The Perfect Lover (26 page)

They were close to the east wing, slipping along a rarely used gallery when Portia glanced out of the mullioned windows, and stopped. Tugged back when he tried to tug her on, then stepped closer to the window.

He looked over her head, and saw what she had.

Kitty, in a peignoir that did nothing to hide her charms, standing on the lawn in full sight, remonstrating with Arturo and Dennis. She was talking, gesticulating.

He drew Portia back; Kitty was facing away from them, but Arturo or Dennis might see them if they glanced up.

Portia met his gaze, shook her head as if to say it was all completely beyond her, then let him hurry her along.

They reached her room. Brushing a quick kiss on her fingertips, he urged her inside. The minute the door closed, he headed back to his room.

A pair of giggling maids forced him down the east wing stairs; safe enough—he could cut through the ground floor of the main wing and reach the west wing that way. Swinging down off the stairs, he stepped out—

“Well, well—what have we here?”

He halted, swung around—to face Kitty.

Clutching her peignoir about her, she locked her eyes, widening as full realization struck, on his face, then her gaze traveled slowly down, narrowing.

Simon inwardly cursed; he’d thrown on the same clothes he’d worn last night.

Kitty looked up, her expression brittlely arch. “A trifle late to be leaving Miss Ashford’s bed, but then no doubt you were entertained to the point of distraction.”

The fury of a woman scorned rang in her tone; he’d turned her down any number of times—the malicious gleam in her eyes suggested she remembered every instance.

“Not so distracted as to imagine the local gypsies normally call at dawn to consult with the lady of the house.”

She paled, then flushed, with temper as much as guilt. She opened her lips, met his eyes—and thought better of whatever she’d been about to say. With an icy glare, she gathered her draperies about her, turned, and swept up the stairs.

Simon watched her go, his own eyes narrowing, a sense of danger tickling his spine. Her footsteps died; he swung on his heel and strode for the west wing.

“Can we go riding this morning, do you think?” Cecily Hammond looked around the breakfast table, her blue eyes hopeful.

All those present knew exactly what she hoped—that by organizing such an impromptu event now, in Kitty’s absence, they could avoid her presence for the morning at least.

James looked at Simon. “I can’t see why not.”

“A sensible idea,” Charlie pronounced. He looked at the others—at Portia, Lucy, Annabelle, Desmond, Winifred, Oswald, and Swanston. “Where should we go?”

Numerous suggestions were made; while discussion raged, Portia looked down at her plate. At the mound of food she was steadily consuming. She normally had an excellent appetite; this morning, however, she felt hungry enough to eat a horse.

She didn’t, however, think she could sit one. Not for any length of time.

Quite aside from the discomfort—the twinges and aches she’d ignored at first but which had progressively made themselves felt—if going riding were to worsen her condition such that her recovery was postponed beyond tonight . . . she’d rather not ride than forgo tonight’s lesson.

Tonight’s opportunity to investigate further—something she was determined to do.

The others settled on riding south down the old Roman road to the Badbury Rings, to view the ancient Iron Age fort. Chasing a forkful of kedgeree around her plate, she wondered what excuse she could give.

“I want to give my pair another run.” Simon spoke to James. “They’re eating their heads off, and after the last months, idleness doesn’t suit their temperaments.” He looked across the table at Portia, caught her eye. “I could take you up with me if you’d prefer?”

She blinked at him, then realized—as he already had—that no one there, bar Lady O who wasn’t about to hear, knew of her love of riding. No one would think it odd if she elected to be driven instead.

“Thank you.” She shifted slightly on her chair, realized he must have some inkling of her state . . . looked down before she blushed. “I would rather sit and watch the scenery.”

She didn’t look up to see if his lips quirked. A moment later, she felt his gaze leave her, and he spoke to James.

Fifteen minutes later, they all gathered in the garden hall, then set out for the stables. Sorting out horses and saddles took some time; Portia consoled the little chestnut mare while Simon’s bays were harnessed.

He came to fetch her, one brow rising as he walked down the aisle to her side. “Ready?”

She met his gaze, read the watchful concern in his eyes, smiled lightly and gave him her hand. “Yes.”

He led her out, handed her up, then climbed up beside her.

“We’ll see you along the road,” he called to James, still supervising the ladies’ mounts. James waved. The groom holding the bays’ heads leapt back. With a flourish of his whip, Simon sent the pair sweeping out into the drive.

They didn’t talk, didn’t need to. She looked around eagerly, keen to see a part of the country she hadn’t before explored. After they left the tall trees of Cranborne Chase behind, stands of beeches occasionally lined the road as it crossed the gently undulating heathland. Simon let the bays stretch their legs, then reined them in to a gentle trot. The others, riding cross-country, caught up with them close to their destination; they rode in convoy about the curricle, chatting, exchanging quips and stories.

About them, the morning waxed glorious—blue skies above, sunshine streaming down, and a breeze fresh enough to clear the stuffiest head. The party enjoyed themselves in innocent exploration, clambering up and about the three rings of defensive earthworks surrounding the old fort. Everyone was so relieved by the respite from the snarled tensions at the Hall, each and every one went out of their way to be gracious and charming—even Oswald and Swanston.

Throughout, Portia was aware of Simon watching her—watching over her. She was used to such attention from him; previously, it had invariably pricked her temper. Today . . . while she strolled beside Winifred and Lucy, lifting her face to the breeze blowing from the distant sea, even though he wasn’t near, she still felt his gaze, and, to her surprise, felt . . . cared for. Cherished.

There was something quite different in how he watched her now.

Intrigued, she stopped walking, let the others go ahead, then turned and looked across to where he stood, idly listening to Charlie and James arguing. Across the green dip between two of the rings, he met her gaze, then, taking his hands from his pockets, he left the others and walked to join her.

As he neared, he searched her face. He stopped beside her, holding her gaze, screening her from the others. “Are you all right?”

For one instant, she didn’t answer, too busy reading—savoring—the expression in his eyes. Not his face, that was set in its usual arrogantly austere lines, but his eyes were softer, his concern quite different—of a different nature—to what it had been in years past.

The sight warmed her. From her heart outward, like a sudden upwelling of joy.

She smiled, inclined her head. “Yes. Perfectly.”

A cry reached them—they looked across to where Oswald and Swanston had engaged in mock-battle for the entertainment of the Hammond sisters. Her smile deepening, she put her hand on Simon’s arm. “Come—walk with me.”

He did, keeping by her side as they ambled. Words were superfluous; not even glances were needed to maintain the connection.

Her gaze on the horizon, Portia sensed that connection’s shimmering touch, felt her heart swell as if to accommodate it. Was this what happened? That somehow a link grew between two people—a channel of understanding independent of all things physical?

Whatever it was, it felt special, precious. She glanced at him briefly, too wise to imagine he didn’t sense it, too. He didn’t seem to be fighting it, or denying it; she wondered what he truly thought.

After an hour of simple pleasures, in complete and relaxed accord, they reluctantly returned to the horses and curricle and headed back to the Hall.

They returned just in time for luncheon, just in time to be treated to another petulant performance by Kitty. The lighter mood the morning had engendered rapidly dissipated.

The seating was not specified at luncheon; Simon claimed the chair beside Portia, sat, ate, and watched. Most of the company did the same; if Kitty had possessed the slightest sensibility, she would have noticed the distancing, the guardedness, and muted her behavior accordingly.

Instead, she seemed in the oddest mood, pouting, threatening to sulk over the news of their morning’s outing on the one hand, on the other brittlely excited, eyes alight with almost frenetic anticipation—an expectation of something desperately significant no one else knew of.

“Why, we’ve been to the Rings many times before, dear,” Mrs. Archer reminded Kitty. “I declare it would be quite fatiguing to have to see them again.”

“Indeed,” Kitty averred, “but I—”

“Naturally,” Mrs. Buckstead joined in, smiling benignly down the table at her daughter and the Hammond girls, “the younger ones need to get out in the fresh air.”

Kitty glared at her. “Winifred—”

“And, of course, once one’s married, gadding about on morning adventures does lose its appeal.” Unperturbed, Mrs. Buckstead helped herself to more iced asparagus.

For one instant, Kitty was dumbfounded, then her gaze swung down the table. To Portia. Unaware, Portia continued eating, her gaze lowered, a faint but definite smile—a gentle, abstracted, in many ways revealing smile—curving her lips.

Eyes narrowing, Kitty opened her mouth—

Simon reached out, picked up his glass. Kitty glanced at him—he caught her gaze. Held it as he sipped, then slowly lowered his glass to rest it on the table.

Let Kitty read in his eyes what he would do if she dared vent her jealousy on Portia—if she made the slightest allusion to the morning adventures she suspected he and Portia had enjoyed.

For an instant, Kitty teetered on the brink, then sanity seemed to reassert itself; she drew breath and looked down at her plate.

Elsewhere about the table, Mr. Archer, to all appearances oblivious of his younger daughter’s shortcomings, continued a discussion with Mr. Buckstead; Lord Glossup was talking to Ambrose, while Lady O chatted to Lady Glossup with superb disregard for all else about her.

Gradually, with Kitty sunk in silence, other conversations commenced, Lady Calvin claiming James’s and Charlie’s attention, Desmond and Winifred trying to draw out Drusilla.

Simon exchanged light comments with Annabelle Hammond, on his other side; inwardly, his mind raced. Kitty’s discretion was nonexistent; who knew when, provoked, she would blurt something out? If she did . . .

The meal drew to a close; he bided his time. The instant Portia set down her fork, he reached out and stroked a finger over her wrist.

She glanced at him, raised a brow.

“Let’s go for a walk.”

Her brows rose higher; he could see the thoughts—the speculation—whirling through her mind. Lips twisting, he clarified, “I want to talk to you.”

On the subject that, courtesy of Kitty, could no longer safely be left unbroached.

She studied his eyes, saw he was serious; curious, she inclined her head. Lifting her napkin to her lips, she murmured, “Slipping away from the others might not be that easy.”

In that, she was correct; although the table broke up and in the main the guests scattered to spend the afternoon in various ways, Annabelle, Cecily, and Lucy clung to Portia, clearly expecting to follow her lead. Excusing himself from a billiard match with James and Charlie, Simon followed the four females out to the terrace, wondering how to lose three.

He paused in the doorway from the morning room, considering and discarding various options, then he heard stumping behind him. He turned as Lady O came up; she grasped his arm as he instinctively offered it.

She looked out at the four young ladies standing in a group by the balustrade. Shook her head. “You’ll never manage it.”

Before he could think of any suitable rejoinder, she shook his arm. “Come on—I want to go and sit in the shrubbery courtyard.” A distinctly evil grin curved her lips. “Seems like a place where one hears all sorts of things.”

Assuming she had some scheme in mind, Simon led her out. They crossed the terrace, and he helped her down the steps. When they reached the lawn, she abruptly stopped.

And turned back. Waved to the young ladies. “Portia—fetch my parasol, if you would, my dear.”

Portia had been watching them. “Yes. Of course.”

Excusing herself to the other girls, she went indoors.

Lady O turned and stumped on.

He was settling her in the shrubbery courtyard, on a wrought-iron garden seat set beneath the spreading branches of a magnolia, when Portia joined them.

She looked at the tree. “You won’t need this after all.”

“Never mind. It’s served its purpose.” Lady O took the parasol, then settled her many layers and leaned back, closing her eyes. “You may go, the pair of you.”

Simon looked at Portia; she opened her eyes wide, shrugged.

They turned.

“Incidentally,” Lady O said, “there’s another exit from this place.” They turned back. Barely opening her eyes, she pointed with her cane. “That path. From memory, it leads through the back of the rose garden to the lake.”

She closed her eyes again.

Simon looked at Portia.

Smiling, she returned to the seat, bent and kissed Lady O’s cheek. “Thank you. We’ll come back—”

“I’m perfectly able to get myself back to the house if I wish.” Cracking open both lids, she fixed them with her best basilisk stare. “You two take yourselves off—no need in the world to hurry back.”

When they didn’t immediately move, she lifted both cane and parasol and shooed them. “Go! Go!”

Smothering grins, they went.

“She’s incorrigible.”

Gazes touching, they ducked through the archway into the rose garden.

“I don’t think she’s ever been anything else.”