To Win the Lady (20 page)

‘We know who he
is right and tight,’ said the one who seemed to be in charge. ‘Now, my lord, if
you was to be so good as to step over to the bushes here. We don’t want to
upset the lady, do we?’ He took his lordship’s arm and propelled him forward.

‘What are you
going to do with him?’ Georgie demanded.

He was never to
answer. From nowhere came the crack of a pistol and the robber dropped to his
knees and rolled over, his head snapped back, revealing a thick black beard
below the scarf he had tied about his face. His astonished companions turned as
men appeared from the bushes, yelling and shouting and wielding clubs. The
remaining highwaymen did not stop to count them or discover they had no other
arms but the pistol which was now empty, but sprinted for their horses and
disappeared over the heath in a cloud of dust.

Lord
Dullingham, who had dropped to his knees when the man who held him fell, stood
up, brushed himself down and turned to the men, who were only three in number.
‘I am obliged,’ he said, as calmly as if he were in a drawing-room.

‘That’s all
right, sir, but obligations don’t buy bread, do they?’

His lordship
did not immediately answer for he had turned the dead man over with the toe of
his boot and had bent to remove the scarf from his face. Now he was looking
down at him in something like a dream. Georgie suspected he was more shaken
than he liked to appear; she was certain the men had meant to kill him, though
why they should do so she had no idea. His delay in answering seemed to anger
one of their rescuers. ‘Let’s see what the varmints left behind,’ he said,
striding over to the coach. ‘Where d’you keep the readies? Hidden, are they?’

Lord Dullingham
stirred himself at last. ‘What? Oh, of course I shall reward you.’ He went to
the coach and pulled at one of the squabs. It came away to reveal a little
niche in which was a small box. Before he could open it, it was snatched from
his hand.

‘How dare you
do that?’ Georgie shouted. ‘I know you. We saw you outside Bullock’s Museum
begging, didn’t we? Major Baverstock spoke to you.’

‘So he did,
ma’am. Didn’t see it was you, ma’am, but it don’ make no difference. We need
the money.’

‘Is that how
you repay kindness done to you? I am ashamed, truly ashamed, to think that any
man who had been so generously treated could behave so. Do you not know who
this gentleman is? He is Viscount Dullingham, the Major’s father.’

They looked at
first resentful and then shamefaced, but the man who held the box did not
relinquish it. She took it from him. ‘It was to Dullingham House the Major said
you were to go, wasn’t it? Dullingham House is the home of his lordship. Do you
think you deserve to be helped now?’

They looked
sheepishly at the angry young woman in front of them and then burst out
laughing. ‘We’re bested by a skirt, lads,’ their leader said.

The others
grinned and reluctantly turned away, but were called back by Lord Dullingham.
‘What are your names?’

‘I’m Corporal
Daniel Batson -leastways I was afore a grateful country decided to dispense
with me services. This here’s Josh.’ He pointed to the taller of his
companions, the one who had lost an arm. ‘And that’s Bill.’

‘And what did
my son say to you, Corporal?’

‘Said if we was
to go to Dullingham House we’d be given work. We was on our way there, but when
we saw the coach stopped and the high tobies it seemed like our luck was in. I
left fly the pop, didn’t mean to kill the man, but I reckon if I hadn’t he’d
ha’ done you in, m’lord.’

‘Yes, I believe
you are right,’ his lordship said slowly, taking his box from Georgie, who was
clutching it to her bosom as if about to defend it with her life. He extracted
three coins. ‘Here is a guinea each. Come to Dullingham House as my son
suggested.’

‘And him?’ the
Corporal asked, nodding towards the corpse.

‘Give me your pistol.
I will notify the watch in the next town we come to that I put paid to the
man’s life when he attacked us. I do not think there will be any questions
asked.’ He held out his hand and the pistol was placed in it, then he turned to
Fanny, who had bundled Georgie’s clothes back in her trunk. ‘Help your mistress
back into the coach. It is time we were on our way, if we are to reach Rowan
Park before dark.’

Five minutes
later they were moving again, a silent, thoughtful company, for everyone had
realised that they had had a lucky escape, especially his lordship. But who,
wondered Georgie, wanted him dead? And though she ruminated about it for some
time she could find no answer.

It was late
when they reached Rowan Park, but there was enough light for his lordship to
see that it was a neat, well-run establishment. He allowed Georgie to give him
a quick tour of the stables, where he picked out two almost matching horses
which he said would do very nicely for his carriage, and then, declining
refreshment, took his leave. ‘I’ll send someone over for the cattle,’ he said
and he waved her goodbye.

The next
morning, clad once again in shirt and breeches, she rose early, ready to return
to her usual routine. She was back at home, in the place she loved, doing what
she most enjoyed doing, looking after her horses. Now she would settle down to
become the old maid she had insisted she was and forget how she had loved and
lost.

Bert Dawson was
pleased to have her back and soon had Tom back at his work, while he escorted her
on a round of inspection. She discovered that the gangling three-week-old foal
was growing well and that Bright Star was making good progress. ‘She’s almost
ready for her first gallop,’ he told her, knowing she would want to be the one
to give it to her. ‘And Warrior has missed you.’

She laughed.
‘How do you know?’

‘He’s been off
his oats, miss, and acting up; won’t let anyone near him without a lot of
coaxing.’

She went to
Grecian Warrior’s box and stroked his nose. ‘I’m back, Warrior, old fellow,’
she said softly. ‘No need to worry; no one else shall have you.’ Dawson looked
at her with one eyebrow raised in a question, but she did not tell him that she
had been thinking of Lord Barbour. The horse nudged at her pocket and she
produced the apple he knew she always had there and left him munching
contentedly.

‘Saddle Bright
Star,’ she said. ‘I want to see what she’s got in her.’

An hour later,
reining the filly in at the furthermost part of the gallops, she knew she had a
winner. The horse would need careful training but she had no qualms about being
able to do it. With luck she might even be ready for the next two-year-old
stakes at Newmarket.

Two days later,
she was walking Bright Star quietly back to the stables after her second
gallop, when she noticed a rider on the horizon. He was standing quite still,
watching her. ‘Have to watch our step,’ she murmured, leaning forward to pat
the filly’s neck. ‘Can’t let everyone see how good you are.’

She turned to
go back to the stables and the rider on the hill cantered towards her. She
recognised the horse before she recognised him. There was no mistaking Pegasus.
Her emotions, which she had thought she had under control, were once more
thrown into confusion.

‘Miss Paget.’
He reined in beside her and touched his gloved hand to the brim of his hat.

‘Major
Baverstock.’ Did she sound as confused as she felt? ‘How nice to see you.’

Chapter Seven

Without waiting for an invitation, Richard turned to ride
alongside her. ‘I have come on an errand for my father. He tells me he has
bought two of your horses. He wants me to take delivery of them.’

‘You have come
from Dullingham House? I thought you were still in London. You have not
quarrelled with Felicity, have you?’ She was acutely conscious of his tall
figure beside her, his capable hands on the reins, hands which had carried her
and held her. No, she told herself sternly, that must be forgotten as if it had
never happened. She lifted her head and kept her eyes on the lane ahead of her.

He turned to
look at her profile, the upturned nose, the jutting chin, both giving the
impression of stubbornness, but the small rosebud mouth and the dimple in the
cheek softened that. ‘How could anyone quarrel with such a delightful young
lady? You must know that your sister has gone to stay with Lady Hereward in
Richmond, and as I had business in this area I took the opportunity to return
home for a few days.’

‘What
business?’ It was out before she could stop herself and she was forced to turn
her head towards him. ‘I’m sorry. I should not have... Oh, dear, my foolish
tongue.’

He laughed. ‘Do
not apologise, Miss Paget; it does not suit you. And there is no secret. I came
to see how Bright Star comes along.’ He surveyed the filly carefully. ‘She
looks in peak condition.’

‘Did you see
her gallop?’

‘Yes. She’s a
good goer, I think, but should you be riding her yourself? After all, you have
had a serious fall.’

‘I am fully
recovered, Major. It was only a bump on the head.’

‘It was enough
to keep you in bed a whole week.’

She blushed
crimson at being caught out in the deception, but recouped quickly. ‘It suited
me to keep to my room, Major.’

‘Oh.’ It would
not have been polite to ask her why and he decided to change the subject. ‘Tell
me about Bright Star.’

She felt easier
when talking about horses and for the next few minutes she went over Bright
Star’s training programme with him in a relaxed and informed manner and he was
forced to the conclusion that she did know what she was talking about and he
changed his mind about taking the filly’s training away from her. If the
alternative to a prosperous stable was marriage to that blackguard Barbour,
then the more he helped her to remain independent the better. ‘I think she
could have her first outing at Newmarket next week,’ she said. ‘What do you think?’

‘Yes, but only
if you are sure she will be ready.’

‘She will be
ready.’

‘I also came
looking for mounts to ride. My father has a few I can use, but I need more.’

‘For that
outrageous ride to York, I suppose.’

‘Why
outrageous?’

‘Why?’ she snapped.
It was easier on her nerves to be angry with him; friendship she could not cope
with at all. ‘Because you will ruin goodness knows how many horses and it
cannot be good for you either, all those hours in the saddle. And all to salve
your pride and score over a fat reprobate who puts one over on you.’

‘Fat
reprobate,’ he repeated, grinning. ‘Is that how you describe someone who hopes
to become your husband?’

‘He may hope,’
she said flatly.

‘You mean you
have turned him down?’ He was suddenly very cheerful, but then he remembered
her sister and was sunk again into gloom.

‘I have neither
accepted nor rejected him, for he has never made the offer,’ she said. ‘Now, do
you think we might change the subject?’

‘Delighted to
do so, my dear Miss Paget,’ he said. `How about coming to Newmarket with me
tomorrow? I need to engage a good jockey for Bright Star if she is to race next
week.’

She was about
to refuse, but changed her mind. For Bright Star’s sake she wanted to meet the
jockey Richard chose for her and she really ought to keep up to date with what
was going on. Moreover, it would not hurt to show herself as someone to be
reckoned with in the racing business. Not for a moment would she admit that a
day at the races with Richard Baverstock would be a pleasure she did not want
to miss.

‘Yes, I should
like that,’ she said.

‘Good. I shall
call for you with the curricle.’

She made no
comment, though it crossed her mind that the vehicle would not be large enough
to accommodate her maid. Their only chaperon would be his tiger, if he had such
a thing in the country.

They returned
to the stables and she handed Bright Star over to Dawson and asked Tom to lead
out his lordship’s horses.

‘They’re good,’
Richard said, casting a critical eye over them. ‘Almost a perfect match.’

‘They are
sisters.’

‘And they will
take postillions?’

‘Of course,
though Bess is more accustomed to being ridden than Silver.’ She paused. ‘Oh,
you are not thinking what I think you are, are you?’

He gave her a
disarming smile. ‘Not unless it becomes necessary. I have to have thirty
horses, Miss Paget, thirty horses with speed and stamina. What else can you
offer me?’

‘I do not know
that I want to let you have any,’ she said. ‘You know how I feel about the
whole mad escapade. In fact, I should like to buy Pegasus back.’

‘He is not for
sale. Besides, you cannot afford him; his value has gone up by leaps and bounds
since I acquired him.’

‘You are
insufferable! I’ve a mind not to come to Newmarket with you after all.’

‘Oh, that would
be a pity,’ he said. ‘I need your help choosing a jockey and if I should make
other purchases...’