Page 25 of The Hired Hero
So he thought to manage her like his horse? Caroline reined in her temper, settling for what she considered a mild response.
“Satisfied?”
“For now.”
She restrained the urge to deliver a swift kick to his shins.
After a strained silence, she tried another tack of questioning. “Are we to travel on back roads for the entire journey?”
“Do you wish to set the route as well?” he countered, a touch of sarcasm creeping into his tone.
She noticed that he avoided using her name and, in fact, had ceased making even the slightest attempt at polite address—now it was not even “miss.”
Ye heavens, the man was absolutely infuriating. But he was her only choice.
“As I am unfamiliar with this part of the country, it would be a useless endeavor on my part.”
“Ah, something on which you are not the expert,” he muttered acidly. “I hadn’t thought it possible.”
That struck her as unfair. “Are you always so deliberately rude to a lady?” she inquired through gritted teeth.
“Lady?” He finally turned to look at her, his dark brows arching up as his eyes swept over her breeches, shabby coat and drooping cap. “I thought I was riding with my groom. As such, there is little need to be charming.”
With that, he spurred Nero into a trot.
Some time later, they made a brief stop beside a river to allow the horses to drink and take a short respite from the road. Davenport fished out a packet of cold ham and a wedge of Stilton from his bag, along with half a loaf of bread and a bottle of cider. He laid everything out on the ground and, after helping himself to a hefty portion, went to stand with his back to her, looking out over the water as he ate.
His behavior was worse than boorish, decided Caroline as she helped herself to a few morsels. But then, what else should she expect from such a man? Why, he probably had no more sense of civility than his horse. If he was determined to be unspeakably rude throughout the entire trip, she would not give him the satisfaction of seeing that it bothered her.
And she certainly wouldn’t admit she wasn’t up to matching his stamina, which was what he seemed intent on doing. So although she dearly would have liked to linger and rest her aching limbs in the late-morning sun, she hurriedly finished the last of her cheese and caught up the reins of her mount.
“Whenever you are ready,” she called with a show of obvious impatience as she hoisted herself into the saddle.
The earl threw the remains of his meal into the swirling currents and remounted without a word.
* * *
He was being unspeakably rude.
Davenport knew it, and yet the knowledge only made him feel more disgruntled at his situation. It was his own fault for agreeing to the outrageous proposal, but that did nothing to improve his humor.
What the devil had caused him to agree to shepherd the young lady to London?The money?He wanted to tell himself it was that, but he knew it wasn’t the truth. Something in her sparking eyes had revealed a touching vulnerability.
And fool that he was, he had been incapable of turning his back on her.
His hands tightened on the reins, causing the big stallion to shy. With a silent curse, he patted the horse’s neck in apology, then suddenly urged Nero into a full gallop, as if the effort could give vent to his anger. A string of oaths followed, all directed at himself. How had he been such a gudgeon once again to let a helpless young lady use him to her advantage?
His mouth quirked involuntarily at the corners as he recalled the image of Caroline-Whoever-She-Was pounding neck and leather out over the field on his stallion. Perhaps “helpless” was not the right word for this particular young lady.
But then his jaw set as he wondered, not for the first time, why it seemed to be that the cruel men in this world attracted the opposite sex, like a moth to a flame. Helen’s face came to mind, her porcelain skin suspiciously darkened, her eyes desperate, crying for help. He had forgiven her for turning to him for support.
But he had not forgiven himself for being so weak-willed.
It wouldn’t ever happen again.
He meant to care for nothing but his own future and restoring his lands and name to respectability. This morning had been a regrettable lapse in judgement, but he had been tired and preoccupied with other problems.
She had taken him by surprise. It was damned unfair of her to expect him to be her knight in shining armor.
