Heart of the Diamond (23 page)

“Wait!” Wincing, Nicki rushed forward to save the earl from a nasty bite.

She stopped mid-stride as Hera nuzzled the sweet from Blake's hand with delicate care. He dusted off his hands and replaced the handkerchief before stroking the white diamond on Hera's dark chestnut head. The mare snorted in pleasure.

Catching sight of Nicki's expression, Blake arched a dark brow. “Have I grown a tail, Nicole?”

“I . . . I have never seen Hera behave so—pleasantly. She has been the most disagreeable animal from the moment of her birth. Papa and I dared not attempt to sell her. We hoped she would join the breeding stock, but she has managed to terrorize the stallions into avoiding her.”

Blake leaned back to stare into the deceptively mild gaze of the horse. “She certainly seems affable now.”

Nicki eyed Hera suspiciously. “She certainly does. If she would only show Achilles such courtesy, she might begin to earn her keep. To this point she has been quite worthless.”

“Speaking of worthless,” Blake interjected, “where is your precious Teddy?”

Nicki started to speak but was interrupted.

“Precious Teddy . . . ” Bartholomew spoke from near the door, then walked forward. Nicki spun to face him, her heart pounding. “ . . . waited for the past half hour to partake of breakfast with Nicki, and was then informed she had left the house with the Earl of Diamond. Whatever are the two of you doing out here at this ungodly hour?”

Tension sent taut white lines to the corners of Blake's wide mouth. “Nicole generously offered to show me the new foal.”

Teddy, in his lime-colored suit and green, white, and black striped cravat, seemed out of place standing beside Blake dressed in grey. Teddy craned to see into Hera's stall. “So, you have not given up your infatuation with the horses. I thought you might have outgrown that penchant, perhaps to follow more feminine pursuits.”

“But—”

“I believe it would be a damned shame if a talent such as Nicole's went to waste on needlepoint, Bartholomew.” Blake's voice cut through Nicki's reply.

“Teddy meant no disrespect, Blake. Did you, Teddy?” Nicki clutched the earl's sleeve, anxious to avert a situation that had the symptoms of escalating into an all-out brawl.

For a long moment, Teddy's topaz eyes stared coldly at Blake. The scathing glance softened as it transferred to Nicki. “You know I approve of whatever you might choose to do.”

The earl's arm stiffened beneath Nicki's grip, but his voice remained deceptively soft. “I would not go so far as all that.”

A thunderous crash sounded from beside them. The door to Hera's stall flew open, slammed back against the wall, and the horse plunged through the opening. Nicki froze in stunned surprise as Hera charged full speed toward Teddy, who spun about and ran toward the large door leading to the courtyard. The horse chased Teddy, and Blake rushed after the both of them.

Like a statue, Nicki stood rooted to the planked floor. She could only watch in horror as Hera stretched out her long, graceful neck to nip at Teddy's coattails. With a horrendous screech, and in a feat of inhuman effort, Teddy leaped into the air and landed on the middle rung of the ladder leading to the loft. Like a great, green spider he scrambled up the remaining slats and hoisted himself onto the upper floor of the stables.

Hera snorted and pawed the ground. A scrap of chartreuse fabric hung from her teeth like a prize of war. Nicki watched Blake ease up next to the mare, murmuring softly, and though Hera trembled at his touch, she made no move to continue her attack. Now seemingly docile, she waited for Blake to retrieve a halter and slip it over her head, even going so far as to relinquish the piece of Teddy's coattail.

Blake's gaze shot to Nicki. “Where shall I take her?”

Nicki made a motion toward the double doors behind her. Where had her voice gone? As Blake passed by her leading Hera, she looked up to where Teddy perched on the hayloft. Cheeks mottled white and red, his amber eyes shone brightly. He was the picture of injured dignity.

Shaking off the stunned amazement that had held her paralyzed while her horse attacked her best friend, Nicki hurried to stand next to the ladder. “She is gone now. Please come down.”

“I will not. That animal must be destroyed at once!”

Alarmed, Nicki cried out. “She meant no harm, Teddy! It must have been the color of your suit that set her off. She might have mistook you for a patch of grass.”

Teddy's eyes filled with impotent fury. “I don't care what caused such an exhibition, but I cannot believe for one moment you'd allow such a dangerous animal free reign of the place! All of you are in mortal danger.” Bits of straw rained down from the loft as Teddy gestured wildly. “Think of Shelby, and Mina.”

Irritation wormed its way to the forefront of her thoughts. “Shelby and Mina have had no problem with Hera, or with any of the other horses. I honestly believe your style of dress enraged her.”

At Nicki's sharp retort, Teddy gained a level of calm. “Do you mean to say that a horse took offense to my clothing?”

“She has never behaved so violently toward a human before.”

Teddy scooted to the edge of the floor and allowed his legs to dangle before he reached out to grab a rope used to hoist hay and barrels of fodder up to and down from the loft. With admirable ease he swung to the floor, proof that his agility of moments ago had not been triggered by the imminent threat of danger.

“I had no idea horses were so discriminating in the country,” he said acidly.

Nicki gave a sheepish grin. “Not discriminating, just aggressively hungry.”

He appeared to relax slightly, though angry color still stained his cheeks. “I suppose I might not have been so offended if I had not behaved like a complete muttonhead.”

Blake joined them and Nicki noted with surprised admiration that he had not broken a sweat, or damaged his appearance in the least. He impaled Teddy with his gaze. “Are you injured?”

“Just a bit ruffled,” said Teddy, still bristling.

Nicki touched Blake's arm. “Did Hera settle down?”

As he glanced down at her hand on his arm, Blake's jaw seemed to tighten for just an instant before he met her gaze. “The moment I released her she charged after a handsome bay. Luckily, he was on the other side of the fence.”

“Poor Achilles. I had hoped she would win him over with charm, but she seems intent on bullying him.”

An expression of moderate distaste crossed Blake's face and he returned his attention to Teddy. “What is that odor?”

Teddy flushed crimson, and Nicki noticed a smell similar to that of damp hay after it has lain in the fields. “I believe it is my cologne.”

“Are you sure? Perhaps you rolled in some old hay in the loft.” Nicki provided in an attempt to help.

“This is the first time I've worn a cologne I purchased in America. It's called ‘Essence of Spring’.”

The corners of Blake's mouth twitched. “Perhaps that is what excited the mare.”

“Thank you both for your helpful conclusions. Nicki believes the animal took offense to my suit and you have determined it is my smell.”

A giggle erupted before Nicki could stifle it. Blake and Teddy looked at her in surprise, then at each other. The more she tried not to think about Teddy fleeing through the stables, the more clearly became the vision in her mind. Blake shook his head and chuckled. Nicki could hold back no longer. Teddy finally snickered, somewhat forced at first, then he relaxed and the sound deepened.

Tears of mirth streamed down Nicki's cheeks. “I am sorry, Teddy, but you must admit it was funny. Did the merchant who sold you the cologne warn you of the side effects?”

His eyes warmed her like the sun. “He said it was irresistible.”

“But did he tell you it would inspire a horse to demolish its stall to get to you?” Blake obviously attempted to gain his normal calm, but his voice trembled with suppressed laughter.

Teddy stiffened in response to Blake's amusement, but looked at Nicki and smiled broadly. “He failed to inform me of that small detail.”

The sound of carriage wheels on the cobbled stones of the courtyard outside drew Nicki's attention, and she left Blake and Teddy to go to the outer door. Andrew met her at the entrance, his weathered face a mask of stunned alarm.

Over his shoulder Nicki saw not one vehicle, but dozens. “Who on earth are all these people, Andrew?”

He glanced back, looking as though the Hounds of Hell had just appeared at his back. “I dunno, m'lady, but they'll be needin’ some ‘elp wit’ the coaches. I was after me sons.”

“Do what you must. I shall investigate.”

Blake's voice sounded at her ear. “It seems you have company,” he surmised in dry tones.

With what she hoped was a withering glance, Nicki left the security of the stables. The jingle of harnesses, the snorting of excited horses, and the shouting of groomsmen echoed through the courtyard. Nicki approached the nearest vehicle, a glossy black coach with a coat of arms emblazoned in gold on the side.

The door swung wide, forcing Nicki to halt abruptly. “Aunt Josephine?”

The woman departing the vehicle looked up in surprise and stumbled on the step. Though she recovered herself quickly, her bonnet slipped askew and a feather tipped dangerously close to her eye. “Good Heavens, is that you, Nicki?”

“Yes, it is me, Aunt! How wonderful to see you.”

Josephine toppled again on the final step, and Nicki rushed forward to offer her shoulder. Her aunt leaned her rather generous girth across Nicki's shoulders, nearly unbalancing them both.

Just when Nicki felt her knees would give out, Josephine stood upright, straightened her bonnet and swept the feather aside. Her hand glistened with jewels in the meager sunlight. “Goodness, the last time I saw you, you were just a skinny little girl with a very red nose and eyes. Let me see, was it a cold?”

“No, Aunt.” Nicki was distracted as she saw Andrew's youngest son, six-year-old Georgie headed in her direction at an all out run. She quickly stepped back to allow him to pass before moving back to her aunt. “It was my mother's funeral. Remember?”

Josephine clucked her tongue, ignoring the interruption. “Of course. Such a tragedy, dear Marguerite. Time goes by so quickly, and now you are to be married.”

“Buried? Who's to be buried?”

A voice rasped from the inner recesses of the coach, causing Nicki to back away in alarm. Josephine leaned her upper body back inside the coach. “I said married, Grampa! Look who's come to greet us. This is Nicki, Jonathon's oldest.”

A scuffle ensued at this bit of information. Uncertain what she should do to help, Nicki stood hesitantly by. Blake made an opportune appearance. “Might I be of some assistance?”

He attempted to see into the carriage. Josephine backed her upper body out of the coach, her bonnet dropping to its former precarious position just below her eyebrows. She craned her head to see who had addressed her.

“Oh, why yes. It's Grampa. He has some difficulty getting in and out of the coach, you see.”

Blake stepped around Josephine and glanced inside. A bent old man crabbed into the doorway. Blake took his arm in a steadying grip.

“Worthless contraption, if you ask me. Damned nuisance, rattling about the countryside. Give me a good horse any day. Who's that there? I say, Josey, are we being robbed?”

“No, Grampa Giles! This kind gentleman wishes to help you down!”

The old man's skeletal hand clenched around a cane, which he slammed back and forth against the doorframe, as though testing the width of the opening. Blake received a sharp smack on his right hand where it held on to the intricate gold trim lining the doorway.

“Why didn't you say so in the first place? I was just about to hide my purse. Damned highwaymen. Can't travel the roads without being set upon.”

Taking his cue from Josephine, Blake raised his voice. “It might be best if I hold your cane, sir, just until you have exited the coach.”

Nicki admired Blake's patience as the old man refused to relinquish possession of his cane. The earl stoically maintained his grip on Grampa's arm, though the cane struck him several times before the older man stood safely on the ground.

Sharp brown eyes below jutting white eyebrows surveyed each person in turn, pausing to look Nicki over thoroughly. “I say, is it that Dalton girl?”

“Grampa, you remember Nicki, my brother Jonathon's eldest daughter? Hasn't she grown into a beauty?”

The old man captured Nicki's hand in his cold, claw-like grip. She had a vague recollection of seeing this man at her mother's funeral. Of course, Aunt Josephine's father-in-law. “Good day, sir. I hope your journey was pleasant.”

The gaze remained focused sharply on her face, while his lips smacked together several times before words issued forth. “Pheasant? Don't mind if I do. Josephine damn near starved me, she was in such a hurry to get here.”

Blake leaned close to Nicki's ear. “Are all your family members so colorful, my dear?”

“Aunt Josey, Grampa Giles, may I present the Earl of Diamond, Blake Dylan.”

Josephine offered her hand, simpering and batting stubby black lashes. “I might have known our Nicki would find a titled husband in the middle of the country. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, my lord.”

Taking her fingers gallantly, Blake arched a dark brow as he bowed slightly. “The pleasure is all mine, my lady.”

Nicki's attention wandered to a group of people gathered near a carriage across the courtyard. Voices were raised in angry tones; hands gestured toward the carriage, which Nicki could see sat oddly askew. Andrew's eldest, Tamm, struggled to release the horses from the traces.

Nicki glanced over her shoulder, but Teddy had either chosen to remain in the stables or had managed to escape to the house. “I must admit I am confused, Aunt. How did you know I was to be wed?”

“The invitation, silly girl.”

“Invitation.” Nicki looked at Blake, who shrugged broad shoulders. She returned her attention to Aunt Josey. “Do you know who all these other people are?”

Josephine peered over the backs of her own perfectly matched bays to the array of coaches and carriages. “I believe those two vehicles belong to your Uncle James and Uncle Julian. Oh, look, they've brought their families. That damaged carriage looks to be—why it's your father's best friend from school. James must have run into him. He's never been adept with the laces.”