Dare to Love. Alleigh Burrows
I never would have expected it of you. Quite the shock I must say. Landis, you must have had the fight of your life getting her to agree to that. What did you do, douse her with laudanum and toss her over your saddle?”
Dare gave a half smile before responding. “No, nothing quite so dramatic. After some initial protest, she handled herself quite ably.”
“Initial protest, my arse. She must have cursed a blue streak at the prospect.”
Oh, dear Lord. Nivea flashed her brother a look of annoyance. Couldn’t he, for once, build her up in front of Dare?
Too embarrassed to remain, Nivea forced a smile and excused herself to join her favorite aunt, Mildred, at the other end of the room.
A few minutes later, warm fingers stroked her elbow and she jumped. Turning to see who had startled her, she fell into Dare’s dark, hooded gaze. Her pulse kicked up.
“Excuse me,” he purred silkily at Aunt Mildred, “I would like a minute to speak with Miss Horsham. Do you mind?” Then he flashed a devilish grin at the old dear, bringing a definite blush to her cheeks. Nivea had to choke down a smile as Mildred stuttered her response. “No…not at all. I’m sure she would much rather talk with you than me.”
Now it was Nivea’s turn to stammer. “Oh, no Auntie—you know—”
“Hush, just go,” ordered Mildred as she waved her away.
Dare took her arm and drew her aside. Once alone, he leaned close enough for her to feel his breath on her ear. “I owe you an apology.”
“What do you mean?” Her heart raced at his nearness.
“All that with your family. I realize you may have been right regarding your family’s opinion. Trifling with the footman might have been less of a shock than your horse riding.”
She chuckled. “I did warn you.”
“Well, I’m pleased I was able to restore your honor within your family.”
“Yes, you will forever be a legend in Horsham family lore. You have my deepest gratitude.” She curtsied.
“That has always been my most sincere desire in life.” With a twist of his lips he offered her a quick, sardonic bow, before turning to join the other guests.
Flushing with pleasure, Nivea stood there a moment, watching him. That was one of the nicest conversations she’d had with Dare in years. Maybe the trip had been a success. With a light heart, she rejoined the party.
Chapter 7
Dare congratulated himself.
He’d done quite well showing William nothing improper had occurred with his sister during their travels. It hadn’t, of course, but he did have to admit to certain uncomfortable thoughts about her, as unexpected as they were unappreciated. She was a nice enough girl, but it wasn’t as though she was his usual fare. She was an unmarried miss, not to mention his best friend’s sister. He couldn’t very well go lusting after her.
Determined to put her out of his mind, he turned his attention to more appropriate quarry. While the Horshams were known more for their sportsmanship than their love of fashion, they still had managed to invite a promising crop of ladies. Some were acquaintances from London, and others were fresh faces, no doubt from nearby land. A number were sneaking glances at him from behind fans or around shoulders, twittering with glee. Sometimes, it was almost too easy.
Secure in the knowledge he would have no trouble finding someone to warm his bed, he turned his attention to more conventional pursuits. “Well, Horsham, where are you keeping the best brandy? If I have to drink anymore of this blasted lemonade, I will throw myself through the window.”
William turned with a smile. “One moment, Landis. Let me introduce Nicholas Beecham, my soon-to-be brother-in-law. And this is Sir Beecham, Nicholas’s father.”
Dare dipped a bow at each of them. They were obviously father and son, both with thinning sandy hair and ruddy cheeks. While Nicholas had a slender frame at the moment, he was sure to descend into stoutness in time, like his father.
“This scoundrel is Adair Landis, one of my oldest friends. Since you have no daughters, Sir Beecham, I can refrain from my usual warning, although I’d still suggest you keep a fair distance between him and Lady Beecham.”
William chuckled, while Dare inclined his head in silent acknowledgement. No point in arguing with the truth. Married women were often his most enthusiastic conquests.
“You’ll be joining us tomorrow for the hunt, won’t you, Landis?” William inquired.
“Naturally. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Be careful out there,” warned Sir Beecham. “You’ll want to keep an eye out for poachers this year.”
“Poachers? How strange,” said William. “It’s been a good season this year. No need for poaching when the weather’s good.”
“Still, we’ve heard some shots at odd times. Found a few winged birds that weren’t properly taken.”
“Last time we had poachers was during the drought of 1811. Remember how bad things got? The lake damn near dried up.”
“Good God, yes,” Dare exclaimed. “The stench was horrendous. Half-dead fish flopping around in the muck. Smelled like a London wharf.”
“We had to send our horses to Franklinshire to graze. Nothing here but stubble.” William sighed. “Couldn’t ride for almost a month.” Turning to his left, he said, “Not a bad summer for you though, eh, Godwin? Weather was much nicer in Scotland, from what I heard. Very fruitful.”
Thomas nodded before turning to shoot a smile in his wife’s direction. “It was a very nice summer indeed.”
“I sense there’s a story here,” said Nicholas.
“Yes, that was the summer Thomas went up to his estate in Scotland with his sister, thereby depriving me of her treasured company for almost two months,” Joseph moaned.
Thomas rolled his eyes. “You survived quite well, and her absence probably helped your suit more than your constant presence.”
“Yes, well, regardless of that fact,” William continued, “Thomas took his sister Briar and her two friends, Abby and Constance, to Scotland. After their lives were threatened by a disreputable land agent, he acted the hero, saved Abby’s life, and managed to make her fall in love with him.”
“What I don’t understand is why she continues to feel that way, now that you’re back home. I thought surely she’d come to her senses,” Dare said.
“Now don’t be such a humbug, Landis. Just because you weren’t able to pull off the same trick with her sister, don’t begrudge Thomas his happiness,” William retorted.
Dare flashed his friend a look that would terrify most people, but William took no notice.
Abby chose that moment to join them.
“Good evening, sirs. I had the strangest feeling I was the subject of your conversation and wanted to know if the sentiments were good or bad.”
Thomas laid a gentle hand on her waist. “Always good, my dear. We were discussing our first trip to Scotland.”
“Oh yes, what an adventure. We thought we were being very discreet, trying to refrain from a courtship to protect our sisters’ sensibilities, and all the while Constance and Briar were plotting to throw us together.”
“Where is your sister, Abby? Surely, Constance will be joining us for the wedding,” Joseph asked.
“No, I’m afraid not. She has found she is with child again. She had a bit of a difficult time with Emmy, and Jonathan urged her to stay home to rest.”
Dare was unable to prevent a flare of disgust