Lady Alex's Gamble (24 page)
Oh he, Ned Brimblecombe, knew how the tabbies would talk if they were to hear of the major's escorting her home, but to his mind, it was worth it, for it meant that this splendid gentleman had more time to appreciate his mistress's finer qualities. Besides, the gossips back in Norfolk, none of whom could hold a candle to Lady Alex, had never had the least effect on his mistress's behavior anyway, nor was it likely they would now, should any of this happen to come out. 223
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Personally, he was willing to die to keep the entire escapade secret and he felt certain that Bessie and Mrs. Throckmorton felt the same.
No, Ned was not shocked that his mistress was traveling un-chaperoned with a man. For certain, the rest of the world would be, but Lady Alexandra de Montmorency lived her life by her own lights, and though it was a very different one from most of the niminy piminy misses in the neighborhood surrounding Halewood, it was nonetheless proper. To Ned's way of thinking, his mistress was a true lady—responsible, gracious, kind, and with a courage and understanding that none of the other women with their hoity-toity airs could even hope to appreciate.
So it was with a light heart that Ned directed the packing of the carriage the next morning, checked the wheels and straps, and examined the tack and the shoes of all the horses. His mistress was a lady who traveled light, and in no time they were off, the freshness of the early morning lying like a mist over the city.
The major and Alex rode on ahead, stretching the legs of their mounts and reveling in their escape from the confining streets of the city into the open green spaces of the country.
"Ah," Alex sighed, running her fingers through her auburn curls as they drew up on Highgate Hill. "It is good to feel the breeze in one's hair again. London is all that is fascinating and offers more of interest to see and do than I have ever had offered me before, but it is good to be out in the fresh air once more. Imposing buildings are all very well, but I still 224
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prefer to be surrounded by trees and grass where I can hear myself think."
Christopher smiled. "So do I." How very different she was from every other female he had known. They had all loathed the countryside, from his mother, who bemoaned the dearth of
genteel companionship
which, translated, meant the lack of an admiring masculine audience, to his first love, who had not been able to bear the loss of the shops on Bond Street for any length of time—but then. Lady Alicia Darling's tastes had always been rigorously governed by the
ton.
After all, she had preferred a decrepit old duke to the handsome and ardent young Wrotham because a duke, no matter how feeble, was more fashionable.
It was certainly refreshing to enjoy the country air with someone who was not complaining of the wind disarranging the trimmings on her bonnet or the sun ruining her complexion. The major drew a deep breath of pure pleasure. What could be more delightful than sharing a ride through the woods and fields with someone who was enjoying it as much as he was?
Alex's voice broke into this happy reverie. "What?" he asked, turning to smile at her. What a picture she made, her cheeks pink with exertion, eyes shining with the pure joy of being alive on such a day.
"I said, shall we race to that church I see up ahead? Trajan is itching for a gallop."
In fact, Christopher was eager for one himself. It had been so long since he had done anything more strenuous than trotting sedately through Hyde Park, and such forced 225
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inactivity after a life in the army had left him starved for true exercise. "By all means," he replied. "You call it."
"One, two, three, go!" Alex shouted. They were off, leaning over their horses' necks as they tore down the road. While the major had anticipated that Alex would be a worthy adversary, he had not expected that she would so easily take the lead. Despite her clothes, her daring, and her unusual upbringing, she was a woman after all. As Trajan's tail flicked Brutus's nose, Christopher realized he had severely underestimated her. Lady Alexandra was a bruising rider, make no mistake about it.
Lightly touching Brutus's flank with his heels, Wrotham leaned even lower over his mouth's neck and urged him forward. Slowly they gained on the other horse and rider. The major, who had unquestionably been the most accomplished horseman in his regiment, refused to believe that someone might possibly beat him. Giving Brutus every ounce of encouragement he could, Christopher held his breath as the horse moved first to Trajan's flank, his shoulder, his neck, his nose, and, with seconds to spare, edged out the other horse by a nostril.
"Now
that is
what I call riding!" A breathless Alex congratulated him, shaking her head in wonder. "Until now, I was the fastest person I knew. I can see that I was a victim of provincial outlook."
Wrotham, long accustomed to beating anyone and everyone who challenged him on horseback, was unprepared for the rush of satisfaction that her obvious admiration brought him. All of a sudden, he found himself wanting to 226
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keep that look in her eyes forever by daring the boldest deeds, conquering the most difficult situations, winning at everything for her.
For her part, Alex was undergoing her own revelations. For as long as she had been grown up no one had bested her in anything. Losing was a rather humbling experience to bear at this point in her life. At the same time, she was glad that the person who had beaten her was the major. That this man she had come to like and admire had proven himself worthy of her regard, even at her own expense, made her happy and proud to be his friend.
Once she had attained her adulthood, Alex had never really had anyone to look up to. To be sure, Doctor Padgett had challenged her intellect, but he was woefully absentminded, and he was utterly cow-handed when it came to horsemanship of any kind. While it was true that Tony was her equal if not better in athletic pursuits, he readily admitted that his older sister possessed more in her cock-loft than he and his older brother put together. Furthermore, he could not be bothered with politics, finance, or anything that demanded such mental exertions as Alexandra delighted in. So it was that Alex, slowly discovering that her companion was more than a match for her in many things, began to enjoy relaxing in the knowledge that should any mishap occur on their journey, he was just as capable of dealing with it as she was.
Now, having thoroughly invigorated themselves with this exertion, Christopher and Alex were content to let Ned catch up with them. They rode along companionably, reveling in the 227
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fineness of the day and a conversation that rambled along as comfortably as they did, changing from one topic to the next as their interests led them from the logistical problems of keeping troops supplied abroad to the effectiveness of draining and reclaiming cropland in Norfolk. Heedless to their surroundings, they passed through Finchley and Welwyn, pausing only briefly in Stevenage for a hasty meal of bread and cheese before proceeding toward Cambridge. In the meantime, following at a respectful distance, Ned sat atop the coach, glancing up from the road as often as he could to observe his mistress and her companion. Casting back as far as he could remember, the loyal servant concluded that he had never seen Lady Alexandra so animated and amused. To be sure, she often shared long discussions with Doctor Padgett or the vicar, but Ned had never seen her laugh as she was laughing now, and only her madcap brother Tony could have gotten her to go galloping over the countryside with him as she just had. It had done the old coachman's heart good to see the glow in her face when he had finally caught up with the two of them. He could hardly wait to get back to the cosy kitchen at Halewood to discuss this interesting state of affairs with Bessie and Mrs. Throckmorton. If anything, the two women would be even more delighted and intrigued with the turn of events than he. The trio made good time and arrived in Cambridge at a reasonable hour. They again sought out the Rose and Crown where the major, overruling Alex's protestations that she would not mind the taproom, bespoke a private parlor. "This is not White's, you know," he responded to her assertion that 228
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she was quite equal to dining in a roomful of male company. He raised a hand, warding off further objections. "I know from experience that you can handle yourself creditably in a brawl should one occur, but I prefer not to run the risk. You haven't enough science to make me comfortable should any unpleasantness erupt, as it often does, and you are called upon to defend yourself." Correctly interpreting the hopeful glint in her eyes, he laughed. "No, I shall not teach you. Your brother may educate you in the art of swords and pistols, but the world of the fancy is a rough one and I shall do nothing to encourage you in its pursuit."
Alex sighed. "I expect you are in the right of it, but still I do..."
"No!"
"Very well." Then, brightening, she continued, "You need not instruct me in the use of my fists, but could you teach me the footwork, for I feel that it could be most helpful should I find myself in any uncomfortable situations."
"You are incorrigible." The major shook his head, but there was a twinkle in his eye. "Besides, I thought that all your
uncomfortable situations
would be over now that you have successfully accomplished your mission."
"One never knows," she replied with a darkling look. "I have yet to pay back the odious Sir Ralph." They dined most pleasantly and Alex, listening to the sounds of revelry coming from below, was forced to admit the wisdom of the major's decision. However, not wishing to appear fainthearted, she told herself that the quiet of the private parlor was much more conducive to intelligent 229
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conversation, for which she thanked the major. "I shall make the most of discussions such as this for they will be sorely lacking in the days to come—not that Ally and the children are not all that is amusing, but our topics of conversation are rather confined to household matters." She smiled at him over the generous helping of turbot in cream sauce that she was happily consuming,
The entire evening was so pleasant that each of them was most reluctant to end it, but there was a day's journey yet ahead of them and an early start was necessary if they were to stop on the road for Alex to transform herself into Lady Alexandra and still reach Halewood at a decent hour. Even so, they lingered for the longest time outside the door to Alex's bedchamber, candles sputtering in their hands. Looking down at his companion in the flickering candlelight, noting that it caught the red glints in her hair and made her green eyes appear enormous, the major found himself fighting off the urge to kiss her. In the shadows she appeared so absurdly youthful, so defenseless, that he longed to fold her in his arms and hold her, to whisper all sorts of tender and comforting things in her ear, to assure her that her life would be safe and happy ever after. It was the impulse of a moment that was cast off as quickly as it had appeared, but he could not help being taken aback by it, never having experienced such protective feelings in his life, and certainly not toward any woman. Gazing up at the major, Alex was struck by the curiously intent look in his eyes. Suddenly shy, she stared down at her guttering candle, her other hand uneasily fingering the 230
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buttons of her coat. Then with a laugh that sounded hideously false even to her own ears, she blurted out, "If I continue to stand here any longer, my candle will be quite burned out and I shall have to make my way in the dark." The major, as disconcerted as she was, agreed with an abruptness and awkwardness that was uncharacteristic, "Yes, well, good night." Then, as she closed the door behind her, he whispered softly, "Sleep well, Alexandra."
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Sleep, however, did not come easily to either one of them. Despite her fatigue and muscles aching after an unaccustomed day in the saddle, Alex lay on her bed wide awake staring at the ceiling—not that she could see a thing, but somehow she just could not close her eyes and drift off the way she knew she needed to. I must be getting soft, she muttered to herself as she stretched one leg to relieve its soreness, discounting entirely the lack of exercise she had been forced to endure for the past few weeks. However, it was not discomfort that was keeping her awake so much as her thoughts.
What a wonderful day it had been! She had never known such easy companionship, had never laughed so much, ridden so hard, or discussed so many things in such depth and now, just having discovered that such happiness existed, she must soon bid it all good-bye. No use repining, she admonished herself as she rolled over in search of a more comfortable position. This time Alex, ordinarily a very self-controlled person, was unable to make herself do any such thing and her thoughts only slid into more dangerous directions: the impressive picture the major had made as he rode beside her, the squareness of his shoulders, the strength in his legs, the blueness of his eyes, and the way they crinkled in the corners whenever he laughed or teased her.
Suddenly, and most unaccountably, Alex wished that the carriage dress she had brought to change into the next day 232
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were just a little bit more fashionable, a little bit more becoming, and not as creased as it must be after being packed at the bottom of her baggage for so long. She was about to leap out of bed to extract it from her trunk and hang it out, but caution got the better of her. She had been successful in her escapade thus far, no need to threaten all she had won by taking foolish chances now. Thank heavens I have
some
sense left, she comforted herself. For in truth, the thoughts that had just been running through her head had been running along lines as foolish as the thoughts of her nearest neighbor. Lady Warburton, and her bevy of silly coquettish daughters usually did, making Alex wonder if she had taken leave of her wits. Unbelievably enough, sleep at last did come, but it was uneasy, she dreamt of vast battlefields filled with men, horses, and cannons, and of both Anthony and the major being swallowed up by masses of enemy soldiers. All in all, Alex was delighted to be awakened by the warmth and light of the morning sunshine that stole through the window and tickled her face.
