Page 8 of Lady Controversial
They were passing strangers who moved in different circles and would likely never meet again. She was not even sure if she approved of him, but he had given Brutus to her, which both surprised and delighted her since he was clearly fond of the little monster. She would never admit it but she had avoided taking him into the village with her just in case anyone claimed him.
‘I am not a careless driver, if that is what you suppose,’ she said indignantly. ‘It’s just that…well, events conspired against me.’
‘But not against me, Miss Crawley, since they gave me the pleasure of making your acquaintance.’
Isolda blinked up at him, discomposed by his gallantry. ‘Hardly a pleasure, sir,’ she said stiffly, wishing that he didn’t feel the need to lie.
Ellery chuckled. This young woman seemed perfectly capable of holding her own against him and felt no need to fall back on the flummery that others deemed essential when first making his acquaintance, which was a blessed relief. She had no particular desire to make a good impression upon him either, which perhaps helped to account for the fact that she had succeeded. It amused him to see her cheeks flood with colour when he complimented her. It seemed she was unaccustomed to being admired, which was a great pity since even in her dishevelled state—or perhaps because of her controversial appearance—he could see a great deal to appreciate.
He briefly wondered how she would look clothed in the finest silk ballgown, but was forced to chase the image from his mind when his body reacted in time-honoured fashion. Now was not the time, and he had no desire to embarrass her.
‘Well, I had best see to getting myself home,’ she said, clambering to her feet with an elegance that she probably wasn’t aware she possessed. She winced when she attempted to walk, however, and Ellery leapt forward to take her arm.
‘Careful,’ he said. ‘Sit yourself down again. You wouldn’t have the strength to right that gig even if you were not injured. Leave it to me.’
She looked set to argue, but closed her mouth again without speaking. Ellery suspected that was a rarity. Miss Isolda Crawley, unless he missed his guess, was not a biddable young woman, which was one of the things about her that fascinated him.
He strode towards the fallen gig, thinking it a wonder that it hadn’t come apart in the accident and doubting that it would still function once it was righted. It was old and not well maintained, telling Ellery much about Miss Crawley’s financial status—brought about by her father’s reckless gambling, he assumed, scowling at this latest reminder of the man’s irresponsible behaviour.
Behaviour that had brought the odious Brooke to Ellery’s notice when he had hoped never to have anything to do with the rogue ever again.
Trusting to luck that Henry was as obliging as Miss Crawley implied, he spoke softly to the cob, who was now cropping contentedly at the grass, as he tried to decide how best to right the situation.
‘I can hold his head.’
Ellery rolled his eyes when Miss Crawley limped towards them. She was clearly not the passive type. Even so, her help was needed and so he simply nodded. He waited for her to grasp the cob’s reins and then walked to the side of the flimsy gig, put his shoulder against the frame and pushed as hard as he could. On the second attempt, the gig fell back onto its wheels with an alarming creak and the discordant squeak of rusted springs.
‘Thank you,’ she said, gathering the folds of her ridiculous skirt in one hand, as though preparing to climb onto the box seat.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’ he asked.
‘Driving into the village, obviously. I have errands to take care of.’
Ellery shook his head. ‘That vehicle isn’t safe, and anyway you are not fit to drive.’
‘It has to be safe,’ she said, dismay entering her tone. ‘I depend upon it for…well, everything.’
Ellery assumed she wouldn’t appreciate sympathy, so he turned away from her lest she see it in his expression and worked upon unharnessing Henry. Legacy, to his astonishment, hadn’t wandered far and seemed to have taken an interest in the proceedings.
‘What are you doing?’ she asked.
‘I will have someone collect the gig and see if it can be repaired. In the meantime, I will escort you back to Rose Cottage.’
‘You still have not explained how you know where I live.’
‘I was on my way to call upon you, as a matter of fact, otherwise our paths would not have crossed.’
‘And I would not have lost control of Henry,’ she shot back.
Ellery smiled and allowed her to have the last word.
She blinked at him, her remarkable eyes reflecting her shock. ‘What business do you have with me?’
‘Are you so unaccustomed to receiving visitors? It is my understanding that your sister is being presented this coming season.’
‘Ah, now I understand.’ Her expression closed down but not so quickly that Ellery failed to see the brief disappointment reflected in her eyes. ‘News of her beauty has reached you, no doubt, and you were looking for an excuse to catch an early glimpse of her. Well, my lord, take it from me, Jane is a vision. You have not been deceived in that regard.’
Ellery shook his head, genuinely bewildered. ‘I do not have the pleasure of understanding you.’
