Page 4 of Rakes & Reticules
With those words, she flicked the reins and galloped away. It wasn’t until she was out of sight that he realized he’d never gained her name. He’d been a bloody idiot. But that didn’t matter. She was Thornridge’s neighbor. How many beautiful women could possibly live on the estate next to the duke’s?
CHAPTERTWO
Athena dismounted Hades and then led him to the stables and secured him to a nearby post. She kept his attention on her as a stable hand, Tommy, removed his saddle and other tack. After everything was taken off she led him to his stall. She removed his harness and handed it to the Tommy.
“Bring me a brush,” she told the Tommy. Hades had been wonderful and ridden as hard as she’d demanded. Athena wanted to reward him for being the best horse she’d ever owned. The stable hand brought her the brush, and she groomed him. Athena brushed and brushed him and he practically preened before her. “You’re wonderful,” she told Hades. “The bestest horse that ever was a horse.” She sounded like an idiot, but Athena didn’t care. She adored her horse and didn’t mind showing it, to him, and any one bothering to observe her with Hades.
After she finished brushing him, she exited the stall and closed the gate, then pushed the lock into place. She couldn’t allow Hades to escape because none of the stable hands could handle him well if she wasn’t around to keep him calm. That was one of the reasons her father had been reluctant to allow her to have Hades. He was an unruly horse, and he hadn’t wanted to risk Athena’s safety. She reached into a nearby bag and pulled out a sugar cube and gave it to Hades. He crunched it and let out a whinny of appreciation. “You’re perfect,” she reassured Hades. “I’d spend more time with you if I could, but I must go inside now.”
She still had read nothing in her mother’s diary. That definitely had been her intention when she’d gone for her ride. Athena had planned on settling down by the pond and reading the first few pages, but that had changed when Lord Kendal had made his appearance. It hadn’t felt like the right time to open the journal and read her mother’s words. Not with such a handsome and alluring man catching all of her attention.
That was when she knew she had to leave. He was a temptation she hadn’t planned on, and it scared her to her very soul. Athena had never met anyone that had sparked her attention so quickly. She was restless in nature and prone to pacing to rid herself of excess anxiety. Sitting still in a serene pose was foreign to her. Maeve could occasionally, especially while she painted, but it was their oldest sister, Isla, that had the calmness that soothed everyone around them. Athena would never be that type of woman. So it had unnerved her to realize she could focus all of her attention on one man and have it calm her so effectively. She had to discuss it with her sisters.
Athena placed a quick kiss on Hades’ mane and then said, “I’ll be back tomorrow. I promise.” She always kept her promises, especially to her horse. When they went to London, he would remain behind and that would be hell for the stable hands. They’d have to let him loose in the paddock so he got some exercise because no one else could ride him.
With a sigh, she stepped away from his stall and exited the stables. She made her way to the house and went to her bedchamber. As much as she wanted to speak to at least one of her sisters, she had to change out of her riding gear first. Her father frowned at her wearing breeches and didn’t like to see her in them. He wouldn’t go so far as to forbid her wearing them as long as they were at Harwood Hall. Being the daughter of the Earl of Harwood had some advantages, even if society thought they were ill bred mongrels.
She reached her bedchamber and stepped inside. Her maid was already waiting for her. “Mary,” she greeted. “I need to change quickly. Is my gown ready?” Mary knew her well and should have prepared for her arrival, but Athena usually took her time changing.
“Yes, my lady,” Mary said. “Your gown is pressed and ready for you. Your father requested you stop by his study when you returned from your ride. I think he wishes to speak with all three of you.”
What could her father wish to discuss with them that required such urgency? She blew out a breath and turned toward Mary. “Then we best hurry. I’ve probably kept him waiting longer than he wished.”
She quickly stripped her clothes off and handed them to Mary to launder. Athena only had a few pairs of breeches and she wanted to keep them in the best condition as possible. It was quite difficult for a woman to have them made. Seamstresses were appalled and men’s tailors flat out refused. She always had several pairs made at once when she found someone willing to humor her request.
Mary helped her into her underclothes and then into her gown. It was a pale blue that was a shade darker than her eyes. Athena thought it brought out that color and she liked to enhance their beauty—even if most found them peculiar. She loved the color. Mainly because of the one portrait that existed of her mother. They got their coloring from her, from her dark hair to her light blue eyes. They were truly their mother’s daughters.
“There,” Mary said. “Now let’s fix your hair. Why did you insist on taking it down before your ride? It’s a tangled mess. It’ll take a while to comb out all those knots.”
Truly, she hadn’t known why she wanted her hair down. Athena knew it was a bad idea, but she felt it had to be done. After her encounter with Lord Kendal, she couldn’t help wondering if somehow she’d known she’d meet him and wanted him to see it flowing around her shoulders in waves. Had he liked her hair?
She had certainly likedhim. He was handsome and seemed to be kind. Athena wanted to know more about him, and it wasn’t all about his dark hair and piercing gray eyes. He had tried to hide it, but it had been clear to her he’d been in pain. What had happened to him? “Try your best,” Athena told Mary. “I’ll not complain as you brush them out. I promise.” Her thoughts kept wandering back to Lord Kendal and what that meeting might mean for her and for him.
Mary nodded and set to work and Athena became lost in thought. She couldn’t wait to tell Isla and Maeve about the duke’s visitor. Isla would hate him on principle. Her feelings for the duke were well known. Once upon a time Isla had thought herself in love with him, but he’d broken her heart. Surely Lord Kendal wasn’t a cad like the duke, but she couldn’t be certain. Either way, she wanted to find out.
* * *
Roman slidoff of horse and winced as pain shot through him. He’d been out too long and would have to rub down his leg later. Otherwise, the muscles would stiffen and he’d be in even more pain later. He wished he had someone he trusted to do it for him, but there was no one he could rely on. It was up to him to see to his needs. He was the earl now and couldn’t let anyone see him as weak.
He kept his pace slow as he headed toward Thornridge Castle. The duke would be in his study. That was where he spent most of his time. There was a lot involved in running a dukedom, and Roman did not envy his friend. Roman had never wanted a title, and certainly not one as lofty as a duke. Being an earl would be a tremendous responsibility too, but nowhere near as suffocating as a duke.
The castle might be considered gloomy to some, but Roman had always liked it. Even when he had visited as a boy. Roman had attended Eton with Thornridge and they had become good friend there. The duke had been a duke even then. His parents had both died when he was only five years old. He’d been raised by an aunt and solicitors. His melancholy nature had been ever present. There was sadness in his eyes even now. Roman wished he could erase that for him, but he didn’t know what would or could make Thornridge happy.
He reached the study and rapped on the doorframe to catch Thornridge’s attention. “I know you’re busy,” he began. “You’re always busy. But I had hoped I could entice you to take a break and assist me.”
Thornridge set his quill down as he met Roman’s gaze. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his forever somber golden eyes. “What can I do for you?”
Roman had always known two things in life. He was a forever disappointment to his father, and Thornridge would always be his friend. One he couldn’t change, and the other he hoped never would. At least with his father’s death, he could set the first aside. “I went riding earlier.”
The duke’s brow rose. “Was that wise?”
He grinned. “Perhaps not,” he rubbed his aching thigh as he spoke. “But I had to try. I went farther this time than I have in the past.” He’d kept to around the castle grounds when he attempted to get on a horse. This time he was determined to explore more of Thornridge land. He had visited in the past, but he had never gone far. There had been no reason to, and that was perhaps why he’d never seen her before.
“I hope it was worth it.” What he didn’t say was that the pain would be insufferable later. Roman knew that better than his friend did. “You never said why you need my help.” Thornridge’s gaze landed on Roman’s, and he had the duke’s full attention. That attentiveness could be difficult to withstand for those not accustomed to it.
“I made it as far as a pond on the east side of your property,” he told the duke.
“I wouldn’t recommend swimming there,” the duke told him. “At least not for a few more months. Early April, it will be cold enough to freeze your bollocks off.” His lips twitched. “Was that what you wished to know?”
