Forsters 04 - Romancing the Runaway (4 page)

“Yes. My mother died when I was an infant. I have no memories of her. My father passed four years ago.”

“I’m sorry. I could tell from your expression when you spoke about him earlier that you and he were very close.”

“Yes.” She nodded, brushing away tears with the back of her hand. “We were.”

“My parents are dead also. I know how painful the loss can be. But, unlike you, at least I can remember my mother. I will always have that.”

“It was Papa and me against the world. We had no need of anyone else.” She managed a wan smile. “Then he contracted a silly fever and was gone within the week.”

“When you were only fourteen?”

“Yes. In some respects it was fortunate that I was at school and so I didn’t feel the loss as acutely as if I’d been at the Wildes, where I would have been surrounded by constant reminders of him.”

“The Wildes?”

“Our home in Cornwall. Just outside Looe.”

“I see.” Lord Gabriel adjusted his position and took a sip of his drink. “Where did you attend school?”

“Miss Frobisher’s Academy for Young Ladies in London.” She pursed her lips as she pronounced the name of the renowned establishment. “Papa thought it would be good for me to mix with other girls. I’m an only child, you see.”

“Miss Frobisher’s has a good reputation. My half sister was enrolled there at the start of the new year. We live in expectation of it improving her character,” Lord Gabriel said, sounding as though he didn’t hold out too much hope of that ambition being achieved.

“Miss Frobisher specialises in character improvement,” Miranda said, grimacing.

“So my brother was led to believe.”

“I just missed your sister then, since I finished in the summer.”

“Did you enjoy your time there?”

She flashed a mischievous smile. “Perhaps I shouldn’t say this, but I enjoyed learning. I have an enquiring mind, you see, but I believe it’s not something I’m supposed to boast about.”

“It would probably be better to keep that information to yourself when addressing strangers.” With his elbow resting on the arm of his chair, he tilted his head and rested his cheek against his splayed hand. Hair cascaded across his brow, hiding his eyes from her view. She enjoyed looking into those eyes and had to discipline herself not to reach forward and brush the hair aside so she could continue to do so. “And you made friends?”

“Oh yes. And I
was
going to stay with Charlotte. I was with her for several months after school finished but was summoned back to my guardian’s house for the Christmas celebrations. I left most of my belongings with Charlotte, which is why I had so little luggage.”

“Where does Charlotte reside?”

“Her family has a country seat just outside of Brighton.”

Lord Gabriel sat up straight and glared at her. “That’s over sixty miles! You couldn’t possibly cover that distance unescorted. Whatever were you thinking?”

She shrugged. “I had little choice in the matter.”

“You couldn’t ride that distance in one day, not even on a horse as fine as Bianca. You would have needed to break your journey at a posting inn for at least one night, if not two.”

“I had sufficient funds to take a room and remain out of sight.”

Lord Gabriel shook his head. “Even so, someone would have seen you.”

“I had no choice. Besides, the inn was the only awkward part. Other than that, Bianca wouldn’t have let me down. It was my fault that she sprained her fetlock. I wasn’t paying proper attention. I wanted to avoid Denby, you see. It’s close to my guardian’s home and one of the first places he would have looked for me when I was missed. A woman alone on a distinctive horse like Bianca, with Tobias, who isn’t exactly inconspicuous—”

“Yes, I can quite see your difficulty. What I don’t understand is your desire to escape your guardian.”

“The man’s an ogre,” she cried with passion.

“How does this ogre make his living?”

Miranda sniffed. “He imports commodities into his warehouses in Dover. Silk from India, tea from Ceylon, anything that’s competitively priced and which he thinks he can find a market for. He and my father were in partnership for many years. Papa found the merchandise, Mr. Peacock imported it and sold it on. I never knew him well, but on the rare occasions that he came to the Wildes, he seemed unremarkable. At least there was nothing about him that excited my dislike.” She scowled. “He agreed to be my guardian in the event that anything happened to Papa, but none of us ever supposed that situation would arise. Papa was indestructible, you see, at least in my eyes.”

“Things didn’t work out for you in Peacock’s establishment?”

“It was all right. I was distrait with grief and didn’t much care where I was or what happened to me. Fortunately, the routine at school kept me sane. I had Bianca there with me, and Tobias, although he wasn’t allowed inside the school and lived with Bianca in her stable. My friends rallied round and I spent most of the holidays at their houses, rather than with the Peacocks.”

“There were no children in the Peacock establishment for you to befriend?”

“None whose society I enjoyed.” She wrinkled her nose. “Mr. Peacock is the most miserly creature imaginable. My father left the Wildes and some funds to me, which I inherit when I reach one-and-twenty. His solicitor manages my inheritance but Mr. Peacock sends him quarterly accounts for my board and keep, even though I’m almost never there.”

Lord Gabriel frowned. “He seeks to make a profit from you?”

Miranda tossed her head. “Mr. Peacock lives to make a profit from everything he does. He has no real interest in my welfare, nor does Mrs. Peacock. She’s far too wrapped up in her own affairs. But it was all right. I had my friends and enjoyed spending the holidays at their homes. I finished school at the end of the summer term and spent the rest of the summer mostly with Charlotte in Brighton.”

“If you’re running from the Peacocks, isn’t Charlotte’s the first place they’ll look?”

Miranda offered him a mischievous smile. “They never bothered to ask the names of my friends.”

“What! They just let you wander around as you pleased with no clear idea where you were.” Lord Gabriel shook his head. “Unbelievable!”

“All they knew was that I spent time in the homes of the day girls who resided in London. Charlotte is relatively new and I don’t think I’ve mentioned her name in their presence. No, they’ll imagine I’m in London, and by the time they realise their mistake, I shall be at the Wildes, beyond their reach.”

Lord Gabriel elevated a brow. “You propose to return to Cornwall?”

“Certainly I do. It’s what I’ve always intended once I completed my education. When Bianca is fully fit, you’ll see for yourself just how well-schooled she is. I have contacts in the area, and Papa and I always planned that we would take horses in and school them for their owners. There’s a great need for that service since a lot of people are either incapable of doing it for themselves, or too lazy to attempt it.”

Lord Gabriel nodded. “But you’re not yet one-and-twenty?”

“No.” She screwed up her features. “That’s a problem, I grant you, but since I can no longer remain with the Peacocks, I plan to write to Papa’s solicitor. I shall inform him of my intention of taking up residence at the Wildes and ask him to release enough funds for me to start my business.”

“Why the rush?”

Miranda hesitated. He’d either sympathise or think she was the most ungrateful creature ever to draw breath. Well, that couldn’t be helped. He wanted to know and she would tell him the truth.

“The Peacocks expressly asked me to return to their residence for Christmas. They’ve never much cared where I spent the holiday before but I thought perhaps because I’d finished school they wanted to know me better.” Miranda grimaced. “What I didn’t realise was that they had different plans for me.” She opened her eyes very wide and glared indignantly at Lord Gabriel. “I could hardly believe it, but not only did they fully expect me to marry their ridiculous son but they also seemed to think I would be grateful that they’d arranged the match.”

Miranda felt herself becoming quite hot under the collar, as was the case whenever she thought about her guardian’s ridiculous proposal. Lord Gabriel, on the other hand, remained perfectly calm and sipped at his drink.

“I thought you said there were no other young people beneath your guardian’s roof.”

“No, Lord Gabriel, I said there were none whom I wished to associate with.” She brushed imaginary specks from the skirts of her beautiful borrowed gown. “William Peacock is ten years older than me and lives up to his name. He’s a male peacock who’s always thought too well of himself to notice me, which suited me perfectly.”

“He works with your guardian?”

“Yes.”

“Why the sudden desire for a union between the two of you?”

“I have absolutely no idea. Unfortunately Mr. Peacock seemed to think that the idea would delight me. When I protested, he didn’t actually take me seriously and was anxious to arrange the union as quickly as possible. When I continued to balk and coercion had no effect, he forbade me to leave the house. When I still wouldn’t agree, he actually locked me in my room until, in his words, I came to my senses and remembered the duty I owed to him and Mrs. Peacock for taking me in.” She blew air through her lips. “I was to remain there with nothing but bread and water to sustain me until I agreed to the union.”

“How did you escape?”

Miranda explained about the tree and how she came to sprain her ankle. “I shall leave here as soon as Bianca and I are fit enough and make my way to Brighton. I shall have to leave Bianca at Charlotte’s and travel by mail coach to Cornwall,” she said. “Once I get there I shall arrange for Bianca to be sent down.”

“You’re quite serious, aren’t you?” Lord Gabriel looked at her with a combination of admiration and stark disbelief.

“Absolutely.” She inverted her chin. “I have no intention of marrying anyone, and certainly not someone I don’t even like.”

“Why do you suppose your guardian is so keen for the two of you to be wed?”

She wrinkled her brow. “That’s just the thing. I have absolutely no idea. I own nothing that’s likely to tempt anyone other than Bianca, Tobias and the Wildes.”

Chapter Four

Gabe assumed Miss Cantrell would join him for breakfast. She didn’t strike him as the type to lie about in bed, or expect to be waited upon in her chamber, and he already knew she had a good appetite. He lingered, curious to hear her plans for the immediate future. Hopefully, now that she’d recovered from the shock of almost freezing to death not ten miles from her guardians home, she would realise the impossibility of travelling all the way to Cornwall unescorted.

There had to be some way to repair the breach with her rather unsavoury-sounding guardian that wouldn’t require such drastic action while relieving Gabe of the responsibility he felt for her. He couldn’t continually impose upon Mrs. Grantley’s good nature and have her act as chaperone.

They hadn’t discussed Miss Cantrell’s next move last night, which Gabe now conceded had been an oversight that required immediate redress. She would be anxious to move on. But where to? Not that she could go anywhere until both she and her horse were fit enough, which left them all in a bit of a fix. As far as he was concerned, society and its rigid standards could go hang themselves.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t society that would suffer if word got out about the arrangement. Miss Cantrell’s reputation was in the direct line of fire, and Gabe didn’t wish to complicate her uncertain future by having scandal attach itself to her name, to say nothing of his own situation. Her spirit and fiery determination had impressed him. It wasn’t a fit of childish pique that had caused her to run away but an honest desire to live her life on her own terms and not be forced into a loveless marriage against her will. It was a bold declaration of independence and strength of character that belied her tender years. Miss Cantrell’s attitude made him think of Hal’s wife Leah. She had shown equal determination to fend for herself when circumstances conspired against her.

If
everything Miss Cantrell had told him was the truth. Gabe was inclined to believe her. If she’d come here with the intention of…well, compromising him, she wouldn’t have risked freezing to death in order to do so. Even so, he needed to be sure.

Gabe lingered over his coffee, waiting for his guest to show herself, but the subject of his mental perambulations didn’t materialise.

“Probably for the best,” he said aloud, surprising Munford who was standing statue-like against the wall.

“Can I be of service, m’lord?” the footman asked.

Hardly.
“No thank you, Munford. Just thinking aloud.”

Setting aside his napkin, Gabe walked through the door that Munford opened for him, and went into the small sitting room where pen and ink were to be found. He wrote a brief note to Wright, the boson on Hal’s boat anchored in the inlet behind the Boar’s Head in Denby, and then rang for Munford.

“Have this delivered to the Boar at once. Unless Wright’s changed the habits of a lifetime, he’ll put in an appearance at the tavern before luncheon.”

“Right away, m’lord.”

If Miss Cantrell’s story was true, then there would be people in Denby looking for her. If they were there, Wright would be able to confirm it. Satisfied he’d done all he could to protect his position, Gabe shrugged into his greatcoat and headed for the stables. He made sure everything was as it should be in the yard, wondering why there was no sign of human life about the place. This morning he would make another attempt at the tour of the park he’d so far not managed to complete. He’d give Miss Cantrell’s problems some rational thought while he was about it and see if he could come up with a solution.

There seemed to be an inordinate amount of activity and laughter coming from the tack room, explaining why no one was at work in the yard. Curious, Gabe headed that way to see what the commotion was all about and stopped dead in his tracks when he looked around the open door.

“So this is where she prefers to take her breakfast,” he muttered beneath his breath, grinning in spite of himself. “I should have guessed.”

Miranda Cantrell sat on a crooked stool, drinking tea with the stable lads and chatting with them as though she’d known them her entire life. Tobias was with her, wagging enthusiastically, ready for any scraps that fell his way. Unsurprisingly, the lads had all been curious about her circumstances when Gabe had rescued her. It wasn’t every day that a half-dead woman was found hiding out in a barn in the middle of winter. He could see now that they were all completely taken with her, even level-headed Carter. She was a mere chit, fresh from the schoolroom, and yet she appeared to have them all eating out of her hand.

Gabe studied his guest, already able to see why. She was wearing her velvet habit, the one she’d had on continuously for two days and had been sleeping in when he’d rescued her. It looked in a much better state since the servants had given it their expert attention. The same could be said for Miss Cantrell herself. There was colour to her complexion this morning, her eyes were alight with laughter, and there was an engaging innocence about her that contradicted her determination to live her life on her own terms.

“I must say, Mr. Carter, that you’ve done an excellent job with Bianca’s fetlock. I really am most terribly grateful.”

Carter actually blushed. “It was no trouble, miss.”

“I disagree. I can tell just from looking at her that you went to a very great deal of trouble. And as for her condition…well, I’ve never seen her looking better. Which of you gentlemen is responsible for the shine on her coat?”

One of the lads shuffled his feet and blushed even more deeply than Carter. “That were me, miss.”

“What’s your name?” she asked, turning her bright smile on the boy.

“Jim, miss.”

“Well, Jim, I can tell that you have an intuitive love of horses. It must have taken you hours to make her look so good.”

Jim beamed. “She’s a lovely beast.”

“Is she fast?” asked another lad.

“Like the wind. Arabians are bred to speed through desert sands for hours, and so they excel at endurance. There’s no desert here in England, it’s true, but Bianca doesn’t seem to mind and speeds across muddy heaths just as obligingly.” She turned her attention back to Carter. “How soon do you suppose it will be before her fetlock is completely healed?”

“Another two days should see her set fair.” Carter removed his cap to scratch his head. “We’ll trot her up then and see how she goes.”

“Oh, I was rather hoping it would be sooner than that.”

“Best not risk it,” Carter said. “She looks sound but she wouldn’t get far on that fetlock right now. These things take time to heal properly.”

Miss Cantrell’s lips twisted. “Botheration, what can I do in the meantime?”

“Is there something not to your liking at the Hall, Miss Cantrell?” Gabe stepped into the room as he asked the question and everyone except Carter and Miss Cantrell hastily dispersed.

“Good morning, my lord.” She turned to offer him a beguiling smile. “I didn’t see you there.”

“Carter, make sure the lads know not to say anything about Miss Cantrell being at the Hall. Unless I miss my guess, enquiries will be made in the village very soon, if they haven’t already begun.”

Carter flexed his jaw. “No one will hear anything from my lot, you can depend on that.”

“Thank you, Carter.” The older man doffed his cap and left them. Gabe returned his attention to his unconventional guest. “You’re an early riser, Miss Cantrell. How is your…er, fetlock this morning?”

“I managed the stairs unaided,” she said, making it sound like a remarkable achievement.

Gabe suppressed a smile. “Most encouraging.”

“I was just expressing my gratitude to Mr. Carter for the care he’s taken of Bianca.”

“I’m glad she’s doing well.” Gabe paused. “Have you had breakfast?”

“Yes, thank you. Jessie brought something to my room. It was rather embarrassing. I’m not used to being spoiled like that, you see, but I didn’t like to upset her by telling her so. It would make me seem very ungrateful.”

Gabe’s lips twitched. “Very wise. I was about to ride the estate. Is your ankle strong enough for you to accompany me?”

She looked momentarily unsure of herself. “I dare say you have all sorts of things to do and I’ll just be in the way.”

“If I thought that, I wouldn’t have invited you.”

“I’m not sure I have the time. I need to rearrange my plans and decide what I’m to do with myself now.”

“You intend to leave.”

She met her gaze. “I can hardly stay.”

“Nor can you leave. You and your horse are both lame. Besides, you’ve lost your advantage and your guardian will have people combing the district, looking for you.”

“That’s true.” She looked as though she wanted to stamp her foot in frustration but remembered her injury just in time. “I could write to Charlotte and ask her to send a carriage for me. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”

“And leave Bianca here?”

“Ah yes, there’s that. Damnation, this is more complicated than I’d anticipated.”

“Besides, Charlotte’s carriage would have to pass through the village. A strange conveyance would draw attention in such a small place, and if your guardian has someone watching…”

She looked defeated. “You’re being most disobliging, pointing out all the flaws in a plan I thought was foolproof.”

Gabe smiled. “Your safest course would be to remain here, at least until you’re both recovered.” Now why had he said that when the safest course, at least from his standpoint, would have been to send her to Brightstone Manor? Mrs. Grantley had said only last night that she would be happy to have the company. “The searchers will give up eventually.”

“But it’s awkward.”

“You fear for your reputation? I can assure you as a gentleman that you are perfectly safe beneath my care.”

Crystal clear blue eyes opened very wide. “Heavens, no!” She paused. “I wasn’t thinking about my reputation, but yours.”

“Mine?”

“I intend to bury myself in Cornwall and surround myself with sensible creatures like horses and dogs, so it doesn’t matter two figs to me what arrows the gossips cast in my direction. But you…well—”

“Thank you, but you don’t need to concern yourself on my account. Instead, let’s consider your situation. You can’t leave here for another couple of days, so why not make the best of it and ride out with me?”

“I hope you don’t live to regret your generosity, Lord Gabriel.” There was doubt in her voice but the sparkle had returned to her eyes. “But yes, thank you. My injury is to my right ankle, so I should be able to ride without jarring it. I’d love to join you.”

“Carter,” Gabe called through the open door. “Saddle Murphy and find a suitable mount for Miss Cantrell.”

A short time later they set off side by side. Miss Cantrell was perched sidesaddle on a lively cob, Gabe was astride Murphy. Tobias trotted along beside them, constantly sniffing the ground, presumably checking up on the local rabbit population.

Miranda Cantrell seemed perfectly at home in the saddle and obviously enjoyed being outdoors again. There was a biting wind and the ground was coated with a light frost, but the winter sunshine was doing its best to warm things up. Gabe’s companion drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes as she slowly expelled it.

“I love this time of year,” she said, echoing Gabe’s own thoughts. “Cold, crisp winter days when the horses are fresh and the countryside looks like it’s been dusted with sugar. All of my friends at school looked forward to winter for the balls and parties.” She glanced across at Gabe and shrugged. “I’ve never been able to understand that view.”

“Are you telling me that you don’t yearn for those pleasures?”

She shook her head decisively. “Not in the least.”

“Then that makes you very unusual.”

“Possibly, but most of the girls at Miss Frobisher’s establishment were from better families than mine. I was only accepted there because I have a decent brain.”

“Your scholastic accomplishments raised the tone of the establishment?”

“Possibly, but I’ve always known that I won’t be accepted by the gentry, nor do I wish to be
.
”

Gabe opened his mouth to argue, and then closed it again. She was right, and sensible enough to know it. Her father had been a cit, and as such society’s doors would be closed to her.

“Believe me when I tell you that the delights of the
ton
are greatly exaggerated.”

“Is that why you’re not there now?”

He smiled at her. “It’s possible to have too much of a good thing.”

“I dare say you’re pursued by young ladies the entire time you’re there.”

Her candour was invigorating. “Why would you think that?”

“Really, Lord Gabriel, are you so anxious for compliments that you pretend not to know what a valuable commodity you actually are?”

“A commodity?” Gabe’s lips twitched. “What a charming description.”

“You know exactly what I mean. Any graduate of Miss Frobisher’s academy is aware that single young gentlemen deemed suitable for admittance to the
ton
are fair game on the marriage mart. My fellow students
raison d’être
and their
only
topic of conversation was the best ways in which to find suitable husbands. And,” she added, her eyes sparkling across the space that separated them, “how to make a good impression on the best prospects before the competition.”

Gabe laughed. “That’s true enough, but—”

“I don’t think you actually appreciate just how many shattered hearts your family alone are responsible for.”

Gabe probably looked as confused as he felt. “I’m not sure I understand your meaning, Miss Cantrell.”

“Louisa Marshall was
the
authority on eligible
partis
—”

“Lord Marshall’s daughter?”

Miss Cantrell arched a brow. “You are already acquainted with Louisa?”

“I know Marshall. Don’t recall meeting the daughter.”

“She only came out this season.”

“Ah, that would explain it. But excuse me, I interrupted your charming explanation.”

“Well, as I was saying, Louisa kept a journal that catalogued every eligible gentleman in terms of age, title, wealth, appearance and likelihood of being drawn into matrimony sooner rather than later.”