Wicked Wager (18 page)

“Where did she go? Rotten Row?”

Jeremy nodded.

“I’ll need a horse. Any sort will do. I just want to get there. To make certain she’s all right.”

“Of course, sir. I’ll meet you in back by the livery stable.”

****

This was hardly the sort of riding she was used to, Penny thought as she cantered to the end of the track. Rotten Row couldn’t be much over a mile in length, and riding on the surface of gravel and tan wasn’t nearly the same as racing over the countryside. She also had to watch out for other riders. She’d encountered a half dozen or so, all grooms exercising their master’s mounts. Still, it was better than nothing. At least she was out in the relatively fresh air and comfortably dressed for a change. And, as always, riding was such a pleasure. The feel of the powerful animal between her thighs, the exhilarating sense of freedom.

The horse also seemed to be enjoying himself. Jeremy was right. Nero was wasted as a carriage horse. Pulling up, she leaned over to pat the gelding’s neck. “That was wonderful, Nero. Thank you. Unfortunately, we should be getting back.”

Turning the animal, she started the other direction down the track. She could just imagine Revington discovering where she’d gone and shouting at Jeremy. She would have to make it clear that Jeremy was simply accommodating his mistress. Her stomach lurched a little at the thought of confronting Revington. He always unsettled her so much. How could they be so close, so intimate in some ways and such strangers when it came to everything else?

She sighed. Maybe she wouldn’t go back quite yet. She might not have another chance to ride for a long time.

She decided to put the horse through some of the training drills she used at Horngate. Slow walking, then speeding into a trot. Slowing again. As she neared the end of the track, she turned the animal in a tight circle and then around in a figure eight.

As she finished the maneuver, she heard several whistles and a shout of “Well done!”

Flushed with satisfaction, she trotted to where several of the grooms were gathered, holding the reins of their mounts. As she reached them, a couple of the older fellows moved to help her dismount, but she waved them off. “No need. I’m used to being on my own.”

“We can see that,” said one of the younger grooms as she slid to the ground. The black-haired youth grinned at her. “I’ve never seen a mort ride like that. Where’d you learn all those fancy moves?”

Penny shrugged. “I’ve been training horses for a half-dozen years. I’m not sure where I picked some of it up.”

The youth gestured to Nero. “Who does the horse belong to? Did some gentleman actually hire you?”

Penny grinned, amused by his assumption that she was a groom. “The horse is from a livery near here. He’s the one for hire, not me.”

“Don’t be a bacon-brain, Frankie,” said one of the older men, his brown eyes watching her warily. “She’s a lady. Can’t you tell?”

Frankie stared at her, blushing furiously. “My pardon, miss, I thought…”

She smiled to put him at ease. “No need to apologize. I’m actually quite flattered. I’m pleased to think I appear skilled enough that you thought someone would actually hire me as a groom.”

“But how…I don’t understand. How did a lady like you ever learn to ride like that?”

The next moment Penny found herself telling them all about Horngate and her horses.

****

The whole way to the park, Marcus fought to control his emotions. He reminded himself Penny had been riding a spirited stallion when he first met her. If she could control that beast, she should easily deal with a carriage horse. And this time of day, there was little traffic in this part of this city. There was nothing to worry about.

As for the idea she was using the horse to meet another man—that was even more preposterous. If she intended to meet Lambson, she’d hire a hack. And it was unlikely she would arrange a liaison first thing in the morning anyway.

No, this incident was nothing more than Penny being homesick for her life at Horngate. She’d wanted to go riding, and with typical ingenuity, she’d arranged to do so.

By the time he reached the park, he was feeling much better. He no longer imagined Penny lying injured on the trackway or tucked away in Lambson’s carriage engaged in a bout of passionate lovemaking. But when he reached Rotten Row, he was once again thrown into turmoil. Penny stood on the trackway surrounded by a group of men!

Even as his body reacted with instinctive and primal jealousy, his brain recognized that the males were hired horsemen, and not a threat in any way. They would never dream of touching Penny, except to help her dismount.

Even so, his jealousy didn’t entirely ease. He couldn’t help but be struck by how happy and relaxed she appeared. She never smiled and laughed like that when she was with him.

But then, when had he ever given her anything to smile or laugh about? Their encounters had been marked by either cold formality or desperate passion. There was nothing light or relaxed about any of it.

As he watched her, he felt something else. Pride. The stances and expressions of the men around her reflected respect and admiration. They were taking keen note of her every word and treating her as an equal. It was quite remarkable. No matter what he did, he doubted he’d ever be able to earn even the grudging respect of these men. They would always dismiss him as a top-lofty nobleman.

That was what was so special about Penny. She was real and genuine. Her warmth and passion for life shone through, giving her a beauty with which even the most exquisite courtesan couldn’t compete.

Longing filled him. He’d possessed Penny’s body, made her sigh and moan with ecstasy, but they hadn’t ever come close to attaining the simple and honest connection she shared with these men. And he wanted that. Wanted her to be his friend, a companion rather than simply a bed-partner.

As if she felt his yearning, she glanced his way. The abrupt change in her dismayed him. She tensed and her expression turned guarded, as if she expected him to chastise her…or worse.

****

As soon as Penny saw Revington, she felt a kind of breathless panic. She couldn’t forget how angry he’d been when he’d found her talking to the stablemen at the inn in Petersfield. This time it would be worse. Not only would he be angry about finding her with a group of stablemen, he’d also be upset with the way she was dressed and the fact she’d gone riding by herself. She could easily imagine what he would say: “What were you thinking? Going riding in a public place…and dressed like that!”

As he approached, she braced herself. She didn’t think he’d strike her, not in front of all these men. But she dreaded a tongue-lashing almost as much. These men were treating her as their equal. They respected her skill and her knowledge of horses. It would be humiliating to have Revington deal with her like a recalcitrant child.

He halted a few paces away. After nodding curtly to the men, he spoke. “I was a bit worried when I found you’d gone riding. But I realize now I shouldn’t have been concerned. You obviously know what you’re about.”

Penny felt her mouth drop open.
Is it really possible he’s praising me?

“But you should come home and have some breakfast now,” he continued. “I did promise to take you around the city. What would you think of a boat ride down the Thames this afternoon and then the theatre tonight?”

“I…that would be lovely,” she mumbled.

One of the horsemen helped her mount Nero, and she simply followed after Revington, still struggling with her sense of disbelief. Was it possible he’d expressed confidence in her ability with horses? That he’d treated her as his equal, someone whose opinion he cared about?

She could tell his reaction had impressed the horsemen. Like her, they’d expected him to be angry, or at least condescending. When he’d seen fit to be polite and gracious, they could hardly believe it. She very much appreciated his courtesy. She valued the opinion of those men. They might be servants and by the standards of society, beneath her, but she’d rather have their regard than that of most gentlemen and ladies.

Just thinking about what he’d done made her feel strange. She’d longed for some hint of warmth or kindness from Revington. For him to react to her with something other than cold politeness or unbridled passion. At last he was finally doing so, and Penny found herself unnerved by the way it made her feel. It was as if the ground beneath her feet had shifted. She didn’t know what to think or feel.

When they reached the townhouse, he dismounted, then helped her down from Nero. “I’ll take care of the horses while you go inside and have some breakfast.”

Penny nodded, wondering if she could eat. The events of the morning were unsettling enough; the thought of spending the day with Revington made her even more nervous and excited.

She entered the townhouse, nodded to Bowes, then continued on to the kitchen.

As soon as Maggie saw her, she asked, “Did the master find you, miss?” From the maidservant’s expression, it appeared she had also expected the worst of Revington.

“Yes, he did. And you’ll never believe how civil and polite he was. Not to mention that he asked me to spend the day with him. We’re to go boating on the Thames and then to the theatre.” She gave a nervous laugh, grinning at the maidservant.

“What did I tell you, miss?” Maggie grinned back.

“Can you see fit to get away from your tasks here and come help me bathe and dress?”

“Of course, miss. I’d be delighted.”

“But first you should eat something.”

Both Penny and Maggie turned to see Revington in the doorway. Penny felt herself flushing. How long had he been standing there? Had he heard her speak with disbelief about him being civil and polite?

“I’ll fix something to bring up to you, miss,” Maggie said, quickly. “Give me a moment and I’ll be right there.”

Penny started toward the door. Revington moved aside as she reached him, but she still had to pass near him. Being that close to him made her feel breathless.

She hurried up the stairs, trying to decide what to wear.

****

This was what he wanted, Marcus thought as Penny dashed up the stairs. He wanted her to be excited and happy, to return to being that charming, free-spirited miss he’d met at Horngate. Caught up as he was in his own plans back then, he hadn’t appreciated her at the time. But now he found her exuberance delightful.

Careful
, came the niggling thought.
At this rate you’re likely to fall in love with her.

****

“Not much to look at, is there?” Revington gestured as the waterman rowed the small sculler past the London docks. “As we get upstream a little farther, it will become much more scenic.”

Penny actually thought the waterfront from the boat was quite interesting. She enjoyed seeing the tall ships and sailing vessels. Ahead was London Bridge. Although she’d crossed it in a carriage, it was much different to see it from this perspective. As the boat passed beneath it, she marveled at the amount of work it must have taken to build the huge stone structure.

Then they were out into the sunlight again. Penny blinked at the sudden brightness. Revington sat facing her, with the waterman behind him in the prow, smoothly rowing as they traveled upstream. For a change, Revington looked relaxed and almost happy. The faint frown line between his eyebrows had disappeared, and his mouth wasn’t set in a grim line. Seeing him like this, she thought again how handsome he was, his features sensual and finely made.

She felt a twinge of embarrassment as he caught her staring. The usual tension between them returned, and she struggled to think of something to say, some small talk to break the mood. She knew very little about this man, other than he made a living gambling. That thought gave her an opening: “You know all about my family. What about you? Do you have any siblings? Are your parents still living?”

He raised his brows, as if surprised by her question, then responded, “My parents are still alive. They mostly stay at the family estate in Hampshire. Don’t come to London often. I also have a sister. She’s married and lives in Hereford. My older brother, of course, is the heir.”

Speaking of his family, the tension returned to his face. Although Penny regretted disrupting his pleasant mood, she was also intrigued. Why did talking about his brother make him look as if he’d tasted something foul? “Do you ever visit them?” she asked.

“Not often. They don’t approve of me…the way I live.”

“Why is that?”

His voice was acid. “While gambling is an accepted pastime for a gentleman, apparently making your living from doing so is frowned upon. I don’t know what they expect me to do, live on the pitiful allowance my father’s willing to pay me?” He shook his head. “I’m not about to take a halfpenny from him. I’ll earn my own way, thank you. Even if it is doing something disreputable like gambling.”

Penny was a bit surprised by this side of Revington. He was obviously quite proud of being independent. And bitter about his family’s attitude.

He met her gaze briefly. “I’m one of the unfortunates known as the ‘younger son.’ Not a lot of choices for men like me. I can either marry well, live off my family, or live as I wish and not pay my bills.” He raised his brows. “There are plenty of men who do so.”

Marry well.
That was where she came in. She felt a twinge of resentment. This was the reason he wanted Horngate.

As if he guessed her thoughts, he said, “You may think in wedding you, I’ve chosen the first course of action. But it’s truly not like that. The fact is, I
earned
Horngate through my own hard work and skill. Once we’re wed, I’m not going to live off your inheritance, but work hard to improve the estate. My family thinks being a gentleman is an excuse to be lazy and worthless, but I have no respect for that sort of man. Nor do I have any intention of living like that myself.”

Even though his mention of earning Horngate rankled a bit, the rest of his comments pleased her. Like him, she had no respect for men who did as little as possible and benefited from the hard work of others. The men she respected were usually servants and commoners like the grooms and stablemen she’d met this morning. Despite his background, Revington was much like them in that he took satisfaction in working hard and being good at what he did. Indeed, if it wasn’t for her fear that he would take everything away from her, she found she was coming to actually like and admire Revington.