Velvet Embrace (32 page)

When she had
pinched her pale
cheeks to add a
bit of
color, she was satisfied with
her appearance.
She picked up her
tan
leather gloves and
riding crop, and went
in search of Caroline.

It was a beautiful
morning
foi
a
hunt. The weather was
crisp
and cool, and the
ground forgiving
out not sloppy. Brie
could
feel her spirits rise in
anticipation,
and even Caroline
looked
forward to the hunt with enthusiasm. The assembly was to meet on Squire
Umstead's
front lawn. After Brie had bolted down a hasty breakfast and John had brought their mounts around, the three of them set off down the drive.

Jester behaved well during the quiet ride, but he started to prance when he picked up the distant baying of the foxhounds. Caroline, too, became a bit nervous when they arrived upon the chaotic scene. There were people and animals everywhere. Nearly thirty Belvoir foxhounds—named after the nearby castle—were running in circles, eagerly sniffing at the ground and throwing back their heads to loudly voice their impatience. Spirited horses whinnied and snorted and pawed at the ground while their riders and grooms attempted to control them. Adding to the chaos were keepers caring for the hounds, servants attending their masters, waiters passing mugs of hot mulled wine, and horsemen laughing and calling to each other in loud, excited voices. Caroline stared wide-eyed at the ordered confusion, silently blessing her own gentle mare
who
stood calmly ignoring the commotion.

Brie had a difficult time with Jester, but she was glad to be occupied. She was determined not to let herself search for Dominic. Even so, her heart gave an odd little lurch when she spotted Julian threading his way toward them, for she knew Dominic would be somewhere nearby.

Julian greeted them cheerfully as he trotted up. "Perfect day, isn't it? Dom will be along in a moment. His horse threw a shoe. It seems that his usual luck is deserting him. So, Caroline, you are riding this morning?"

His tone sounded so dubious that Caroline raised her pert nose in the air. "Isn't that what one is supposed to do in the country?"

Julian flashed
her a
boyish grin. "Well, see that you don't fall off. I don't want to be obliged to carry you home."

"I certainly hope it doesn't come to that! John plans to ride with me, though, so Fanny and I should muddle through well enough."

Brie listened to their conversation with half an ear as her eyes wandered over the crowd. Seeing a flash of color amid a cluster of riders, she paused to study a lovely blonde lady dressed in a vivid shade of orange.

The woman was a stranger to Brie, but Caroline obviously recognized her; when the blonde broke away from her companions and rode toward them, Caroline gasped.

The woman addressed Julian first, a cold smile fastened on her lips.
"Lord Denville, how pleasant.
When I accepted Lady
Scofield's
invitation for a few weeks in the country, I had no idea so many of my acquaintances would be in the neighborhood." Her gaze swept
measuringly
over Brie, then Caroline. "My word—Miss Langley, isn't it? I had heard you had to leave London for a period. And how are you enjoying your stay?"

Caroline looked anything but pleased, but she managed a stiff answer. "Quite well, thank you. I don't believe you have met my cousin, Miss
Carringdon
. Brie, this is Lady Denise Grayson."

Lady Denise acknowledged Brie with a slight inclination of her head. "Of course," she said patronizingly.
"The country cousin.
You must let me have the name of your dressmaker, dear. That is such a quaint riding costume you are wearing."

Brie was so taken aback by the woman's rudeness that she made no reply. Denise smiled frostily,
then
returned her attention to Julian. "But where is Dominic? Does he not intend to join the hunt?"

Looking uncomfortable, Julian murmured some reply about Dominic being along in a moment. When Denise finally turned her mount and made her way back to her own party, he let out a sigh of relief.

Caroline, on the other hand, was irate.
"Of all the nerve!
Did you know she was going to be here, Julian?"

He was still staring after the retreating figure of Lady Denise. "Here?" he
replied
,frowning
.
"No, of course not.
And I doubt Dominic did either," he added under his breath.

"How dare she criticize Brie's
habit!
Especially when her own shows such shockingly bad taste.
All those frogs and epaulettes! And that color. I wouldn't be at all surprised if she gets mistaken for the fox, although a
cat
would be more like it. I have no idea what men see in a woman like that. Then again, I suppose it is obvious." She let the words hang, watching as Dominic's arrival was neatly intercepted by Lady Denise.

"Hold your tongue, Caroline," Julian said, giving her a disapproving frown.

"Well, you may condone her escapades, but I certainly don't!"

"And what would you know of her escapades, young lady?"

"Good heavens, Julian! I'm not a complete innocent. All London knows she used to be his mistress."

The choking sound Julian made was drowned out by the blare of the huntsman's horn. When he glanced at Brie, he was startled to see the stricken look in her eyes. She had the reins clenched tightly in her hands as she watched the little drama being enacted by Dominic and his ex-mistress.

Julian scowled at Caroline, but she only tossed her head and urged her horse over to where John waited for her. "I hope Simms prevents her from breaking her little neck," Julian muttered. "Then I can have the pleasure."

The baying of the hounds grew louder then, and the pack began to move off. "Come, Brie," he said gently. "I'll give you a lead over so that fool animal you are riding will have some idea how to go on."

Brie tore her gaze away from Dominic, only to stare blindly down at her hands. When she didn't respond, Julian swore under his breath, "For God's sake, smile, will you? You've told me often enough not to wear my heart on my sleeve."

That made her head snap up, and she glared furiously at him. "I am not! I couldn't care less what that insufferable man does! Or what paramours he keeps!"

Julian grinned. "Then I'll lay you a wager. A pair of foils against a new saddle says I'll be the first up at the finish."

"Agreed!"
Brie retorted, accepting the challenge. She dug her heels in Jester's flanks and the bay leapt forward. Shaking his head, Julian followed.

For the most part they stayed well to the fore, directly behind the huntsman and whippers-in. The pace was slow at first, and the morning was well advanced before a fox broke cover and the entire field took off at a gallop. The wild chase ended only when the baying hounds lost the scent.

An hour later the hunt was riding through a thickly wooded area belonging to Julian. The path was so narrow and twisting that the riders were forced to go single file. Brie ducked to avoid a low branch that hung out over the trail, but when Jester bolted the next instant, she was almost swept from the saddle. She managed to maintain her seat and bring the bay under control before he ran her into a tree or careened into the horses in front, but after that, she slowed her pace, allowing the leaders to widen the distance.

She had no further trouble for a time. When the trail turned again, she urged the bay into a canter to clear the trunk of an oak that had fallen across the path. They landed easily on the other side, but then she happened to glance to her right. Catching sight of a dark figure in the woods, she gave an involuntary cry and pulled her mount to a dead stop.

Julian was following closely behind her and was forced to check sharply to avoid a collision. He let out an oath as he fought to control his rearing mount, then rounded on Brie. "That was a damned foolish stunt! What in blazes were you doing—trying to kill us?"

Brie ignored him, her eyes searching the underbrush for the man she had spotted. He had been some thirty yards away, on foot, and from that distance he had appeared to be roughly dressed, wearing dark clothing and a wide-brimmed hat pulled low over his eyes. At Brie's cry, he had turned away and hid himself in the underbrush. There was no sign of him now.

"Did you see him, Julian?" Brie said over her shoulder. "I would swear he was carrying a gun!"

"What gun? What are you talking about?" Julian demanded. "Damn it, Brie, have you suddenly lost all your senses?" He broke off scolding when a cool voice spoke behind him.

"Might I suggest," Dominic said, "that you two carry on your conversation elsewhere? At the moment, you stand in danger of being ridden down by those behind me."

Brie whirled her horse to face him. "But there was someone in those woods!"

Dominic's eyes
narrowd
. "I can see no one, Miss
Carringdon
. Perhaps you imagined a ghost or goblin. It might even be that the wood is haunted."

His sarcasm stung Brie, making her bristle with anger. She started to retort, wanting to say something just as nasty to him, but when she saw more riders coming up behind him, she realized that she couldn't stay there to argue. She contented herself with directing a scathing glance at Dominic before turning her mount and cantering down the path.

The two men followed at a more leisurely pace, and when the path opened into a field, they spread out to ride side by side. Dominic followed Brie's retreating figure with his gaze, noting her stiff shoulders and her proud, straight back. A gleam of amusement crept into his eyes. Seeing it, Julian demanded to know the cause of his humor.

Dominic grinned. "The lady has sharp eyes. She was able to catch Jacques in the act of searching your woods."

"You mean to tell me Brie did see a man? That he was your coachman?"

Dominic nodded,
then
chuckled. "I honestly believe she would have gone after him if I hadn't stopped her. Perhaps I was too hasty, though. I would have loved to see Jacques' face when he was exposed by a mere woman."

"Brie is not a 'mere woman'," Julian declared.

Dominic smiled at his own private thoughts. "I'm beginning to discover that for myself," he said softly. He slanted a glance at Julian. "I imagine she'll have some questions for you. See
what you can do to pacify her and turn her attention away from Jacques, will you? I don't believe she is favoring me with her confidences at the moment."