Eloisa James - Duchess by Night (15 page)

He looked at her with a scowl. Vil iers tel s me that you spent your life so far under the wing of your mother. I dont mean to be rude, Cope, but if you want to be a goer, youl have to stop parroting your mother. He imitated her voice. Its too cold. Its too dangerous.

Do you think it makes you more dashing to put a child in danger? How interesting that you dont force the servants to risk their lives in your creation. I real y should make notes. To wit: manhood, achieved by risking nurslings but not underlings.

You are an ass, he bit out.

Harriet felt a thril . No man had ever cal ed her an ass. No doubt Benjamin thought she was an ass, but he would never say such a thing to a lady.

You too, she said cordial y. He seemed shocked at the broad smile she gave him. Dont ever al ow your daughter in this tower, or near it, again. You love her too much. Why risk a broken heart?

She caught his eye just long enough to make sure her words sank in and then stepped back out into the frosty air.

One final point, she said. That room is kitted up like a brothel. While its enterprising of you to recreate that charming atmosphere on your own grounds, why on earth would you introduce your child to it?

A look of pure rage crossed his face. Its not a brothel.

Did you pick those hangings yourself?

No, I He bit the words off.

Let me guess, she said, enjoying herself enormously. You asked for help from a London firm whose last employment was in a courtesans boudoir.

He didnt say anything.

Wel ?

Miss Bessie LaMott arranged for the hangings, he said through gritted teeth. I certainly didnt think of it as a brothel.

I expect Bessie just reproduced the environment she knew best, Harriet said kindly.

He strode over to his horse and said, Youl have to ride behind me.

Harriet took a look at his lean, muscled body and felt a qualm that had nothing to do with being a man, and everything to do with being a woman. I can walk. I feel much warmer, just from being out of the wind for a bit.

Nonsense. Eugenia wil be waiting to watch our fenc ing lesson. From his tone, he couldnt wait to face her with a sword in his hand. Strange swung into his saddle and then looked at her. I suppose you cant get up without assistance.

He didnt seem to want to touch her, which was a little hurtful. But Harriet was starting to shiver al over, so she just shook her head.

He stuck out his hand. She went over to him, put her hand in his, and then looked up. What next?

He was staring down at their hands. Her hand was engulfed in his, of course. What next? she repeated. Should you take your foot out of the stirrup so I can get up?

For Christs sake, he said.

He gave a great heave. She flew through the air and landed just behind his saddle with a muffled shriek. The horses rump sloped backward, so she edged forward until she was actual y sitting on the raised end of his saddle. It caused her to be plastered against his back, but at least there she had a chance of staying on the horse.

Let go of my shoulders! he said irritably.

I clutched them in an effort to stop myself flying into the next county, she managed.

You scream like a woman, he said, obviously disgusted.

She had the impulse to pinch him hard, but she control ed it. The horse didnt even seem to notice her weight. He was prancing, eager to return to the stables. You left your horse standing in the cold after a run, she said pointedly.

I was just thinking the same thing, he said, his voice rueful. Horses, servants, children. Im afraid that I get excited by this sort of thing.

Towers?

The engineering that goes into them. The calculations. The other day I figured out how we could put a false floor in the bal room.

Harriet let a moment go by before she asked the obvious. And the false floor would be good for?

For a banquet table, he said. It would have been interesting, but Im afraid that Eugenia has your hard-headed approach. I threw the calculations away.

He was terrifyingly likeable when he was rueful and in love with his crazed engineering feats.

Do you have to sit so close to me? he asked, with an edge in his voice that made her forget that she ever liked him.

How exactly do you think that Im supposed to sit behind you, on the saddle, without being close?

Try moving backwards, he said, very unfriendly. Theres a nice space of the horses rear to sit on.

I cant do it, Harriet said, enjoying herself. So he didnt like her because she was too effeminate? Rank prejudice. Why, her mothers curate, Mr. Periwinkle, was remarkably effeminate. He smel ed like a flower and believed that life was always better with a cup of tea. Lord Strange probably wouldnt want to shake his hand.

She snuggled closer. It was good for him to feel uncomfortable. In fact, she would be grinning except her face was too frozen to move. It would be good for Lord Strange if he had to get to know someonea manwho was a little different than he was.

The man was set in his ways. Obsessed with manliness. Mr. Periwinkle enjoyed arranging dried flowers. And he gave lovely sermons about the lilies of the field. Everyone adored him.

The horse started climbing the hil toward the front of the house. You dont mind if I put my arms around you, do you? she shouted against the wind.

What?

So she just put her arms around his waist.

His body stiffened.

Her grin died a moment later. Stranges body was large and fierce and male, in a way that played fiddlesticks with her pleasure in Mr. Periwinkles company.

She could feel coiled muscle and steel, even through his greatcoat. It was dangerous to have her hands on him. It felt like nothing shed experienced before. It felt heady, warm, crazed. It made her think about the bawdy songs in Kittys book, the ones that talked about a woman folding a man in her arms and kissing him over and over.

It must be the influence of Stranges degenerate household, with Kitty and Nel and al the rest of them pursuing their desires without the slightest concern for consequences, or reputation, or society. If she werent a duchess If she were just Mr. Cope, young Harry who had no last responsibilities and no history, she would throw away caution.

She would

The horse stopped in the courtyard and Strange was off the horse so fast that she slid forward onto the saddle, into the space left by his warm body. He looked up at her, his eyebrow cocked disdainful y.

She looked back at him steadily until the scorn faded in his eyes.

Do you stil wish to fence? she asked.

Yes. He turned away, and Nick came running toward her.

I was that worried when your horse came home alone, miss, he whispered.

Im al right. It was Stranges fault; he told me to drop the reins because his horses were so perfectly trained that they would stay in place.

Wel , theres some that wil do it, the boy said fairly. But not many in this weather. So you didnt fal off, then?

No, and your tips helped. I think I know how to manage a gal op, though trotting is a terrible thing to endure.

Perhaps we could get up real y early one morning and I could show you how to manage a trot.

Id hate to get you up so early, she said.

Im already up. But night may be better. That way you wouldnt be riding with me, and then with Lord Strange. He might notice.

But we should start with mounting a horse. Its a miracle he hasnt seen the way you climb your mount like a rocky hil side.

Perhaps even tonight?

Il wait for you in the stables. Theres general y no one around so it should be safe.

She gave him a quick smile. Thank you!

Strange was waiting for her at the door. Youre very friendly with that stable boy. His tone was unfriendly again.

His name is Nick, and I like him, she said, walking past Strange to get into the warmth.

You like him? Strange said.

She glanced back at him. Hes nice. But the only thing on her mind was how to get warm without losing her manhood. If youl forgive me, Im going to take a piss. She managed to walk half the way up the stairs, but then broke into a run. When she got to her chamber she dashed across the room and dove under the quilt, leaving only her boots sticking off the bed.

Your Grace, Lucil e exclaimed, coming over. Are you al right? Are you il ?

Cold, Harriet said with chattering teeth. So cold.

Tsk, tsk, Lucil e clucked. She ran over and got another quilt and piled it on top of Harriet. Youl be catching your death, riding around on a morning like this. Why, the Duchess of Cosway isnt even out of her bed yet. Shes just breakfasting.

You can have my hot chocolate, Isidore said, appearing in the doorway. Have you been pounding around on freezing roadways for hours?

Ye-ess, Harriet said from under the covers. My horse went home alone and I had to ride behind Strange and it was so cold.

Sit up and drink this chocolate, Isidore said. The cup is nice and hot.

Harriet final y did, grateful y curling her fingers around the mug.

Whats next in the life of a gentleman? Isidore asked.

Fencing again, Harriet said. Fighting with rapiers. He makes me take my jacket off and its bloody cold up there in those gal eries. The man must have cold blood, like a reptile.

Harriet! Isidore said. Ive never heard you swear. I think al this masculinity is rubbing off on you.

I like riding, Harriet said. You cant imagine, Isidore. Its al different with men. You know how we perch in the side-saddle and then pick our way down the road?

Isidore nodded. I dont often bother, but I know how.

Men just fling themselves into the saddle and pound down the roadso fast the wind blows their hair directly back. They dont wear a wig because it wouldnt stay on. They just go. Its sweaty and tiring, but afterwards you feel so good.

Watch out, Isidore said. Youl end up dressing like this forever. You know, everyone always says that Lord Findleshanks is real y a woman. Did you ever look at him closely? He does look like a woman.

He has a beard, Harriet pointed out.

So did my grandmother.

Harriet swung out of bed. I have to meet Strange for fencing practice. Ouch! She rubbed her bottom.

I am going back to my bed, Isidore said. Strange lent me a book of poetry. She paused for a moment. Do you stil dislike him?

Harriet shrugged. Hes acceptable. What do you think?

I think hes interesting, Isidore said. Real y interesting.

Harriet looked at her. You are married, Isidore.

Not so anyone would notice, Isidore said wryly.

You know what I mean.

Theres something about Strange, Isidore said. Harriet noticed with a pulse of alarm that her eyes were almost dreamyand Isidore never looked dreamy. He walks into the room and everyone notices. I like being with a man like that.

Wel , he is the host, Harriet said. Although Im not sure he real y knows who some of his guests are. Have you noticed?

Povy reads him a list of his new guests every night, Isidore said. Lucil e told me about it.

Lucil e popped her head in from the adjoining room. Do you need me?

Does Lord Strange know who his guests are? Isidore asked. You said that Povy is in charge of informing him.

Wel , Strange does and doesnt, Lucil e said. He may hear about them, but that doesnt mean he always knows who they are, if you see what I mean. This is a big house. That run of scientists in the east wing, for example. Im sure he doesnt know al of them.

There was a short knock on the door, a knock that Harriet was getting to know. Isidore gave a shriek as it opened. Harriet turned and looked at her through Stranges eyes.

Isidore was in dishabil e, a sweep of curling black hair matching her eyelashes. Her nightgown was everything Harriets wasnt. It could never be mistaken for a mans.

A smile of greeting appeared in Isidores eyes for one second, before she gave another little shriek (entirely unnecessary, to Harriets mind) and disappeared into the room next door, slamming the connecting door.

Harriet had never realized that a womans legs could be seen straight through the thin lawn of a nightgown.

Strange didnt seem to be ravaged by desire, but what did she know? He had an eyebrow raised. An early morning visitor, Cope? You constantly surprise me, he said. His voice was unfriendly again.

But this time he had a reason. It probably looked as if she was intruding on the woman he had selected for an affaire , given his flirtation with Isidore the previous night.

Were friends, she said quickly. Friends.

Ah, friends.

There was a moment of silence while Harriet thought desperately. Shes mymy mothers goddaughter. Ive known her for years.

For years. How lucky. There was something inscrutable in his face.

Yes, Harriet said. When my mother was il , Isidore was often the only person who visited for months.

Are you ready for breakfast? I instructed the staff to put out a side of red beef for you and a good tankard of ale, of course. And Eugenia is eager to watch our lesson.

Harriet groaned inwardly. The beef she could manage, barely, but she truly disliked the beer.

This time the fencing lesson went much better. Without saying a word, Strange put caps on the rapiers, which made Harriet feel more comfortable. She managed to keep a hand on her blade and even parried a pass in tierce .

Il teach you the prise de fer next, Strange said.

He walked behind her and reached around her body to hold her sword. Look, he said, tilt your wrist like this, put your right foot at an angle. He nudged her leg to get it into the right position.

Surely he didnt have to have his arms around her to demonstrate this move? His hand brushed Harriets breast. Of course, her breasts were firmly wrapped in bandages, so there was nothing feminine for him to discover.

Stil , she jumped away and turned, rapier on the ready. The truth was that every time he touched her, Harriet felt heat rushing up and down her body.

Eugenia sat behind a glass cabinet and cal ed out instructions. Harriet couldnt help turning around and smiling at her, for al Strange insisted that she keep her attention on the rapier.