The Belligerent Miss Boynton AND The Lurid Lady Lockport (Two Companion Full-Length Regency Novels) (8 page)

He wouldn't touch her! She would kill the man first or, failing that, kill herself. She raised her hand to her breast for the hundredth time, to be reassured yet again by the cold feel of her stepfather's stiletto, secreted in her riding habit. If no one else would aid her she would be more than able to defend herself.

Oh, why hadn't she stayed in London? Nothing her stepfather could do to her would have been worse than the fate awaiting her at the unknown Storm Haven. At least Denton had planned for her to marry. After Jared was finished with her she would be soiled forever. She narrowed her eyes as she stared at Jared's wide back, imagining the hilt of her knife sticking out between his shoulder blades. The man was getting into her soul: She was even thinking of him by his first name!

Jared could feel the heat of Amanda's anger through the cloth of his hacking jacket. He looked over his shoulder at her and drawled, "Are you plotting my demise, Amanda?"

She refused to answer and only urged Tempest into a canter. She slipped by him, not slowing down until she was well in front. His stallion was sound, but not half the horse she knew Tempest to be, not half so strong nor half so swift. If it were not for Harrow and Tom, she would show him her heels in a hurry!

Jared chuckled and shook his head, watching her, enjoying her anger and confusion. In truth, he had not enjoyed himself so much in years. With every passing moment he was more and more convinced that he wanted to wed—and bed—Amanda Boynton. After so many years of women like Blanche Wade and her ilk, Amanda's innocence and candor were like a breath of fresh air following long months spent underground.

He had never before seriously considered marrying, contrary to his aunt's fondest hopes, and was secretly surprised at himself for desiring to make such a young slip of a girl Lady Storm. Yet, somehow, no other arrangement seemed right. It had nothing to do with loyalty to the long dead Roger Boynton: Jared Delaney took what he wanted when he wanted it.

No, it was because of a niggling suspicion at the back of his mind that to touch Amanda without first wedding her would be despoiling a beautiful, indomitable creature.

Oh, yes, he wanted to tame her. He wanted those golden eyes looking up at him in passion and surrender. But not at the expense of her great pride. He would tame her as he had tamed Devil, teach her who was master, but without breaking her spirit.

He laughed aloud. How apt! Comparing Amanda to a spirited horse. Ah, and how he, Jared Delaney, would ride!

Amanda reined in ahead of him and waited until he drew along side her before she asked, "Do we stop for luncheon, my lord? Or is starving me a part of your nefarious plans?" She hated to have to address him at all, but her stomach had been grumbling for the last few miles and could no longer be denied.

"If you can promise me no repeat of yesterday's folly I'll consider stopping at the Three Feathers, which is just a little further along the road. But I warn you, I have no burning desire to face down another irate innkeeper."

Amanda had the decency to blush. "You have the word of a Boynton, my lord."

"Do I now? Well, that's probably better than the word of a Delaney. Very well, brat. And, although I'd rather tie you to your chair, never taking my eyes off you, I suppose your word will have to do."

They ate a filling, though silent, meal at the Three Feathers, Jared allowing Amanda out of his sight for only as long as it took her to freshen herself. His ever-present surveillance rankled after she had given him her word not to try anything rash, and once more anger simmered close to the surface.

As they stood in the inn yard, preparing to set out once again, Amanda saw an opportunity to even the score when Jared asked if he could go up on Tempest for a mile or two.

She stopped her refusal just in time and only sweetly stated her agreement to his request. "Oh, indeed, my lord. Tempest would be honored to have such a fine rider as yourself on his back."

"He would, would he?" Jared tipped his head and looked at her carefully. "Now why does that sound so sinister?" He crossed to mount the red stallion but looked around just in time to catch Amanda smiling at him, her hands clasped demurely behind her back, while her golden eyes held sparks of mischief.

What the devil did the chit have up her sleeve? He mentally shrugged off his suspicions, dismissing them as being beneath him. Hadn't she behaved circumspectly all through luncheon? He was being overly cautious, like an old woman seeing ogres under her bed, and not a man who was only a day away from marriage, a night away from his marriage bed. He slid one booted foot into the stirrup and swung himself up into the saddle, for Amanda had chosen to defy convention by riding astride and he had been sufficiently amused as to encourage her. What was one more solecism after they had broken so many rules these past days?

Tempest felt the unaccustomed weight on his back and turned his head to Jared in an attempt to identify his unexpected passenger. But the horse stood quietly under him as he patted its proud head, and Jared smiled over at Amanda in satisfaction.

She smiled back sweetly. Oh, so sweetly.

Then something strange happened. Jared felt himself sliding forward. Tempest was kneeling down on his forelegs! Jared pulled on the reins to urge the horse up, but the stallion countered by collapsing his hindquarters. Jared just had time to jump clear before the damnable horse rolled over onto his back in the dirt and gave out with what Jared swore to be a horsey laugh.

Jared sat on his haunches in the dirt, his elbows resting on his knees while Amanda and, it seemed to Jared, half the customers at the inn stood in whoops around him. The ostler clutched his sides in mirth and the innkeeper wiped at his streaming eyes with the edge of his apron.

Jared looked at Amanda, now demurely quiet again and with Tempest innocently standing beside her, nuzzling her neck. Miserable brat, he thought. She'd taught the bloody beast to do that.

He got up as unhurriedly as he could and brushed himself off. He then crossed to Devil and mounted him, calling behind him, "Your mule does party tricks tolerably well, madam, but can he move past a trot?"

As he suspected, the last traces of Amanda's smile were wiped from her face and she called to a groom to help her mount. "Tempest could best your plow horse on three legs if he chose. We challenge you to a race!" she shouted with unladylike glee as she expertly launched herself onto the saddle.

The crowd in the stable yard immediately roared its approval, but their pleasure was to be short lived. Jared rode over to Amanda and whispered in her ear, "Haven't you made a sufficient spectacle of the two of us, Amanda? I suggest we move on and let these people get back about their business."

"Oh, how poor spirited of you," Amanda countered, but she saw the wisdom of his words. They certainly had become the center of all attention, and the innkeeper would be sure to remember them if her stepfather should pass this way. A rescue from Jared that included Peregrine Denton was like no rescue at all.

"All right, I agree, my lord, but only if you will do me the honor of allowing me to have the opportunity to see you eat your words about Tempest once we reach the open country."

"We shall see who dines on vowels this evening, Amanda. But I concur. A test is called for."

They rode out of the inn yard amid the muttered protests of the disappointed customers, who were already laying down their blunt on the outcome of the race. Jared would not have been too pleased to find that Amanda was already the decided favorite at five-to-one odds.

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They rode on for a few miles until they reached a large open field not yet sown. Jared swiveled in his saddle and addressed Amanda. "I believe a gallop from here to that far fence should be a sufficient test of our animals. Do you agree?"

Amanda did, and at the count of three they were off, racing across the field. Devil took the lead and held it for some time, but when Jared cast a look over his shoulder he could see the triumphant grin on Amanda's face. She was obviously holding Tempest back! As they neared the fence the stallion passed by as if Jared's horse was standing still and Amanda never slackened pace as horse and rider easily cleared the high barrier.

She rode on a few yards, then reined in to catch the look on Jared's face, her blood chilling as she realized he was going to try to jump the fence! The fool, she worried frantically, no ordinary horse could do such a thing. She watched in horror as Devil approached the jump, and her heart went into her throat as the big black stallion gathered its legs for the leap.

For a moment it appeared as if Devil had made it, cleared the barrier, but then one hind leg caught the top rail and horse and rider somersaulted over the fence, to land in the soft grass at Amanda's feet.

She slid off Tempest and ran to Jared's side. Devil was already up and standing dazedly a few feet away; a quick glance told her he would not run off. She dropped to her knees beside Jared's still form and held her breath as she looked for any signs of life.

He lay so still that for a moment she thought he had broken his neck—which would have served him right, even if she might feel some responsibility for his death. And wasn't that just like the man? No matter what she did, she found her life increasingly tangled with his with every passing moment. She pressed her ear to his chest, desperate for any sign of life, and could hear his heart still beating, causing her to give a soft exclamation of relief.

Not that she cared. Because she didn't. She couldn't!

Hurriedly she ran her hands over his body to feel for any breaks but found no obvious sign of injury until her fingers encountered the rapidly rising bump on the back of his head. That couldn't be good. Slowly she raised his head and positioned it on her lap, stroking his black hair back from his forehead as she softly called his name. "Jared, Jared, don't you dare die on me. Oh, you stupid, headstrong man, how could you try such a thing? Please, please wake up!"

She rested her cheek against his forehead and rocked his head back and forth in her lap, continuing her crooning until at last Jared showed some signs of life.

Amanda quickly lowered his head to the grass and got to her feet, so that the first thing Jared saw on regaining consciousness was the tapping foot of Miss Amanda Boynton. Slowly he raised his eyes to her face and was rewarded for this pain by the cutting remark: "Not only do we now know which is the better horse, my lord, but we have a fair idea of just who is the superior rider."

Jared was nonplused for a moment, but then he saw the humor of the situation. "Made a cake of myself, didn't I? I bow to your superiority, Amanda.
Ow!
Perhaps you'd be willing to wait for that bow?" He put a hand to his throbbing head as he tried to rise, but was still able to see Amanda's quickly offered, and just as rapidly retracted hand. "I don't think I can make it to my horse alone, Amanda," he said, even as his strength returned to him. "Would you be so good as to let me lean on you?"

"I'd as soon see you crawl, my lord, but I was taught always to help dumb animals. Oh, very well. Put your weight on me."

Other than the discomfort caused by the lump on his head, Jared was already almost fully recovered. He had felt the fall coming and aimed his body for the soft clover. In truth, besides having the wind knocked out of him—a repeated occurrence since meeting Amanda—he was only slightly injured by the bang on his very hard head.

Yet now he moaned loudly and rested an arm across Amanda's shoulders, feeling the soft curve of her breast against his side as they walked slowly to his horse. Once there he clutched at his saddle and looked as if he would indeed faint.

Amanda planted herself in front of him and grabbed both his arms in her hands and then shook him none too gently.

"Don't you dare swoon on me Jared! Just help me get you up on your horse and I can lead him to the closest farmhouse for help."

Jared slid his arms around Amanda's waist and stared deeply into her worried eyes. "I don't recall giving you permission to address me by my first name, you shameless wench. Or, daring that, the right to make free with your hands on my body."

"Oh, Jared, this is no time for more of your foolishness. You're clearly talking out of your head. You could be badly hurt—and I've treated you abominably."

"Yes," he agreed solemnly, "Abominably. Precisely the word I'd have chosen myself, imp." His deep blue eyes were twinkling as they looked into her worried amber ones, and slowly she stiffened under his gaze.

"You—you're
bamming
me! You're perfectly sound, and allowing me to worry and fret and...and
lug
you about like a sack of grain! Cad!"

"A cad, Amanda? Not yet, imp. But soon. Soon, I promise..." Jared's eyes danced as he tightened his arms until he held her powerless in his embrace. Slowly, inexorably, she felt him draw her closer within the circle of his arms and she watched, bemused, as his head slowly came down and his mouth claimed hers in a gentle caress.

She forced her eyes to remain opened wide for long moments, staring at Jared's long lashes as they cast shadows on his cheeks. She made no effort to struggle, for she knew it was useless, and decided it probably would be safest just to remain passive in his arms.

But her body betrayed her by warming to his touch.

Her lips opened in a low moan and Jared quickly took advantage of it to plumb the depths of her mouth with his tongue. Shivers of excitement coursed down Amanda's spine, and her arms, acting with a will of their own, crept up around his neck. Her mind whirled warnings around in her brain but her body dismissed them.

Her betraying eyelids fluttered closed.

Suddenly Jared released her, and she would have fallen except for his supporting hands. He smiled down at her, but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. His face was pale, and his voice shook a little as he quipped, "You've worked quite a cure on me, Amanda. I swear I haven't felt this well in months. Have you any more miracle remedies?"