A Curious Courting (18 page)

Penrith was watching the two of them with interest, as Selina was. Henry had returned to concentrating on his arm exercises. While the stables were under construction, Cassandra and Lord John had met frequently, of course, but Penrith had thought of her then as little more than a child, and had not noticed the interest developing between them. Certainly they had seemed to enjoy each other’s company at the Oak Park tea party, but there had been far too many people that day for Penrith to notice them in particular. He glanced at Selina, who smiled and lifted her shoulders slightly, and then he cleared his throat.

“Must have a holiday now and again to keep the mind fresh. Tell you what, Lord John, why not come to town for Cassandra’s ball? Bound to be a grand affair with m’ mother in charge, you know. Give you a chance to see your folks, too. The ball won’t be for a while yet—probably the middle of April. Mother likes to get a feel for how the Season is going, but not wait so long that everyone’s jaded. We’ll send you a card when the date’s set for certain.”

“There’s nothing I’d like more,” Lord John assured him before he turned to Cassandra. “If I came, would you save a waltz for me?”

“Yes.” She didn’t flush or lower her eyelashes but regarded him steadily, a warm glow lighting her eyes.

“Then, if at all possible, I shall be there,” he declared.

“I wonder, Pen,” Selina suggested, “if you’d be interested in seeing our problem. Perhaps you’ve had trouble with flooding at Oak Park.”

“Not this year, but several times in the past. Shall we walk over?”

“Yes
,
if you’d like. No, no, Lord John. Cassandra isn’t dressed for walking. Won’t you entertain her while we’re gone? I think Henry has some studying to do.”

“What?” Henry yelped. “I’ve composed a dozen lines already today!” He intercepted Selina’s speaking glance and shrugged. “Oh, very well. Dr. Davenport will be here tomorrow, and I may as well finish my assignment this afternoon,” he muttered darkly.

“You can exercise your arm while you study,” Selina offered consolingly.

Outside in the brisk March air, Selina impulsively pressed Penrith’s arm. “You know, Pen, you are one of the dearest people I’ve ever met, and I count myself lucky to have you for my friend.”

Startled, he came to an abrupt halt. “Why, thank you, Selina. That is praise indeed coming from the most remarkable young lady of my acquaintance. Have I told you how pleased I am that you’re going out a bit more in Society? And that you’ve discarded those distressing rags you were wearing? Cassandra has always hinted that she knew why you did that. Will you tell me?”

“Oh, because of Lord Leyburn, Pen. He’s such a nodcock that he couldn’t take me seriously as Henry’s companion when I was young. When I was in mourning he didn’t seem to notice my age, but later... It seemed wisest to obscure my youth by dressing rather strangely. For some unfathomable reason, Lord Leyburn has the most profound respect for eccentrics. Henry used to tell me about an old woman in the neighborhood of Bromley Hall who juggled eggs and dressed as a cottager, but it turned out that she was the Dowager Lady Leyburn.” Selina giggled. “Henry was too young for years to even notice how I dressed, and I never knew when Lord Leyburn would come here, for he likes to ‘surprise’ us, so I fell into the habit of dressing that way. Actually, I rather enjoyed it, but Henry has been nagging at me recently, so... And I am certainly old enough now that Lord Leyburn could not object to my having charge of Henry, could he?”

Penrith regarded her with amusement. “I’d change into your rags when you hear he’s descended on Shalbrook, my dear. You don’t look a day older than Cassandra when you wear that scarlet mantelet.”

“Don’t I? Perhaps that’s why Mr. Rushton is so very cross with my being in charge of Henry,” she mused.

His gaze sharpened. “Has Gareth upset you, Selina?”

A deep-throated laugh escaped her. “Every time I’ve met him. Oh, don’t be alarmed, Pen. He has been so obliging as to offer to teach Henry to box, which apparently is Henry’s fondest wish. I don’t really understand boys, Pen.”

“No one does, my dear. You are in good company. Henry is a credit to you, and never let anyone tell you differently.”

That night Selina lay sleepless in bed for some time. There was no reason, of course, why Mr. Rushton should have come with Penrith, and even less reason that she should feel disappointed that he had not. The less she saw of him the better, she assured herself. There was no need for another disturbing influence in her life, and such a powerful one, with his searching blue eyes and his compelling personality. I will not give in to this attraction for him, she thought fiercely. But when she fell asleep at length she dreamed of a hot summer’s day in the vale…but the man with her was not Frank, and she did not refuse him.

Chapter Fourteen

There were no visitors at Shalbrook for the next week. Henry began to look anxious, but never said a word, hopefully continuing the exercise of his arm, which grew steadily stronger. In an effort to distract his mind Selina suggested that they take advantage of a warm spring day to ride over the furthermost part of the estate.

“Could we ride cross-country, as though we were on a fox hunt?” he asked eagerly.

Selina rumpled his hair and said, “Certainly. You’ll have to judge your jumps well, though, Henry, as you won’t be on Sir Penrith’s hunter this time.”

“I’ve jumped on Catastrophe any number of times, and he’s game as can be.”

“We’ll bring Scamp and see if she can raise a rabbit for us,” Selina said with a grin.

“Hogwash! That dog wouldn’t know a rabbit if it bit her,” Henry returned scornfully.

“Tsk, tsk. Very unflattering, isn’t he, Scamp?” Selina asked as she scratched the dog’s head. Obligingly, the dog barked and offered a paw.

“You see,” Henry declared triumphantly. “She’s good for nothing but disposing of our unwanted food and doing tricks.”

But Scamp surprised him. In the ecstasy of having a run with them, she accidentally stumbled on several rabbits in her mad dashes across the fields, and Selina sat laughing delightedly as Henry watched in astonishment while rabbits scattered in every direction. Her duty done, Scamp circled Selina’s stationary horse, barking excitedly and waiting for a word of praise.

“Good dog, Scamp, but you are supposed to chase them,” Selina instructed the furry mongrel. “How are we to have a run if you let them all get away?”

Scamp cocked her head questioningly.

“They’re long gone,” Henry said disgustedly.

“You wouldn’t really expect Scamp to want to catch one, would you? After the delicacies she has from Cook?”

“Dogs are supposed to have a hunting instinct.”

“Poor Scamp, she must have been left out. Don’t be cross with her, Henry. She’s so pleased with herself.”

They rode on, with Scamp making wild forays into the underbrush and wriggling under fences that they jumped. When they had lost sight of the dog for a few minutes, Selina was startled by a piercing howl at her rear.

Henry, riding close by her, grimaced. “Now she probably
has been
bitten by a rabbit.”

“Absurd creature,” Selina scolded. “She’s surely hurt herself.”

Swinging down from the sidesaddle, Selina hastened to the brambles from which the howl emerged. In an attempt to investigate a suspicious burrow, Scamp had hopelessly tangled herself in the briars, only managing to more completely enmesh herself by her struggles. Her limpid eyes gazed pleadingly at her mistress, who surveyed the scene with exasperation. “Really, Scamp, how could you? Henry, have you a knife with you? Her hair is so snarled in the brambles I can’t even reach most of her.”

“Sorry, Selina. Shall I ride back and get one? Lord, what a mess!” he exclaimed as he came up to see the entrapped dog. “No wonder people only hunt with short-haired dogs. Selina, it’s going to take hours to cut her out of there.”

“Yes, I know.” Selina soothed the moaning dog as best she could. “I’ll stay with her if you’ll go back, Henry. You’d best bring a scissors as well. Once we get her out, we’ll have to cut off a lot of the hair to get out the brambles.”

“Right-o. I’ll be as quick as I can.”

His cousin wanted to remind him to ride carefully, but bit her tongue. “Thank you, Henry.”

Scamp watched dolefully as Henry rode off, and attempted to crawl closer to Selina’s comforting presence, which caused the dog considerable pain and she howled mournfully. Selina was startled by a voice hailing her from the road, and she turned to see Mr. Rushton seated on a large bay some distance away.

“Trouble, Miss Easterly-Cummings? Is there something I can do?” he called.

“Have you a knife with you, Mr. Rushton?”

For answer, he set his horse at the fence and sailed over into the field where she sat by the dog. His eyes were troubled as he approached and swung down from his horse. “A knife?”

“Scamp is caught up in these brambles and I shall have to cut her out,” Selina explained, moving so that he could see the dog. “Henry has gone for a knife and a scissors, but I could get started if you had a knife.”

“I carry one on the saddle to remove stones from their hooves,” he explained as he released the leather holder and returned to her. “No, let me do it. My gloves will provide more protection than yours.”

“I don’t think she will let you, Mr. Rushton. She’s in pain and not disposed to be reasonable.”

“She’ll let me,” he said calmly, as Selina reluctantly stood up and moved aside for him.

The frantic dog growled as Rushton stooped down in front of her, but he allowed her to sniff at his gloved hands before resting one reassuringly on her head. “Be still now. Good dog. We’ll have you out in no time.
Yes,
it is bound to hurt you some. That can’t be helped, and you have no one but yourself to blame.”

Fascinated, Selina watched as he deftly cut away the brambles from the miserable dog, who made no attempt to snap at him even when he could not avoid causing her pain. Rushton continued his monologue throughout the rescue, occasionally referring to Scamp as a dustbin and a lapdog, expressions that he accompanied with a grin at Selina. Freed at last, Scamp leaped on Rushton, furiously licking his face while he warded her off, mumbling, “A totally undisciplined dog.”

“Her gratitude is only exceeded by my own,” Selina assured him, smiling as the dog bounded over to her. “Poor Scamp. We shall not take you rabbit-hunting again.”

“Rabbit-hunting? Surely you’re joking.”

“Yes, it was a joke,” Selina sighed. “But Scamp got caught up in the spirit, I fear.”

“I take it she isn’t much of an outdoor dog.”

“I wouldn’t say that precisely. She often goes for walks with me, for miles and miles sometimes. Her energy is limitless, and she enjoys being outside.”

“She has some nasty cuts. I doubt she’ll be up to running home just now, Miss Easterly-Cummings.”

“No, I shall take her up with me after Henry has come with the scissors. Thank you for your help, Mr. Rushton. Are your hands scratched?”

“Nothing to speak of. I was on my way to Shalbrook.” He watched for her reaction.

“Were you?” she asked easily, her face a polite mask.

“Yes. If Henry's arm is sufficiently recovered, I had thought to start his boxing lessons.” He paused for a moment and then continued, “I waited some extra time to insure his full use of it.”

“That was thoughtful of you. He has spent a great deal of his time exercising his arm, in hopes that you would come.”

“I gave my word, Miss Easterly-Cummings,” he said haughtily.

“I know. I told him you would keep it.” She leaned down to fondle the dog at her feet and did not meet his eyes.

His face relaxed. “You are the most extraordinary girl! I never have the least idea what you will say or do next. Shall we bury our differences? I can see that it behooves me to stand in good stead with you.”

“Dear me, and to think all this stems from my vouching for your word. I had no idea,” Selina grumbled, “that it took so little to win your approval, Mr. Rushton.” She met his gaze at last, and was disturbed by the mixture of amusement and warmth there. “Still, I would like for us to be on good terms, especially for Henry’s sake.” Determinedly she extended her hand to him, unable to draw her eyes from his impelling gaze.

“For whatever reason,” he said, firmly gripping her hand, “let us be friends. We are going to be neighbors, and it is always my policy to get along with my neighbors.”

Self-consciously, she withdrew her hand. “Have you met your other neighbor? Lord Benedict?”

“Yes. He wanted to buy the vale from me.”

She nodded. “He would, of course. I… would never sell it to him. That is why I insisted on first refusal on the land.”

“He suggested a very clever scheme for circumventing that.” The blue eyes studied her carefully.

“Frank is very clever about getting his own way. Often too clever.”

Rushton laughed. “Yes, he only managed to give me a disgust of his principles.”

“I have always thought I had very good reason not to sell to him, but he sees only what he wishes. It doesn’t matter. You won’t see him here often; he’s usually in town.”

The sound of hoofbeats growing nearer interrupted them, and they watched silently as Henry on Catastrophe easily took the fence from the next field. Scamp immediately trotted forward, barking vociferously in welcome.

“Servant, Rushton. I see you’ve freed the hairy baggage. You look a sight, Scamp,” he scolded. “I brought the scissors, Selina. The ones from your workbox. They seemed most appropriate. Cutting a dog’s hair must be very like cutting all those little threads of yours.”

“Your appreciation of these finer nuances is remarkable, Henry,” his cousin retorted, but her eyes danced. “Mr. Rushton was just coming to Shalbrook to give you a boxing lesson. You two go ahead and I’ll be along when I have snipped out the worst of the brambles. She won’t be able to ride with me with them digging into her.”

“We can wait for you, Miss Easterly-Cummings,” Rushton suggested. “You’ll need assistance onto your horse.”

“Thank you, no. I shall manage.”