The Riddle of the Reluctant Rake (41 page)

“Whoa!” He drew her to a halt and looked down at her lovingly. “You will do nothing of the sort. I fight my own battles, Miss Cecily Hall!”

“Your method of fighting this rank injustice smacks more of—of surrender than fight!”

The smile left his eyes. He said quietly, “If you wed an army officer, my love, you'll have to learn that a lieutenant-colonel does not defy the Horse Guards on a matter involving the security of Britain. Nor does he fight his commanding general.”

“Perhaps not. But from what I know of Lord Wellington, he likes the ladies, which could be—”

“No!” His response was sharp and immediate.

Her chin lifted.

She looked magnificent when she was angry, he thought.

She said stormily, “I do not care to be told what to do, Hastings.”

“And I want always to hear your opinions, darling Cecily. But I allow no one to interfere in military matters. Not even my wife.”

“Then perhaps you should find yourself a more biddable wife, sir! A lady who will never fly into a temper and is possessed of a more gentle nature than I.”

“Someone like—your cousin, for instance?”

Adair spoke lightly, and with a smile in his eyes, but to the overwrought girl he might as well have dashed cold water in her face. So he found Alice gentle, and herself—what? A fiery shrew, perhaps? If his sympathy for her cousin had deepened into the more tender emotion, then by all means he should not be hampered by promises made to a—a bad-tempered termagant in a moment of danger. Stepping away from him, Cecily said haughtily, “Exactly so.”

“I rather think Toby—and my brother Nigel, for that matter, would call me out if I dared make the attempt.”

“Really? Another instance of not wanting to fight for what you—desire, Colonel?”

“Don't say such foolish things.” He reached for her hand, but she stepped back, averting her face and struggling against the absurd notion that she was drowning in tears.

“Cecily, this is ridiculous,” said Adair firmly. “We're arguing about something over which we have no control. Besides … I suspect that as time goes on—well, too many people know the true facts. Sooner or later it will all leak out, I fancy.”

“An obliging fancy, sir, presenting you with the opportunity to take the line of least resistance.”

Adair had been gazing at the wind-tossed trees, and seeing instead the officers in the Hearing Room at Whitehall, but at this his eyes flashed to meet her own, a look in them that made her turn away and say hurriedly, “You're right, it is too cold for me out here. I'll deprive you of my—tempestuous presence, sir.”

She took one short step, was seized by hands of steel, whirled around and swept into a crushing embrace. “How dare you!” she exclaimed. “I do not like to be mauled, Colonel! We are not formally betrothed, and I think—”

“No, you don't. Now—be still, woman, and stop talking such fustian. I brought you out here to give you something.”

“I want nothing from you, Hastings Chatteris Adair,” she declared, made angrier by the knowledge that she was telling the most dreadful untruths and that her voice trembled. Pushing at his chest, she felt something in his pocket and curiosity got the better of pride. “What is this? Let me see!”

“No! Let be! Oh, wretched girl! It's not that, but—”

Her seeking fingers had found the object in his pocket and she stared down at it. “My blue flower,” she murmured softly. “I was wearing it the night you told me you loved me.” And in a feeble attempt to regain anger, she added, “As if you meant it. I did not give this to you, and I shall take it back, if—if you don't mind.”

“I do mind.” He whisked the flower from her grasp. “And you know perfectly well I meant what I said—then.”

Then…? An arrow seemed to pierce her heart. She looked up at him, never dreaming how pathetic were the tear-drops that beaded her lashes.

Adair said huskily, “And I shall mean it to the day I die, most desirable and beautiful of women.”

“Oh … H-Hasty…”

“It's—it's no use looking at me like that. I am
not
going to kiss you. It wouldn't be proper until—”

Between tears and laughter, she said, “Oh—would it not, you horrid, horrid creature … Then how is it that just now—”

“Never mind about that. I am trying to tell you—in spite of constant interruptions—that I have called upon your uncle, and—”

“Uncle—Alfred?” Her eyes opened very wide. “When? Why was I not told? Whatever did he—”

“Be quiet! This is my story and by your leave I'll finish it.”

“Yes, Hasty,” she said meekly.

“I don't think he considers me quite up to snuff, but—” He put his hand quickly over her parting lips. “But your grandmama spoke up for me, and he says he is grateful because I found Miss Alice, so—well, he has given me permission to try and fix my interest with you. Are you listening, Miss Hall? If I take my hand away, will you promise to stop interrupting?”

“Yes, dear Hasty,” she mumbled.

He removed his hand and glanced around, then swore under his breath.

A small figure was galloping across the lawns towards them. A young boy with a fresh, clean face, softly curling fair hair, a neatly tailored habit, and an expression that was pure mischief. “I got it, Guv,” he panted, and with a sidelong glance at Miss Hall said in a stage whisper, “Did yer—”

“Never mind,” said Adair, taking the small packet that was offered. “Where the deuce have you been? You were supposed to fetch this half an hour ago.”

“'S truth,” said Billy New. “But the old 'un, she wanted ter see it, so I had ter—”

“See—what?” asked Cecily, peering at the packet that Adair promptly swung behind his back.

“Never mind. And that'll be all, Billy.”

“Yussir,” said the boy, and turning to gallop off, stopped and called, “Ain't yer gonna give her a—”

“Go! Revolting brat!” roared Adair.

Billy laughed, and went.

Looking after him, Cecily murmured, “What are you going to do with that child?”

“Train him to be my batman someday. Or a groom, perhaps. He's had a rotten life, poor little devil, but he's bright as a penny and always cheerful. He'll do well in life, I think.”

“Thanks to you,” she said, her eyes very soft.

He met that look and stepped closer, then pulled back and said gruffly, “Yes. Well, never mind about that. I didn't drag you out here to talk about that young savage.”

He led her to a fallen tree trunk on which he spread his handkerchief and, having motioned to her to sit down, dropped to one knee beside her.

Her eyes alight with laughter, she said, “No, really, you don't have to—”

“I shall only do this once in my life, Miss Hall,” he advised austerely. “So I mean to do it properly. Ahem. You know that you have had my heart since first we met—”

“Although I tried to shoot you.”

“I knew you wouldn't keep your promise not to interrupt! I have rehearsed this, madam, but if you make me forget the words—No, why must you giggle? I am trying to be romantical, Miss Hall.”

“Yes, Colonel Adair.”

“Sssh! Where was I?”

“You said I wasn't to inter——”

“Ah, yes. And the time has come when…” He faltered to a stop, and seizing her hand, pressed it to his lips. “Oh, the deuce! Cecily—I adore you. Will you do me the very great honour of—”

She leaned to him, her eyes like stars. “How you do talk, Colonel Adair.”

“Yes—but…” He got up and sat beside her. “That's no answer, ma'am, and I can't give you this until—”

“What? What?” With a squeal of excitement she opened the small box he held out. “Ooh … Hasty! What beautiful diamonds—and such a lovely setting! Put it on for me!”

“Are you sure? You mustn't sell yourself for a pretty bauble, sweet girl.”

“Wretch! Only see how it sparkles!”

“Yes. I thought it was rather nice. But I've told you my expectations and you've lots of admirers who are wealthier than I shall ever be. If you cannot really care for me—”

Cecily interrupted him again.

Oddly enough, Colonel the Honourable Hastings Chatteris Adair did not protest as he was kissed into silence.

ALSO BY PATRICIA VERYAN

The Riddle of the Lost Lover

The Riddle of Alabaster Royal

Lanterns

The Mandarin of Mayfair

Never Doubt I Love

A Shadow's Bliss

Ask Me No Questions

Had We Never Loved

Time's Fool

Logic of the Heart

The Dedicated Villain

Cherished Enemy

Love Alters Not

Give All to Love

The Tyrant

Journey to Enchantment

Practice to Deceive

Sanguinet's Crown

The Wagered Widow

The Noblest Frailty

Married Past Redemption

Feather Castles

Some Brief Folly

Nanette

Mistress of Willowvale

Love's Duet

The Lord and the Gypsy

THE RIDDLE OF THE RELUCTANT RAKE
. Copyright © 1999 by Patricia Veryan. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].

First Edition: November 1999

eISBN 9781466884304

First eBook edition: September 2014