More Than a Stranger: A Sealed With a Kiss Novel (14 page)

“I have everything I need.”

She tossed the leaf to the ground and turned to him. “For heaven’s sake, are you truly not going to tell me what the devil you were doing?” She was so impatient, his Evie. She looked to him accusingly. “Are you taking a page from Richard’s book and merely torturing me?”

“Torture you? I don’t know what you are talking about. Why is Richard torturing you?”

She wagged a finger in his direction. “Don’t think you can distract me from the topic at hand. I know Richard said the two of you are here because of a woman, but I am becoming more and more convinced there is more to it than that. The two of you are up to something, I swear. Showing up unannounced, going off on mysterious”—she fluttered her hands in the air—“fishing trips in the rain, doing God knows what in your room last night—it is all very strange.”

Benedict blinked in surprise. Well, she really was getting suspicious. He would do anything in his power to keep from lying to her any more than he already had. Perhaps it was time to go on the offensive. After all, he had quite the advantage over her. He could easily use his knowledge of her against her.

“I hadn’t realized you’d feel so neglected, Evie. If you wanted to join us, you had only to say the word.” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, and he rushed on. “Let me make it up to you. I am going to need to get to know my mount before the hunt. Would you care to show me around the estate? It is a fine day for a ride.”

The corners of her full lips curved upward. “If you think you can get into my good graces with a request like that—”

“You’re right; never mind. I’ll have Richard accompany me.”

Aha—he’d hit her weakness, just as he had intended. She wrinkled her nose and said, “Good heavens, don’t do that. You’re liable to break your neck if you take any advice from him. No, I’ll come with you. It will give me the opportunity to observe your chemistry with the mount before you take to the hunting grounds.”

“As you wish, my lady.” He worked to keep the satisfied smile off his face. Lord but she was easy to manipulate. “Come—let’s go take a look at your horses.”

Having reached a truce of sorts, they made their way down the path and through the yawning doors to the stables. Stepping into the shadowed interior, he was momentarily blinded by the contrast to the bright sunshine outside. Evie led them straight toward the stalls in the back.

As she slowed, he prudently pulled his eyes from her backside and pointed to the nearest stall, which contained a sleek, speckled gray mare that looked to be about sixteen hands. “She’s a beautiful horse. Is she a good jumper?”

Evie chuckled before responding. “The very best. Unfortunately for you, Epona is mine.”

So this was the fabled Epona. Many a letter had been devoted to the horse after Evie was given the foal for her fifteenth birthday. “Epona? As in ‘goddess of horses’? Not very original,” he scoffed good-naturedly. He had teased her about the moniker years ago when she had proudly written to him of her new horse and the grand name she had bestowed upon her.

She placed her hands on her hips in mock affront and said, “I was practically a child when I named her. I was only fifteen when Papa gave her to me, and at the time I was just learning about the Roman gods and goddesses. I thought it was very clever and sophisticated, even after I was mocked for it by my brother and a dear friend.” She grimaced, a cloud passing over her face momentarily before she shrugged. “I can’t very well change the poor thing’s name now. Besides, I have kind of grown to like it.”

Benedict blinked.
Dear friend?
She had to have been referring to him. So she did occasionally think of him in good terms. To mention him so casually years later with a near perfect stranger—well, he couldn’t deny the feeling of pleasure that coursed through him.

“I’m only teasing, of course. And I can hardly talk, as my horse is named Samson.”

She grinned, looking up into his eyes. “Truly? And you thought to tease me? For shame, Mr. Benedict. For shame.”

“And what have you two got your heads together about?”

Richard strode down the center of the aisle, suspicion all over his face.

Evie grinned sweetly. “Wouldn’t you just like to know?”

He cut curious eyes to Benedict. Benedict merely shrugged. If Evie wanted to play her game, he wasn’t about to spoil it for her.

“Well then,” Richard said, looking back and forth between them. “It appears I am going to have to stay close by if I’m to keep up with the two of you.”

Benedict very nearly rolled his eyes. Seeing Richard in the role of protective older brother was altogether bizarre. In all their years as friends, he was always the scoundrel of the two. Besides, Benedict’s only goal was to bask a bit in Evie’s presence. He had no designs on her innocence.

Evie did not seem the least bit bothered. “Only if we’re traveling on foot. If we should be on horseback, you would be sadly without hope of keeping up.”

“You wicked girl,” Richard exclaimed in mock outrage. “Honestly, I can’t imagine that we were raised by the same parents.”

“I know. To think I’m related to someone with such bad form on a horse.”

Richard laughed aloud and wrapped a playful arm around her shoulder. “You wound me, Evie; really you do. My form is nothing if not glorious. It’s my riding that’s dreadful.”

Shaking her head, Evie chuckled. “Oh, I wouldn’t call it dreadful. Merely passable.”

He shuddered dramatically, withdrawing his arm. “God save us from passable. I think I prefer dreadful over mediocrity.”

“Yes, well, some of us would settle for decent,” Benedict interjected. “Which is why I wanted Evie to join us.”

Richard pulled a face. “And what is that supposed to mean?” The wicked grin on his face said he knew
exactly
what it was supposed to mean.

“It means you would happily place me with a tottering old workhorse so that you may have the once-in-a-lifetime possibility of actually appearing to be the superior horseman.”

“What nonsense. Buttercup is a perfectly spry mare.”

Evie’s tinkling laugh washed over Benedict like warm summer rain. “You are right not to trust him, Benedict. Buttercup is nearly as old as I am. Now who is wicked, dear brother?”

“Have I ever claimed to be otherwise? Now then, let’s see what horse
you
think will suit our Mr. Benedict.”

As they went to work on the task at hand, Benedict reveled in the opportunity to observe Evie in her element, at home in the humid, musky air as she took them from stall to stall, summarizing the virtues of each horse. He could not stop himself from studying her, seeing the pride firsthand in her eyes, watching the way she touched and stroked and spoke to each of the horses they encountered.

When they paused in front of a large black gelding, she trailed the tips of her fingers down the side of the horse’s muscular neck. It was a gentle, sweet caress, and for a moment Benedict imagined the touch on his own skin. At the very thought, a shiver skittered across the skin above his collar, and he raised a hand to rub the suddenly sensitive skin.

She patted the horse and turned to Benedict. “Brutus is a little older, but he is steady and strong. He was Richard’s horse of choice until Comus came along, not that Richard ever did either of them justice.”

“Hey,” Richard exclaimed, crossing his arms. “I’ll have you know Brutus and I rubbed along perfectly well. We simply never agreed on the proper way to jump.”

“Yes,” she said, raising a golden eyebrow. “Poor Brutus insisted on the correct way, whereas you never had your balance right.”

“So he is a good jumper?” Benedict interrupted before the siblings could get started again.

Evie smiled briefly. “One of the best. You will have to have a firm hand with him, but I don’t think he will be too much for you to handle. What do you think?”

“I trust your judgment completely. If you think Brutus will suit, then it must be so.” He rubbed the horse’s velvet muzzle, and the beast whickered happily in response. “And thank you for taking the time to rescue me from Richard’s scheming.”

Richard grinned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. But I do believe I have had quite enough of mucking about in the stables. Shall we head to the house?”

Benedict shook his head. “I think I’ll take a moment to get to know Brutus, if you don’t mind.”

Richard nodded and looked to Evie. “Bit?”

“I’ve work to do. But I do plan to go riding before tea. Would you like to come along?”

“Thank you, but I think not. After the ride here and our excursion yesterday, I believe I’ll stay around the house today.”

“Very well, I’ll see you at tea.”

They waited in silence as Richard took his leave, both watching his retreating form. Though he didn’t look at her, Benedict could feel her presence beside him; she was a perfectly respectable distance away, yet close enough for him to smell the faintest hint of lemons.

After a moment she turned to him, looking very satisfied with herself. “Will you be ready in an hour?”

Benedict raised an eyebrow, not catching on immediately. Realization dawned on him. The crafty girl. She had just ensured that Richard couldn’t complain about their leaving him behind. An entire afternoon with only the two of them and whatever servant would serve as their chaperone?

“I wouldn’t miss it.

* * *

Drat the man.

Evie blew a lock of hair from her forehead in frustration. He had neatly sidestepped telling her absolutely anything about what he was doing last night. She had almost been back in her bedchamber when she realized she had completely let him off the hook. She thrust her arm into the jacket of her riding habit and grumbled.

“Did you say something, my lady?” Her maid looked at her a bit strangely.

Evie tossed a smile over her shoulder. “It was nothing, Morgan. Thank you for your help. I can manage from here.”

Morgan nodded and took her leave. When the door clicked closed, Evie began to pace. Benedict might have managed to throw her off earlier, but she would have ample opportunity to pry during their ride.

Actually, she’d have ample opportunity to do just about anything during their ride. She could stare at his gorgeous profile, listen to his silky, smooth voice, smell his delicious scent. There would be no worries of her mother scrutinizing her behavior or her siblings interrupting them. A nervous flutter tickled her belly. The man was an enigma. Some of the things he said were just ridiculous. And sometimes . . . sometimes they slipped into banter as easily as old friends.

Evie shook her head and sighed. It was odd that he could prompt such a strong reaction from her. How could she feel so attracted to him one minute, and annoyed with him the next?

A light tap came from the door. Evie took a last look in the mirror and smoothed a hand over the shimmery, deep blue velvet of her habit before calling out, “Enter.”

Her mother opened the door and stepped into the room, the line of her shoulders tense beneath her emerald morning gown. “Hello, my dear. I hope I’m not interrupting you.”

“Not at all. Come in.”

Mama closed the door quietly behind her before turning her attention back to Evie. “Do you have a moment? I thought perhaps we could talk.”

“Yes, of course.” Evie glanced at the gilded clock on the mantel. She was supposed to meet Benedict in less than ten minutes, but he would have to wait. Unsure of her mother’s mood, Evie took a seat in one of the conversation chairs and waited while her mother did the same.

They sat in an awkward silence for a moment. Evie sat straight in her chair, her hands folded in her lap like a proper lady. Something about her mother’s manner made Evie nervous, though she couldn’t say what. She did her best to exude confidence and serenity, but the fluttering butterflies in her stomach really weren’t helping anything. Realizing the nearby thumping noise was her own foot tapping beneath her skirts, she curled her toes within her boot and willed herself to stay still.

“You seemed rather distracted at breakfast this morning. I could tell something was bothering you, though I had no idea what.”

“It was nothing, Mama. I’m afraid I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Then I realized you had been acting out of character for almost a week, even before all the excitement of Richard’s arrival.” She paused as if waiting for Evie to contradict her. Evie said nothing.

“After your father’s meeting with the estate manager this morning, I mentioned my concern to him. He told me there was something that you’d been meaning to speak to me about.”

“He did?” Evie squeaked, then cleared her throat. She wasn’t prepared to do this just yet, but it would appear she hadn’t a choice.

“Yes, he did. I questioned what it was about.” She looked down to her hands for a brief moment, then leveled her gaze at Evie. “Evie, he told me about your proposal.”

Blast, blast, blast!
Evie reined in her immediate reaction, swallowing the protest that sat on her tongue. “And?”

“I cannot possibly allow it.”

The air in Evie’s lungs whooshed out as if she had been kicked in the gut. It couldn’t be—it could simply not be the end of her dream. No, she had convinced Papa and, by Jove, she could convince her mother. It was just too important. Evie clenched her jaw and shook her head. “Mama, you must hear me out first. It is what I want more than anything.”

“It is what you
think
you want.” Mama leaned forward earnestly in her chair, pressing her hands together in an almost prayerlike gesture. “Evie, you must know a decision such as this will affect the rest of your life. I know how much you dislike London, but it is only a means to an end. Find yourself a nice, country gentleman with his own stables and you can have the best of both worlds.”

Evie refused to let her roiling emotions get the better of her. Sucking in a steadying breath, she met her mother’s gaze straight on. “Our stables are hardly interchangeable with any other setup out there. And besides, I already have the best of both worlds, Mama. I have family and my work right here at the Hall.”

“
Having
a family and
starting
a family of your own are two very different things. Why are you so resistant to the idea?” Frustration colored her voice like purple dye in a glass of water.