Callie Hutton (10 page)

“’Tis not proper. You are my employer.”

“Not so. You are employed by my mother who, as I’m sure she’s told you
with a great deal of satisfaction
, has her own funds to do with as she wishes.”

“True. But I am
not of your world
.”

He
grinned
. “You sound like Miss Jennings.”

“The perfect governess?” Her eyebrows rose, on
e
side of her mouth tilted.

Ready to take umbrage at her remark, instead he threw his head back and laughed. “Miss Jennings may be aware of your
position in life,
but I believe you are not.”

She bristled.
“I understand your class
structure
, I’m no fool. However,
as
I was not raised with all the nuances your way employs, and being from America where
one is
judged by what
one does, not by
one’s
birth,
I find it hard to swallow.”

“Ah yes, the American method
. Anyone of ability may rise
to the top.”

Merry
drew her shoulders back
. “And a fine system it is.”

He grinned. “As you say.”

God, how he loved baiting her.
She was all spit and fire.
Right now her eyes flashed and two bright red spots appeared on her cheeks. Her chest heaved, bringing his attention once again to those delectable breasts. If he didn’t get himself under control soon, the ride would be most uncomfortable.

All the women of his acquaintance, inc
luding the young misses of the Marriage M
art he stopped visiting a few years ago
, fell at his feet
and agreed with everything he said. He was used to tittering, flirting, adoration, and admiring glances cast
a
bove silk fans. Merry
Chambers did none of that, and he found the change
refreshing. Frustrating as
the devil, though
. The woman did not know her place.

“Shall we give the horses their head?” Merry asked, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.

He swept his arm out.
“Lead on.”

Merry took off at a gallop, almost leaving him behind. He squeezed his knees and Tafoya burst forth, soon overtaking the mare. Merry grinned as he passed her, and then urged her mount to catch up. He held Tafoya back so they could race alongside each other. The
bracing
air rushing past his face invigorated him,
producing
a sense of rightness and peace he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Eventually, they slowed and brought the horses to a canter, then a trot. “That was wonderful!” Merry
exclaimed.

He agreed
for an entirely different reason
. Her
top
knot
had come loose, with tendrils of curls surrounding her face. The exertion of
running
in the cold air had put color into her face. She licked her lips and he groaned
under his breath
, once more wanting to cover those luscious lips with his own.

Suddenly,
Aphrodite
reared. Merry yelped and attempted to control the beast, but
the horse
bucked again, throwing her to the ground. Within seconds, the mare turned and raced back toward the stables.

Penrose jumped from his horse and hurried to where
Merry
sat on the ground. “Are you all right?” He squatted and studied her face.

“I think so.” Merry took a deep breath. “I’m not sure what happened.” She
s
hifted
to rise
.

“No, don’t move just yet. You’ve had quite a fall, and you need to be sure you didn’t break anything.”

She
extended
her arms and legs. “I don’t think so. I’m actually
sorer
on my…. Never mind.”

Penrose helped her
gain her feet
.
When s
he stumbled against him
, he
scooped her in
to
his arms.

She
gasped,
her eyes wide.
“What are you doing?”

“I don’t think you’re in a
ny
condition
t
o walk.” He strode to his horse
and lifted her to the saddle. With one quick motion he mounted behind her.

“This is most improper.” She attempted to cover herself with her skirts, but they’d been twisted underneath her,
exposing
the bottom half of her legs.

“Don’t
concern yourself
. We need to get you home and send for the doctor.”

“Oh
,
for heaven’s sake. I’m fine. I don’t need a doctor.”

“That’s my decision to make.” He slapped the horse with his reins, and they
cantered
forward.

Penrose tried desperately to ignore the soft body resting on his. Her lemon scent drifted to him, tempting him further. His arm burned where it wrapped around her middle, his fingers itching to
ease
upward and embrace
a warm breast.
Thankfully, the ride didn’t take too long, since he feared she could feel his
throbbing
desire
pressing
against her bottom.

They entered the stable yard.
Aphrodite
stood panting,
her mouth wet with white foam.
Ballard r
an
his hands over her. “What happened, Your Grace?”

“Something hurt or spooked her, and she threw Miss Chambers. See if you can figure out what caused her to bolt like that. I’m
taking
Miss Chambers to the house.”

Penrose slid off the horse and reached for her.

“I can walk.”

“Not until the doctor has seen you.”
He settled her in his arms.

“You are being ridiculous. I know I’m not injured.”

His lips tightened. “
You are my responsibility. You will see the doctor.”

“I am not your responsibility. Furthermore, I know if I can walk or not.” She raised her voice.

“Nevertheless, as long as you reside under my roof, you will abide by my wishes.”

“You are an impossible man.”

“I agree.”

The footman opened the door
at their approach
, his eyebrows raised at Penrose carrying M
erry
, with both of them s
narling
at each other.

“I’m
taking
Miss Chambers
to her room
. Please send for the doctor, she’s had a spill from her horse.”

Merry crossed her arms over her chest. “I
do not need a doctor.
”

“Nevertheless, he will be sent for.” He started up the stairs.

“I protest.”

“Excellent. You may protest in bed while you wait for the doctor.”

“You may not carry me into my bedroom.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Says who?”

Merry lowered her voice. “Miss Jennings.”

“She is the governess. I, on the other hand, am the
duke
.”

As they reached the top of the stairs, his mother came from her sitting room. “What in heaven’s name is going on? I’ve been hearing
bickering
from all the way outside.”

“Miss Chambers took a
fall
from her horse. I’m
taking
her to her room while we wait for the doctor.”

“Oh my goodness. Is she
badly
hurt?” The dowager hurried behind them.

“I’m not hurt at all, Your Grace
,
” Merry called over his shoulder. “But His Grace is too stubborn to listen to me.”

As his mother stepped in front of them to open the door, she
covered her mouth with her hand, looking suspiciously
as if
she
tried
to hold
back
a laugh.

“The doctor will determine if you are injured or not,” Penrose growled. He
swung past the dowager and
strode to
Merry’s
bed where he deposited her gently.

“Dear, you must leave us no
w.
” His mother looked from him to Merry.

“Fine.
S
tay with her M
other, and make sure she doesn’t move until the doctor sees her.”

She smirked.
“Yes, dear.”

“I don’t need a doctor,” Merry called to Penrose’s retreating back. He slammed her door.

****

Much to Merry’s disgust,
and even though he’d found no injuries,
the doctor ordered her to stay in bed for the rest of the day. Nonsense. She felt fine, and had been thrown from a horse more than once. That arrogant, stubborn man who insisted on sending for the doctor annoyed her to no end. Why she ever thought him attractive remained a mystery.

Kitty entered the chamber, followed by a young maid carrying a tray containing soup and bread.
“I br
ought you the lovely soup Cook fixed
for luncheon.”

“You should not be waiting on me. For goodness
’ sake
everyone is acting like I’m some sort of invalid.”

Kitty
directed the maid to
set the tray on the table next to the bed. “I’m afraid when Penrose gets something into his mind, it doesn’t leave easily.”
She snapped open the snowy white
serviette
and handed it to Merry. “And I have an ulterior motive. I want to begin making the plans for the Christmas ball.”

“Of course. I’ll be happy to take notes.” Merry shifted to lean against the pillows.

“Eat your soup first, and then we can work.”

Merry ate the delicious thick soup and fresh bread. For an hour afterward, she and Kitty discussed the largest event of the year at Penrose
Hall
as Merry scribbled furiously
.

Merry’s
eyes shot open at the sound of young voices. “Miss Merry! We’ve come to
visit with
you.”

Apparently her sore body had needed the rest, for she had fallen asleep.
Lady Charlotte and Lady Clare raced into her room, with Miss Jennings following behind.
“Ladies always walk,” she scolded.

“His Grace wished for the girls to
call
since you won’t be able to join them for afternoon tea.” Miss Jennings
’s lip curled and she
looked so far down her nose, Merry thought
the governess
would become permanently cross-eyed.

“Thank you very much for bringing them.”

“It was His Grace’s wishes.” She sniffed
, all her displea
sure in the sound
.

“What happened, Miss Merry? The
duke
told us you were injured in a
spill
from your horse.
”

Merry sighed. “No, pet. I was not injured. I did fall from my horse,
but aside from a few aches and
−
mostly in the area where I sit down
−
I’m fine.”

At Miss Jennings’ sharp inhale, Merry glanced at her.

“Th
is
is not proper conversation for young girls.”

Merry raised her eyebrows.
“What did I say?”

Miss Jennings drew herself up. “A proper
ly brought up
lady never mentions any part of her body.”

Biting back a retort, Merry
re
turned her attention to the girls, encouraging them to tell her all about their lessons.

After a
bout fifteen
minutes of visiting, Miss Jennings reminded the girls
the time drew near for their
tea. Hugging Merry fiercely, they left
to return to the nursery
. Their governess remained behind.

Once the latch on the door
caught
, Miss Jennings moved closer to Merry’s bed. “I know what you’re trying to do.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Her eyes grew to slits. “I thought you
claimed to be
an experienced rider?”