Page 28 of Lady Controversial
Instead, the sight that met his eyes stopped Ellery dead in his tracks.
Miss Crawley, wearing breeches and a billowing shirt, danced and pranced around the clearing, her movements as light as air, creating the image of a graceful wood nymph. Ellery was mesmerised. He didn’t have a clue what she thought she was about but concealed himself behind a tree, willing to bide his time and gain a few insights. She didn’t strike him as the type to waste precious time for no purpose, so there had to be a reason for what was clearly a rehearsed activity.
If he revealed himself, she would feel obliged to entertain him. Much as he would enjoy being the recipient of her smiles, his curiosity won the day. Besides, there was no guarantee that she would actually smile at him. It was more likely that she would accuse him of spying on her and send him away with a flea in his ear.
God’s beard, she was wielding a sword with skill and precision, he suddenly noticed, a light weapon more suited to a lady than an armoured knight. Why? Had she been threatened? Was she attempting to protect her family? Increasingly unpalatable possibilities surged through Ellery’s mind and he found himself dreaming up ways to protect this most unusual young woman from her own folly, knowing instinctively that she would neither invite nor welcome his intervention in her affairs.
Which was all well and good, but she clearly hadn’t grasped the fact that it was folly to live in that ramshackle cottage unprotected. If she did not die of exposure or congestion of the lungs due to the cold and damp, she and her sister would make tempting targets for roving ne’er-do-wells. There were increasing numbers of them roaming the area since those who had served King and country with distinction had returned from the war to find themselves without employment. Ellery understood their disgruntlement but could not condone their illegal activities.
He returned his attention to Miss Crawley, admiring the manner in which she lunged and thrust, her feet never still, her hair tied back but fanning across her back in a tidal wave of rippling curls. Her energy was astonishing, particularly given the previous day’s ordeal, from which she couldn’t possibly have completely recovered. But she barely seemed to be breathing hard.
The same could not be said of Ellery, since her lithe grace was as arousing as it was suffocating, the more so since she was completely unaware that she was being observed and was not attempting to make any sort of impression upon him. She was, however, enjoying herself, slaying her inhibitions and showing a brief, tantalising glimpse of her eclectic personality.
Ellery darted behind a tree when she paused and looked around the clearing, as though sensing his presence. With a shrug she then turned her weapon upon a hapless sacking dummy dangling from a strong lower limb of the solitary tree in the centre of the clearing. She attacked without mercy, her free arm raised to head height to counter her balance as she feinted and struck, talking loudly and assertively. Frustratingly, her words failed to reach Ellery’s ears above the rustle of leaves and the pounding of Ellery’s own heart.
He had never seen anything quite so artistically graceful, or such a concentrated expression of pure pleasure. Whatever it was that Miss Crawley was hoping to achieve, it was clear to Ellery that she was having a wonderful time doing it.
He wondered what he ought to do now. If he arrived at Rose Cottage ahead of her, he would be pounced upon by her sister. He would also lose the opportunity to converse with Miss Crawley, which was his prime objective.
Happily, Miss Crawley made the decision for him by sheathing her sword, letting out a small sigh of regret and then walking off in the direction of her cottage. Ellery sensed that given the freedom of choice, she would have continued with her solitary dance for a lot longer, losing herself in the happy memories it generated.
By the time Ellery had reclaimed Legacy, Miss Crawley’s gig had caught up with him. Since the lady had disappeared from view, it was safe to assume that she would already be at the cottage, but he kept Legacy to a walking pace just to be sure.
Ellery found her outside the barn chopping wood, still dressed in her breeches. The sight of her pert derriere as she leaned into her task sent Ellery’s mind on a sensual detour that was as inevitable as it was inconvenient.
She turned at the sound of wheels and appeared startled to see him. Her hand flew to her dishevelled hair, then she glanced down at her attire and gave an imperceptible shrug, as though he only had himself to blame for her appearance by calling unexpectedly. Ellery would be very surprised if she apologised for the way she looked. As far as he was concerned, there was absolutely nothing to apologise for. He was enjoying the view immensely.
He was enjoying it a little too much.
Putting her axe aside, she wiped her hands down the sides of her breeches and walked over to meet him.
‘Lord Finchdean, I did not expect to see you today.’
‘I have come to deliver your gig and to enquire after your health.’
‘As to the latter, I am perfectly recovered, thank you.’
Ellery tutted, aware of the dark bruise that had formed on the side of her head now that he was standing close to her. The last thing she ought to have been doing was dancing around with a sword, or chopping logs for that matter. Any other young woman suffering a similar injury would have taken to her bed for a week. Somehow, Ellery wasn’t surprised to discover that Miss Crawley was the exception who proved that particular rule.
‘You should not be doing that,’ he said, nodding towards the logs.
‘They will not do themselves,’ she replied briskly. ‘Thank you for attending to the gig’s repairs so swiftly. It looks to be in much better condition than it was before the accident. You must let me pay for…’
Ellery held up a hand to halt the flow of words that tripped over themselves as they spilled from her lips. ‘The accident was as much my fault as it was yours, so we will call it quits.’
‘That is very generous of you,’ she said, watching Ellery’s groom as he unharnessed the cob.
‘Barnes here could do with some exercise,’ he said. ‘Barnes, finish chopping logs for the lady.’
‘Certainly, m’lord.’
The groom stripped off his coat, not looking in the least bit surprised by the unorthodox request, and set to with gusto.
‘I am once more in your debt,’ Miss Crawley said, walking away from the log pile, but not in the direction of the cottage.
Ellery was glad that her instincts coalesced with his own. She clearly didn’t want to have to fend off her sister, nor did she seem too concerned to be strolling with a belted earl, dressed like an urchin. Not that anyone with eyes in their head could ever mistake her for a boy, but still…
He fell into step beside her, content for the time being to allow absolute silence to reign between them.
