The American Bride (18 page)

Since Julian had been riding with Richard most days, Cara had been able to resume her morning rides in safety. Although Glum had told her that Julian had not been going out in the early mornings she still avoided the jumps in the high meadows, content to roam the countryside and enjoy the woods. When he observed the haunted circles beneath her eyes, Glum shook his head in worry but threw her up onto Gentian's back without comment.

As the horse paced uphill Cara unpinned her hair from the confining bun and swung it back over her shoulder. She emitted a purr of contentment as the morning sun beamed through the trees, falling on her upturned face. Freeing a hand from the reins she stretched along Gentian's neck, patting and crooning to the graceful little mare.

The woods thinned and Cara drew rein, listening to the morning sounds. Summer was in full bloom in England; the fields and hedgerows were a blaze of color. Walking the mare to the edge of woods Cara looked down the hillside to the estate spread out below her. From this height she could make out the gentle roll of hills that led down to the lake and the outbuildings behind the massive edifice of Weathersfield Hall. Her eyes kindled with a glow of pleasure as she was able to pick out the familiar places she had visited.

It was strange to think back a month when she had first come to Weathersfield. Then the sheer size of the Hall had overwhelmed her. She thought she would never be able to feel comfortable within the great stone dwelling. The children had been instrumental in making her feel at home. To them the Hall had been no more intimidating than a smaller place. They seemed to understand that a household was filled with people and that was what mattered. Cara had found welcome and friendship with the servants and the tenants. She had met them and lived with them in the inconspicuous role of governess so they had been open with her in a way that would never have been possible if she had first come to Weathersfield as Julian's bride.

When she returned, her welcome would be different. It saddened Cara to realize that when she returned as Lady Wilton the open relationship would be gone, superseded by a respect for her position and a sense of propriety that would permit little familiarity. The majority of them would never see the bland governess in their fiery-haired mistress. Perhaps Mrs. Clayton might catch a glimpse of the truth but Cara knew she would never tread on the relationship. Glum would know her no matter what she wore or what she looked like. He had an innate honesty that cut right to the core of everything and he would recognize her. That pleased Cara and a smile flitted across her face as she relished the expression on his face as he plumbed her secret.

Restless at Cara's woolgathering, Gentian whickered. Touching the velvety neck, she soothed the mare with a gentle stroking motion. A movement halfway down the hill caught Cara's attention and she tensed, senses alert to danger.

Astride Tyrr, Julian was riding up the hill, heading directly toward her.

Wheeling the mare around, Cara cut back into the woods, seeking the safety of the trees to cover her movements. She did not know if Julian had seen her but could not afford to take the chance of running into him. Once in the woods, Cara pulled Gentian to a halt, forcing down the panic that assailed her. She tried to breath slowly, concentrating as she organized her thoughts.

Julian was between her and the Hall. She couldn't risk heading back to the stables until she was sure that he was not close enough to spot her. Possibly he was out for a ride but Cara had a premonition in her bones that he was looking for her. There was no point in running further afield, although the blind panic she had felt when she spied Julian urged her to flight. If he had seen her he would assume that she was heading away from Weathersfield. The only strategy that she could think of was to wait until he had ridden past and then to bolt for the stables.

With that thought in mind, Cara's eyes surveyed the woods. Because of the abundance of large trees there was a minimum of undergrowth. Pressured by the fear that at any moment Julian would come bursting through the trees, Cara decided on a rough hiding place. Guiding Gentian toward a small thicket, she sprang to the ground, whispering and coaxing the disapproving animal into the circle of bushes. The mare snorted when a branch scratched against her coat, the sound loud in the quiet of the forest. Cara regretted wearing the soft gray riding habit. The ugly brown one would have blended well to camouflage her presence. she hoped the lighter material would not act as a beacon, catching Julian's eye. The success of her plan was based on the theory that he would be moving quickly and not spend time inspecting every clump of trees and bushes.

It was only a matter of moments before the crackling of breaking twigs heralded Julian's approach.

Despite the profusion of leaves on the trees, Tyrr and his rider stood out against the dominant yellows and greens of the woods. Cara, trembling in her hiding place, drew in her breath at the sheer magnificence of her husband. Eyes warm with love, she traced the stark features of his face, lingering at the full lips of his sensuous mouth. In heightened awareness she wondered what it would be like to be made love to by this man whose whole body pulsed with a dangerous masculinity. Her heart fluttered in imagined rapture and she leaned toward him, caught up in the tumult of her own passions.

Julian reined in on the edge of the forest, glancing first uphill and then down. As his eyes brushed her hiding place Cara closed her own eyes afraid they would act as a magnet, drawing his piercing eyes to her. Laying her head against Gentian's neck she held firmly to the mare's nose with one hand while she gentled the animal with slow steady caresses. Tyrr threw back his head, snorting and blowing. Then as though Julian had come to a decision, he nudged the horse into an easy lope moving uphill.

Cara breathed a shuddering sigh of relief as the horse and rider disappeared through the trees. Despite her hammering pulses she waited until the woods were once again quiet, before she felt it was safe to move.

Whispering and coaxing, Cara backed Gentian out of the thicket. With shaking hands she dragged the horse over to a fallen log. Pulling herself into the saddle she once again made her way to the edge of the field. Elation filled her as she viewed the vista, empty of a black stallion and rider. She blew out her cheeks in a rush of relief. The muscles in her thighs still jumped in tension and she made a concerted effort not to transmit her turmoil to the horse. She steadied her breathing as she picked twigs and leaves out of her disordered hair. She tossed her head at the empty landscape and clucked to Gentian as she directed the mare back to the stables.

Cara was about mid-field when she heard the thunder of hooves and saw Julian break through the cover of trees.

Without thought she sawed on Gentian's reins swerving to the right, flying toward a thin band of trees. Lying low across the mare's neck she heard the pounding of hooves coming closer. In full panic now she let her horse have its head, racing away from Julian.

Julian admitted to himself that he had become obsessed by the mystery girl he had seen in the woods. For a week he had ridden over as much of the woods as possible without catching so much as a glimpse of the girl with the flaming hair and lithe body. Finally he had avoided riding in the early dawn hours hoping that she would feel safe and return to her usual pattern.

There was something about the girl that intrigued him; some familiarity of movement that he wanted to observe at closer quarters. He acknowledged the fact that her supple body and beautiful red-gold hair had stirred his senses but he also was aware that he was filled with rage at how she had snubbed him. And she definitely had snubbed him! When he had originally seen her, he had purposely slowed Tyrr's gait, so that he would arrive at her side composed for an introduction rather than puffing and wheezing from the exertion of his ride. But the contrary girl had used the opportunity to leap upon that misbegotten horse of hers and fly over the wall to sanctuary. Julian was too used to female adulation not to be affronted by this blatant cut.

Assuming the girl either lived in the vicinity or was visiting someone close at hand, Julian began a round of social calls to the other landowners in the neighborhood. Even at a distance Julian was able to recognize the class and dignity of the rider and the superior bloodstock of the horse. After a frustrating inspection of the daughters, wives and visiting relatives of his neighbors he was furious that he still had not discovered the identity of the girl.

The matchmaking mamas in the households where he called were in high alt that he had condescended to visit. He had sat in countless drawing rooms, balancing interminable cups of lukewarm tea while a host of simpering maidens were paraded before his eyes. Although his neighbors were aware of his marital status it seemed that since there was no bride in evidence he was still considered semi-eligible. He had never been comfortable doing the pretty and this excess of socializing reminded him of why he had accepted his father's arrangement of a suitable marriage. The greedy calculating looks of the mothers were a ludicrous contrast to the blushing innocence of the daughters they were delighted to thrust in his path.

Julian had no idea why it was so necessary to find the young horsewoman. For some unknown reason it was important. He rationalized that he only wanted to see if her face matched the promise of the rest of her body and to teach the immature chit proper manners. In his more sanguine moments Julian found it wonderful that since his marriage two fascinating women had entered his life. First the enigmatic Miss Farraday and now the unknown girl in the woods.

After all the households were visited and there was still no hint of the horsewoman, he had fallen back on laying a trap for her. And finally it had paid off.

When Julian spotted the girl on the edge of the woods he swore, realizing that he was too far down the hill to catch her. Spurring to the top, he plunged into the first line of trees then reined in in frustration. She was nowhere in sight. He slapped his leather quirt against his boot and scowled at the surrounding trees. It was almost magical how the girl had disappeared so quickly. Knowing that the woods spread out for miles, Julian could only make a guess in which direction she had gone.

"Unless," he smiled cunningly, "like a fox, she's gone to ground."

The more he thought of the idea the more reasonable it sounded. The woods were curiously silent and according to his reckoning she would not have had enough time to outdistance him. Somewhere she was lying low, waiting until he gave up the hunt. Tyrr stamped and snorted, throwing his black mane in the air. The stallion sensed the nearness of the mare and like his master longed to give chase. Julian nudged the eager horse forward, setting an easy pace toward the top of the hill. He rode without hesitation to give the impression that he had made up his mind. But instead of going deeper into the woods he guided the horse toward the trees that edged the meadow. Once there he pulled Tyrr to a halt and leaped to the ground, holding the stallion steady.

Julian reasoned that he had seen the girl on the edge of the meadow, waiting to cross it. If he was right that she was in cover to escape him, she should return to the meadow once she was convinced he was riding away. With the patience of a hunter, Julian waited to spring the trap.

As the first sounds of movement came to his ears, he tensed, reaching up to stroke the stallion whose ears were pricked forward in anticipation. He could see nothing through the heavily leaved trees. Julian waited, his breath streaming through flared nostrils and his eyebrows lowered in concentration. When he saw the girl sitting her horse at the edge of the woods, he heaved a sigh of satisfaction mixed with admiration.

She certainly was a beauty, Julian admitted. Well worth the trouble he had gone to. Though at a distance her features were indistinct, her sun-bronzed hair floated around her in a burnished cloud. Silhouetted against the foliage her figure stood out in sharp relief. Her eyes were narrowed as she searched the meadow so he could not identify their color but he suspected they were flashing with triumph that she had outwitted him. She sat the gray expertly, at home with the discomfort of a sidesaddle. He watched with burning eyes as she leaned down, patting the neck of the dainty horse. Then with a light, tinkling laugh that floated across to Julian's straining ears, the lovely vision tossed her hair over her shoulders and trotted out into the field.

Tyrr caught the scent of the mare and threw his head back soundlessly against Julian's restraining hand.

"Steady, boy. They'll not get away this time." There was a flash of white teeth against sun-browned skin as Julian's predatory gaze followed the figure of the girl. "We'll let her relax and then we'll introduce ourselves," he chuckled mirthlessly.

Julian's relentless eyes stalked the horse and rider until they approached the middle of the field. Then in a single fluid movement he released the stallion and threw himself into the saddle. Tyrr, quivering with anticipation, needed little encouragement to tear after the graceful mare. Julian's chest expanded with the joy and excitement of the chase as they hurtled after the girl.

In blind panic Cara raced across the meadow heading for the cover of trees at the far side. As they tore through the brush at the edge, she lay against Gentian's neck to avoid the branches that slashed at her face. She realized the futility of her flight as the woods narrowed and fell away to reveal another open field. From the corner of her eye she saw Tyrr's head come alongside her own horse. She groaned as Julian's hand shot out closing on Gentian's bridle, pulling the mare to a stop. As the two horses slowed, Cara disengaged her knee from the sidesaddle and leapt from the saddle, hitting the ground at a run.

It was a stunned moment before Julian realized the girl was still set on escape.

Cara ran as though pursued by the Devil. She prayed she wouldn't stumble over the uneven ground as she dashed for the safety of the trees. She dodged branches as well as she could, paying little heed to them as they tore at her hair and clothes. Her lungs were near bursting when Julian's arm snaked out, swinging her feet off the ground as he hauled her back against his chest. Exhausted, the will to escape went out of Cara and she collapsed against him, sending them both to the grass in a heap.