Vexed by a Viscount (4 page)

As the older men droned on about politics and the state of this year’s crops, Ash leaned toward her and offered a reassuring smile. “We are so fortunate to have such fine weather this week, are we not? I’m amazed, actually, that during my entire three hour ride today, I didn’t see a single other soul.”

Her eyes rounded at his blatant lie, but then she pressed her lips together into a soft smile as her face relaxed. “What a coincidence. I was able to take my walk in complete solitude as well. The sunshine truly was a treat.”

That was better. With her forehead smooth once more, he felt less like a villain. “Are you looking forward to exploring your new home upon your marriage? If I recall correctly, the grounds of the squire’s estate are quite impressive.”

He wasn’t surprised when her features slipped back into the perfectly polite expression he was so accustomed to seeing over the years. “Yes, of course. There is sure to be much to explore.”

Now this was the woman he recognized. Well-rehearsed smile, mild tone, neutral response—just this side of vapid, really. But the fact that this persona was back only heightened his interest. What other small rebellions had she been hiding behind that proper veneer? Surely the lake had not been the very first daring act she had ever attempted.

“What other summer activities do you enjoy? Swimming, perhaps?”

Mrs. Landon made a sound of distress from her end of the table. When Ash looked her way, she shook her head and exhaled. “Prudence suffered quite a distressing incident only this afternoon. You must be sure to stay a safe distance from the water’s edge in the future, my dear.”

Ash’s eyebrows lifted. Ah, yes—her wet hair. It should have occurred to him that she would have to produce an excuse for that if she was only supposed to be walking. Thoroughly curious now as to what “distressing incident” she had invented, he leaned back and murmured, “Oh? I do hope you are all right, Miss Landon.”

Once again, her fair cheeks took on a rosy hue. “Right as rain, my lord.”

The conversation between Jeffries and Landon paused as her father glanced around. “What’s this? What incident occurred this afternoon?”

Miss Landon’s cheeks darkened incrementally. “It was nothing, Papa. A small slip into the stream.”

Ash bit back a grin as he met her sheepish gaze. A slip into a stream, indeed.

“Small slip?” her mother echoed. “You were soaked from head to toe! Thank goodness it is summer. I shudder to think of the state of your health had it been any other season.”

The squire’s brow lowered as he sent a reproving look toward his betrothed. “You must be more careful in the future, Prudence. A man needs a sensible woman by his side.”

Ash took a drink of wine to hide his scowl. How nice of the man to be concerned for his own needs after learning of Miss Landon’s misfortune. It may have been a complete fabrication, but Jeffries didn’t know that. Showing a bit of concern for her welfare wouldn’t kill him.

Ash watched over the rim of his glass as she lowered her eyes and nodded, properly chagrined. Unaccountable anger gathered in his chest. Jeffries had been a friend of Ash’s father for years, and he’d always liked him well enough. But seeing him as a bridegroom to the sweet and lovely Miss Landon was putting a rather bad taste in Ash’s mouth.

Clearing her throat delicately, Mrs. Landon smiled. “I think it is time to leave the gentlemen to their port. Come, Prudence, let us retire to the drawing room.”

As the women came to their feet, Ash and the other men rose as well. Prudence offered a perfunctory nod before turning toward the door. He wanted nothing so much as to follow her and finally have the conversation he’d been craving half the day, but he was stuck for at least the next ten minutes with the less than inspiring company of the squire and Mr. Landon.

Not the way he had envisioned his evening progressing. By now he’d have been half-foxed and all happy at the village tavern, where he always found himself when he came home. The people there were of the salt-of-the-earth variety, and keeping up appearances was never an issue.

But here? He took his seat and tried not to sigh. Miss Landon wasn’t the only one who could grin and bear it.

***

A
fter what seemed like an eternity, but was probably closer to ten minutes, the men rejoined Prudence and her mother in the drawing room. Mama had not been a pleasant companion, fretting as she was about having given Squire Jeffries reason to doubt Prudence’s character. That had quickly devolved into her chastising Prudence for having fallen in the stream in the first place, which Prudence couldn’t very well defend herself against, since her actual deed had been so much worse.

Had she
actually
fallen in the stream, the reprimand would have been exceedingly unfair.

The very moment the door opened, Prudence popped to her feet, welcoming the others with a smile. Her eyes met with the viscount’s first, unaccountably making her heart lurch, but she quickly looked away. Heaven forbid any of the others suspect her odd reactions to him.

“There you are,” she said, directing her attention to the squire, as was expected. “I was hoping you’d like to take a turn about the garden with me. The sunset is lovely, if nearly over.”

He glanced to the oak-trimmed glass doors at the other side of the room, then shook his head. “I think not. The air inside is much more pleasing to me, as is the prospect of another drink.”

Drat
. Smiling through her disappointment—she really did wish to be free of Mama for a moment, even if it meant spending more time with her betrothed—she nodded and made to retake her seat.

“It does look like a rather extraordinary sunset,” Ashby said, his head tilted as he looked through the windows. Turning his attention to Prudence, he lifted his eyebrows. “If you don’t mind somewhat inferior company, and if your betrothed wouldn’t mind if I provide escort, I would very much enjoy a little time in the garden.”

“Perfect,” she exclaimed, a little too quickly. Tempering her voice, she added, “The weather is ideal for a stroll, I think.” There—a banal comment about the weather. No one should suspect just how badly she wanted to speak with him alone.

Politely looking to the squire, Ashby waited for his approval. When the older man nodded with a dismissive wave of his hand, already heading toward the sideboard, the viscount grinned. “Very good. Shall we, Miss Landon?”

She tried to ignore the very improper flutter in her belly as she nodded and accepted his proffered arm. “Lead the way.”

He smelled of wind, grass, and the lingering scent of cheroot smoke. She hadn’t realized until that moment how much she liked the smell of grass. Had she ever been on his arm before? Felt the firm outline of his forearm? Beneath the layers of lawn, leather, and wool, of course.

She firmly pushed away the silly romanticism of his arm and concentrated on walking like a normal person as they made their way through the doors, past the small terrace, and into the rose garden beyond. The sky was a vibrant pink, providing a perfect backdrop for the blooms.

“At last,” Ashby said, sending her a rather mischievous glance. Up close like this, she could see his brown eyes had a mossy green rim around his pupils. Tiny flecks of yellow spangled the line between the two colors. “Please, for the love of God, explain to me what I witnessed today. I can’t take the suspense a moment longer.”

He wasn’t one to beat around the bush, apparently. It was quite possibly the most direct thing anyone had ever said to her. Momentarily flustered, she shook her head and concentrated on the nearest rosebush. “It was nothing. A silly, stupid whim that shan’t be repeated, I assure you.”

“Well, that is a disappointment.”

Prudence glanced up sharply, incredulous that he would say such a thing, but the moment she met his gaze she could see that he was baiting her. It wasn’t something she was used to. How exactly was one supposed to respond to a handsome gentleman teasing one in the garden?

Straightening her shoulders a bit, she said, “Nevertheless, it is the truth.”

The viscount stopped walking, and pulled his arm away so he could face her fully. The evening light gave his skin a rosy glow and made his eyes shimmer. “Fair enough. The question remains, however: Why would a perfectly proper, perfectly
betrothed
young woman step so thoroughly off the straight and narrow path?”

It was hard to think when he was so close, watching her so intently. Despite the levity in his eyes, she knew he intended to root out the truth. She glanced down and fussed with her gloves, buying a moment to gather her thoughts. “As I said, a whim.”

“One tries a new hairstyle on a whim. One decides to visit a good friend on a whim. One does not swim naked on one’s neighbor’s property on a whim.
Especially
when one’s name is
Prudence
.” His hands went to his hips as he lifted an eyebrow and waited for her response.

She blanched a bit at his frank words. Glancing around to be absolutely certain no one could have overheard, she said, “Please, do not speak of it. I have admitted to how ill-advised it was, and I am attempting to pretend it never happened.”

“I see. In that case, let us talk in hypotheticals. A young woman of impeccable manners and with an exceptionally well-regarded family decides to do something utterly outrageous. Why, I wonder, might she suddenly decide to do such a thing?”

Hypotheticals. Yes, she could do that. Lifting her shoulders in an
I’m-merely-speculating
sort of way, she said, “Perhaps one doesn’t want to live one’s entire life without some small adventure.”

Nodding thoughtfully, he turned and began to walk again. She fell into step beside him, hoping against hope that he would drop it.

“An adventure. But if one is young, there will be ample time for adventure. And entire lifetime, really.”

“Unless one is about to be married off to someone decades her senior who prefers to sit indoors on a perfectly lovely evening and bypass such things as dinner parties and dances whenever possible. One could shortly become stuck in one’s new life, particularly when one has children.”

He cut a glance her way before setting his gaze on the flagstone path before them. “Hmm. Yes, I see how one would feel the need for adventure.
I
feel the need for adventure, just hearing of such a fate.”

A small seed of panic bloomed in her belly as she realized how very honest she had just been. What was wrong with her? Was she so desperate to let out her worries that she would speak so frankly to a man who was little more than an acquaintance?

Yes, actually.

Desperate was exactly what she had been feeling lately. Was that not what had caused her to act so rashly in the first place? “And there is no harm in it. Assuming one is discrete . . . as is any person who may accidentally stumble upon the adventure.”

He nodded, only the barest hint of a smile gracing his lips. “Yes, I imagine that is key.”

They had already wordlessly established as much at dinner, but it did make her feel somewhat better to have it said aloud.

“I wonder, though . . .”

She waited, but he didn’t say any more. Against her better judgment, she couldn’t help but give in. “Yes?”

“What other adventures does one have planned?”

She gaped at him. How did he know she had a list?

His teeth flashed white as he smiled hugely. “Aha—so you do have more adventures planned.”

“Of course not!” she exclaimed, even as the full heat of a blush assailed her whole face. The hypothetical had given way to her reality entirely too quickly for her peace of mind.

“Come now, you needn’t worry I’ll divulge your secrets. I’ve proven my trustworthiness thus far, have I not?” He gave her a coaxing, overly-familiar grin as he leaned forward an inch or two. “Now then, am I to find you streaking bareback through the countryside? Commandeering a hot air balloon? Joining a band of highwaymen, perhaps?”

Try as she might, she couldn’t seem to stop herself from smiling at his outrageous suggestions. “You must think me daft. I have no intention of attempting anything so daring or illegal.”

“Then what do you intend to attempt?”

“A few small rebellions. Nothing anyone other than my mother would find outrageous.”

“Such as . . . ?”

She plucked a leaf from the rose bush beside them, wishing she would have stayed inside and avoided this embarrassing conversation. “Dancing.”

“Dancing? Surely you’ve done so before.”

“Of course I have.”

“Then how is this a rebellion?”

“Dancing barefoot in the moonlight is not exactly an accepted convention.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “My, but you reach for the stars when coming up with your adventures.”

She may not be one to make use of sarcasm, but she certainly knew it when she heard it. “It needn’t be unwise or dangerous—merely
freeing
.”

“I see,” he said, actually appearing to take her answer seriously this time. “And when is this dance to occur?”

“The full moon is two days away, so it seemed a rather appropriate time to do such a thing.”

“I agree completely. What else is on the list?”

Taking a deep breath, she decided to simply tell him and be done with it. She was obviously unable to keep any secrets from him. “Eat an entire piece of cake, and get thoroughly foxed.”

Both eyebrows rose at this. “At the same time? I can’t say I recommend it.”

“No, not at the same time. I figured I would save the spirits for the eve of the wedding, when I’ll likely need it most.”

Shaking his head, he gave her a small smile that somehow straddled the line between pity and amusement. “Yes, I imagine you will. Also, I never thought dessert would be on an adventure list. What’s wrong with simply eating a piece of cake?”

Mimicking her mother’s legendary lecturing tone, she said, “A lady never devours her dessert. A healthy appetite is unseemly for a woman of good breeding. A bite or two if you must, but always set the fork down with your plate mostly untouched.”

He looked aghast. “But dessert is the very best part of life. How do you bear it?”