A Suitable Bride (10 page)

He glanced around the table making sure he didn’t seem to be looking at anyone in particular. ‘There appear to be as many young gentlemen as ladies – how can that be?’

His sister frowned. ‘Are you sure? Obviously the invitations included the head of the household, but only three accepted. As far as I can recall there were only a dozen male siblings accompanying their sisters and mamas.’

‘Surely the housekeeper would have informed you of any additions to our guest list.’ Under the pretence of wiping his lips on his napkin he did a quick headcount of those present at the table. ‘There are approximately twenty-six young ladies, fifteen matrons, five older gentlemen and twenty unattached young men.’

Beau had overheard his comment. ‘Small wonder Peebles wasn’t ready to announce dinner at the usual time. He must have been frantically adding extra covers to accommodate these uninvited guests.’

‘I cannot imagine why Anderson hasn’t approached me with the problem. I must speak to her after dinner and get an updated list of who is actually present. It must be quite unprecedented to host a prestigious house party like this and then discover we have acquired unknown guests.’

‘Word must have got around that this is to be a marriage mart and the extra men will be those sons who initially refused our invitation,’ Bennett told his sister.

No more was said on this subject and the dinner continued until Madeline stood up to lead the ladies away, leaving the gentlemen to their port. This was an ideal opportunity to discover who these interlopers were and whether they posed a threat to his intentions.

By the time the port had been passed three times he was certain only four of the men at the table were a danger to his marital plans. Five had come merely to participate in the horse races and he would have to examine their mounts before he could decide if they were a threat or not. He doubted anybody had a horse that could beat either Lucifer or Rufus. The rest were merely here to enjoy themselves and flirt with the young ladies.

He’d had enough of socialising and despite his intention to circulate this evening he sloped off as soon as Beau stood up. He headed straight for the stables with the intention of talking to his head groom, if he was still available, about the contenders for the races next week.

A movement by the paddock which contained Miss DuPont’s horses gave him pause. Was she outside too?

Chapter Ten

Grace returned to her apartment and carefully removed her evening gown and hung it on the rail. There was no point in creasing this as she would need to wear it again. She couldn’t settle and it was far too early to retire.

She gazed longingly at the park and decided she would go for a ride. Hastily she donned her riding habit before slipping down the backstairs and out into the early evening sunshine. With luck there would be no one in the stables as the staff would expect their masters and mistresses to still be at dinner.

She’d been unable to pin on her military-style riding cap as the stitches got in the way. She would be relieved when the doctor returned to remove them and she could wash her hair properly and put it up the way she preferred.

There was a lone stableboy in the yard sitting on an upturned bucket and he jumped to his feet. ‘I wish you to bring my saddle down to the paddock, I’ll take the bridle. Has my stallion been groomed today?’

The lad shook his head vigourously. ‘No, miss, he’ll not let anyone near. I’ll bring the brushes and such and then go back for his saddle, shall I?’

‘Thank you, I expect his feet will need picking out as well.’

She wasn’t surprised Rufus had been left to his own devices – he could be terrifying when he so wished. There was no sign of the horses when she reached the gate so they must be behind the stand of trees at the far end. She stood on the bars and called. Immediately he galloped into sight, closely followed by the four carriage horses.

Rufus had been rolling in the mud and it took both her and the willing stableboy over an hour to brush him clean. The sun was setting but she still had an hour or two before it got dark. After thanking the boy for his assistance she mounted and set off to explore the grounds.

Fortunately there was sufficient moonlight to guide her back – she’d stayed out so long it was now full dark. She dismounted and quickly removed the heavy side-saddle and put it on the fence whilst she opened the gate and led Rufus into the field.

‘Off you go, old fellow, go and find your companions. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ The stallion tossed his head and trotted into the darkness. Grace carefully closed the gate and fastened it and then was about to pick up the saddle when a shadowy figure stepped in beside her.

‘Allow me, Miss DuPont, it’s far too heavy for you.’

‘Lord Sheldon, what are you doing out here? I thought everyone safe inside.’ This was hardly a friendly response to his kind offer.

His teeth flashed white. ‘Like you I prefer to be in the fresh air.’ He reached across and removed the bridle from her unresisting hand. ‘I’ll put these away; you’d better get inside before you’re seen.’

She was halfway along the path before it occurred to her that they had parted on bad terms earlier this evening, and she’d done nothing to improve the situation by her less than courteous reply. Tomorrow she would make a point of searching him out and apologising for her shrewish behaviour; she had no wish for him to think badly of her.

As she’d given Annie the evening free her maid would not know about this night-time excursion. However, Aunt Sarah was waiting in her sitting room and didn’t appear to be impressed by Grace’s absence.

‘Good gracious, what were you thinking of, my dear? Haven’t you caused enough speculation this evening without wandering about outside in the dark on your own?’

‘I don’t care. In fact, I wish I’d never come here. I think it might be best if we leave as soon as my stitches are removed. We must find ourselves a small cottage to live in until I reach my majority and can access my inheritance.’

‘Things aren’t as bad as that, Grace. From my lowly position further down the table I was privy to the gossip. The fact that you pointedly ignored Lord Sheldon and then left the table and didn’t return has reassured the predatory matrons that you’re not a contender for the position as his wife.’

‘There’s something about that man that brings out the very worst in me. I can’t be in his company for more than a minute without us being at daggers drawn. He also told me that Mr Peabody’s of no use to me as his mother would never allow an alliance between us.’

‘Then shall we forget about your notion to marry? I think your suggestion that we find ourselves a small house and live there quietly for the next eighteen months is worth considering. I’ve managed to save sufficient to keep us for a few months – we just need another twenty guineas or so to put this plan into action.’

‘I just remembered that there are monetary prizes for each race and a further generous amount for the overall winner. In fact I believe that every event carries some sort of financial reward.’ She hugged her companion. ‘We’ll stay until I’ve garnered enough to keep us and then we shall leave. I think we’d better find somewhere to live before we go – I wonder if we could rent something in a village not too far away from the stud.’

‘I shall start making enquiries, my dear, as I’ve got friends in the neighbourhood who can look for something suitable. Don’t you think your father will search for you when you fail to return?’

‘I doubt that he’ll be too bothered. If he can’t gain access to the drawing rooms of society by marrying me to an aristocrat, then I’m no use to him.’

‘In which case, I’m happy to assist you in this endeavour. I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you changed your mind about making a marriage of convenience. One day you will meet a gentleman you can love and will be glad you didn’t throw away your chance of happiness.’

‘That’s a pleasant thought to retire with, Aunt Sarah. I need to look at the itinerary and see what’s planned tomorrow – if there’s something that’s offering a monetary prize, then I shall enter.’

‘Don’t you remember, my love, nothing of any interest starts until the weekend which is still two days away. The physician is coming the day after tomorrow to remove your stitches and then you’ll be able to participate in everything.’

They bid each other a fond goodnight and agreed to meet for breakfast at ten o’clock when the gentlemen should have eaten and gone about their business. Grace wished to make it clear to anyone who cared to listen that she wasn’t in the running for the contest to secure Lord Sheldon’s hand in marriage. Once she’d established this fact she hoped to be able to glean important information about the gentlemen’s horses in order to know if there were any others, apart from Lucifer, that might prove a stumbling block to her plans.

As she settled down for the night she thought about the horse races. Presumably his lordship wouldn’t accept the prize even if he won, but would give it to the contestant who came second, and this, God willing, would be her.

The next two days passed pleasantly enough and Grace found companionship with one or two of the young ladies present. She made certain she sat as far away as possible from the Silchester family. She avoided the necessity to dance as she retired immediately after dinner with the excuse that her head was still painful.

The sutures were removed and the doctor pronounced himself delighted. As soon as he’d gone Annie fetched several jugs of hot water and Grace was able to wash her hair. She sat in the window seat with it loose about her shoulders whilst the sun streamed in and dried it.

‘Aunt Sarah, a dozen or more guests are going out for a hack in half an hour’s time and I intend to be with them. However, I’m not riding Rufus but one of the duke’s horses, as I’ve no wish to show his prowess prematurely and warn my adversaries what to expect.’

‘I’m going to sit in the garden with two of the matrons and continue with my embroidery. It’s fortunate indeed that not all of the ladies present are as unpleasant as Lady Peabody. She has endeared herself to no one and I feel sorry for her daughter who seems a perfectly pleasant young lady.’

They agreed to meet up before dinner in Grace’s sitting room. The house had come alive in the past few days and was a positive hive of activity. Every chamber appeared to be occupied and there was a constant ebb and flow of guests from the reception rooms to the gardens and park.

She nodded and smiled at all she met and arrived at the stable yard confident she was no longer an outsider, but part of the group. Her dogs had also adapted to their new surroundings and were universally popular with those they came into contact with.

There were a dozen or more guests milling about in the yard, but there was only one other young lady present, all the rest were gentlemen.

A familiar voice hailed her. ‘Miss DuPont, I gather you’ve requested one of my brother’s mounts. Does that mean your stallion is unfit?’

She turned to speak to Lord Sheldon. ‘I take him out at dawn, my lord, so he’s been exercised already. However, I enjoy riding in company so have requested a horse from your stables. I hope that’s not a problem?’

He shook his head. ‘Not at all. And in case you’re worried about being given a nag, you may rest assured that you’ll like the animal I’ve had allocated to you. Not quite of the calibre of your stallion, but a fine beast.’

A groom approached with a tall, bay gelding. He touched his cap and turned the horse so she could mount. Her bent leg was grasped by his lordship, and he tossed her into the saddle. Was it her imagination or had he gripped her booted ankle more tightly than was strictly necessary?

She gathered the reins and guided her horse through the archway and onto the expanse of grass that led to the home paddocks. There were already several other riders and her eyes were drawn immediately to a massive grey that was cavorting and prancing, making every effort to remove his rider.

The gentleman in question had an excellent seat and merely laughed each time the horse bucked. After a few minutes the animal settled and she raised her whip in an acknowledgement of his horsemanship.

He was not much older than herself, had corn-coloured hair cut short as was fashionable nowadays, and regular features. He was walking his horse towards her when Lord Sheldon appeared on his black stallion and came between them – whether deliberately or by happenstance, she’d no idea.

‘There are so many of us I think it would be wise to move off and let the others fall in behind when they’re ready. How do you like Bruno, Miss DuPont?’

‘Very well indeed, thank you, sir.’ She had no option but to follow his suggestion and was dismayed to be obliged to ride beside him after all her efforts to remain invisible these past two days.

Once they were a safe distance away from the milling horses she reined back. ‘Excuse me, my lord, but I think it would be preferable for me to ride with the other lady, not with the gentlemen.’

‘I doubt that Miss Forsyth will stay out very long – she’s an indifferent horsewoman. No, you’d do far better staying with us if you want a decent hack across country.’

Grace kept her mount stationary and didn’t reply. He was forced to continue otherwise he would have created confusion when the other riders trotted up. The young lady was struggling to control her mount.

‘Bring him alongside me, my lady, he’ll settle down then.’

The girl managed to do this with some difficulty but as soon as she was next to Bruno things became calmer. ‘Thank you, Miss DuPont, Mama insisted that I come out this afternoon as everybody knows how much Lord Sheldon admires a good rider.’ She smiled. ‘Nothing I could say would convince her that I would do myself no good by demonstrating to him my shocking lack of proficiency.’

‘Shall we let them go on ahead and find ourselves a more gentle route? There’s a pleasant track that runs past the lake and requires no jumping of ditches or hedges.’

‘In which case, Miss DuPont, I shall be delighted to accompany you. Mama has told me to stay away from you as you’re a trifle wild. She’ll be hopping mad when she discovers we’ve spent time together.’

Grace was unsure how to respond to this ingenuous remark. ‘I’ve no wish to cause dissension in your family, my lady, perhaps it would be better if you returned to the stables.’

‘Absolutely not! Coming here was my mother’s idea, for some reason she thinks I’ll be able to attract Lord Sheldon. I cannot imagine what attributes she thinks I have that outshine the other young ladies here. I’m an indifferent rider, only passably pretty and not especially witty either. Fortunately I have the one thing that’s essential – a staggeringly large dowry.’

They were now under a canopy of trees but the path was too narrow to ride side by side and Bruno took the lead. This meant that their conversation must cease until they could be together again. However, her companion had other ideas and tried to push her horse closer by veering off the path.

Bruno, startled by the crashing of branches, snatched his bit between his teeth and bolted. Grace heard a despairing cry behind her but was too occupied in bringing her horse under control to turn back and help. Miss Forsyth had taken a tumble and her riderless mount was thundering along behind Bruno, adding to his terror.

*

Bennett intended to lead the group across country taking in several massive hedges and fences in order to get a feel of the opposition. He watched Grace turn aside and take her companion into the trees then, just as he was about to push forward, he heard a scream coming from that direction.