Page 37 of The Lady Who Said No to the Duke
‘I have several younger brothers,’ Thea said, then realised she was talking to the air.Hal and Hopkins were examining Juno.
Which was only right and proper, Thea told herself, as she went to join them.
‘Her legs are undamaged, Your Grace,’ Hopkins announced, revealing that he recognised Hal.
Thea wondered just how much the Wiveton family’s staff at knew about her parents’ failed plans.
Hal was running his hands all over the big horse, stopping at intervals to press his ear to its ribs and listen.‘I can’t find any damage.Her breathing is clear.’
‘Good thing the ground is soft and you were on grass, Your Grace,’ Hopkins pronounced.
‘Are you hurt?’Thea asked when it seemed she might finally get Hal’s full attention.‘You have a nasty bruise over your eye.Did you lose consciousness?’
‘No, I know, and no,’ he replied, looking at her directly for the first time and smiling.‘Thank you for your assistance, Lady Thea.’
She blinked at the formality, then realised that both Hopkins and the nursemaid were within hearing.‘I could hardly have ridden straight past, now could I?’she asked tartly, then, ‘You saved that child’s life.Your reactions were incredibly fast.’
Hal shrugged, and she was aware of the play of muscle through his coat, of the breadth of his shoulders.
Stop it.He is an attractive male, that is all.It does not mean that you have to take notice.Or yearn to touch.
Someone cleared their throat meaningfully and Thea realised that Hopkins was holding the reins of all three horses and gazing off into the distance in such an obviously tactful manner that it was positively embarrassing.
Thea turned abruptly and went to the nurse, who had recovered herself and was wiping the child’s face.
‘Are you able to get home now?’she asked.‘Or would you like me to call at Master Anthony’s home and have them send assistance?’
‘Goodness, no, ma’am.’The young woman looked appalled.‘We are quite all right now, ma’am.’
She would probably lose her position if the child’s parents realised how close to disaster he had been, but it had been an accident, not carelessness, she was sure, so the less fuss made, the better.
Thea shook hands with Master Anthony, who was politely holding out a sticky paw, and went back to find that Hopkins was mounted, his face a careful blank, and Hal was waiting to help her into the saddle.
Yes, Hopkins knows, she thought as she put her booted foot into Hal’s linked hands and was lifted up.
And if Hopkins knew, then probably the entire household was aware that she had been supposed to marry the Duke and had refused him.Her parents normally treated the servants as useful items of furniture and were quite capable of holding highly personal conversations in front of them.Thea was very aware of them as individuals with their own personalities.She thought that their staff were all loyal, but she cringed internally at the thought of the gossip any indiscretion would feed.
‘Thank you, Duke,’ she said calmly, finding the stirrup,arranging her skirts and gathering up the reins in a manner that she hoped demonstrated that she did not require any further assistance.He had been so very careful not to touch her except in the most respectful way that it made her almost more aware of him, if that were possible.
‘I do hope you do not have too much of a headache,’ she added.‘You are going to have to come up with some convincing excuse for that bruise, unless you wish to be teased for having your horse fall over a child’s hoop.’
Hal swung up into the saddle.‘I shall invent some tale of derring-do and a maiden rescued from a hammer-wielding villain,’ he said, straight-faced.‘Good day, Lady Thea.Thank you for your help,’ he added to Hopkins.
‘Now, that, my lady, is a horseman,’ the groom remarked as they sat watching the tall figure canter away.It was probably the highest accolade he could bestow.
‘Indeed,’ Thea agreed.‘But I do not think this is a story that should be repeated, do you?To anyone.’
The groom looked at her, the smile lines creasing his weather-beaten face.‘I don’t tell tales, Lady Thea.Not about good men.’
* * *
That evening brought, mercifully, no social engagements.
‘I suppose we should expect it at this date,’ her mother said with a dissatisfied sigh at the thought of an evening spent at the dinner table with her own family.
Lord Wiveton, who would take himself off to his club afterwards in any case, merely grunted.
‘I am quite glad of the rest, Mama,’ Thea ventured.‘We will get little enough of it once the Season begins properly.’
