The Scarlet Gown. Sarah Mallory

      ‘Of course not.’

      She chuckled.

      ‘Your expression tells me you would like to add “and very inconvenient it is, too!” Although, of course I am sure you would use much stronger language.’

      Again that swift grin transformed his countenance.

      ‘You are right, much stronger!’

      ‘Well, I am very happy with my own company, sir, so if you have business requiring your attention, please do not feel you have to humour me.’

      ‘No, there is nothing that cannot wait.’

      Lucy dropped a curtsey.

      ‘I vow, my lord, I do not know when I have received such a handsome compliment.’

      She wondered if her impetuous remark might bring his wrath upon her, but although his eyes narrowed there was a gleam of appreciation in them.

      ‘Vixen,’ he retorted without heat.

      He held out his arm to her, and she laid her fingers on the rough woollen sleeve. She remarked as they began to stroll towards the house, ‘If Mr Colne is such a good friend I wonder that you did not confide your plan to him.’

      ‘It has been my experience that secrets are best shared as little as possible. It was necessary to take Mrs Dean into my confidence, but no one else need know of it.’

      ‘Your reasoning is impeccable, but to deceive your friends must cause some uneasiness.’

      ‘And are you not deceiving your family?’

      She bit her lip. ‘I am, in a way.’ She added, firing up, ‘But at least there is some truth in what I told them. I am employed.’

      ‘And do I figure as your elderly invalid?’

      She gave a little choke of laughter at the absurdity of the idea.

      ‘I suppose you must be, although you are far too—’ She broke off, blushing.

      ‘Far too what? Come, Miss Halbrook. You intrigue me.’

      ‘Healthy,’ she said lamely. It had not been the adjective she had intended to use. Young. Strong. Virile. They were the words that had come to her mind, but impossible to tell him so, and she was grateful that he did not press her on the matter.

      ‘So what are you doing out here so early?’ he asked her.

      ‘Communing with nature.’ Her soulful response earned her a sudden, frowning look, and she abandoned her teasing. ‘It is such a lovely day that I wanted to be outside. From what Mrs Dean told me yesterday I believe breakfast will not be for another hour or so yet.’

      ‘Breakfast can be whenever you wish,’ he replied. ‘Did your maid dress you?’

      She stopped, glancing down at her gown. ‘No—why, is there something wrong?’

      ‘Not at all. I prefer your hair like that, with a bandeau and hanging loose down your back.’ He reached up and caught a lock between his fingers. ‘It curls naturally?’

      ‘Why, y-yes.’ She was thrown off balance by the gesture, which seemed far too intimate. ‘I usually wear it in a knot because it is more...’

      ‘More suitable for a governess, perhaps,’ he finished for her. They began to walk on. ‘While you are here you will oblige me by not looking like a governess.’

      ‘Very well, if that is your wish, my lord.’

      ‘Now I have offended you.’

      ‘Not at all.’

      ‘You should know from the outset, Miss Halbrook, that I have no turn for soft words and compliments.’

      ‘That is quite evident.’

      Her sharp retort earned nothing but a swift, sardonic glance. Lucy knew she was fortunate; she guessed he was more than capable of delivering a brutal snub if she pushed him too far.

      Lucy curbed her hasty temper. After all, it was not for her to criticise her employer. She decided to enjoy the morning stroll. Lord Adversane led her around the perimeter of the lawn and seemed disinclined to talk, but Lucy had no intention of allowing him all his own way. A gravelled spur off the main drive caught her attention and her eyes followed it to a small wicket gate set into the palings.

      ‘Where does that lead?’

      ‘To the moors.’ Did she imagine the heartbeat’s hesitation before he added, ‘And Druids Rock.’

      ‘Oh, is it far?’

      ‘Too far to walk there now.’

      She was beginning to recognise that implacable note in his voice. It told her he had no wish to continue with the conversation, but that was understandable, since Druids Rock was where his wife had met her death. Their perambulations had brought them round in a circle and she could see that they were now wending their way back towards the house. She decided to make the most of the remaining time alone with her host.

      ‘This might be a good opportunity for me to learn something about you,’ she began. ‘Perhaps you should tell me...’ she paused, waving one airy hand ‘...the sort of things a fiancée would want to know.’

      ‘The state of my fortune, perhaps?’

      ‘That is the sort of thing my parents would want to know,’ she corrected him. ‘No, tell me about you.’

      ‘I am thirty years of age. I inherited Adversane some nine years ago and it has been my principal home ever since. I have other estates, of course, and a house in London that I use when the House is sitting or to attend lectures and experiments at the Royal Society—what have I said to amuse you, Miss Halbrook?’

      ‘Nothing, only I am at a loss to see what would have brought us together.’

      ‘I appreciate art—you will admit that we have that in common, madam.’

      ‘But that is such a wide-ranging subject that I am not at all sure we would enjoy the same artists,’ she countered, unwilling to concede anything just yet.

      He shrugged. ‘I enjoy riding—’

      ‘Ah, then we do have a common interest.’

      ‘You ride, then?’

      ‘It was amongst the accomplishments I listed for Mrs Killinghurst.’

      ‘But do you ride well?’

      ‘That you will have to judge for yourself.’ She sighed. ‘It is not something I was able to do very often in London.’

      ‘There are plenty of horses in the stables that my sisters use when they are at Adversane. We shall ride out this afternoon. That is—you have a riding habit?’

      ‘Yes, an old one. I wore it to travel here.’

      ‘Very well, then.’ They had reached the garden door, and he opened it and stood back for her to precede him. ‘I have business with Colne to attend to, but it should be finished by four. I will send for you to come to the stables as soon as I am free.’

      Her brows went up. ‘Send for me? Perhaps I will not be able to respond to your...your summons, my lord. I may have found another occupation by then.’

      Ralph heard the frosty note in her voice. What cause had she to complain? If he wanted to summon her he would do so, by heaven. She was, after all, only an employee. He gave a shrug and responded, equally coldly.

      ‘I have already said you will get no fine speeches from me, Miss Halbrook.’

      ‘Then you will understand if I respond in kind, Lord Adversane!’

      Her spirited retort surprised him, but he did not resent it. In fact, he rather liked it and raised her fingers to his lips.

      ‘I