Page 33 of The Curious Story of the Missing Lady
It was to Lord Peter’s credit that he never bothered to heed the lessons proffered to him by the classics, for he trotted in the direction of the sound. Soon, he found its origin.
Chapter 23
She nearly screamed when she saw him.
“Don’t stop,” he said, his horse dancing in place. “It was quite lovely.”
He was quite dazzling atop his steed.
“Who are you?” she asked.
He dismounted, patted the horse, and walked it towards her. “I am Lord Peter Lytton, heir to the Duke of Briarmere. And whom do I have the pleasure on this beautiful morning?”
“I am L—” she broke off, as she was suddenly ashamed in his presence. Here he was in fine attire. As for her, she wore a plain black dress of cotton, high-waisted – a “gift” from Lady Elizabeth, who altered it to fit her – and she was quite filthy from sweeping the doorway. “My name is Madeline.”
“Pleased to meet you indeed,” he said with a bow.
He had the look of the rogue about him, with a smile that began as a purse of the lips and grew into a wide, toothy grin. There was a knowing sparkle in the green eyes as if they had seen but dared not tell. His hair, matted and a bit sweaty from the ride, was nevertheless of a fine sandy brown, silky and straight, shorn evenly. There was a roughness to the straight-cut jawline, stubbled as it was, which lent the man a look of shadowy danger that thrilled her to behold.
She started to walk towards him, and then became aware that she may be being watched, and so stilled herself.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“Yes, thank you. It’s just that I’ve a great deal of work to do.”
“Huh,” he said. “So you have. And I’m intruding upon your time. My apologies, Miss.” He started back to his steed.
“Wait,” she said and blushed slightly. “My Lady sleeps late. We just have to be a bit quieter.”
“Of course,” he said. “You live here then?”
“Up there,” she said, pointing to the top floor where the brick-reinforced window shone like a Judas-hole.
He squinted. “Ah. Accommodations ... to your liking?”
She smiled at him. “They’re not much, but it’s comfortable.”
“And whom have we here?” came the voice from behind her.
She spun around to see Lady Elizabeth standing erect in the doorway.
“Madeline,” she said, “you know how I feel when you shirk your responsibilities.”
“Yes, M’Lady,” she said apologetically. “This gentleman and I were just conversing for but a moment.”
“’Tis my fault entirely, M’Lady,” said Lord Peter. “I am Lord Peter Lytton.”
“Heir to the Duke of Briarmere,” Lady Elizabeth said with a grin.
The man seemed surprised and bowed his head. “Indeed.”“Well, I must say, this is an honour. Won’t you come in?”
“I couldn’t.”
“’Tis a long way from Briarmere. You must be tired. Have some tea.”
He smiled at her. “’Twould bemyhonour, M’Lady.”
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