Gentleman's Guide 01 - His Impetuous Debutante (14 page)

“
You looked scared to
death,” he finally observed.

“
You are very
angry.”

“
I was. That has passed.”
He leaned back and rested his hands on the arms of the chair and
straightened his legs out in front of him, crossing them at the
ankles. A million thoughts ran through his mind and he needed to
find one to focus on for the moment. “Did you see who shot
you?”

“
No. I only know it came
from across the stream.”

“
Martin wasn’t allowing
anyone to hunt.”

“
Perhaps it was a
poacher.”

“
Probably,” Taylor agreed
after a moment. Past experience made his gut clench but he
dismissed the idea to paranoia. Just because he had come to care
for her, didn’t automatically put her in danger. He was not being
rational. He was only reacting to the situation. Of course it had
been a poacher, which he would leave Martin to deal
with.

“
You don’t have to stay
here. I will be perfectly fine on my own,” Phoebe said.

“
What if the person who
shot you is still in the woods?”

“
I am sure he has gone by
now. Especially if he realized he shot someone.”

“
Or, he could be afraid
that person could identify him and be looking for her to finish the
job.”

“
Don’t be
ridiculous.”

“
Where you are concerned,
my dearest Phoebe, nothing is ridiculous.”

She stared at him, her mouth pursed in
irritation, before she sighed and sat forward. “If you will help me
with my blouse and jacket, I can be ready to go in a few
minutes.”

Taylor raised one eyebrow. “You aren’t
going anywhere.”

“
Well, I certainly can’t
stay here with you.”

“
You have no choice. The
last thing I would subject you to is riding at this moment. You are
liable to start bleeding once again and that foot should be
elevated as soon as the water warms. I am more concerned with your
dizziness at the moment, however.” At least she saw the situation
for what it was.

“
We can’t stay out here,
together.” Phoebe’s pulse increased as her panic grew. She would be
ruined. This was much worse than a simple walk in a garden. At
night, or even during the day, being alone in this cabin with Lord
Sandlin would cause the worst scandal on record, regardless of her
injured state. There had to be a way out of this
situation.

“
We have no choice,” he
ground out again. At least he wasn’t any happier about the
situation than she was.

“
You of all people should
know what people will think.” Didn’t he realize what could happen
to him? Noah would kill them both. What if Noah challenged him? No,
her brother wouldn’t do that. Dueling was illegal. Surely Noah
wouldn’t force them to marry. That would ruin his friendship with
Lord Sandlin, and she couldn’t have that. Obviously she was the
last person Sandlin wished to be tied to and she couldn’t bear
being forced into matrimony with him. He would be miserable. It was
bad enough her future was ruined. Silently she vowed not to let
Noah ruin Lord Sandlin’s as well. After all it was the man who
could walk away from these situations unharmed. Only the woman’s
reputation suffered.

“
I know exactly what they
will think if anyone finds out,” he acknowledged.

If anyone finds out. He was right. So
far, only a few knew, and they would keep quiet for her brother’s
sake. Suddenly she lit on the idea. “You are right. There is always
the possibility nobody will know. If we return before day break,
you can drop me off a little ways from the house and I will walk
the rest. You will return before me and sneak into the house. I
will follow, and sneak into my room. There is a chance nobody will
be the wiser.”

He studied her with humor lit eyes,
one half of his mouth quirked to the side. Phoebe expected him to
laugh at the idea as impossible but instead, he agreed. “You’re
right. Let’s enjoy the evening and see how your ankle fares.” He
smiled warmly, which she immediately responded to by smiling
back.

Taylor stood. “I need to see to my
horse. When I return, I’ll see about finding something to
eat.”

Phoebe sat up.

“
Don’t move. When I
return, we’ll get that foot elevated.”

“
Thank you,” she called
after him and snuggled back down in the chair. She should feel
guilty, but she didn’t. She would have an entire night in his
company alone. It was a gift she gladly accepted. Perhaps she would
leave with fond memories to hold onto in the future when she was
back home taking care of her mother and sister. Or, if Noah broke
his promise and married her off to some gentleman, or perhaps when
Sandlin married. Phoebe quickly dismissed the idea. She didn’t want
to think of him married, though she knew it was bound to happen
eventually. Every male needed to produce an heir. She just wasn’t
as anxious about finding his bride as she once was. If only he
didn’t see her as a reckless and foolish child, perhaps she would
have a chance at something more. The very thought was ridiculous. A
man like Lord Sandlin would never be interested in her for a wife.
No, he would require one of those cool, elegant and fair women that
flooded the
ton
.
He wanted a woman who also used the good sense God gave her, unlike
herself.

Noah was more than likely to ship her
back to the country anyway. That was well and good. Obviously she
wasn’t cut out for society and it’s rules. But now, she had an even
more important reason. She couldn’t risk discovering Lord Sandlin
in somebody else’s arms again. The image still caused her heart to
ache. No, she wouldn’t remember it. Instead, she would try to make
this night as enjoyable as she could. In all likelihood, it was the
last night of her disastrous Season.

*

Outside, Taylor brought the horse
fresh water and found some oats Martin kept stored at the back of
the small stable. He had heard of Martin and Janine’s little hide
away, but this was the first time he had seen it. Once his horse
was comfortable, he began walking back to the cabin when he saw
Marius coming his way. Taylor was half tempted to wipe the grin off
his friend’s face. Walking to meet him, Taylor attempted to keep
him from the cabin. Marius dismounted while he waited for Taylor to
join him.

“
Can I assume you found
the reckless one?” Marius laughed.

“
Yes.” Taylor glared
back.

“
Do you think it is wise
to keep her in the cabin?” Marius asked, trying to control his
humor.

It took all his energy not to punch
Marius at that moment. Heaven knew he wanted to strike something.
Taking a deep breath, he explained the situation. Marius sobered
tremendously, given the serious nature of what had transpired.
“Only Lady Phoebe would find a bullet where there should be no
hunting.”

“
My thoughts exactly. Who
was shooting I wonder?”

“
Probably poachers, like
you already said.”

“
And I am just paranoid?”
Taylor couldn’t help but ask.

Marius grimaced. “It’s not like you
don’t have reason. I am sure she was just in the wrong place at the
wrong time. This is Phoebe we are talking about and you aren’t
married to her, yet.”

“
Why do you think my
paranoia has increased?” Taylor finally allowed himself half a
smile.

As they became quiet, Marius studied
him. “You know he can’t look past this one.”

“
I know.”

“
What are Phoebe’s
thoughts?”

“
I am leaving her with her
delusion that we can still sneak back into the house, once the
swelling has gone down, her arm finally stops bleeding and I am
convinced she has not suffered a concussion.”

“
That is even optimistic
for her.”

“
On the contrary. She is
so terrified of being forced to marry me, she would believe any
possibility. Obviously she has forgotten her brother in this. Or,
she thinks she can work around him.”

“
Perhaps I can send him
back and you can return to the house?” Marius offered.

Taylor thought about it for a minute,
but realized it wouldn’t work. Even if they fooled the others, he
would still have to face Noah. Another hour or the entire night
would make no difference at this point where his fate was
concerned. He might as well stay the entire night. “Do you think it
would make a difference?”

“
Doubtful. But perhaps
Phoebe is right. Maybe Noah won’t press the matter if you do manage
to sneak back unseen.”

“
How will you explain my
absence?”

“
I’ll explain the
situation to Noah. As long as everyone believes Phoebe remains in
her room, it just might work.”

“
That just might be true.
Noah wouldn’t risk damaging Phoebe’s reputation by alerting
everyone to her latest adventure.”

“
It is doubtful he will
call you out for the same reason.”

Nodding his head, Taylor decided to go
along. It was quite possible he would be believed. Then the only
thing he would have lost this night would be one
friendship.

Getting back on his horse, Marius
turned to Taylor. “I am sure once I explain to everyone that you
are exhausted from the Season and all you require at the moment is
solitude, they will understand.”

Taylor tried to laugh, but couldn’t.
The group back at the house would enjoy his situation. He had
already been the butt of jokes, called Phoebe’s knight, among other
things. They would eat this up. Well, he could suffer through the
jokes, if the plan worked.

“
What if the plan doesn’t
work?” Marius finally asked with seriousness.

“
I am already resigned to
my fate, whether it be pistol or ring.”

After seeing to her comfort and making
her another cup of tea, Taylor took the fishing poles he had found
and headed down to the stream. On any other occasion, or with any
other companion, this would be an evening to look forward to.
Unfortunately, it was innocent Phoebe sitting in the cabin and
Taylor knew he had a very long and uncomfortable night ahead of
him. He wouldn’t dwell on what the morning would probably
bring.

*

“
This is the most
delicious fish I have ever eaten,” Phoebe proclaimed and laid her
fork on the now empty plate.

“
I am sure your compliment
had nothing to do with the fact you are famished.” Taylor stood to
take her plate. It was a filling meal but certainly not as good as
Phoebe claimed. Still, a little pride pulled at his heart knowing
she liked the meal he had prepared for her.

She looked up at him from the couch,
emerald eyes smiling at him. He had moved her here before they
began to eat, since the water in the bucket warmed and he wanted
her foot on a pillow. He set the plate on the table and tucked the
blankets around her feet before he took the dishes outside to rinse
in the stream. When he returned to the cabin he found Lady Phoebe
sitting with one hand fidgeting behind her back.

“
What are you
doing?”

“
Trying to get
comfortable.”

“
Would you like me to play
ladies maid and fluff your pillows, Madame?” Taylor asked as he
walked to her.

“
No. I would like you to
play ladies maid and unfasten this corset,” Phoebe
replied.

Taylor stopped in mid step, muffling a
curse. Before he could proceed, Phoebe began moving again. “Better
yet, if you could please unfasten the skirt, as well as the corset,
then I can be rid of this clothing.”

“
I am not sure that is
wise, Phoebe,” Taylor warned in a low tone.

She gave him an irritated look over
her shoulder. “It is not as if anyone is going to know. Have you
ever tried to relax in a tight skirt and corset?”

He opened his mouth to speak, but
didn’t get the chance.

“
Of course not. Until you
try it sometime, I would ask that you not insist I stay in the
thing because of propriety.”

“
Your brother wouldn’t
like this. You are missing too much clothing as it is.” Taylor
walked away from her, trying to gain control of his
body.

“
I promise not to tell him
if you don’t,” she begged. “Please Taylor. Have mercy on me. I am
in enough pain without having to fight to breathe as
well.”

Rummaging in the kitchen, he looked
for a bottle of liquor. Anything to dull the senses. Finally he
found a bottle of brandy. Grabbing it and two glasses, he returned
to the fire. “This should take away any discomfort.” He offered her
a glass.

“
But you won’t help me
remove this horrible thing?”

“
No.”

Setting her glass down, she glared at
him. “Fine. I don’t need your help. I have done this myself before,
except I usually have two hands.”

Taylor refused to touch her. He wanted
to touch her. He would be more than happy to remove every article
of her clothing and actually toyed with the idea of doing just
that. After all, he knew what awaited him in the morning, even if
she chose to deny the fact. Noah wouldn’t let this matter slide as
a mild indiscretion.