My Forbidden Mentor (3 page)

It was his hand on the skin of her back that had her worried. What right did this man have taking such liberties? Trying to lift her head was made impossible by the intense grip he had on her. Through a tightened jaw she spoke. “What is the meaning of this?”

She found out immediately when hearing the door creak open. A double burst of laughter gained volume then abruptly stopped. Next Lord Blackburn’s voice sounded.

“Hello gentlemen.”

Both groomsmen turned flush, realizing in an instant what was about to take place. Both acknowledged his presence and left, making sure to shut the door.

After securing the buttons on her dress John released Melissa. He had been prepared to deal with an angry young lady and she hadn’t let him down.

“Having a grand time at my expense, Lord Blackburn?” she announced, flustered and fixing her hair.

“Not at all. Did you want to be exposed?”

Angelic eyes flared before him. “I was exposed.”

“Not in the sense that I meant. Did you want to be found out?”

“Of course not, but did you have to treat me like a common,”

“Don’t say it when you know it’s not true,” he corrected her and noticed that she seemed to be contemplating. “What is it?” he asked.

“I’ve suddenly realized that I let you use me in the way only a man could use a woman and get away with it.”

“What else could I have done?”

His expression showed helplessness, but she’d been unprotected. “Said I was your cousin or something?”

“How original. Somehow, I don’t see those young men believing I would be caught in this hideaway contraption with my cousin.”

“What will it take for me to convince you that it is in our best interest to work as trainer and student?” While the weight of his stare bore down on her she offered, “I will camouflage myself. Really I don’t mind.”

She may be camouflaged to others but not to him. Professionally it would be a risky, bold move on his part to take in a female student. On the other hand, she challenged him, and the desire to take on this challenging situation grew when he imagined her racing his best horse and winning. Her weight was an advantage and so was her strong-willed determination.

His first obstacle would be her father before making a final decision. “First I would like to meet with your father.”

“My father?”

“Yes. I would like to get his opinion.”

She thought about it before agreeing. “Of course.”

“Are you not pleased that I’m even considering this?”

“Yes.”

The mention of her father created a shift in her mood. “Miss Howard, is there going to be a problem with your father?”

“No, not at all.”

“Because I’m getting a notion that there will be.”

“No, absolutely not. I’m just going to have to explain my whereabouts today and also my meeting you.”

Virtue and courage came to mind when he thought about the position she represented, and even though his mind still teetered about the circumstances involved, her driving energy kept pulling at him. Her determination was contagious. “I’ll explain to your father. Today, in fact, if that will suit you?”

Her shoulders fell in relief. “Yes, thank you. And thank you for considering this opportunity.”

“I can foresee the possibilities. And now that we’ve made preliminary plans, I don’t see a need to be so formal. You can call me John.”

“Melissa, please.”

“Are you sure it isn’t Mel?” He teased with a grin.

“It’s Melissa.”

“Melissa it is. Let me escort you home.”

“Yes. That would be nice.”

On the way to her home John asked Melissa about herself and she didn’t leave out any details. John discovered she was born in Darlington and had lived there most of her life. Her father had a carpentry business and was an incredible talent to his field. He was a very proud Scottish man.

Her English mother came from a background of prestige, met Melissa’s father, and fell in love. In happiness her parents ran the carpentry business together, Anna taking care of the books, Phillip creating works of art.

They had a live-in nanny turned housekeeper named Miss Beckett, known to Melissa as her auntie. Since Miss. Beckett had been a part of the family so long it had only seemed natural that she continue to remain with them after the passing of Anna. She’d been a comfort indeed.

After Anna’s passing the family decided to start fresh and so they moved to Scotch Corner. While living in Scotch Corner Melissa came to love the rural countryside and the freedom of open land all around. She gloried at being able to ride her gelding by rows of long-stemmed wildflowers and smell their delectable scent along the way. She painted a very descriptive picture for John, and though he had passed by the outskirts of Scotch Corner a number of times before, he had never ventured about the quiet land. Now he had a reason to.

The extent of John’s sharing about his personal life bordered on private boundaries. John limited his information, telling Melissa he was from Richmond and had lived there his whole life and that his father was Duke Albert Blackburn with whom he didn’t readily associate. He also told her that his mother had been deceased for quite some time. After the mention of his mother their conversation dwindled until reaching Melissa’s home.

Arriving before nightfall, they both emerged from the carriage. John gave his driver Jess a break while he himself tended to Melissa’s gelding. Both proceeded toward Melissa’s gelding to untie him when Melissa came to an abrupt stop, seeing her father stepping out the front door of their cabin.

Expecting to give an explanation of her whereabouts Melissa spoke first before her father could. “Father, hello.” She was cut short by her father’s angered state.

“Where have you been Melissa Louise?” He spoke through tightened lips and narrowed eyes.

Feeling like a young child again and conscious of being humiliated in front of Lord Blackburn, her words were hurried. “I’ve been at the races in Middleham and this kind gentleman escorted me home,” she told her father, and immediately winced while waiting for the eruption.

John continued tending to Melissa’s horse keeping his eyes averted on the gelding.

Mr. Howard focused on Melissa, not paying attention to John or John’s fancy carriage yet. “Middleham? You didn’t inform me that you were going to Middleham!” His voice grew in volume with the shaking of his head “I should have known you’d be intrigued with the races going on right now,” he said as his eyes beamed into hers. “You worried me half to death Melissa! Bloody hell, at least mention it next time.”

Melissa stepped toward her father, reminding him, “Father, if I had told where I was going, you would have forbidden it,” she said, continuing to argue her point.

“Precisely,” Mr. Howard agreed. “I can’t believe you went by yourself. I tell you girl, you’ve got more gumption than your own mother had.”

It was much more difficult defending herself to her father than anyone else and he did have a right to worry. “Forgive me father, but I’ve already received a verbal lashing today,” she explained as her eyes shifted in John’s direction.

John could feel her fixed look on him that he sensed was a cry for help. After loosening the saddle straps he glanced up, finding Melissa smile in relief as she continued with introductions.

“Father, this is Lord Blackburn. Lord Blackburn, this is my father, Phillip Howard.”

He was aware of her quick introduction as a way of diverting her father. Both reached across to each other and shook hands. “Mr. Howard,” John said, giving a courteous smile.

“Lord Blackburn,” Phillip responded. Thankful to see his daughter had arrived home safe, he also had a nagging concern regarding the possible underlying reasons for the lord’s assistance. Phillip Howard cherished his daughter, and now that his wife had been gone for three years his daughter’s life had become his. She was the epitome of his wife: headstrong, independent, and with a strong affection for horses. He realized it was unusual for a woman to be racing horses but he knew Melissa would thrive if given the chance. His daughter was very unique in her personality, intelligent, and above all, beautiful. Yes, he was a doting father. Being twenty-one, in the eyes of society she should have married by now, but Phillip respected her wish to marry when she was ready to, believing marriage was for a man and woman who truly loved each other, not just for convenience. Regardless, he would keep a watchful eye on the lord. Eventually a kind smile appeared on Phillip’s gentle face. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. And I thank you for returning my daughter to me,” he relayed before hearing Miss Beckett call to him. He turned to his daughter. “Melissa, I’d like to have a word with you,” he ordered.

Without falter she obeyed. They stood close, averted from John’s view. “Yes father?”

“Your auntie needs my help. Don’t let him leave until I can talk to him.” His look was stern and meaningful.

She let out a breath of frustration. “Why father? He’s done nothing wrong.”

Phillip’s voice dropped to a harsh whisper. “That’s not the point. I need to talk to him before he leaves.”

“You mean warn him.” She was about to argue further when she realized her father’s eyes were hardening with fierce domination, meaning he’d reached his capacity of being civil. “Yes father, I’ll tell him to wait.”

Phillip didn’t say another word. Once Melissa complied he went inside to help Miss Beckett.

John witnessed in amazement the way Phillip handled his daughter. He couldn’t hear their words but he didn’t miss Melissa’s reluctance to back down, but in the end she did. He gave her father a lot of credit dealing with such a wild cat. How did Phillip keep from going insane with such bold women in his household? How did he deal with male suitors? At this last thought he looked in her direction again. Her father had just entered the house, closing the door behind him, and Melissa remained standing there. John lifted the saddle off Thunder and took it into the barn.

Meanwhile Melissa led Thunder into the corral, thinking about what to say next. How was she supposed to tell a lord, “By the way, my father would like to lecture you about his daughter?” She was twenty-one years of age, for heaven sakes.

John strode out of the barn, interrupting her thoughts. “You’re smooth, I must say,” he shot out while retrieving the extra rope used to tie her gelding.

Melissa stepped over to him. “What do you mean by that remark?” she inquired, observing his strong hands working with the rope.

Averting his gaze from his motion to her face, he spoke with absolute audacity. “You, trying to work your father,” he told her. Whether she realized it or not, that’s the way it had happened.

He started to place the wound up rope in its proper compartment amid the carriage when her hand clasped over his, getting his full attention. “I do not work my father. I speak in plain terms. I tell him the truth,” she pointed out. Then after seeing his eyes shift to their touching hands, she lifted hers away as if an invisible flame had lit it.

Continuing with his action, his response was not what she wanted to hear. “And when you’re wrong, you want to bypass the whipping.”

Her eyes grew wide and her mouth opened in astonishment. Beyond any doubt, he had agreed with her father. “I cannot believe you said that,” she told him as her narrowing glare peered into him.

But he saw through her casual way. “I’m telling the truth as I see it. You didn’t even inform him of where you were today,” he responded as he propped against the black carriage, his booted ankles crossing and his hands joining together.

She stepped in front of him, her hands bracing her shapely hips. “There were obvious reasons for that. I thought you were going to talk to him for me?”

“I plan to. But you should have at least mentioned the track this morning. You’re his daughter and he wants to protect you. You’re well aware of how insane the track can be, especially for a young lady alone.”

Well it seems Mr. Knowledge would learn firsthand about her father’s protective nature she thought as a twinge of a smile pierced her lips. “You and my father should get along famously then Lord Blackburn, since he has bid me to keep you here so he can “have a word with you,” as he put it,” she retorted.

Even John’s driver was astonished at the tone the young lady used with him and he was curious at how the lord would handle it.

A very devilish grin emerged upon John’s lips. “You can be serious now and stop this ridiculous joke.”

His calmness was utterly unbearable and it made her seethe. She had never met a man so blunt and arrogant. “Oh, I’m not jesting. I tried to save you from this confrontation with my father but he insisted, much to my embarrassment. He expects to see you when you’re finished here,” she told him in delight as he looked taken aback.

He couldn’t believe it. The joke was on him. Lord, he hadn’t dealt with protective fathers since adolescent age. He pushed away from the carriage. “We shall see who laughs last,” he told her when her burst of laughter could no longer be contained. He shook his head and headed for the front door.

After Miss Beckett seated him in the sitting room John took the opportunity to explore his environment. Quaint and cozy was how he would describe it. Popping sounds and immense heat coming from a large stone fireplace caught his attention. As his eyes followed the structure of stones they drifted to unusual looking wooden furniture, unusual in the fact that the engraved designing along the edges of the light colored wood was unique. John examined the chair he sat in, finding in amazing detail galloping stallions racing along the edge. He presumed Mr. Howard had built these magnificent wooden furnishings and was impressed.

After admiring Mr. Howard’s work John thought about why he sat in this comfortable room waiting for Melissa’s father to chastise him. To continue a relationship with Melissa it would be better to be clear with Mr. Howard from the beginning, no secrets, everything out in the open. In John’s mind, honesty was always best.

Phillip’s voice interrupted John’s thoughts. “Would you care for something to drink, Lord Blackburn?”

John looked up at Phillip, seeing him swirl a golden colored liquid around in his glass. “Yes, do you have brandy?”

Phillip strode over to the bar. “Ah, brandy. Yes I do, although it may not be the brandy you’re used to,” he mentioned while retrieving a fresh glass and pouring into it a generous amount of amber liquid.

“It will be fine.” He took the glass from Phillip. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Phillip responded while taking a seat across from John and stealing a significant swig of his drink. “You may be a brandy man Lord Blackburn, but there’s nothing like a good glass of scotch.” He smiled toward John, who was nodding in agreement.

They chatted a moment about the differences in their preferences of drink, each loyally sticking by their choice. Then Phillip’s smile faded and John knew it had come to the crucial point of this meeting.

“Lord Blackburn, I wish to speak to you about my daughter. I’m sure you already figured that out.” Phillip tipped more scotch into his mouth.

John sipped some brandy. “Yes sir.”

“I’m not sure of your intentions toward Melissa, but I pray they are sincere?”

Phillip gave John a warning glance if ever he saw one. John cleared his throat. “Mr. Howard, I offered your daughter a ride home, being I live a short distance from you. I haven’t any designs regarding your daughter.”

Phillip stayed silent as if digesting John’s words. “Lord Blackburn, something must have happened to lend offering her a ride home?”

John was feeling cornered. He needed to explain the truth. “Mr. Howard, the truth is . . .”

“The truth is, father, that Lord Blackburn is the victim here.” Both men swung their view in Melissa’s direction. John’s mouth was on the verge of falling open and her father’s eyes widened in surprise. She stepped in closer, standing before them. “Yes, you see, I was simply minding my own business, staying on the outskirts of the racetrack watching the races, when out of nowhere this man appeared behind me.” John sat frozen, awaiting the remainder of the story, and her father listened with unwavering enthusiasm. “Well he startled me of course, then seemed sincere when he suggested I observe his rapid stallion.” John’s eyes enlarged at her description. Phillip’s brows narrowed in concentration. “I thought nothing of it at first. You know I love horses, so I proceeded to follow him when I realized he was taking me behind a set of changing sheds.” John swallowed hard. “I’m quite embarrassed to admit that it took me so long to figure out what type of stallion he wanted me to see.” She chuckled in the awkward silence. John’s eyes shut, flabbergasted by her choice of words.

Phillip became appalled. “Melissa, watch your tongue!”

“I’m sorry, but father I wasn’t sure how else to explain, which leads me to Lord Blackburn. Naturally I ran away from the awful man but I wasn’t sure if he would follow me. Well, I became disoriented by the time I reached the front gates so I hid in the nearest carriage, which happened to be Lord Blackburn’s.” By now Melissa received the evil eye from John and a stunned, unbelievable expression from her father. “To arrive at my point, I explained to Lord Blackburn what had happened and he was nice enough to find Thunder and escort me home.” She finished with the most sincere smile on her face as she ignored John’s scowl and waited with impatience for her father’s response.