Lady X (6 page)

Sir Jacob had by now been slain both by her ‘take command and motherly diatribe’ and her spirit. His manner immediately became deferential as he said, “You are, of course, absolutely in the right of it. I can only attempt to make up for our conduct by personally seeing you safely to your destination.”

“Nonsense,” X said waving this off. “As long as your friend is finished driving the stage, I am hopeful of freshening up and going along as I originally planned.”

“Nevertheless, I shall personally attend you as your outrider,” he looked at Hunter. “We
all
will.”

“Indeed, Jacob, it is the least we can do,” Hunter responded and once again, Exerilla noted a devilish twinkle in his eyes.

A shuffling step brought their heads around to find Jerry Swit at the open doorway. He looked very pleased with himself and ready for another frolic. It occurred to Exerilla, that this was a very bad man. All her senses were repulsed by him and not just because of his recent behavior. She did not get a wave of evil from him, but she got one of devilry at any cost. Her natural instincts and magical components said this was a selfish and possibly dangerous man. She cold shouldered him and refused to look his way.

A young serving girl had attempted to walk by in the hall behind him, but hearing her; he turned and reached out, caught the girl by the arm and drew her to him. The serving girl giggled, but Exerilla was disgusted by everything about him. It was not the sort of behavior a gentleman engaged in while in a lady’s company.

“Jerry!” Jacob attempted to bring him to order. “We have a guest.” Jacob turned and hurriedly offered in an obvious attempt to make light of the situation, “Our driver, Miss Radley, Jerry Swit.”

Swit turned away from the little pretty maid at the door and stared at Exerilla intently as a low whistle escaped his lips.
“Whoa darlin’
, what have we here? You are the finest piece of…”

His lordship took a threatening step toward him and said, “If ye canna maintain manners in front of a lady, then I’ll be asking ye to leave.” No one listening or watching his lordship doubted his ability to carry through on the threat.

“Easy there Scotty,” Jerry Swit said. “No insult intended.” He smiled at Exerilla who immediately looked away once again.

Jacob stepped forward strategically blocking Swit from getting closer to Exerilla and said, “Jerry, Miss Radley was in the coach, you see and…”

Jerry cut him off and gently pushed him out of the way as he stepped toward her, “Were you my love? Did I shake you up a bit? Never mind, all is well that…”

Exerilla saw that his lordship was about to lay a threatening hand on Jerry and hurriedly interjected, “I prefer that when you speak, you don’t do it in my direction. I consider your actions way beyond my ability to forgive and besides that,
I don’t like you
.” She had gotten to her feet to tell him this, with one hand on her hip and the other wagging a finger at him. “As it happens all is not well that ends well. I have been virtually abducted and mean to report you to the authorities when I arrive in Dover at the stagecoach depot.”

“Do you, do you really mean to do that, love?” Jerry clucked his tongue. “Well then, perhaps I can make arrangements in that regard. Perhaps you shan’t reach Dover, any time soon.”

“Zounds, what kind of blackguard are you, Jerry?” Jacob was honestly shocked. He turned to Exerilla, “He doesn’t mean it, Miss Radley. He just always goes too far with his jests.”

“I don’t find him amusing,” Exerilla kept a watchful eye.

Jerry said on a low note, “But I find you beautiful.” Oddly enough, he surprised X by turning at that and sidling over to Hunter who was looking like a storm just before it erupts. He said in contemptuous voice, “I see you ordered dinner. Mean to feed the chit and soften her up, eh?”

MacTorry was on him. Apparently his effort to contain his temper failed in that moment. Exerilla watching him sucked in air. He looked like a veritable windstorm brewing itself into a full blown hurricane. She saw an ominous threat in his deep blue eyes. She put out a hand, “Please…we don’t wish to draw attention to ourselves.”

Hunter MacTorry’s voice was a low throttled growl as he spoke to Swit. “I already told ye, if ye doona mean to be polite ye may quit our company. Doona think that I shall tolerate much more of ye. If I have thus far, `tis because I doona wish to bring attention and scandal to Miss Radley, after all she has endured because of us. But if ye persist Jerry Swit, I may have to put an end to yer filthy mouth here and now.” So saying, he walked the two steps over giving his arm to Exerilla. “May I take you to the table, lass?”

She placed her hand on his forearm and stepped closer to him. She wasn’t sure what to make of the arrogant Scotsman, but she did feel safe in his company.

Why she should feel that way was beyond her immediate logic. All she knew was what she felt and what she felt was guided by her inner witch. She may have shielded her witch from detection, but it was there, deep inside mewling at her, guiding her, demanding wishfully for release. Her witch always recognized good and evil in warlocks and witches, but humans were a tricky lot. A soft sigh escaped her. She was in such a pickle.

~ Five ~

“YE HAVE HAD yer fun, Jerry, so now just leave it be,” his lordship’s voice was low, hard and underlined with a warning. He was sick of Swit and ready to land him a facer, sling him over his horse, tie him on and lead him to Dover as unconscious as he could keep him. He could keep him that way with the flick of his wrist, but one of the reasons he was going to Dover was to follow Swit to his ‘connection’.

It was obvious however, that the blackguard’s eye had wandered meaningfully over Miss Radley’s luscious form. It made him sick to see Swit look at her.

He wouldn’t allow the scoundrel to annoy her on his watch. He was going to have to determine a way to steer Swit in another direction. He couldn’t break with him. He had to continue the pretense of a shaky comradery and he had to manage him without coming to blows. Jerry was key to many things that he needed.

He saw Swit stare at Exerilla and clenched his fists as he watched the man’s gaze linger at her full breasts before traveling up to her luscious lips. He wanted to beat him into the ground; he ground his teeth with frustration.

He saw her seated within the confines of the stagecoach once again, but noted that her profile was visible at the window. Jerry wouldn’t take his eyes off her.

Even though the late afternoon light was giving way to the evening, her profile was tantalizing. Jerry’s interest was palpable as he stared at her and said, “No, I won’t let that pretty little bit of fluff get away from me just yet. I am not done with her.” His lips curved into something like a sneer, “I am not letting it stand, the way she talked to me. She needs a lesson, my kind of lesson.” He shrugged, “Besides, in the end she won’t be able to resist me. Women rarely can and a woman like her, so beautiful, her body so perfect, she was made for one thing, wasn’t she? And I mean to have that
one thing
before she gets to her destination. So if you don’t like the notion, you better hang back, you and young Jacob.”

“Damn your soul to perdition, ye blackguard,” his lordship seethed and hurriedly attempted to gain control. He wanted to land him a settler once and for all, and be done with Swit’s mouth for the night.

He controlled himself, for he couldn’t show his hand just yet. He needed to see this through and take charge. “Doona ye know, doona ye see that any clod can force a woman into his arms. It takes
a man
, a
real
man, to win a woman.”

Swit turned angry eyes on him. “What the devil do you mean by that? I’m as much man as the next and who says I will have to force her?”

“It is written all over yer face. Ye damn well know she can’t bear to look at ye. There is no other way ye can touch her, Jerry…only by force. She won’t have ye, and what’s more, ye know it,” his lordship returned dryly as he restrained himself and kept his fists at his side.

“Think I’m not man enough to seduce the chit? Are ye daft? She is just a green girl, all alone in the world. Any moonling could manage the young thing. What did ye think I meant to take her against her will in the coach?” He snorted. “I only want to soften her up for our next meeting.” He shrugged and added, “And if she won’t have me then… I might just force her. I can’t let a little bit of fluff get away with talking to me the way she did.”

“Not big enough to take a woman’s insult?” his lordship taunted. “I’d wager a man’s bet that given a month, ye couldn’t win her
fairly
to yer bed, let alone on the short remaining trip to Dover.”

“Fairly is it? What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?
Fairly?”

“Let’s widen yer scope, Jerry. I will allow ye all the usual measures save one, ye canna use force. Ye use any threat, physical or verbal with this woman and ye forfeit the wager
then I’ll
beat the bloody hell out of ye
,
I might even see ye dead. Are ye willing to risk all for a bit of payback?”

Jerry eyed him speculatively, “You think you can beat me to a pulp?”

“Let me ask ye, do ye
think
so?”

Swit laughed nervously, “And the wager?”

“High stakes, m’man, high stakes.”

“What then, one hundred guinea?” Swit’s breath came raggedly at the thought of so much money.

“Make it five,” his lordship returned the mock in his eyes.

“Easily!” snapped Swit. “But let us make this all the more interesting then. You enter the race my fine stud. She has to take one of us by the close of the month.”

His lordship frowned. He had introduced this wager to keep Jerry Swit at heel. He was absolutely certain that the American lovely would not be seduced by such a rum touch. He shouldn’t care, for that usually got a man into trouble. He rather liked Miss Radley’s spirit and the intriguing sensation of mystery that hung about the lass lured him in nearly as much as her beautiful face. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something about her was wildly different. Something in the way she spoke, in the way her mind sorted a problem; something about the way she sparkled and glittered, got to him, but
damn
he couldn’t be involved with a woman now. He had other matters at hand and he didn’t want to seduce the lass, that hadn’t been part of his plan. He shrugged, “Not m’sort of game, Swit.”

“Seduction has never been mine either. Mayhap, I don’t have the time. Think I’ll just have her anyway I can get her.”

“What of the money? Doona ye want it?” his lordship retorted irritably. “Doona ye wish to win it and best me?”

This time Swit shrugged, “I have other ways of earning my blunt, and besting you by doing the courting thing for a month, well that isn’t my priority at the moment.” He eyed his lordship darkly. “Unless you and I joust, so to speak for the lady, if you play the game with me, fine, for a wager like that, I’m in, otherwise, I’ll have her when and how I want.”

Jerry’s ego was as large as his moronic brain, his lordship thought. “Done,” he returned. He would at least be able to keep the man at bay and get her safely to her establishment tonight, there was no way in bloody hell he would let Swit near her. No doubt, once in Dover, attending to his secretive business, Jerry would forget all about her.

* * *

Exerilla heard their loud voices outside the coach and tried not to glance their way. She heard her name mentioned and was certain they were arguing about her. The white witch in her was on edge, sure that Jerry Swit meant her harm. He had not liked the way she had treated him throughout their meal.

He had not liked that she would not speak to him when he addressed her and perhaps that had not been wise, for she knew what he was, but she couldn’t bear to look at him, let alone speak to him.

She didn’t like Jerry Swit and she didn’t quite trust Lord MacTorry. The hunky Scotsman made her jittery and off balance and she was too attracted to him. Throwing Sir Jacob into the mix made it a veritable stew of ingredients that just did not blend well together. She could have put on her witch’s hearing and listened in on their conversation. They were close enough, but just at that moment she was startled and jumped as the carriage door opened wide.

She had forgotten about Sir Jacob.

He stood at the open door and a shy smile crossed his pleasant face, “Are you comfortable, Miss Radley?”

“Yes, thank you. Sir Jacob, if you really are intent on accompanying the coach to Dover, I would so rather you kept me company in here.” she glanced toward Swit and MacTorry in silent explanation.

He understood at once, and his chivalry came to the fore. “With the greatest of pleasure,” he said as he climbed into the carriage and took the seat opposite Exerilla.

Jerry Swit shouted immediately, “Jacob
! I say
, what the devil do you think you are doing?”

Sir Jacob opened the window and stuck his head out to smirk at Swit, but did not bother to reply as he closed the window and situated himself. He patted the worn leather and said, “Not all that awful for a stagecoach. I had thought it would be worse.”

Exerilla laughed, but as his lordship rode up at that moment, bent down to the closed window and said with a chuckle, “Looks like Jerry and I are both in the cold, cut out by young Jake!”

She couldn’t help but smile at his sense of humor and sat back against the squabs as the coach slowly moved forward.

Earlier the coachman had begged her forgiveness and she had reassured him that she did not blame him for the harrowing ride at Jerry Swit’s hands. She had told him she was thankful that the ‘bloods’ as he called them, had finally tired of the sport and had decided only to follow the coach instead of drive it.

The countryside took on a subtle change as they left the rolling green downs and approached the coastline. Exerilla was scarcely able to do more than glance now and then, as Sir Jacob kept her entertained with a lively conversation.

She saw at once by the innocent look in his eyes that he loved his home in Dover.

“My family’s estate is called Cressly Towers,” he told her brightly. “It was once styled in Tudor fashion, but my forefathers each wanted to put their own stamp to the place. and the wings that my ancestors installed over the years have given a more modern feel to the original structure.

“I am amazed that you have been away so long. You seem to love your home,” she said curiously.

He looked at her oddly and agreed, “Yes, yes I do, but…well, life does take one in different directions. But I am pleased to return now.”

She saw his reluctance to expound on this, and let it go. He was easy to talk to on so many levels and fun to listen to as well. She was able to interject a question here and there and before they knew it, they found themselves diving into the beginnings of a comfortable friendship.

“So there you have it,” he said rubbing his knees. “Swit heard I was determined to head to the Towers and set it in order and took an interest. When he heard I had also inherited my father’s yacht, he could talk of nothing else.”

“What about his lordship? Was he too interested in viewing the Towers and your yacht?” she asked curiously.

He frowned, “No, I don’t think he was. Once he heard that Jerry was bound to accompany me, he said he would join us and make a party of it.” He shrugged, “I was glad for the company, but although I once enjoyed Swit’s company, I have found that Hunter is quite correct about Jerry Swit, but I am rather stuck with him at the moment.” He bit his lip as though wishing he could take back this last statement, so Exerilla let it slide.

“Once you are settled in, he probably won’t be such a bother,” she said encouragingly.

He shook his head, “I didn’t realize what a brute he actually is. Just thought he was a bit of wild fun, I should have known, but once I did, it was too late.” he looked away.

She didn’t want to pry, though something in his words made her think that something more was troubling him.

She decided to adopt a wait and see attitude and withheld any comment. She dearly wanted to say just what she thought of Jerry Swit, but she had done that already, so instead she told Jacob about her love of horses.

His face brightened and he said with some enthusiasm, “Indeed, my family was… up until my father’s death very involved. We bred some of the finest race horses in the south of England.”

“Oh wow, didn’t you wish to continue after you lost your father?”

His face fell, “I…was devastated for a time. We were close, and…it didn’t seem to matter after he was gone. I have come to see that he would be quite annoyed if he took a look down…” Jacob grinned, “And saw how I have neglected the family enterprise. Mean to put it back in order…for him and because I have missed it.”

“Sounds amazing,” she said her tone enthusiastic.

He beamed proudly, “My grandfather started it all. He loved racing, loved breeding winners and did it for the fun of it. My father saw that it could be profitable and began a business out of it. Men flocked from all over to buy a Cressly foal.” He sighed. “I should have been here overseeing, continuing what he started. He frowned. “But I got caught up with the London crowd, you see…and…it has all gone to ruin.”

“You were young and breaking loose. That’s normal, so don’t beat yourself up over it.”

He touched her hand, “Thank you. That is very kind of you to say.”

“It is the truth. Life gives us choices and I know that we sometimes choose what we will later regret, but you can’t do what you aren’t ready to do until you are ready. It looks to me like you are now ready.”

“I love your American way of speaking. So direct,” he laughed. “And you are right. I thought my father would live forever. He was so big and strong, but he caught a chill, it was only a chill and then suddenly almost overnight he was gone.” I was so angry. I returned to London right after the funeral and tried to forget that he was no longer back home in Dover.”

“He is home,” she pointed at his chest. “Inside your heart and wherever you go.”

From that moment on, Exerilla realized they would be good friends. She shouldn’t be making these kinds of friendships in this century. It wasn’t fair to them and it wasn’t fair to her either. One day in the near future she would return to her home and vanish as though she had never been there. The people she allowed to get close would wonder for the rest of their lives what happened to her. It was too late, she and Jacob were already friends. She would figure out the rest at another time.