The Hellion and The Heartbreaker (6 page)

“Oh,” was
all she said.  She looked down and fiddled with her napkin for a
moment.  When she looked back up he was still watching her, his expression
inscrutable.  She met his steady gaze.  “I’m sorry,” she said, and
she really was.

Alec had
always been fairly good at reading people, and though it was possible she was
playing him for a fool, in that moment he believed she was sincere.  They
regarded each other in silence for a time.  Surprisingly, as he met her
earnest gaze, he felt his animosity begin to lesson.  She was just a child
after all.  Though all was not forgiven nor forgotten, at least not yet,
perhaps it
was
time for a truce.  “Your brother told me that he
purchased a fine couple of Arabians last month,” he said, extending an olive
branch, hoping he wouldn’t regret it.  “Perhaps you would be kind enough
to show them to me.” 

Scarlett’s
features lit up instantly. 

“Unless of
course you have already got one picked out for yourself,” he added, raising his
left eyebrow dubiously, though his tone was clearly teasing.

Scarlett
couldn’t help but smile shyly at his playful quip.  “I’d like that, and
no, I don’t.”  Their gazes held, the tension between them slowly
dissipating.  “Thank you for not telling Colin about what I did.”

“You’re
welcome.”

His soft
smile caused her heart to skip a beat.

Scarlett’s
answering smile gave Alec a moment’s pause.  She really was a lovely young
girl. With those wide blue eyes and her striking coloring, she was likely to be
a real beauty someday. 
Hmm
, soon enough Colin might just have his
hands full for an entirely different reason, he mused.  The thought
reminded him of the altercation he had witnessed the previous day and piqued
his curiosity.  “Forgive my boldness,” he began, eyeing her speculatively,
“but I must admit to being curious as to what you and your brother were arguing
about yesterday.”

Scarlett’s
smile quickly vanished at the reminder of Briarwood.  “Colin wants me to
attend a finishing school this fall.”

“I
see.”  He could hardly fault Colin for that, for it was a common
occurrence for young ladies of their class to attend such establishments. 
“And you don’t want to go?”

She shook
her head from side to side, her expression glum.

“May I ask
why not?”

“It’s a
waste of time,” she began.  “Dance lessons, watercolors, flower arranging,
learning the proper way to pour tea; it’s all so ridiculous.”

Alec noted
the flicker of ire in her eyes and stifled the urge to chuckle.  Yes,
Colin definitely had his hands full with this unconventional miss.  “Ah, I
see your point.  But in your brother’s defense, although etiquette lessons
and the like may not be the most stimulating form of education, they do serve a
purpose.”

“The
purpose being that I will be able to enter Society and land myself a proper
husband.”  Scarlett rolled her eyes.

Alec
couldn’t help being amused by the blunt assertion that was surprisingly on the
mark.  “Well, there is that,” he admitted with a wry grin, “but I’m sure
Colin is concerned with far more than just your ability to
land
a
husband.  Entering into Society can be rather daunting, especially for
those who enter into it unprepared.”

“That’s
just it though,” she said in a frustrated tone.  “I don’t
want
to
enter Society.”

“No?” 
Wasn’t it the dream of all young girls to make their debut, to attend parties and
balls, to attract suitors and ascend the social ladder?

Scarlett
shook her head, frowning.  “I like my life here, at Grey Oaks.”

Ahh
, he was beginning to
understand.  Though Scarlett might very well be averse to the conventional
feminine pursuits she’d referenced, attending a finishing school meant leaving
home, and if he didn’t miss his guess,
that
was the primary reason she
didn’t want to go.  “Have you and your brother discussed a tutor?”

“I already
have a tutor,” Scarlett replied, somewhat confused by the question.

“Not an
academic tutor,” he clarified.  “I was referring to a tutor of etiquette.”

“An
etiquette tutor?”

“So to
speak,” he said, unsure if there was actually such a title.  “Someone who
can instruct you in those skills
here
, at Grey Oaks.”

Scarlett
considered that for a minute.  Could the answer to her problem be so
simple?  Could she comply with Colin’s wishes without having to leave
home?  She didn’t want to get her hopes up prematurely, but it was
difficult not to.  “Do you think Colin would agree to such a thing?”

Knowing of
Colin’s affection for his sister, he was surprised that Colin hadn’t thought of
it himself.  “It certainly can’t hurt to ask.”

“You’re
right,” Scarlett replied, nodding her head eagerly in agreement.  “I’ll
ask him about it this very afternoon.”

“Good,” he
said, pleased to see her mood improving.  “Now hurry and finish your
breakfast so you can show me those Arabians.”

Scarlett
grinned and quickly took a bite of the forgotten pastry.

Alec was
tempted to chuckle as he watched her polish off the remainder of the enormous
sticky bun with unabashed gusto.  It was delightfully refreshing to see a
young lady with a healthy appetite, having long grown accustomed to the dainty,
bird-like eating habits of the young women of his acquaintance.

“Were you
planning on riding this morning,” Scarlett asked, after swallowing the last
bite of pastry, eyeing his finely tailored dark-brown riding jacket.

“I was
indeed,” Alec confirmed.  “I didn’t suppose any of your brothers would be
up at this hour, but I don’t mind riding alone.”  He hesitated for only a
moment before asking, “Unless of course,
you
would care to join
me?”  Her answering smile lit up her entire face, and he was glad he’d
made the offer, something he never would have considered doing a mere
twenty-four hours ago.  It was remarkable really, how quickly his attitude
toward her had begun to change.

Scarlett’s
delight at the unexpected offer was quickly overshadowed however as she glanced
down at her gown.  “I don’t have a proper riding habit,” she admitted,
somewhat sheepishly.

Alec
wasn’t surprised, recalling her attire from the day before.  “I don’t
mind.”

Scarlett
looked up, her expression hesitant.

“Go
change,” Alec said, smiling reassuringly.  “I’ll wait here for you.”

His smile
made her heart flutter again.  Lord but he was a handsome devil. 
Momentarily incapable of speech, she merely nodded and pushed back her chair.

Grinning,
Alec watched her dash from the room.

A short
time later, as they walked toward the stables, Alec discovered that Scarlett
had an astonishingly vast knowledge of horses.  She had obviously taken a
keen interest in the family business, somewhat unusual for a girl.  Then
again, Scarlett was hardly a typical young girl, he reminded himself.  As
they talked, he found her to be quite knowledgeable in other areas as
well.  She was clearly very bright.  She was also quick-witted and
inquisitive, appearing genuinely interested as she asked him about himself and
his life in London.  He found her youthful enthusiasm refreshing and
utterly delightful.

When they
reached the stable Scarlett quickly procured a mount for Alec and then went to
saddle her beloved Mischief, the beautiful grey Colin had presented her with
two years earlier.

Alec
watched in admiration as Scarlett expertly saddled her own mount, obviously
accustomed to doing things for herself, furthering his realization that she was
actually a far cry from the spoiled and pampered miss he had once thought her
to be.

“Where
would you like to ride, Your Grace?” Scarlett asked, once they were mounted and
heading out of the stable yard.

“Why don’t
you decide,” he responded, deferring politely to his young companion. 
“And please, call me Alec.”

Scarlett
thought about it for a moment, and then decided on the perfect
destination.  “All right, then,” she said.  “There is a lovely hot
springs to the east, not too far from here, if you’d like to see it.”

“Lead the
way,” Alec replied enthusiastically, and then they were off.

Despite the
difference in their ages, their conversation flowed easily as they rode. 
He learned that Scarlett had never been farther from Grey Oaks than the local
village, and when he spoke of his past travels abroad, she immediately
bombarded him with questions and then listened with rapt attention as he
described the places he’d been.  By the time they reached the hot springs
some twenty minutes later, Alec was thoroughly enjoying her company.

“Here we
are,” Scarlett said, as she guided her mount into a small clearing that was
backed by a natural stone wall built into the face of a hill.

He pulled
his own mount to a stop beside her, glancing around curiously.  He’d never
been to this particular location during his previous visits to Grey Oaks, and
as Scarlett had attested it was indeed a lovely spot.  There were three
steaming pools of varying widths surrounded by lush green grasses and sprigs of
wildflowers, each fed by a dozen tiny waterfalls cascading down the
multi-tiered rock wall and into the basins.  “You’re right, it is lovely.”

This was
one of her favorite places on the estate.  The gentle clouds of rising
steam and the pungent mineral smell gave it an unworldly quality that she
loved.  She and her brothers used to come here all of the time when they
were younger to play in the pools, but over time it had become more of her own
special place.  “Would you like to sit on the ledge,” she asked, motioning
to a wide stone ledge bordering the largest pool.  “We can soak our feet
in the water.  It’s not too hot.”  She turned toward him
expectantly.  Then, eyeing his elegant riding clothes and expensive
leather boots, she suddenly felt silly.  He was a duke for goodness sake;
hardly the type of person who would casually shed his boots and roll up his pant
legs to do something so frivolous.

“I’d love
to.”

Surprised
by his quick, enthusiastic response, Scarlett watched wide-eyed as he
dismounted without hesitation, wrapping his horse’s reins around the
low-hanging branch of a nearby tree.  Gathering her wits, she quickly
followed suit.

A short
time later, sitting beside Alec, her feet kicking gently beside his in the warm
steamy water, they discussed everything from Socrates to St. Martin’s Day.
 She was enjoying herself immensely, and surprisingly, Alec seemed to be
genuinely enjoying her company as well.
 
They more they talked, the more she realized that there was a great deal
more to like about Alec than just his handsome face.
 

When at
last they were ready to return to the estate, Scarlett realized that she had
fallen completely and utterly under Alec Weston’s oh-so-charming spell. 
Then and there, she made a vow.  Though he didn’t yet know it, someday,
somehow, he was going to be hers.

Seated across from Conner at a small table in the front parlor,
Scarlett eyed the ivory-inlayed chessboard with a calculating expression. 
The game had been going on for well over an hour with no immediate end in
sight.  It was an intense battle, for they were both very competitive and
neither of them liked to lose.  After considerable thought, she moved her
knight forward and then leaned back in her chair, glancing toward the
window.  “It’s coming down harder now,” she said, her brow wrinkling in
consternation.

“They’ll be fine, Minx.  Stop worrying.”

Turning her anxious gaze back to Conner, she noted the subtle
amusement in his eyes.  He was probably right.  There was no need to
worry.  A bit of snow wasn’t likely to hinder Colin, Rory and Gavin’s
return from London.  She was anxious for their arrival, that was
all.  Not that she hadn’t enjoyed spending time with Conner, of
course.  Of all her brothers, Conner was the most intellectual of the
group.  He loved history, philosophy, and literature, and enjoyed
discussing those interests with her, while she enjoyed the rare opportunity to
converse about something that didn’t revolve around horses. 

Though she had only been gone for just over a fortnight, she
missed Georgie as well, for she had developed a special bond with the lovely
young widow Colin had hired to serve as her etiquette tutor nearly three years
earlier.  Directing her attention back to the board, she watched as Conner
reached to move his bishop, and then hesitated and drew back.  “Do you
think Georgie is glad to be back in London?”

“I suppose so.  Though I’m sure she is far too busy
planning your birthday dinner to do much else,” he replied, though his gaze
remained locked on the board. 

Her birthday dinner.  The reminder brought forth an odd
mixture of excitement and trepidation.  She sighed as her thoughts shifted
to her upcoming introduction to Society.   Although Georgie had
prepared her well, she was nervous nonetheless.  Though she would never
admit it to anyone but Bethany, the primary reason for her anxiety was not her
societal debut, for she cared little about that, it was instead, the thought of
seeing Alec Weston again.