recently discovered about her parents. So she changed the subject. “I don’t suppose your trip out here today has anything to do with the presence of Lady Kildrum?”

Caroline gave out a great sigh. “I knew I had to get Robert away from Aunt Arden. Even the most patient man in the world has his limits.”

It felt good to laugh, and Eleanor realized that before coming to Berkshire, she had not laughed so freely or spontaneously since the day she’d ended her engagement to Beckworth. She remembered her delight when he’d taken her up in a hot air balloon at Vauxhall Gardens, and she’d hardly been able to contain her giddy laughter. Another time, her eyes had teared and her sides ached from uproarious laughter when they’d attended a program with two comical entertainers who’d played pranks on one another.

And there was the occasion when he’d discovered how devilishly sensitive her ribcage was, and he’d tickled her without mercy . . . at least, until he’d begun fondling, and then kissing . . .

The heat of last night’s lovemaking suffused her and she felt a blush creep up from her chest to her cheeks. Luckily, Caroline did not notice.

“My husband remembered Beckworth quite fondly,” Caroline said.

“From school?”

“Yes. It seems your duke was something of a hero to the younger boys.”

“Hmm. So I’ve heard.” It seemed to be a recurring theme. First Mr. Fletcher, now Reverend Gedding.

“Really?”

Eleanor nodded. “Er, yes, I recently met someone else who knew Beckworth at school.”

“Robert recalled stories of Beckworth’s father. Apparently he was a tyrant.”

“The duke has never spoken of him to me.”

“I suppose he wouldn’t. I’m sure his father is the last person he’d want to remember, if what Robert said was true.”

“Do you mean to say he . . . he was a brute?”

“Yes. Robert says he had his son thrashed every time he intervened for one of the younger boys at school. He thought it unseemly for a future duke to side with the weak ones.”

Eleanor frowned, loath to think of Beckworth being beaten for performing a kindness. She would not deny that he treated everyone charitably in spite of his lofty station. He knew the names of every maid and footman in his service, and even the kitchen staff at his London home. At Christmas, he’d given everyone in his employ a boon, and time off if they wanted it.

“I know,” Caroline said, correctly interpreting Eleanor’s silence as disapproval. “No father should be so harsh. I know Robert will be kind to our children.” Eleanor felt distraught at the thought of Beckworth being beaten, and it demonstrated how little she knew of him. He spoke fondly of his mother and siblings, but she could not recall him saying anything of his father.

She needed a change of subject. She did not want to think of Beckworth now, especially when she could still taste his mouth on hers, and feel his body sliding into hers.

“T-tell me about your home in Richmond, Caroline. Have you started to furnish your nursery?”

“No. That will take the rest of the summer.” She turned to face Eleanor. “It is a shame that Lucy will be leaving for Scotland so soon after your arrival.”

“Yes. Yes, it is,” Eleanor replied. “I’d hoped to be able to visit with her frequently.”

“I asked Mama if Lucy could come home to Richmond with us instead,” Caroline said.

“The answer must have been no,” Eleanor mused. “And I cannot imagine she is happy with the decision.”

“None of us are,” Caroline replied. “But Papa said she is more likely to make a suitable match in Edinburgh than she did during her London seasons.”

Eleanor started to ask about the young man her father had chosen for Lucy, or who the man was who’d captured her heart when Caroline’s attention was drawn away. “Eleanor, isn’t that Beckworth riding this way?”

Eleanor turned to look in the direction Caroline indicated. Her throat went dry, and she found herself unable to swallow her chagrin. Or her nerves. She had not yet decided quite how to deal with him after their ill-advised tryst last night.

Beckworth rode up and dismounted, handing the reins to a groom who hurried from the nearby barn to assist him. Eleanor was too caught up in his masterful dismount to find her own tongue.

How he always managed to look so powerful and emphatically masculine in whatever he did was beyond her. And when he removed his gloves and shoved them into his coat, she could almost feel the gentle stroke of those strong, bare hands on her skin.

Moments like these made her doubt the decision she’d made to abandon him for the packed streets and piazzas of Florence.

Andrew had seen Eleanor well before he rode past Harmon’s gate. She was wearing a simple straw hat with black ribbons, but he could not miss the glorious golden shimmer of her hair, neatly pinned at her nape.

She was strolling outside the paddock with Mrs. Gedding, but she turned suddenly and saw him, stopping abruptly. Her posture stiffened.

And here he’d thought he’d won her over.

Gesu, whatever evidence or witness Weatherby had produced against him must have been powerful. Because the life they’d begun together before and during their engagement had been nothing short of exquisite. She would not have rejected it without potent proof.

Andrew hated to think that what transpired between them last night meant naught. Dash it, he knew she would not have made love with him if she did not love him. She only needed sufficient time to realize it.

“Duke, I did not realize you would be coming here this morning,” Mrs. Gedding said.

Neither did Eleanor, obviously. She looked thoroughly discomfited by his presence. And completely adorable.

“I promised to assist Miss Easton in finding a suitable riding horse. I did not realize she was in such a hurry to accomplish the task.” He turned to Eleanor. “Fortunately, when I returned to Primrose Manor, Thornberry was able to tell me where you had gone.”

“There was no need for you to follow, Beckworth,” Eleanor said.

Ah, so that was how it was going to be.

Her mien was one of indifference, but Andrew knew better. She’d melted in his arms last night and had slept nestled close until he’d left her bed in the early hours of the morning. But it was obvious that his absence this morning had given her time to regret their night together.

Without looking at him, she spoke. “Reverend Gedding is something of an expert and has kindly agreed to help me.”

Just then, Gedding called out to them with a wave of his hand, and started walking toward them across the paddock. Joshua Parris and Mr. Hermon caught up to him.

“That is very good of the reverend,” Andrew said. Though of course Gedding had no idea he was interfering with an extremely tenuous courtship. And Parris’s presence was just plain annoying.

“Beckworth, good morning to you!” Gedding said before turning to Eleanor. “I believe I’ve found the perfect horse for you, Miss Easton.” He pointed out one of the horses near the far fence. “That lovely dun mare with the dark stockings. She’s already been trained to a side-saddle, and Hermon says her lineage is impeccable.”

“I do like the look of her,” Eleanor said.

“I’ll have one of the lads bring her in,” Mr. Hermon said, leaving to give instructions to one of his men.

Reverend Gedding drew his wife’s hand through the crook of his elbow. “Come with me, my dear. You will enjoy seeing the foaling barn.”

“I’m sure you will too, Parris,” Beckworth said, pointedly.

Parris cast a quick glance at Eleanor, but he did not argue. “Ah, yes. I do believe I will come with you, Gedding,” he said, quickening his pace to catch up to the young couple.

Andrew suppressed a smile at Eleanor’s irritated expression when the others walked away. He would be eternally grateful to his former schoolmate for making a timely exit, and was glad that Parris took the hint. Parris and Eleanor had made quite the lively pair at dinner the previous night, and it had seemed fairly clear that he intended to renew their friendship.