Page 29 of Daisy and the Duke
“Nonsense. I don’t like to race anyway,” Bella said. She was the picture of feminine propriety, maintaining a small distance from Jack’s horse, but still obviously paying close attention to him. “It has been a very pleasant outing, but perhaps it would be best for us to return to the house.”
Bella gave Tristan a look, and made a tiny nod toward Jack. So she was worried about him too. Tris decided this was a perfect opportunity to get out of the mess he’d put himself in with Daisy, nearly allowing them to be discovered in a compromising position. Idiot.
Tris helped Daisy onto her own horse (keeping his hands very firmly where they should be and not allowing his touch to linger this time). Then he remounted Stormer.
Jack said, gesturing to the horse, “I thought…”
“He’s perfectly fine,” Tris said quickly, loud enough for all of them to hear. “I had first thought he’d hurt his front hoof, or got a stone under the shoe. But he’s fine. Let’s all ride together back to the house. Mr. Kemble has certainly exceeded the doctor’s orders for fresh air today.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. The four of them rode slowly back toward the great house, the conversation innocuous. After Bella made a chance remark about Daisy doing so well at managing the harvest this year, Tristan suddenly realized something he should have picked up on before.
“Youmanage the estate,” he said. “During the first part of the ride, I asked the baroness to set up a meeting with the Grange’s man, and she nearly cantered off to avoid the topic. That’s because the manager is you.”
“Don’t tell anyone, please,” Daisy pleaded. “Lady Rutherford would be mortified. The fact is that the last one left a few years ago and she’s never replaced him. I know what to do anyway, so it seemed unnecessary.”
“Unnecessary? Daisy, it shouldn’t beyourjob to sort through ledgers of crops and livestock. You’re a lady.”
Daisy gave a little, sad smile. “Am I?”
“To me, yes.” Tristan grinned, his mood brightening. “Oh, this is actually perfect. I’ve got so many questions, for it turns out Lyondale’s manager was completely incompetent. I sacked him.”
“Personally? What an honor for him.”
Tristan laughed at the unexpected remark, but then proceeded to ask a half dozen questions about Daisy’s methods and her plans for Rutherford, and how he could do the same for Lyondale. Before he realized it, they were practically to the stables. He hadn’t even noticed the slow passage back, because Daisy had somehow made winter wheat an intriguing topic.
“Are you two chattering about farming?” Bella asked then, with a musical laugh.
Tristan noticed how Bella looked between him and Daisy, probably considering her suspicions about a man and woman found alone in the woods. She rode closer to Daisy and reached out, smoothing the arm of Daisy’s jacket.
“That’s the problem with velvet,” he overheard her say to Daisy. “It does show every little mark.”
Bella’s tone was mild, but Tris saw the alarm in Daisy’s eyes.
Luckily, just at that moment, the young stableboy Tris had sent on the errand earlier came riding up, distracting Bella.
“Sir!” he called out. “You’re riding Stormer?”
“A false alarm,” Tristan announced. “I feared he had injured himself, but he soon recovered.”
By the time the quartet reached the house, an array of servants stood prepared to retrieve the horses (Stormer was fussed over, which pleased Tristan). Footmen were ready to help Jack walk back inside. He protested all the while that he was perfectly fine, despite labored breathing.
Daisy and Bella both looked after him worriedly. Daisy said, “Riding is too vigorous an activity for someone in his state of health.”
“I agree,” Bella said. “A walk around the pond would be much better for him.”
“Excellent idea, my lady,” Tristan said, walking up to them. “Perhaps you would both join us on an afternoon soon to do just that. When Mr. Kemble is feeling up for it, that is.”
He was thinking that such an occasion would be another opportunity to see Daisy, but it was Bella who replied in a pleased tone, “We would be delighted, your grace.”
“I’ll arrange it,” he promised, casting a look at Daisy—who looked less delighted than her stepsister. Tristan wondered why, but then decided that she was still concerned that Bella might have realized what Tris and Daisy had been doing during their brief time alone.
No matter. It was a kiss, nothing more. Daisy would not suffer for it. He hoped.
Chapter 8
Remembering what Tristan had toldher about Jack Kemble’s illness, Daisy slipped out of the house very early the next morning to go visit Tabitha in her cottage. The old woman couldn’t have known she was coming, yet she was there in the doorway, smiling at Daisy when she walked up.
“Hurry on in, girl. Got the kettle on and some lovely mint tea in the pot for you.”
