An Affair with Mr. Kennedy (25 page)

Z
eno stepped off the train at Farnham Station at exactly thirty-seven minutes past four o’clock in the afternoon, just seven minutes off schedule. He swayed a bit on his feet.

“Mr. Kennedy?” A tall, athletic young man with sandy-brown hair and clear gray eyes, no doubt a dominant Erskine trait, approached him. “I’m Cassie’s brother. Rob Erskine.”

He held out his hand. “Call me Zak.”

The cooler Surrey air made a refreshing change from the thick, oppressive humidity of the crowded rail coach. A damp shirt clung to his back and he unbuttoned his jacket.

“Splendid, you came dressed to ride.” Cassie’s youngest brother studied him with an open, honest face and curious eyes. “You look a bit wilted. The commuters bugger us all on warm days.”

Zeno nodded, glancing around the emptying platform.

“Cassie waits for us in the woodlot across the lane.” Rob pointed to a stand of sycamore trees.

He squinted. “Ah, there she is.” She sat astride a striking gray hunter holding the reins of two other first-class mounts. She waved to him.

He raised an arm in return and a bruised rib reminded him he was still on the mend. A cool breeze ruffled his clothes and hair. For a moment, he could not take his eyes off her. Rob politely nudged his bag out of his hand and carried the suitcase
to a small luggage cart parked by the side of the station platform.

Zeno followed after, taking long strides to stretch his legs and get the blood flowing. “Cass and I mean to give you a tour. Take the long way round the village and surroundings. By the time we arrive home, you’ll have your tosser up again.” Rob patted the pockets of his riding breeches. “Sorry, don’t have a farthing on me.”

Zeno paid the driver and headed off across the road, his eye on the prettier Erskine
.
Without a doubt. Her hair was tied back with a velvet ribbon and she wore a simple white shirt, open at the collar but neatly tucked into tight-fitting breeches. As he and Rob drew closer, he could see there was no hiding her figure—from anyone. Her shifting seat and repeated glances signaled she expected his disapproval. This modern Erskine woman displayed a rather perverse need to unsettle him.

Zeno determined then and there not to lift an eyebrow over her attire. Two could play this game. He removed his hat and coat. “I find the afternoon air much too sultry for jackets. And the idea of wearing a hat without a coat, well …” He shrugged.

“And there isn’t much point to this.” Zeno unbuttoned his waistcoat.

“I say, grand idea.” Rob shrugged out of his jacket and grabbed Zeno’s things. “I’ll just toss these on top of your bag.”

“Hold on.” Zeno loosed his tie and unbuttoned his collar, tossing both to Rob. “Might as well finish the job.”

“Dog’s bollocks.” Rob grinned at his sister. “I do believe Zak and I shall get on.”

Zeno returned to Cassie and executed a slow, purposeful once-over with his eyes. A faint curl to his lip likely alerted her to his frame of mind. “You look beautiful, as always, Cassie.”

Rob’s cheerful adviso came a bit late. “That’s it, Zak. No use letting Erskine women know when they’re shocking. It only encourages them.”

She wrinkled her nose at her brother. “It is by mother’s request I ride astride. She claims the gates and hedgerows we jump are too wide and high.” She handed off reins to her brother. “Besides, Zak has been forewarned.”

Rob brought round a handsome bay hunter. “This is Jupiter, he’s our brother Jamie’s horse. Very athletic, good-hearted character with a bit of a temper. Dad said you were in the dragoons—you’re going to love him.”

Zeno checked the girth.

“Give you a leg up?” Rob offered.

He nodded. “With these ribs taped, I believe I’ll need one.” Rob gave him a boost onto the saddle and made small adjustments to his stirrup lengths.

Reining his horse alongside Cassie’s, Zeno let his gaze move from her smiling eyes, down the rounded curve of her backside to long legs fitted into tall, black top boots. She rode astride with beautiful form, shoulders back, toes up, heels down.
Exactly where he wanted them later this evening when they were alone together.

“You appear ready for a vigorous romp in the countryside, Cassie.”

“Indeed I am.” A rush of color to her cheek suggested she took his meaning, but her gaze remained focused on the road ahead. “However, I must tell you I have been instructed to take it slow and easy with you.”

“I cannot express how much I look forward to the ride.” He waited for a smile. When she tossed back her head and laughed, he collected his reward.

“I find you both clever and charming when you wish to be, Zak.”

“Ah.” He grinned. “That is because I am inspired, Cassie.”

Once they wound their way through the bustling little village, Rob led them off onto rugged back roads where they cantered the horses along a narrow trail that crossed a wide expanse of meadow and jumped a few low hedgerows. Cassie looked back with a smile. “You seem healthy enough for another gate or two.”

“Lead on.” Zeno’s heartbeat drummed in his chest. His leg muscles ached a bit but the exercise felt wonderful.

Wonderful to be alive.

Jupiter sailed over thicket fences, wooden gates, and an ancient stone wall. Zeno followed the two Erskines as they splashed their way through a neighborhood brook, and galloped up a broad expanse of hill.

On the rise of a craggy slope overlooking Muirfield Park, he reined Jupiter in alongside Cassie’s mount. With a shine in her eyes, flushed cheeks, and a few wild wisps of hair about her face, she could not have looked lovelier. He turned to the view of her family home. “So this is where you grew up, Cassie. Enchanting.”

She shifted her gaze to him. “It does me good to be home, even for short visits.”

Far from a stern gothic fortress, the Erskine manse resembled more of a rambling Tudor manor house comfortably set among an idyllic park filled with formal gardens, wilderness, and a pond large enough for a good swim.

He gave his horse several good strong pats on the neck and received a gentle snort in answer. “What a hardy chap this one is.”

“Ripping,” Rob enthused. “Jupiter is perhaps the best mount in the stable. Takes an experienced hand though, like you or Jamie. He has sorely tested lesser riders.”

Cassie’s brows drew together as she chewed a lip. “If we take Piper’s Lane through the woods, will that leave us off near to our park entrance?”

“Haven’t taken that route in ages.” Rob swept a hand through unruly locks and nodded. “Good memory, Cass.”

She led the way up a narrow byway just as an open landau approached them. They guided their horses up a berm to one side of the lane to clear the way. The carriage slowed, revealing a merry party of four. A pair of ladies sat opposite two gentlemen, out for an afternoon’s drive. Zeno inhaled a sharp, painful breath as he recognized Lord Delamere.

His lordship tipped his hat. “Well, if it isn’t the Erskine clan out with their celebrated weekender.” Cold eyes examined his faded cuts and bruises. “In the news again, Mr. Kennedy?”

“Lord Delamere.”

Neither Cassie nor Rob greeted his lordship. In fact, Rob’s steely-eyed expression appeared murderous, which neatly fit into Zeno’s own notions about the man.

Zeno sat back in the saddle, while he and the arrogant lord eyed one another. Delamere had them at a disadvantage. They were, all three of them, in a near scandalous state of dishabille. He and Rob rode without jackets or hats, but Cassie was by far the most provocative of all. His lordship appeared transfixed and made no secret about his admiration, leching over every inch of her.

Zeno glanced across the carriage to the women in Delamere’s party, perfectly attired in spring frocks. The young ladies nervously twirled parasols and could not help twittering at the sight of men with a bit of chest hair peeking out of open collarless shirts.

For a moment, Zeno almost laughed. Good God, he was becoming an Erskine.

“Someone must keep me up on the latest rage. Have breeches come into fashion along with pantaloons, Mrs. St. Cloud?” Delamere’s expression transmuted from lurid ogler to ruffled peer.

To Cassie’s credit, she gave everyone in the open carriage a cool, elegant stare even as her lips curled into a
dry, mocking smile.

“A lady may risk such attire when escorted by gentlemen she can trust.”

She turned her horse toward the road ahead and with a light tap, her mount moved smoothly away from the carriage into a fast canter. He and Rob delivered a polite nod to the women in the group. “Ladies.”

As they galloped up the rise after Cassie, Zeno announced, “I grow to hate that man.”

Rob returned the sentiment. “I should have killed him when I had the chance.” They crested the hill and found Cassie waiting for them in a field ahead. Zeno cued Jupiter to slow to a walk and Rob followed suit.

“We ran into Delamere at the Stanfield Ball. I have not asked Cassie directly, but there appears to be a story between them too private or distressing to speak of.”

Rob glowered. “He tried to rape her when she was seventeen, on the evening of her coming out.”

His jaw clenched. “Might I ask what he is doing here in Surrey?” Zeno kept his eyes trained on the fair woman up ahead.

“Part of his estate borders Muirfield. It makes our place look like a tenant cottage by comparison.”

“He made a remark to Cassie at the ball. Something about—” Zeno adjusted his seat. “He had asked for her hand and received a bruising refusal?”

“Isn’t he the clever fellow?” Rob halted his mount. “He offered for her, and Cassie refused him.
On the evening of her first ball, she went missing. Jamie heard a cry and was the first to find them. Delamere had her against a wall with her skirts up. The daft man tried to force the marriage.” Rob shook his head. “We beat him within an inch of his life.”

A protective and possessive impulse broke in ferocious waves over him. “Ever the practiced gentleman,” Zeno bit out. “Would that I had been there with you.”

His near primal anger elicited a wry grin from Rob. “Next time you’re around him, note the permanent scar above his right eye. I take credit for that.”

Zeno glanced ahead as they cleared the wood and approached the meadow. Cassie tugged loose her hair ribbon and unleashed honey-brown waves. “Lead the way, fair Lady Godiva, your chevaliers are here to attend you.”

Once inside the park, they cooled off the horses before returning them to a single groom in the stables. The noticeable lack of servants about the grounds and in the house signaled a relaxed, informal weekend. Zeno breathed a sigh of relief.

Cassie led him to the orangery, where he made his greetings to her parents. Dr. Erskine moved to stand as they stepped into the airy conservatory. “So how did it go, Zak? I hope Cassie and Rob heeded my warning and took it easy on you.”

“He took a few jumps without complaint.” Cassie kissed her father’s cheek. “I’m afraid we couldn’t talk him out of it.”

Dr. Erskine winked. “Legs wobbly?”

“Perhaps a bit,” he admitted. “I’ll be sore enough in the morning.”

“I can see the vigor returned to your cheeks.” Olivia gave them both a once-over. “Darling, show Zak upstairs to his room, and do refresh yourselves in a hurry. You are both expected to make an appearance for tea.”

Cassie escorted him upstairs and showed him the recently finished water closet. She then opened doors to at least three rooms before they found his luggage. “Ah, Mother has put you in Jamie’s old room.”

“Your two other brothers, Cole and Jamie—?”

“Off in the Americas. Father has advised them to find their fortune, for he is done financing their adventures.”

Zeno grinned. As she turned to leave, he pulled her back into the room and locked the door. “Do you mind?”

“Do I mind what, Zeno?”

“Do you mind stepping out of those breeches and bending over the bed? I’m in great need of you, darling.”

“Was that ‘darling’ an afterthought or an attempt to be charming?” She ran a finger down the buttons on his shirt. “And what shall be left for us to do after supper and requisite Erskine family parlor games? I intend on sneaking into your room after charades and a ripping game of ‘Lookabout.’”

They both snorted a quiet laugh.

He approached her gently and nuzzled her neck. “I do promise to be quick about it. And after I am easily sated, I shall pleasure you—just enough to make you aroused for me.”

Cassie smiled a delicious, wanton goddess smile.

“FATHER SAYS HE regularly receives alarming reports from neighboring farms about the roadster,” Cassie teased her brother. “In fact, Mr. McMurphy claims his cows don’t give milk like they used to.” She led the way through the garden to a large workshop built under a wing of the house.

“That particular incident was caused by one of my rockets.” He turned to Zeno. “Started a small fire in his dairy shed. I ran over and put the damned thing out the moment it happened, but there was plenty of bellyaching over it.” Her brother brushed back a lock of hair fallen into his eyes. “No matter. The entire village thinks the Erskine offspring a wild bunch of young bohemians.”

“Father correctly calls us
civilized
bohemians.” Her gaze slid to Zeno with a wink. He offered a ready grin in return. She found it most satisfying to see him happy and relaxed. Well sated, if you will. In his room, before tea, Zeno had taken his satisfaction, then released her with a playful smack to her derriere. At the touch of his expert hands, she had experienced such a wave of arousal, she couldn’t quite stop thinking about the pleasure that would soon
be hers. She wanted him desperately, exactly as promised.

“Here we are.” Rob rolled back the shed doors. “Presenting Robert’s roadster. Powered by one of Daimler’s experimental engines. Single carburetor. Uses petrol fuel. Equal to the pull of eight horses.”

Zeno’s eyes lit up, his hands on his hips. “Blimey, Rob. This is brilliant.” Zeno took a walk around the horseless carriage with her brother and even crawled underneath to have a look at the drive shaft and axle.