Page 27 of Lady Audacious
Discouraged by Emily’s forthright expression of her views, doubtless brought about by word of the troublesome Miss Aspen’s efforts, Sarah reined her horse in when they reached the stream that separated Amberley Hall’s land from Fox’s Reach. Their horses forded the stream easily and they found themselves in the dilapidated grounds of an equally dilapidated house.
‘Goodness,’ Emily said, staring up at the roof, from which two men were throwing broken slates onto the ground. ‘She will certainly have her work cut out.’
‘If she has the funds to instigate all the necessary works,’ Sarah added, following the direction of Emily’s gaze and enjoying the display of impressive musculature on show as her eyes lingered on the body of the younger man, who had stripped to the waist. He turned and saw her admiring the view and deliberately flexed his muscles before audaciously winking at her.
Sarah averted her gaze, even though she would have liked to enjoy the sight of such a well-built man for a little longer. She would never lower herself to engage with a labourer, but couldn’t be sent to gaol for her thoughts alone. Her body suddenly felt over-hot, the confines of her habit too restricting, and she knew that her reaction had nothing to do with the warm weather. She reacted in a similar spontaneous fashion whenever she caught sight of Reuben unexpectedly; especially when he approached her with a smile, looking endearingly sophisticated in his evening clothes, just as a gentleman of his standing had a duty to.
‘I feel as though we are intruding,’ Emily said. ‘Perhaps we should call at another time.’
Before they could turn away, a curricle conveyed by a sturdy cob trundled up to the stables. It was driven by a servant, although he wasn’t in livery, and a young woman who was presumably Miss Aspen was on the seat beside him. She scowled when she noticed that she had visitors, alighted from the vehicle and approached them. She was not wearing the boys’ clothing that Sarah had hoped to see her in. It would surely have been sufficient to deter even Emily’s liberal interest and would have enabled Sarah to report back to Lady Amberley in the most shocked manner imaginable. Despite the woman’s relatively conventional attire, Sarah could see that the quality of the gown she wore was third rate at best, and that the garment was ill-fitting and dated in style.
‘Are you lost, ladies?’ she asked in a surprisingly cultured tone. Sarah immediately took offence at her presumptive manner. It must be obvious to her that she and Emily were ladies of quality and yet she spoke to them as though they were beneath her notice.
‘Not lost,’ Emily said, responding before Sarah could give the woman the put down that she so richly deserved. ‘We apologise for intruding, which is clearly what we are doing. I am Emily Emory. Isn’t it the most terrible mouthful? So many e’s. I cannot imagine what my parents were thinking—but then Emily was my maternal grandmama’s name, so perhaps that explains it. Anyway, that is who I am and I assume you are Miss Aspen.’
‘I am she,’ Miss Aspen replied, looking a little bewildered.
‘My brother had the pleasure of making your acquaintance yesterday and I so wanted to welcome you to the district as well. This is Miss Farquhar, my mother’s goddaughter,’ she added, almost as an afterthought, waving an airy hand in Sarah’s direction. ‘We are very glad that you are here, and if there is anything that you need, any help or advice you require, please do not hesitate to ask. We will do all that we can to make you feel at home. We know absolutely everyone and…well, we want you to be comfortable here.’
Sarah studied Miss Aspen as Emily prattled on in a familiar manner that Sarah though most inappropriate when addressing an inferior. She ought not to treat Miss Aspen as an equal. It would give the woman ideas above her station. She was slightly mollified to notice that there was nothing the least bit attractive about Miss Aspen’s appearance. She was certainly not pretty, nor did her disposition appear to be conciliatory. She had nothing to fear from that quarter, she decided, yet annoyingly her concerns lingered.
‘Thank you, Lady Emily,’ Miss Aspen said. She smiled at Emily and Sarah noticed the tension drain from her stiff posture. ‘That is most reassuring, or would be if it were not for the fact that Lord Amberley seems more interested in purchasing this property from beneath me than in helping me to restore it.’
‘I say! You are very forthright,’ Sarah was unable to help saying.
‘I believe in plain speaking—and, excuse me, I did not catch your name.’
Sarah quietly fumed at the putdown, perfectly sure that she had. Who the devil did this upstart think she was? She caught a glimpse of Emily in the periphery of her vision, clearly struggling to contain a smile, which further soured her mood.
‘That was very wrong of Reuben,’ Emily said, easing the tension by breaking the terse silence that Miss Aspen seemed perfectly comfortable with. ‘And I told him as much, but you can be sure that he will not trouble you again and will instead offer you all the neighbourly help that you require.’
‘That is most reassuring.’
‘Anyway, I can see that you already have matters in hand,’ Emily added, glancing up at the activity on the roof.
A slate fell to the ground at that moment, shattering on the shingle path just in front of them and causing Sarah’s horse to spook. She struggled to regain control, stared up accusingly at the man who had dropped the slate after she’d managed to do so and found herself clashing gazes with the bare-chested man who had previously attracted her interest. She knew that the slate had not fallen by accident when he placed fisted hands on his hips and winked at her for a second time. She felt hot all over once again, hating herself for responding so predictably to his provocation.
‘We are obviously in the way, Miss Aspen, and preventing you from getting on,’ Emily said.
‘I wish I could invite you into the house but I fear you would be appalled by the state of it, Lady Emily,’ Miss Aspen replied with great civility, without bothering to include Sarah in her expression of regret.
‘I would not put you to the trouble,’ Emily assured her.
A maid appeared from the back of the house, her purpose uncertain, until Sarah noticed her glance up at the roof and wiggle her ample rear when the bare-chested labourer glanced in her direction. The girl had a profusion of red hair, and Sarah realised that she must be the dissatisfied Doris whom Nelly had recruited. Sarah sincerely hoped that she would concentrate her mind on gathering useful information and not spend all her time attempting to attract the attention of the Adonis on the roof. A spark of jealousy coursed through Sarah, which was as misplaced as it was inexplicable.
‘Is there something you wanted to ask me, Doris?’ Miss Aspen turned her attention to the maid.
‘Nothing, miss,’ she replied sullenly. ‘I came to tell Harris that Mrs Blaine wants him.’
‘He is already aware of that,’ Miss Aspen replied crisply. ‘Return to your duties.’
The girl grunted something unintelligible, turned on her heel and disappeared back into the house.
‘Come, Sarah,’ Emily said. ‘We are causing a distraction. It has been a delight to make your acquaintance, Miss Aspen,’ she added smiling, ‘and I hope we will have the pleasure of seeing one another again very soon.’
Miss Aspen’s responding smile transformed her face, making her appear almost pretty. ‘I hope that too. Good day to you, ladies.’
Chapter Eight
