Page 11 of Nothing But a Rakehell
“True enough. So, why the job horse? You must be the first gentleman of any standing that has not wished to bend my ear, talking of his prime bloodstock.”
He laughed.
“Do you not care for horses, then?”
“On the contrary. I love horses—which is why I do not keep my own.” She looked like she was going to question him further, so he gave a nod toward the couple ahead. “Grace and good nature—there’s a compliment for your sister. She seems to embody both.”
“That’s an easy one,” she scoffed. “Everyone who is around Hope for more than a minute loves her.”
“Everyone?”
“Everyone,” she said firmly. “It’s impossible not to love her. She is wonderful in at least a thousand ways.”
“Good,” he said with a smile. “Tensford deserves no less. And I look forward to getting to know her.” He pursed his lips. “The house party, though. How early have I arrived?”
“More guests should begin to arrive at the end of the week.”
She didn’t look enthusiastic about that either—not that he blamed her. “Tell me, I haven’t seen Tensford’s mother about. Is she no longer staying here?”
“No. She and his aunt have a house on the other side of Brockweir.” It sounded like there was more to that story that she wasn’t telling.
“Will she be attending the party, do you know?”
“She’s invited.” She hesitated. “Whether or not she will attend has been a matter of debate and speculation, all across the estate.”
“And does the dowager countess love your sister, as everyone else does?”
“Not at first.” Her tone was dry. “But she quickly became reconciled to the situation.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll wager it only took an accounting of your sister’s dowry.”
She glanced at him. “I take it you are acquainted with the dowager?”
“Oh, yes,” he said cheerfully. “She quite despises me.”
She gave a startled laugh and then a look of commiseration. “She’s not so fond of me, either.”
“Well, all to the good then. I had a suspicion that we would get along. Now I know it to be true.” He looked ahead, where Tensford and his countess were pulling away. “Let’s catch them up, shall we?” He urged his horse into a trot. “I might enjoy being on the dowager’s bad side, but I wish to stay firmly in your sister’s good graces.”
* * *
Glory followedin the viscount’s wake as the trail they followed grew steeper and more narrow. She bit back a grin. It was working. He thought she was just like everyone else. They’d talked and even laughed and shared teasing bits of banter. She rather thought he might like her.
She drank it in. Not an ounce of pity or concern for her fragility, or worse—outright dismissal. All afternoon she’d tasted not a hint of bitterness at being labeled less than everyone else.
Oh, but why must Tensford take them up to the coal pit? Everyone would dismount and peer down into it and they would probably wish to go down and explore the depths of it.
She sighed. She wasn’t ready yet, to see the change in the way Keswick looked at her.
Tensford’s men had cut a circuitous roadway around to the crest of the hill. Poppy put her head down and climbed gamely, but Glory held her back, allowing the others to reach the summit ahead of them.
Good. The others were already dismounted when they crested the hill. Hope was standing at the edge of the large excavation, talking to the foreman. Tensford and Keswick stood at the whim, while the earl explained how the horse-driven engine of pulleys and gears ran the buckets down into the pit and back up.
Hope beckoned her over, but Glory kept Poppy to a slow walk. “I think she’s picked up a stone,” she called. “I’m going to check it out.”
Her sister nodded. The men never turned away from their conversation. Perfect. Glory rode to the far end of the hilltop, where a copse of trees provided some shade and a bit of cover. Carefully watching to be sure the viscount was occupied, she used a downed elm to help her dismount and made a show of examining Poppy’s hooves.
The men were soon descending into the pit, excited voices echoing back up as they disappeared over the edge. Glory pulled a book from her saddle bag and settled onto the dead tree.
