Page 30 of The Rake's Daughter
“Oh, Izzy,” Clarissa said, laughing. “Of course we ride, Lord Salcott. Mr. Edwards, our father’s estate manager, arranged for us to have lessons when we were ten. At home we used to ride daily.”
“It’s one thing for you to refuse to allow us to mix in society,” Miss Burton added, “but would you really deny us the means of healthful exercise?”
It was on the tip of his tongue to point out that walking was healthful exercise requiring no expense, but before he could suggest it, she turned to her half sister and said, “Never mind, Clarissa, I’m sure Lord Tarrant will help us.”
Leo frowned. “Lord Tarrant? Who is Lord Tarrant?”And how the hell had she scraped acquaintance with a lord already? She’d been in London a bare few days.
“He’s a very charming man who lives over there.” She made a vague gesture. “I’m sure he’ll help us acquire suitable mounts. He looks to be the kind of man who knows and appreciates good horseflesh when he sees it.” She eyed Leo through her lashes.
He unclenched his jaw enough to say, “How did you meet this Lord Tarrant?”
“Ummm...” She twirled a lock of dark hair around her finger, as if considering how to answer him. Provocative. Her eyes danced with mischief; her finger twirled and twirled.
Her half sister chimed in, “Oh, we met his wife and daughters in the garden the other day, Lord Salcott, and she invited us for tea—Lady Scattergood, too, only she didn’t want to come. We met Lord Tarrant there.”
“Yes, that’s how it was,” Miss Burton agreed, quite as if she hadn’t just tried to give him a completely different impression. “So, Lord Salcott, are you interested in mounting us, or must we ask Lord Tarrant?”
Despite her limpid gaze the minx knew perfectly well the suggestive double entendre she’d just made.
“I will hire something suitable,” he said. “Expect me at ten tomorrow morning.”
“You’re giving us hired hacks?” Miss Burton said in open dismay.
“I am responsible for Miss Studley’s welfare. Until I see how well she rides, I can have no idea of what kind of mounts will suit. Ten o’clock. Be ready.”
***
After Lord Salcott left, Lady Scattergood went up to take her bath, and Izzy and Clarissa went out into the garden.
“Do you think he really means it?” Clarissa said. “About our not going to parties and balls and such.”
“Oh yes. He’s leaving us to stew and fret,” Izzy said. “Trying to bore us into submission and hoping we’ll change our minds.”
“But we won’t, will we?”
Izzy gave her sister a somber look. “That’s up to you, love. I’m the fly in this ointment. If you agreed not to include me—”
“Never! And you’re not a fly!” Clarissa declared. “We’re sisters and nobody will divide us. Do you honestly think I care more about balls and parties and ridottos than you?” She glanced at Izzy. “Particularly ridottos. Oh, I nearly laughed aloud when you asked him that.”
Izzy grinned. “Well, he was being so pompous and bossy, how could I resist?”
Clarissa laughed. “Andyouwere being very naughty, getting his back up like that.”
“Hisback? He getsmyback up. He treats me like a brainless widgeon, and I can’t help but react.” He was so determined to put her in her place, and she was just as determined not to be put there, wherever it was he thought she belonged.
“Even when I ask him a question,” she continued, “he invariably turns toyouto answer it, as if I’m not even in the room. As if I’m invisible. He doesn’t even look me in the eye.”
“That’s true. But when you’re not looking—or glaring—at him, he watches you. I’ve noticed it.”
Izzy gave a disbelieving snort.
“He is,” Clarissa insisted. “He’s always looking at you. It’s as if he can’t take his eyes off you.”
Izzy dismissed it with a shake of her head. “If he is, it’s for some nasty suspicious reason. Hoping to catch me out in some transgression.”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” Clarissa said soothingly. “In any case, it was very clever of you to get him to agree to provide us with horses before he leaves. If we can’t go to parties and things, we’ll at least be able to ride. Andotherwise it won’t be much different from our lives at Studley Park. I can make my creams and lotions using plants from the garden—it should be easier to get the other ingredients in London—and we have books to read, and shops to visit.”
Izzy gave her a sharp look. “Oh, we’re going to balls and parties. No matter what the Grumpy Guardian says.” He wasn’t going to bore her into submission.
