The Portrait (10 page)

When they arrived in the parlor in pursuit of breakfast the
following morning, the landlord waited on them immediately.
Being the only travelers at the inn, they received his undivided attention. "Did you sleep well in the closet, young sir?"
he asked as he brought Jennifer a cup of tea and deposited
coffee before the earl.

"Quite cozily, thank you," she replied with some amusement, sobering slightly at a warning glance from her companion but unable to resist temptation. "Though I must tell you, I
am not the only one who may be accused of snoring."

"Touche, Jeremiah." The earl grinned as the landlord left
the room chuckling. "Do I snore, Jem?"

"I wouldn't know, Ned," she replied mischievously, waiting
for the rebuff, but none came. "I must have fallen asleep long
before you" Then after a moment's silence she asked, "May I
call you Ned? It has such a comfortable feel to it."

Sinclair grinned. "You may call me what you will, my dear.
Indeed, if we are to continue on such a footing, I think it would
be advisable. Perhaps at our next encounter you might like to introduce me as your brother. It will make our association less
formal and enable you to take the name of Thurston rather
than Scatterwell, with which you have been so ignobly christened."

"Do I have to remain Jeremiah?" she asked hopefully.
"Couldn't another name be found?"

"Jem it must remain, I'm afraid. It would not do to risk a
slip and raise curiosity."

"Then let it be Jeremy, should the need arise. It's slightly
more noble."

"Very well. Jeremy Thurston you shall become. Welcome
to the family, my dear."

She gave him a curious look, to which he raised an inquiring brow.

"What now, Jem? Why so suddenly serious?"

"It's so like the name I very nearly had-Jenny Thurston"

He rose abruptly from the table, almost upsetting his coffee
in the process. "We cannot go back to those times, Jenny," he
said in a hardened voice. "I gave you my reasons, and they remain. You will thank me soon enough"

"I, too, certainly have no wish to resume our engagement,"
she replied with equal coldness. "Though not for the same
reasons as you, I suspect."

"Then what are your reasons, Jenny? Tell me now, and have
done with it. Whatever they are, you will find no opposition.
Indeed, in all probability I will agree with you. Therefore,
speak; I am prepared for the worst"

For a moment she regarded him rebelliously, before replying
in a defiant tone, "My reasons are, Edward Thurston, that you
gave me no opportunity to get to know you. I am well aware
that you proposed to me at the instigation of our families. Your
offer was made merely out of a sense of obligation...

"You had no objection at the time," he interjected harshly.
"If I remember correctly, you appeared to almost welcome the
match."

"I was young. I didn't realize the implications. Almost immediately you were posted to Spain, and when I attempted to get to know you through your letters, all you ever mentioned
were trivialities. How could I marry a man who had no desire
to know me? I would as soon remain unwed than to enter into
such a marriage."

"Very succinctly put, my dear. You echo my sentiments exactly. Though I would make just a small addition to that statement. I would also prefer to remain unwed than contract a
marriage where my wife is compelled to view me with either
revulsion or pity."

Instantly she was on her feet and would have given a hasty
reply, but at that moment the landlady bustled into the parlor
bearing a hearty breakfast, which she laid on the table before
bobbing a brief curtsy and once more retreating to the kitchen.

For several heartbeats they stood looking defiantly at each
other, both unwilling to make the first move until, relenting,
the earl said in rallying tones, "What, not hungry, Jem? We
may spend all morning quarrelling like children if you so desire, but I must admit, I would welcome my breakfast"

Reluctantly she resumed her seat, watching from beneath
lowered lashes as the earl did the same. There were still words
she would have said, but instead she had to content herself by
muttering, "You are hateful, Edward, and I wish I had not invited you on this journey."

"An invite, was it, my girl?" He chuckled, with eyebrows
raised, his humor returned. "I was of the opinion that when
you presented yourself at my house, it was more of a royal
command."

"I did do it rather well, didn't I?" she replied, her eyes
sparkling with merriment. "I knew you would find it difficult
to refuse me, though you almost ruined it all by coming home
foxed"

"I realize my intoxication must have proved a severe trial to
you, brat. Though, the next time you have need of my services, I would appreciate a little more notice."

"Then you truly don't regret coming with me?" she asked
in a hopeful voice.

"I truly do not"

Content with his reply, she settled to her meal, and a feeling
of rapport existed between them once more.

Once the meal was over, neither felt the inclination to continue with their previous discussion, feeling that the topic had
been exhausted and the air cleared.

"I've been thinking," said the earl, pushing away his plate.
"Instead of trying to rejoin the stage, I believe we may now
safely travel post. We are far enough away from London for it
not to make any difference. What say you? Have you had your
fill of public conveyances?"

"I rather enjoyed the experience." Jennifer chuckled. "We
met such interesting company. Indeed, it was extremely diverting."

"I never knew you were such a chatterbox" He grinned. "You
talked incessantly and with scarcely any caution. Forswear, I
was in constant fear of our being found out, although you certainly seemed to relish your role of schoolboy. However, I think
it advisable that we recommence our journey in more comfort.
Without it being necessary to pick up and deposit passengers,
we should reach Freddie that much sooner."

"Couldn't we delay our journey just a little, Ned?" she said
unexpectedly. "This is such a cozy inn, and it wouldn't do Freddie any harm to reflect on his misdeeds. Forswear, it may even
do him some good."

"Let him stew, you mean? I can see the sense in that, but it
would not do that we tarry. We cannot spend another night under
this roof. Think of the impropriety of the situation and the scandal we would cause should our whereabouts become known"

"Who's to know where we are? It isn't a route frequented
by society, and the inn is so small, it could easily pass unnoticed. It's so pleasant here. Couldn't we stay just one more
night? I promise I will not plague you. Please, Ned."

Sinclair found it difficult to resist the pleading in her voice
but, realizing he must stand firm, curtly replied, "No. We must
make what speed we can so we can resolve the situation as
soon as possible. Go and prepare for the journey. I will ask the
landlord for directions to the nearest posting inn."

It was not until Jennifer rejoined the earl in the parlor a
short while later that he had the opportunity to discuss the
matter with the landlord.

"The Red Fox is the inn you want, sir," said the proprietor.
"You'll have no difficulty in hiring a chaise there, though it's
a tidy step away from here"

"And how far is a `tidy step'?" inquired Sinclair.

"I should say about seven miles, as the crow flies."

"It's a lovely day. We could easily walk there," enthused
Jennifer.

"My dear Jem, you are not a bird, and neither am I," was
the earl's dampening reply. "Although I have every confidence in your ability to walk seven miles, I don't think it wise
to attempt it."

"I have a gig that you could drive over to the Red Fox," said
the landlord, eager to be of some assistance. "Our eldest son
works at the smithy, and he could return it to me when he finishes for the day."

"Does he walk the seven miles to work?" asked Jennifer,
curious.

"He does, young sir, so he will be glad of the ride home"

"If your son is able to walk that distance before a day's
work, I am quite sure that we could...."

"No, we could not!" interposed Sinclair with some force.
Turning to the landlord, he said, "We will take the gig and
thank you for it."

"I will put the horse to the shafts immediately, sir," said the
landlord. "He's young but a sweet-enough goer."

The post chaise bowled out of the yard at the Red Fox, its
occupants appreciating its comparative comforts to their previous mode of travel.

"I must admit, post has definite advantages over the common coach," confided Jennifer.

"I thought you'd found it quite amusing." The earl chuckled,
sitting opposite his companion, easing his long legs out before him, and crossing his ankles. "Now, alas, you have only me to
entertain you"

"Sadly, 'tis a circumstance I will have to bear with what fortitude I can muster," said Jennifer, smiling in return, longing to
emulate his position but realizing it would appear most unladylike.

"As we are traveling post, I've decided that we can now
forgo the dubious pleasures of Coventry and take a more direct route to our destination. Therefore, we need spend only
one further night en route"

"Where will that be?"

"I know of a posting house in Oakham-not intimately but
by repute. It's said to offer excellent accommodation and a
more than adequate bill of fare"

She appeared to consider this. "But if it's been recommended, will it not also be know to other members of the ton?
And who knows who might be patronizing it? Perhaps a
lesser-known inn would suffice"

"I think you might have the right of it, Jen," replied the earl
thoughtfully. "I will ask the coachman if he can recommend an
establishment. I wouldn't wish to prolong our journey."

"You will be glad to be rid of me?"

"Of the situation-of course. The thought of the torment
young Freddie must be suffering is intolerable."

"I would almost say he deserves it," said Jennifer tartly.
"He should have more sense than to enter into a bout of
fisticuffs."

"Sometimes such situations are unavoidable," replied
Sinclair. "He may have had no alternative but to defend himself. Tempers flare more quickly than reason"

"I can't imagine you being led into such a situation."

Sinclair laughed. "Do I appear so sensible? For I assure you,
I am not."

"You are known to be very tolerant, Ned"

"If I'm to be accused of tolerance now, it's merely because
I remember like instances in my youth when I was equally as hotheaded as our respective brothers. Perhaps even more so,
until entering the cavalry moderated my moods"

"I don't believe it for one minute. Arthur told me you were
ever known for your even temper."

"You would wish me otherwise?" he asked with some surprise. "If I was, I would not have attempted this journey. I
would have returned you home immediately."

"Edward Thurston .. " she began.

He laughed. "I know, I know-'Edward Thurston, I hate
you. ,,

"I was about to say," replied Jennifer, feigning superiority,
"that I don't believe you for one moment. You are far more
generous than that, and you certainly don't appear averse to
the situation. Indeed, one could almost accuse you of enjoying
the experience."

"That's as may be, my girl," he said, finally relenting. "You
seem to have the measure of me. Though what Flora would
say if she could see us, I know not. She's confirmed that I've
become very staid and dull. If she could see me cavorting about
the countryside with a hoyden of a girl masquerading first as
my pupil and now as my brother, I doubt she would be of the
same opinion."

"Arthur would be only too thankful to be rid of me; indeed,
he's often told me so"

The earl's dark brows snapped into a frown. "You're not
welcome in your own home?" he asked with great concern.

"I am decidedly de trop. He wishes to marry and for he and
his wife to be the sole occupants of the house"

"What of you and Freddie?"

"He cares not what becomes of us. He daren't coerce me into
marriage, though frequently his methods come near to it."

"Your life is made uncomfortable?" Sinclair asked, concern heavy in his voice.

"At times."

"Damn him," he swore forcefully. "Am I to suppose that
when our engagement was broken, he was less than charitable
to you?"

"Considerably so. He saw his own plans thwarted and reacted accordingly."

For quite a few moments he said nothing, the heavy frown
remaining on his brow as he stared sightlessly through the
window. Eventually he returned his gaze to his companion,
and, sitting forward in his seat, he reached out and took her
hand.

"You must forgive me, Jenny," he said earnestly. "It was not
my intention to put you into an invidious position."

At the touch of his fingers, she hastily withdrew her hand.
"There's no need to apologize," she said quickly. "I was of the
same frame of mind as you. I must take my share of the blame.
Indeed, I'd already informed Arthur of my intention of ending
the betrothal before I came to see you at Fly."

"Then it came as no great shock to you when I followed the
same course?" he asked, watching from beneath lowered brows
as he once more sat back in his seat.

"It rankled that you were the first to state the case. As is
common in these situations, I would have preferred to be the
one to make the break. I'd come to Fly with the intention of
explaining all to you"

"And I was too eager to say my piece," he stated flatly.

"You did seem somewhat eager to be rid of the betrothaland me-yes"

"I wished only to assure you that you were in no way obligated to proceed with the marriage, that we would not deal at
all well together. I put my case too bluntly, but I had no wish
to wound you"