Winterset (6 page)

“There’s Rafe!” Con exclaimed, turning to look off to the west, where another man on horseback was now traveling toward them. The boys waved at him, too.

“I must say, you don’t seem particularly worried about what your brother will say,” Anna commented.

“He’ll only scold a little,” Alex assured her. “They get worried, you see, but they know we can take care of ourselves, mostly.”

“We often go off on our own,” Con added.

Anna was not as assured as the boys seemed to be that their relatives would not be furious, but when Reed pulled his horse to a stop in front of them and dismounted, his expression was more one of resignation than fear or anger.

“Well,” he said lightly, crossing his arms and looking down at the twins. “I see that this time you have managed to embroil Miss Holcomb in your peccadilloes.”

“She was great guns, Reed!” Con told him. “You should have seen her. She helped Perkins sew up a dog—and Perkins said we could have him, if we wanted, when he’s better, as he seems to be a stray—and she didn’t faint or anything at all the blood.”

“Indeed?” Reed’s eyes turned to Anna, cool and appraising.

She blushed under his gaze, realizing that once again she must look like a ragamuffin, her hair every which way and wearing her old boots and bonnet and a dress that was not only everyday, but was now dirty from kneeling beside the dog and, moreover, splotched with unappetizing stains.

“I am sorry, my lord,” she began stiffly. “I am sure you and your family must have been quite worried about where your brothers were. I am afraid I did not realize how late it had become. I should have brought them home earlier.”

A smile tugged at one corner of his mouth as Reed said, “Oh, no, pray, do not apologize. I am well aware that all fault lies with these two.” He cast a severe glance back at his brothers.

The two seemed supremely unconcerned by his stern demeanor. “You weren’t really worried, were you, Reed?” Alex asked. “It isn’t even dark yet.”

“Mmm.” Reed cast an expressive glance around at the fast-encroaching dusk. “Not pitch-black, no.” He turned back to Anna, explaining, “Con and Alex are well known for their explorations, I’m afraid. Actually, we were not overly worried, except that the terrain is unfamiliar to them. I feared that once it grew dark, they would have some difficulty finding their way back.”

At that moment the other horseman reached them, and he, too, dismounted, grinning at the boys. He was a large man, as tall as Reed, and very handsome, with tousled brown hair threaded through with golden strands, and vivid blue eyes. There was a deep dimple in his cheek when he smiled, as he was doing now.

Winking toward the twins, he said, “Well, now, got yourselves into brand-new trouble, haven’t you?”

He was the American, Anna realized, his voice soft and slightly slurred, and he sounded as if he found the entire world amusing. He looked over at Anna and swept off his hat, giving her an elegant bow. “Rafe McIntyre, ma’am, at your service. My sympathies on having gotten tangled up with these two rapscallions.”

“I found them very pleasant and admirable young men,” Anna said stoutly.

McIntyre laughed and winked again at the twins. “Won her over, did you? You are a treasure beyond price, then, Miss—”

“I’m sorry,” Reed interrupted. “Miss Holcomb, allow me to introduce my brother-in-law, Rafe McIntyre. You will have to forgive his informality. He is an American.” He countered his words with a glance of true liking toward the other man. “Rafe, this is Miss Anna Holcomb, our neighbor to the west. Her brother is the young gentleman you met earlier.”

“My pleasure, ma’am.” Rafe bowed to her again, and Anna smiled back, unable to resist his infectious personality.

“We didn’t mean to stay out so long,” Alex began, “but we found this poor dog. He was in terrible shape, and Con and I didn’t know what to do. But then Miss Holcomb came along, and she helped us. She knows a man who knows all about healing animals. You should see his house! He has all kinds of plants hanging from the rafters, drying, and he makes potions and ointments.”

“And he sewed the dog up,” Con continued excitedly, “and he let us watch. And Miss Holcomb held the dog’s head for him and didn’t sick up or anything!” He beamed at his new friend.

Anna chuckled and ruffled his hair affectionately. “I’ve helped Nick all my life, just about. Believe me, it took me a while to get used to it.”

There had been another rider approaching them as they conversed, also apparently in response to Reed’s gunshot. He was a small, wiry man, and he led two saddled, riderless ponies. Now, pulling up beside the others, he slid easily from his horse and marched over to the twins.

“There ye are, ye two!” He scowled at them. “Young scapegraces, worritin’ yer sister like that. Ye ought to be ashamed of yerselves, and that’s a fact.”

“We’re sorry, Jenkins.” For the first time, the boys looked abashed.

Reed turned toward Anna and said, “We needn’t worry about reprimanding the boys. Jenkins usually does the job well enough for us.”

“Aye, an’ if I didn’t, who would, I’d like to know?” The man in question turned his fierce gaze on Reed. “There’s not a one o’ ye who takes ’em in hand like ye should.”

“I know. That is why we are so fortunate to have you.”

“Aye, well, I’ve kept ye all in line, and that’s a fact,” the man agreed, with a sharp nod of his head. “An’ I can tell ye that ye and Theo were just as bad as these two, in yer day.”

The groom turned back to the boys, continuing his scolding as he tossed them up onto their ponies and handed them the reins. Reed turned to Anna.

“Thank you for helping the boys. It relieves my mind that they were with you.”

“I should have brought them home earlier.”

“It sounds as though you had plenty to occupy you. It’s no wonder the hour slipped your mind.” He paused, then said a trifle awkwardly, “If you will allow me to put you up on my horse in front of me, we can ride back to Winterset, and then I will send you home properly in our carriage. I—I am sure that the boys’ sister would like to thank you in person.”

Heat rose up in Anna at the thought of riding on Reed’s horse with him all the way back to Winterset, and she was sure that she must be blushing. “Oh! Oh, no, you needn’t worry. Now that the boys are with you, I can just go on to my house from here, while you take the boys back.”

“And leave you to walk alone in the dark all the way back to Holcomb Manor!” Reed stiffened. “Is that what you think of me? That I would repay your kindness toward my brothers with such shabby treatment?”

“No, no, of course not,” Anna demurred quickly. “But it is no problem—it isn’t that far, and I am quite familiar with—”

“Nonsense, I could not allow it,” Reed retorted flatly, adding, not without a certain calculation, “Of course, if you feel you cannot ride double, then Jem will give you his mount, and he can walk back to Winterset.”

Anna narrowed her eyes at Reed. He knew, of course, that she would not force a servant to trudge all the way back to Winterset in the dark, especially one who was as unfamiliar with the territory as the boys.

Reed gazed back at her blandly, his eyebrows slightly raised.

“All right,” Anna agreed, knowing that she sounded ungracious, but she could not help it. She dreaded the thought of being in such close physical proximity to Reed Moreland.

Without comment, Reed helped her up onto the horse, then mounted behind her. He took up the reins, and his arms closed around Anna. She was suddenly surrounded by his heat, his scent, breathtakingly familiar and yet so long absent. Anna could not control the shiver that ran through her as he dug his heels into his steed and they set off through the night.

A
nna sat stiffly, afraid to relax against Reed, incredibly aware of his body only inches from hers, his arms around her. It was impossible, with the movements of the horse, to keep from brushing against him, and every time she did so, her skin flamed at the touch. She gritted her teeth, telling herself she was being ridiculous. His closeness should not affect her so much. Yet no matter how much she told herself that, her words could make little headway against the sensations rampaging through her.

They said nothing, the silence between them almost as awkward as their proximity. The twins chattered away about their adventure, and Rafe threw in a comment or a question now and then, leaving Anna and Reed alone on their island of silence. Anna closed her eyes, trying desperately to think of something to say, anything to distract her from the only thing that was in her mind, which was the feel of his iron-hard arm against her back or the occasional brush of his thigh against hers as the horse moved.

It was a distinct relief when at last they reached Winterset and Reed swung down from the horse, reaching up to lift her from the saddle. Their faces were only inches apart for a moment as he swung her down, and their eyes locked. His were a dark, mysterious gray in the dim light of dusk, and Anna felt, for a strange, weak moment, as if she could simply sink into their depths and be lost forever.

Then she was on her feet again, and she took a quick step backward, trying to suppress her inward trembling. Tongue-tied, she turned away, and at that moment the front door was flung open and a tall, red-haired woman swept out into the small courtyard.

“There you are!” Her strong voice held a mixture of relief, exasperation and amusement, and she shook her head as she strode toward them. “You two will be the death of me!”

She wrapped an arm around each of the twins and hugged them to her, then stood and scowled down at them. “Where have you been? You don’t even know the countryside!”

The woman looked up, her gaze sweeping across the others, and for the first time she noticed Anna, standing beside Reed.

“Oh! I am sorry. I did not know anyone else was here.” She started toward Anna.

“This is my sister, Lady Kyria,” Reed told Anna. “Kyria, allow me to introduce Miss Anna Holcomb, who, I am happy to say, was looking out for Con and Alex.”

“My lady,” Anna greeted her.

Lady Kyria reached out and took her hand, smiling. “You have, no doubt, rescued Con and Alex from some frightful thing—for that is always the way with them,” she went on, tucking her arm through Anna’s and steering her toward the front door. “Do come in and have supper with us and let me thank you properly.”

“Oh, no, I couldn’t—” Anna began. “I am sure that my brother is expecting me, and—”

“Your brother is that charming young man who was here earlier?” Kyria asked. “Such a nice gentleman. We’ll send one of the footmen over with a note explaining that you are going to dine with us. I am sure he will understand.”

“But I—I am not dressed for dinner,” Anna pointed out, blushing a little, as she gestured down at her plain dress, which she now noticed was not only dirty and stained, but had also somehow acquired a tear near the hem, so that a piece of it trailed behind her, filthy and ragged.

“We do not care about formality here,” Kyria assured her, ignoring her own elegant black off-the-shoulder gown and the glitter of a diamond necklace and earrings. “Our family is shockingly careless about such things, as anyone will be happy to tell you.”

“You might as well give in, Miss Holcomb,” Rafe McIntyre told her, coming up beside them. His eyes rested lovingly on his wife’s face. “I can assure you that for every objection you bring up, Kyria will have a dozen reasons to override them. Once she sets her mind to something, I’ve learned, you might as well give in.”

Kyria favored her husband with a dazzling smile, then turned it back to Anna. “There, you see? It’s all settled. Do come in and meet our houseguest, Miss Farrington.”

She led Anna down the hall into the drawing room, managing at the same time to signal to one of the footmen to inform the kitchen that they were ready and also to send another one for paper for Anna to write a note to her brother, as well as pay attention to her younger brothers, who had launched into an account of their afternoon.

A dainty blond woman was sitting in the drawing room, and she rose at their entrance, smiling.

“Rosemary!” Kyria said, pulling Anna forward. “I want you to meet our neighbor, Miss Anna Holcomb. Her brother is that handsome young man who called on us, Sir Christopher.”

Introductions were quickly made, and before she knew it, Anna found herself ensconced in a chair, pen and paper in hand, jotting a note to her brother, while Con and Alex described to their sister the torn and mangled dog they had discovered. Kyria responded with appropriate horror, though she did notice that her guest, Miss Farrington, was turning a pale shade of green, and she suggested that the boys not inform them of the wounds in quite such detail.

Before supper was served, Kyria whisked Anna upstairs, where she could clean up a little, and even insisted on lending her one of her own dresses, which, while too long for Anna, was such an improvement over Anna’s own bedraggled frock that she was quite grateful to wear it.

At the meal, Anna found herself seated at Reed’s left hand, with Lady Kyria across the table from her and Rafe on her other side. It was fortunate, she thought, that Kyria and her husband seemed well able to carry the conversation by themselves, as neither Anna nor Reed contributed much. The boys, after their afternoon’s adventure, had been shuttled off to their rooms for baths and a quick meal before going to bed, and Miss Farrington was apparently a rather quiet woman.

Anna knew that she should contribute more to the conversation, and she was normally able to make polite chitchat, but she found Reed’s presence beside her too unnerving for her to think of much to say. She wished that she had more poise. She wished that she did not want to know so badly what Reed thought of her in this much-more-attractive blue dress, with her hair brushed and pinned into subjugation.

She realized suddenly that everyone was looking at her expectantly and that she had let her mind wander, losing the thread of the conversation. “What? I am sorry. I’m afraid I was woolgathering,” she said, coloring in embarrassment.

Kyria smiled. “I was just saying that I am planning to have a small gathering Friday evening—nothing grand, just a small party to thank everyone for welcoming us so graciously to Lower Fenley. I am hoping that you and your brother will be able to attend.”

“This Friday?” Anna cast about frantically for some excuse not to attend, but none came to her. It would be absurd to say that they had other plans, for if Lady Kyria was throwing a party, it was certain that everyone around here would be attending it. And, besides, she was certain that Kit would like to go, and she could scarcely refuse her brother the chance to attend. “Yes, of course. That sounds lovely. We would very much like to come.”

She would simply have to come down with a headache or something, so that she would not have to go. Anna cast a quick, covert glance at Reed and found him watching her, his eyes unreadable. She wondered if he wished she had refused to attend—or if her presence there made no difference to him either way. Perhaps he was only interested in Miss Farrington’s attendance. What few remarks Reed had made this evening had been primarily addressed to that young lady. Anna wondered, as she had when Kit told her about Miss Farrington, whether she had been included in this party because Reed had a particular interest in her. Anna had not seen anything loverlike in his face when he addressed Miss Farrington, but, then, he was not the sort of man who would expose a young woman to gossip by singling her out for his attention.

Anna realized that her eyes had been fixed on Reed’s face for several moments now, and she hastily turned away. Her gaze fell instead on Kyria, who was watching her with a certain amount of speculation in her eyes. Anna could feel a blush beginning to rise up her throat, and she was relieved when Kyria turned casually away and addressed a remark to her husband.

When the meal was over, the company did not split up into male and female groups, as was the custom, with the men going off to smoke and have a glass of brandy. The Morelands were, as Anna had always heard, “different,” so Anna was unable to quietly take leave of just her hostess, as she had hoped. When she told Kyria that she must be getting back home now, Reed jumped in and told her that he would escort her back to Holcomb Manor in the carriage.

“Oh, no, there is no need—” Anna assured him hastily, her stomach jumping nervously at the thought of being enclosed in the small confines of a carriage with Reed.

“I insist,” Reed said with quiet firmness. “After the way you helped my brothers, it is the least I can do.”

“But there is no need for you to put yourself out so,” Anna protested faintly. “I will be perfectly fine by myself in the carriage. I have traveled the road hundreds of times.”

“Please, Miss Holcomb, allow me the opportunity to play the gentleman. My sisters rarely do, so I must inflict myself on our guests.”

Kyria rolled her eyes affectionately at her brother and said, “You might as well give in. Reed is like a dog with a bone—especially when it comes to one’s safety. He is terribly overprotective, but, then, I suppose that is much better than the alternative, is it not? Besides, he really is quite a pleasant companion.”

“I am sure—I did not mean—” Anna stopped, embarrassed.
Had her reluctance been so obvious?
The last thing she wanted was to stir up any suspicion in Reed’s sister, and she had already seen curiosity in the woman’s gaze earlier at the table. As Rafe had pointed out earlier, Reed was not the only member of the family who was like a dog with a bone when his or her interest was aroused.

So she wound up a few minutes later back in her old walking dress—though Kyria’s efficient maid had sewn up the torn ruffle at the hem and also made a stab at removing the dirt and stains from it—and sitting in the carriage across from Reed. It was a sporty open-air victoria—brand-new, from the shiny looks of it—and the expandable top was pushed to the back, opening it up to the mild summer night.

The moon was full, casting a soft romantic glow over the evening scene. The trees arched over them as they went down the driveway, so that the moon and stars flickered through the branches, and a gentle breeze stirred the leaves, caressing Anna’s cheeks.

She looked across the small carriage at Reed. Though they were quite close, his face was only partially visible in the dim light, his eyes dark and unknown, the ridges of his cheekbones highlighted. She could not help but think what a sweet, romantic ride it would have been if he had been sitting beside her…if she had not refused him…if life had turned out differently….

Anna gave herself a mental shake and said brightly, “This is a beautiful carriage.”

“It’s Kyria’s. Rafe gave it to her when they returned to England a few weeks ago. Beautiful and a little impractical—very much like Kyria.” A smile took the sting from his words.

“I can see that you are very fond of your sister.”

Reed nodded. “I am fond of all my family.” He paused. “I want to thank you for what you did for the twins today.”

“How could I not?”

His mouth quirked. “There are a number of women, I think, who would not have helped them carry a wounded dog to a healer. Of course, they really had no business being on your property.”

Anna shrugged. “That is no problem. Kit and I are happy for them to explore.” She frowned, then added quickly, “Of course, they probably should not go farther into the woods—up Craydon Tor, you know. I fear they could easily get lost.”

“They generally take their compass. I imagine they could have found their way back today if you had not come along. But I will speak to them about Craydon Tor—though I fear that, with those two, any word of warning seems to make them only more eager to do something.”

“Typical boys, I think.” Anna smiled. “Kit was always most eager to do whatever had been forbidden. But I do hope you will impress on them not to go alone into those woods. They could fall or—well, there must be some sort of animal, perhaps a wild dog, that inflicted that damage on the dog they found. I have no idea what it was, but the dog’s wounds were severe. I do not like to think of Con and Alex coming upon that fierce a creature.” She brightened. “If they will but come to the Manor, I will send our gamekeeper, Rankin, out with them to explore the woods. He is a very good sort. They will enjoy their outing with him, I assure you.”

“That is very kind. Was the dog as badly injured as the boys said?”

Anna nodded. “Yes. Nick Perkins is a wonderful healer, but I hope Con and Alex will not count too much on his curing the animal.”

Reed studied her for a moment. “You truly liked them, didn’t you? Alex and Con.”

“Why, of course.” Anna cast a startled look at him. “How could I not? They are delightful boys.”

“There are many who do not find them so,” Reed commented wryly.

Anna wrinkled her nose. “Then they must be very stodgy sorts.”

Reed chuckled. “They are, many of them. However, it does seem as though wherever the twins go, things just seem to…happen.”

“Things?”

“Oh, frogs in a tutor’s bed, for instance, or an escaped parrot…or boa constrictor…or rabbit. Then there was the fire in the nursery—that was when they were pretending to be frontiersmen in America, I believe, and using a tinderbox. Or the time they went down an abandoned well after a kitten. Or—”