My Forbidden Mentor (4 page)

It took extreme effort for John not to intercede. Ironically he sat there absorbing every last detail of a story she concocted in a matter of minutes. Incredible, he thought. Here he wanted to be straight with her father and she came in telling a story of half-truths, for whatever reason making an effort to save his hide. Even though he hadn’t done anything for Mr. Howard to be alarmed about, there still existed the business agreement he and Melissa dared to venture. How would that issue be brought up now that her father had this other to deal with? Perhaps I should leave that up to Melissa, the great storyteller, he thought.

John looked from Melissa, who appeared calm and collected, to her father, who without any doubt bought her story. He would have fallen for it himself if he hadn’t been there to witness the truth.

Phillip caught John’s glance upon him and softness conquered his troubled features. “I owe you an apology Lord Blackburn.”

John’s eyes flashed to Melissa before responding. “Not at all sir. It’s quite unnecessary.”

“Oh but of course. I was about to accuse you with the notion of philandering with my daughter. My sincere apologies.” Phillip held his glass in the air to salute John. “And my deepest thanks for rescuing her.” He smiled, unaware of the façade, and swallowed a mouthful of scotch.

John debated a minute whether to unveil the total truth to Mr. Howard, but after shifting his view to Melissa again and encountering the desperate, pleading expression upon her not so innocent face, the debating was over. He cursed himself in silence for following along with the deceit and gave Phillip a smile, saluting his own glass in agreement. “I’m grateful that my carriage was in the right place at the right time sir,” he said, watching Phillip take another swig, emptying his glass. To say the least Mr. Howard had become inebriated.

Melissa must have noticed also for she was at her father’s side in a second. Taking his empty glass from him, she set it on a nearby table and ordered him, “Father you’ve had more than usual to drink tonight. I think you need to lie down in bed.”

He lifted from his chair, taking her hand for assistance. “I think you’re right, love. Apologize to Lord Blackburn for me, will you?” he asked in a low voice as they stepped toward the doorway. “I’ve been rude to drink so much and leave so abruptly.”

Melissa glanced over to John. “Of course father.” Miss Beckett got her attention when she came over to them.

“I’ll take him to bed, love.” She gave John an approving glimpse and then took Phillip from Melissa. “You’ve got company to attend to.”

“Thank you auntie.” Melissa reached over and gave her father a kiss on the cheek. “Goodnight, father.” Her father said goodnight as he and Miss Beckett trailed off toward his room.

Melissa stood there for a moment watching them, nervous about approaching her company who still sat on the couch waiting for her. She hadn’t wanted to make up stories for her father. In fact, this was the first time she had ever had to, but she couldn’t jeopardize her chances with Lord Blackburn. She thought by saving his bum from her father he would return the favor by teaching her. It was quite amazing how fast she had come up with all the details of the story she’d made up. Feeling proud of herself, she turned to face Lord Blackburn with a smile on her face, only when she did, she discovered a definite glare of contempt. “More brandy?” she offered, prancing toward the bar.

“No, that isn’t necessary.” John returned in a perturbed tone.

“Very well, then.” She placed the bottle back in its place.

“Are you proud of yourself?” John asked, interested to hear her response.

She took her father’s place in his chair across from John. “No, of course not. I’ve never, ever done that before.”

“You mean lie?” John pointed out.

Her eyes found his. She hadn’t lied. She couldn’t think of it that way. “I would never intentionally hurt my father,” she hissed. “How can you be so ungrateful? I was saving your bottom after all!”

“Yes, I suppose you did, except I didn’t get a chance to explain about our situation.” He sat up straight, setting his glass on the table next to him. “I have to congratulate you though on your creative choice of words.” His grin was meant to embarrass her along with the emphasis on the word “creative.”

It must have worked, for within seconds her cheeks flushed. Her eyes veered away from his continuing gaze.

He continued to harass her. “You were amazing, you know? I admit at first I was upset that you cut in like that, but the way your story evolved I started to believe it myself.” He hesitated, knowing his taunting unnerved her for she was looking everywhere but at him. He carried on anyway because he couldn’t help himself. “It was enough to shame yourself, but you about mortified your father. A rapid stallion?” he chuckled. “How did you come up with that one?” By now he expected her to burst.

She stood, stepped over to him, and bent down to retrieve his glass from the table. “If you’re finished I believe it’s time you took your leave, Lord Blackburn,” she said and by now not caring if she blew her chances seemed tolerable compared to enduring his insulting words.

He stood also, standing with just a foot between them. “Don’t I deserve a reply to my inquiry first?”

He wasn’t smiling but she could tell he wanted to. His close presence became intense. Her head had to tip back a bit to look into his face. “You’ve had your jollies, Lord Blackburn. I prefer not to respond.” Why all of a sudden her heart began racing and her palms began sweating she wasn’t sure. She should be furious with him but instead she became warm and giddy and nervous, very nervous.

His arms crossed over his chest. “Really, I’m curious to know what made you think of a rapid stallion?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Really, I prefer not to share that with you.”

His head tipped to one side. “What if I’m never to see you again? Then I’ll never know?” John baited and her eyes widened, just like he knew they would.

“You cannot be serious. You were going to make a decision regarding our arrangement,” she said as her voice held urgency.

“True. But after tonight’s episode and the fact that you won’t indulge me . . .”

Melissa sighed. “All right,” she said, her gaze diverting to the glass of brandy she held. She began swirling the liquid like her father did.

“And make sure it’s the truth,” he warned as his lips curved up in triumph.

Her eyes shot to his, her tone hissing again. “I never lie. I’ve told you that, except for this one exception,” she reminded him, and then her eyes fell away from his handsome face when she began her explanation. “I had to think of something drastic that a man would want to do to a woman out in the open. Since I’ve never seen two people . . . mating,” she paused to catch her breath and swallow to moisten her dry throat, “I, I went by horses, which I have seen mating. It appeared to take place at a very fast pace, hence the word “rapid.” She swallowed again, searching for anything to focus on except him. “And since my presence involved being at a race track, I used stallion . . . to describe . . .”

John knew she had been overwhelmed in explaining so he stopped her. His arms unfolded and he said, “I’ve got the picture. I don’t require a further description.” He hadn’t expected to become aroused, but the more descriptive she got, the more his body formulated a mental image of what she referred to. He needed a distraction. “You’re a quick thinker Melissa,” he told her, sounding rough while trying to relay a compliment. He took the glass from her hand and downed one more gulp of the amber liquid before handing it back to her. His day had been long and unusually entertaining, and one minute more in the same room with Melissa and his own rapid stallion would make an evident appearance. “The hour is late. I should be leaving,” he said and started to stride toward the doorway.

“Will I hear from you?” she asked in a panic.

He stopped in the doorway of the sitting room and rotated halfway. “Yes. Either way I will contact you about my decision,” he assured her, but she continued to look concerned. “Give me one week’s time, all right?”

“All right,” she agreed.

Guilt and doubt plagued her as she followed his movements out the front door: the guilt she felt for not confessing the total truth to her father, and the doubt that John didn’t believe her to be truthful, which could affect his decision. Had she made a mistake tonight?

Perhaps it had helped that he did indeed get the last laugh, even if it was at her humiliating expense. She hoped it was worth exposing herself like she did, although after she had, his mood appeared to change. His strange behavior left her confused and discouraged. One week, he said. In one week her dream would live or die. I’m counting on you, Lord Blackburn, to let it live.

John pondered the entire week since he’d last seen Melissa. Now, as he sat beneath his “thinking” tree, as he called the giant Mulberry, his body flexed into a languid stretch.

Clasping his hands behind his head, his eyes closed and he drifted into a peaceful slumber. What to do about Melissa? Not every woman attracted John and the constant gossip that he bedded any and every woman that came into his path couldn’t be further from the truth. Although he had lain with a number of women in his time, John was very particular.

And now came Melissa, sweet Melissa, who held definite attraction for him. He thought back to her desperate attempts and with a curve of his lips, laughter bellowed inside him. The look in her eyes when she got caught was invaluable. He had never laughed so hard when he told Robert about what had happened. Then it dawned on him that laughter had been a rarity among his female acquaintances and it seemed so easy with Melissa. He couldn’t help having desiring thoughts about her, and combined with her interest in thoroughbreds, it fascinated him. He never imagined meeting a woman whose involvement with the gentle beasts would match his. A decision had to be made soon, before she gave up on him and went out on her own again.

One week had passed, Melissa thought as she hunched down in her garden. Under a cloudy gray sky she set about trimming perishing petals from the rose bushes she had planted earlier in the year from bare roots. Gaping at their brilliant displays of color, she took pride in her small rose garden. Her attention remained focused while collecting fallen rose petals and smoothing rich blackened dirt back around each individual plant when a towering figure appeared.

“Melissa?”

She jumped when hearing the deep, inquiring voice. Lord Blackburn’s voice. Her eyes closed. At last her future would be decided. She opened her eyes to the noticeable body heat penetrating around her and realized that he had crouched down next to her, studying her actions.

“Lord Blackburn,” she acknowledged, her hands turning shaky as she resumed smoothing dirt around the plants.

“The roses are lovely and they look well-tended,” John told her, finding the compliment coming easy for him.

Melissa appreciated the compliment but couldn’t help being eager to hear what he had to say. He was here for one reason. She looked him square in the face. Was he to become her mentor? “Thank you,” she responded with a generous smile. Was he tormenting her on purpose?

John smiled back, being quite aware that she must be feeling turbulent inside. Perhaps he should ease her mind. If his instincts were correct she would prove to be a valuable asset to his company if all went as planned. “Do you think you can work as hard training to be my jockey?” John asked and wasn’t sure if Melissa had heard him because she hadn’t reacted yet.

But not a moment later, slender arms flew around his neck, her motion rocking him off balance, though he kept them both from falling by bracing his hands on the ground. Her voice held excitement after comprehending his decision. “Oh, Lord Blackburn, I could kiss you.”

As soon as she realized her words, she loosened her grip and backed away from him. “I meant that as a figure of speech, of course.”

John understood her excitement, but to avoid further awkwardness he carried on with the matter at hand while he stood. “May I presume you’re happy about my decision?” he asked, brushing loose soil from his trousers.

He was giving her a chance. How could she not be happy? In fact, she was grateful. “I’ll be the best jockey you’ll ever have. You have my commitment and full cooperation.”

John chuckled at her enthusiasm. “Yes, well before we partake in this adventurous endeavor, there will be stipulations we need to discuss,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“All right, let’s hear them.”

John grinned at Melissa’s eagerness as he scanned their perimeters. “Is your father around?”

“No, he’s working,” she replied with clear impatience.

“Very well. We will discuss this now and then make arrangements to include your father another time.”

“My father will appreciate that.”

He followed her to the covered entrance of the cabin. They sat on a wooden swing and began going over the initial plans. Melissa agreed to most, taking exception to the last. John wanted sole dealings in regards to negotiations.

“I will be the one riding, Lord Blackburn, therefore, I certainly shall be involved in bargaining,” she stated.

“Melissa, who has more experience here?” John asked in return.

“Does your experience include women for riders?” she implored, knowing she was his first female student.

“That’s quite unfair. You know what I mean.”

“I beg to differ. You will need a different approach presenting a woman.”

“We will deal with that when the time approaches. Meanwhile, we will need to decide whether to choose the route of public display as opposed to camouflaging you.”

“Very well, but be aware that I would prefer to be involved with negotiations,” she made clear, pausing for a moment before sharing her private thoughts. “Wouldn’t it be absolutely wonderful though to be able to race against professionals as myself, as a woman?”

“Yes, it would be,” he agreed, realizing how much all of this meant to her, at the same time realizing the extensive challenge he’d gotten himself into.

They both agreed the next step would be to present their intentions to her father and further agreed to do it together.

But later that evening, while Melissa and her father were in the sitting room reading, she wanted to share with her father her chance of a lifetime. From time to time she would look up at her father, not concentrating on reading at all. No longer able to repress herself Melissa closed her book, deciding to say something, anything, to ease the pressure. “Father, I’ve come across a superb opportunity. I know you’ll be pleased.”

Philip’s eyes lifted from his book to capture his daughter’s. “Then spit it out, lass.”

Her smile widened while she explained. “Well, do you remember Lord Blackburn?”

“Of course. He’s the fine gentleman who rescued you last week.”

“Yes, and he’s a trainer, father, one of the best, and he has agreed to a trial training session with me!”

“What!” His book shut loud enough to make Melissa flinch. “Why didn’t he talk to me himself?”

She regained her confidence. “He had planned on it but I wanted to talk to you first. You see he’s not aware that I’m doing this without him,” she explained and started to feel guilty at what she’d just admitted, remembering her agreement with Lord Blackburn.

His narrowed gaze stayed on her. “When did you have time to discuss this with him?”

She stood to escape his scrutiny. “When he brought me home last week,” she told him as her footsteps took her before a large window where she could see blooming roses in her garden.

Phillip stared into her backside. “Tell me the truth, lass, was that all you did was talk? Why would he be so willing, huh?”

With a low gasp, Melissa turned around to face him. “Father, he was a perfect gentleman. He’s seen me ride and that’s the truth.”

Phillip shifted in his chair, his hand reaching over to retrieve his glass of scotch. “At Middleham, I suppose?” he said and swallowed a bit of his drink. “How did you manage that? You seemed to have left that part out of your story last week?”

By now the excitement that had built inside Melissa had changed to utter disappointment in herself. “I’m sorry, father, but the point is that he sees true potential in me and he can help me achieve my dream.”

Phillip didn’t ease up at all. “What’s in it for him?”

Instead of being offended by her father’s remark, she carried on as if they were having a casual conversation. “I would ride one of his top stallions and make him money.”

“Now there’s gambling involved. Oh lord, lass, what have you gotten yourself into?” he responded in a sarcastic but serious tone. He couldn’t believe their conversation and the avenues it kept taking.

Melissa stepped in her father’s direction. “Father you’ve gambled yourself.”

“That doesn’t matter, lass. You’re my daughter. You sneak into a racetrack not thinking about the consequences if your caught, and you attracted the attention of a lord who thankfully was nice enough not to turn you in. He probably waived that part so he could get paid in another fashion.” His drink swished in violence as he took another swig. As the scotch coated his throat he realized there was no more denying that his little girl was growing up and making crucial decisions of her own, but they were insane, ludicrous decisions.

Stunned by her father’s conclusion, she explained again, “Father, please. It’s not like that. His interest lies in his horses and making money. Mine lies in racing. You know it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

She was making sense and perhaps he was jumping to conclusions, but she was at a ripe age. He didn’t doubt that Lord Blackburn, like any other red-blooded male, would like to pluck at his precious fruit. He set his drink on the table. “Before any of this takes place I want to see him. I want to talk to him again, in private, no interference from you. Then we’ll all talk, you got that?”

Relief coursed through Melissa. “Of course, father. Thank you for being cooperative.”

His features turned tender. “Only because I love you so much. And if he is true to his word then I agree it would be a fine opportunity for you, but you have me worried about you. You’re so headstrong, like your mother, worse I’m afraid.”

She stepped next to her father, leaning down to place a kiss on his cheek. “I know father and I can’t help it, but it’s the only way to get what you want out of life.”

“I know you’re right love, but you’ve got to give your father a chance to catch up with you. Don’t make any more plans without me, settled?”

She smiled when agreeing, “Yes father,” and watched him return to his book, his brows creased with leftover frustration.

Melissa turned to retrieve her own book. Grand, just grand. Now she would have to let Lord Blackburn know that she’d talked to her father and that he requested another visit with him. She understood her father’s concern but he didn’t seem to understand the awkwardness that flooded her every time she had to approach Lord Blackburn because of her father. It wasn’t as if she were courting the lord.

Melissa grabbed her book and strolled off to bed. She still planned on meeting Lord Blackburn in the morning, where she’d be fighting another battle. She had brought this on herself again. Why, all of sudden, when her life seemed like it was changing for the better, did it seem so tangled up? Tomorrow’s another day, she reassured herself.