The Hopeless Hoyden (13 page)

             
“Nor me," Lady Spivey seconded.  “But as there can be nothing unexceptional about the excursion if you young people all ride together, I see no reason why Prudence may not go...and Emily, of course."

             
Ellison, however, saw fit to protest the callousness of leaving the Viscount and Fordyce behind.  “Not the thing to run off and ignore them."

             
“The invalids are hardly in any danger of expiring," Cecil replied, eying the dandy with disfavor.  “And little can be accomplished by our languishing about the house."

             
“Mr. Caldwell is quite right, Ellison," added Lady Raines.  “I am persuaded our host would much prefer his guests enjoy themselves, despite his absence."

             
“Oh, the Viscount's a great goer," Ellison seconded.  “But it don't seem right, us cavorting about the countryside while Lindemann's laid low."

             
This only served to raise Lady Raines's hackles.  “A visit to a notable land formation can hardly be termed cavorting, Sir."  With a sapient eye on her daughter, the redoubtable lady added, “Perhaps Sylvia's company will help aid you in keeping your mind on more pleasant things."

             
Thus, shortly after lunch, the group gathered in front of the Park's well-stocked stables, where Gresham, the head groom, oversaw the saddling of suitable horses for everyone.               

             
Emily, who had accepted a hand up from Ellison, was sitting patiently on Marabell, waiting for the others to mount, when she saw Gabriel and Freddy stride into the stable yard.  Before she could say anything, Sylvia, who had hold of Chesterfiled's arm since lunch, advanced toward the newcomers.

             
“Good heavens!" Sylvia exclaimed.  "You are not seriously thinking of going with us, my lord?"

             
“Said the same," Freddy chimed in, ignoring the scowl Sylvia sent his way.

             
Gabriel called to Gresham to saddle Ajax and another horse for Freddy before he answered her.  “And why not?  This," he said tapping the side of his hat which hid most of the bandaged wound, “amounts to the merest scratch."

             
“But it is a head wound," countered Deborah.  “Would you agree, Cecil, that it is sheer foolishness for our cousin to venture out so soon?"

             
“Said the same," Freddy solemnly reiterated.             

             
Cecil, who'd been studying Gabriel, turned to the baron.  “More like, it's Fordyce here we need to worry about.  His delicate stomach will surely rebel over such rough treatment."

             
If Cecil meant to insult, Freddy took no notice.  “Good of you to be concerned, Caldwell."  He affectionately rubbed, then patted his paunch with both hands.  “Gab made me eat.  Feel quite the thing, now."

             
With a sneer, Cecil drawled, “Wonderful.  I suppose we've little choice but to allow the invalids to join us."

             
“We're hardly invalids," Gabriel said, sounding irritated.  Other than looking a bit pale, he appeared normal to Emily.  And while concerned for his well being, she assumed Gabriel would know if he was taking unnecessary chances.  Thus, when he looked to her for a greeting, Emily gave him a welcoming smile.  She did not know, however, how to respond when he walked over to Marabell, covered her hands holding the mare's reins and asked, “Are your stirrups properly adjusted."

             
Like a mute, she nodded her head.  And for the life of her, she could not put down the heated blush she felt in her cheeks as he gazed warmly into her eyes.

             
“I already did that," Ellison retorted.

             
Gabriel squeezed her hand.  “It never hurts to double check." 

             
Ajax was brought out, and to cover her own embarrassment, Emily fiddled with the drape of her skirt as Gabriel mounted up.  The party trotted down the drive, and, reaching the main road, turned south.  Immediately, Sylvia and Deborah maneuvered their mounts so that they rode abreast with Gabriel and Chesterfield, respectfully.  Emily allowed herself to be crowded back to the rear where Ellison joined her.               

             
“Glorious day for a ride," Elision offered inanely.

             
Emily recognized that the dandy was uncomfortable with her silence so offered him a smile. “Yes, and on such a day, sometimes it is nice just to enjoy the scenery rather than worry over what to say to another." 

             
He was forced to turn his whole body to better look at her as his starched shirt points would have severed his neck otherwise.  “Do you ever really do that?"

             
“All the time.  I love the forest.  There is beauty in the dark green of the woods, the yellow-green of open fields, the blueness of the sky and the cloud formations overhead."

             
“Do say," Ellison breathed in awe.  “I believe you mean it.  See that meadow over there," he said pointing to a gently raising slope topped with a band of chestnut trees.  “Most females I know would only see an old hill."

             
“And what do you see?" she asked, surprised by the dandy's hitherto unexpressed poetic side.

             
“Colors," was Ellison's succinct reply.  His eyes squinted to see up ahead.  “The different greens like you said and a blue heaven for a backdrop with splotches of yellow and periwinkle.  Sort of a painter's palette, eh?  See that patch of ground there?  The dirt is more red than black."

             
As they rode, much in harmony with one another, Ellison continued to give Emily uncharacteristic insight into his penchant for brightly colored clothes.  It seemed that Ellison liked to dabble in oils, painting nature scenes.

             
The winding road rose steadily, so the going was slow to make the steep climb easier for their horses.  At last, rounding a stand of pines near the top of a ridge, Cleeve Hill, a vertical limestone precipice, topped with a flat grassy top, confronted them. 

             
As Emily and Ellison joined the circle of riders at its base, they heard Gabriel explain that the cliff was the highest point in the Cotswolds.  “The Hill made up a large hill-fort centuries ago during the Iron Age.  You can still see the ditches that were dug for defenses around the cliff."

             
Sylvia, guiding her horse over to a shady spot under a stand of pine trees, rolled her eyes. "It hardly seems worth the trip.  It is nothing more than a very big rock."

             
The riders dismounted on the verge on the side of the road.  From this vantage point, they had an excellent view of the formidable cliff.

             
“Maybe to you it is not so grand," Chesterfield chuckled.  “But I'd hate to be the enemy faced with charging up that hill."

             
“Up on top," added Emily, “you can see in any direction for miles around."               

             
Deborah gave Emily a smile too sweet to be sincere.  “Is this where you came to play 'King of the Hill'?"

             
“'Queen of the Hill'," Emily corrected with a grin.

             
She heard Gabriel's chuckle as he came up behind her.  “What a whisker, Emily," he said playfully, then turned to Deborah.  “The wind coming down off the mountain can be very strong, often gale force, in fact.  Cleeve Hill is not a place where locals come to play."

             
Deborah threw Emily a reproachful glare.  “Well, it would not surprise me if Miss Pendleton did come here to play her silly games."

             
Instead of answering this snide remark, Emily moved away.  She was aware that Gabriel followed her, joining her under the shade of a weathered pine.  He looked weary, the purple circles under his eyes appeared darker, and she could not refrain from asking if he truly felt all right.

             
“Don't you start, Em.  I've endured about all I can of solicitous females.  You're the last one I expected to coddle me."

             
She responded with an unrepentant laugh. “You force me to defend my sex.  We cannot help ourselves."

             
He smiled at her sally.  Her unaffected gaiety was the best balm for any ill he could have, he thought while intently watching her animated face.  “And why is that, pray tell?"

             
She shrugged her shoulders, drawing his attention to the snug fit of her cherry habit.  Gabriel noted, yet again, her small waist and wondered if his hands could span it. 

             
“It natural to our species," she supplied.

             
Raising his eyes from Emily's slender waist to her violet orbs, guiltily he realized he'd lost the gist of their conversation.  “What comes naturally?"

             
“Coddling the sick.”

             
“Ah, but that's not true of all women.  Take Jane Taber, for example.  She only asked me once how I felt," he said perversely.  His intent was to tease her, to see if she were jealous.  But the effect was spoiled, for Freddy came sauntering over to them.

             
“What's this about Jane?"

             
Gabriel, aware of his friend's interest in the young woman, answered, “Emily was relating her estimation of Miss Taber's sterling character."

             
Thoughtfully, Freddy nodded his head while his eyes fixed on the young lady herself, standing quietly beside Sylvia Raines.  “A delightful gel," he corroborated.  When he realized he'd been staring too long at Jane, his round face turned a ruddy hue, and he gave them an embarrassed smile, dislodging the heart-shaped patch by his mouth and causing it to quiver.  

             
Emily chocked on a giggle, which caused Gabriel to chuckle and Freddy to ask, "What's so funny?"

             
“You're losing your heart," Emily replied, then laughed riotously as Gabriel winked at her.

             
Completely puzzled, the baron clutched a chubby fist to his chest.  “My heart?"

             
“No, silly," Emily giggled, pointing one slender finger to the curved corner of her own mouth.  “Your heart patch."

             
“Oh, damme...er, beg pardon.  Meant no offense.  Forgot myself," sputtered Freddy, preoccupied with trying to catch the black patch as a gust of wind plucked it from his cheek.  He sadly watched it flutter to the ground.  “Just as well."

             
“What's just as well, my friend?" Gabriel could not help asking.

             
“Used glued on the thing twice today already."

             
“Come along, Freddy."  The Viscount clapped the baron good-naturedly on the back.  “We'll get you back to the Park in plenty of time to make yourself over for dinner."

             
It appeared the others were ready to leave as well.  As the gentlemen were expected to assist the ladies in mounting up, Emily eagerly took Marabell's reins, hoping Gabriel would help her.  When Sylvia grabbed Gabriel's arm, thus obliging him to help her, Emily was deeply disappointed, though she tired to hide it with a bright smile as she accepted Ellison's hand up.

             
The last to mount his horse, Gabriel gathered Ajax's reins.  Emily noticed how the stallion pulled away, making it difficult for Gabriel to get his boot in the stirrup.  He was about to throw his right leg over the saddle when the horse reared, throwing Gabriel off balance.  Then, Ajax bucked, causing Gabriel to loose his hold on the saddle.  His foot became entangled in the stirrup, and Gabriel landed heavily across the saddle.  Ajax neighed and bucked furiously.

             
All the while, the ladies along with Ellison, who was an indifferent horseman at best, were scrambling to get their own horses away from the Viscount's crazed beast.  Emily saw that Freddy and Chesterfield held their own in check, waiting for a chance to help their friend.  Yet, Gabriel was in danger of being thrown or trampled at any second.

             
Urging a reluctant Marabell along the right side of Ajax, Emily reached out her hand.  "My lord, take my hand."

             
It all came about so fast, seconds really, that no one could later agree on what occurred.  But Gabriel saw his chance and grabbed Emily's arm with one hand, using the other one under his body to hoist himself up and over the horse's back.  Though Emily tried to hold the mare, Marabell was understandably skittish of the nearly crazed stallion and sidled away.  Emily was unprepared for the pull of Gabriel's full weight and lost her leg hold on the saddle horn.  She would have tumbled to the ground expect Gabriel anticipated this.  He let go of her arm and lunged to grab the front and back of her saddle with both hands.