Page 27 of Fit for a Duke
Clio was too astounded, too breathless, to raise any objections about his unorthodox conduct. He carried her effortlessly to the horses, at which point he set her back on her feet, looking smugly satisfied. Her legs were now so unsteady that she actually wondered if they would support her weight. Refusing to allow him to see that the gesture had affected her in any way, she merely nodded and reached for Raven’s reins. But once again, he was ahead of her. He untied them himself and swung them over Raven’s head.
‘Easy, boy!’ he adjured as the gelding shifted his quarters.
‘He doesn’t like impudent strangers,’ Clio said. ‘It is a trait that we share.’ She patted Raven’s neck as she wondered how to mount elegantly. Ordinarily she would stand on a rock but…‘Oh!’
Once again, he lifted her, this time into her saddle, but he held onto Raven’s reins close to the bit. ‘I don’t want you getting yourself into a compromising position with Salford on my account,’ he said in a stern tone.
‘I can assure you that there will be no compromising.’ But the sting had left her tone because she could tell from his concerned expression that he was…well, concerned for her reputation.
‘You cannot be sure of anything, since you are unaware of his intentions. I don’t mean to insult you, but if it is just your fortune that attracts him then he is not only foolish but desperate too. I dare say he has pressing debts…’
‘And he expects me, as an inexperienced chit without guidance to fall gratefully into his arms. Ha!’ She tossed her head indignantly. ‘In that case, he is destined for disappointment. However, I will have to speak with him at some point,’ she said in a considering tone. ‘Trust me to know how to handle him. I do not require your protection, your grace.’
‘You think you do not, but the man is dangerous.’ He grinned at her. ‘However, part of me wonders if you actually crave that danger and excitement.’
‘Part of you might be right about that,’ she conceded.
He sighed. ‘Reckless female!’
The duke—had he really invited her to address him as Ezra?—reclaimed his own horse and swung effortlessly into the saddle.
‘We had best not ride back to the estate together,’ Clio said. ‘If we are seen then it will raise eyebrows and leave me with awkward questions to answer.’
‘Raising speculations concerns you?’ He looked unconvinced. ‘Since when did you let such paltry considerations influence you?’
‘It is not my reputation that concerns me, but yours.’
‘Mine?’ He affected surprise that couldn’t possibly be genuine. Surely he knew what she was referring to, but he obviously intended to embarrass her by making her spell it out. ‘My aunt has plans for you and I would not have her think that I have scuppered them, which of course I have not. But I cannot convince her of that without telling her the real reason for our partnership, which obviously I cannot do without betraying your confidence.’
Aware that she was babbling, Clio abruptly stopped talking and pretended to concentrate upon guiding Raven across territory that he knew as well as she did and didn’t require any help to negotiate. She probably sounded very young and unworldly to such a refined gentleman, she thought, wishing that she could impress him with her wit and lively conversation. She searched her mind for amusing anecdotes but found it to be uncharacteristically blank.
‘Your aunt’s plans are doomed to failure, I’m afraid.’ His deep voice recalled her wandering attention as he held his stallion back and waited for her and Raven to join him. ‘However, I shall not embarrass you unnecessarily, sweet Clio.’
‘Behave yourself! We have agreed upon a strategy of sorts. I will help you to watch for men with murderous intent, and you have no need to charm me into compliance.’
‘I have agreed that you can observe. You will anyway, so I see little benefit in withholding my approval in that regard. But I will not have you taking any risks.’ He removed one hand from the reins and waggled a finger at her. ‘I am perfectly capable of looking out for myself and cannot be worrying about your welfare too.’
‘If you refer to the captain, then let me put your mind at rest. There is nothing he can say to persuade me to marry him. There are no threats or coercion he can employ, and he cannot take liberties here in the middle of a crowded house party.’ She twitched her nose. ‘Not that I would put it past him in other circumstances. He must be very desperate if he has settled his interest upon me, but—’
‘Clio!’ The duke threw back his head and sighed. ‘If you continue to underestimate your charms then you will put yourself into the middle of the very danger that I am attempting to protect you from.’
‘Let us reach an agreement, your grace. I will play my part, you will play yours, and we will trust one another to know how to go about so doing. In other words, I will not worry about you and you will return the favour.’
He smiled. ‘Have it your way.’
‘If you take that fork there, to the right,’ Clio said, pointing with her crop, ‘it will return you to the stables by a circuitous route.’
‘Then I shall do so, and look forward to seeing you this afternoon. I dare say your aunt has entertainments planned for our participation. But in the meantime, do not do anything rash or you will have me to answer to.’
‘Rash? Me?’ She adopted an arch expression. ‘I think you have mistaken me for a daredevil, your grace.’
She could hear his rumbling laughter echoing behind her as she cantered away.
Clio had been out far longer than had been her intention, she realised, as she approached the house. The sound of voices coming from the terrace implied that the guests had stirred and ventured out of doors. She glanced up at the sky, thinking it must be well past the noon hour. Not fit to be seen with her tangled hair and flushed face, she slipped into the house through a side door and reached her room without encountering anyone. Daisy was waiting for her, sitting on the window seat engaged with her sewing.
‘You were a long time,’ she said, putting her work aside. ‘I was getting worried. Goodness, what happened to you? Did you take a tumble?’
‘I don’t lookthatbad, do I?’ Clio glanced in the mirror and gasped. Her hair resembled a bird’s nest once more, tangled and in total disarray, and there was a smudge of dirt on her nose. Her cheeks were indeed flushed, which if one didn’t know better could be put down to the exhilaration of her ride. But her sparkling eyes, brimming with infectious amusement, told a different story. God forbid that she had seemed so…well, so provocative and disreputable to the duke. Whatever must he have thought of her?
