CHAPTER NINE

C HAPTER N INE

C harlie sent his outriders home and rode by himself. The more he was with Oriana, the more he wanted to be with her. He loved everything about her. Her intelligence, her caring, the way she took the time to listen. And, of course, her beauty. She was the only lady he’d ever met that he knew he needed in his life. For the rest of his life. They were perfect for each other. And she was the only woman with whom he had ever been in love. The knowledge stunned him. It had happened so quickly, so effortlessly. As if it was meant to be. Then he remembered what his papa had told him.

The moment I saw her, I knew I was in love. He’d laughed ruefully. Then I had to convince her that she loved me too.

That was what Charlie would have to do. Bring her around to his way of thinking. If only he could carry her off as he was sure some of his ancestors had done with their wives. On the other hand Charlie wasn’t certain that would work with Oriana. In fact, it might have the opposite result. Riding with her, however, would allow him an opportunity for them to come to know each other better.

The next day, after luncheon, he rode over to Rose Hill and was allowed in by the majordomo. She bowed. “Good day, my lord. I will inform Miss that you have arrived.”

Instead of going upstairs the servant went down a corridor. A few minutes later Oriana, dressed in a Prussian blue riding habit, emerged. “Good afternoon.” She smiled and curtseyed.

“Good day to you.” She offered him her hand, and Charlie tucked it into the crook of his arm. “Shall we depart?”

“Indeed.” Oriana chuckled lightly. “I see you are ready to be off. Where shall we go?”

That was one thing he had not considered. “Where would you like to go?”

“We could go across the hill and into Stanwood town.”

The country had a gently rolling landscape. After what he’d seen elsewhere, calling them hills might be a bit of a stretch. Still, he knew just the path. “An excellent idea.”

When they reached the front steps her horse was waiting along with his. “He is a beauty. What is his name?”

“Hermes. I bought him when I returned from the Continent.” He looked at her mare. “She is lovely. What do you call her?”

“Iris.” Oriana smiled. “We both appear to like messengers.”

Charlie returned her smile. “We do.” She turned to mount her horse. “Allow me.” When he lifted her onto the mare, he was pleased to note that Oriana’s breath hitched. At least she was affected by his touch. He settled her foot into the stirrup. “There you go.”

She looked a little dazed, and he hid his smile. “Thank you.”

They started down the drive. “How well do you know the country?”

“I generally remain on the well-traveled lanes and roads in the event something were to happen and I needed help.”

“That’s prudent.” And extremely good thinking on her part. She must ride alone most of the time. “Allow me to show you some other ways.”

Her smile was back. “Very well. Lead on.”

When they reached the road he turned toward a woodland path that led toward Stanwood town.

“Oh, this is beautiful!” Oriana tilted her head back to view the tall old trees through which the sun was filtered by leaves. “I have always wondered where this lane went.”

After about thirty minutes or so they reached a meadow and galloped up the rise holding the ruins of an ancient tower.

“I had no idea this was here.” Her voice was filled with wonder, as was her face. “Do you know how old it is?”

He was glad to be able to show her more of their country. “I know it predates the Normans. We are on the outskirts of Stanwood.”

“Your estate?” Her eyes were wide with surprise. “I had no idea how large it is.”

“It surrounds Stanwood town on two sides and Liliford on one.” That was probably the reason why his family had always taken care of that village as well.

“I had no idea.” She glanced around. “None of this is fenced.”

“No. There is no need.” There were enough enclosed places in England. “We used to play here as children. Well, Charlotte and I did. The others were too young.”

Oriana stared at the tower. “Can we go in?”

“Yes. I have had enough repairs made to ensure it’s safe.”

“But not enough to damage the charm.” She laughed. “What an excellent idea.”

He found himself grinning. “I wouldn’t want to ruin it for other children.”

“No indeed.”

Before she could get off her horse herself, he dismounted, stepped to her side, and lifted her down. Each time he touched her it was harder letting go. Hopefully, soon he wouldn’t have to.

Again, her breathing was unsteady. This time she blushed a soft pink. “Thank you. Although I really can alight by myself.”

“Why should you have to when I am here to help?” They tied their horses to a nearby sapling and he offered her his arm. “Allow me to show you the tower.”

The building was round and made from local stone. Narrow windows were scattered around it.

All the while they strolled around the structure, Oriana gazed up. “I suppose they were used to shoot arrows from up there.” They reached the entrance, where a circular staircase climbed the inner walls to the next levels. She stopped. “This really is well-kept.”

“There used to be a wall around it, but it was rubble long before we found it.”

“I can imagine it enclosed by the wall and the people who used to live here.” She turned to him, her eyes full of excitement. “Thank you so much for showing this to me.”

“It was my pleasure.” He wanted to take her into his arms. “Do you want to go upstairs? The view is fantastic.”

“Yes, if you do not mind.” She was already lifting her skirts to ascend the stairs.

Charlie laughed. Even though he would have loved to have had a view of her ankles, he was a gentleman. “Do you want me to go first?”

She glanced down at her skirts. “I suppose you should.”

As they climbed to the top floor, she gazed out each of the openings. “I can see Liliford and Stanford town.”

Standing behind her, so close that the scent of lavender and something else wafted around him, he pointed east. “That is Stanwood Place.”

“How much fun it must have been for you to have played here.”

“It is something I want my children to experience as well.” He hoped that she would know he meant children he would have with her.

Color filled her cheeks. “We should go on.”

Charlie stepped back. “If you like, we can stop at the Stanwood Arms and have something to drink.” Oriana seemed uncertain. “Outside, naturally. There are benches and long tables.”

“Naturally. I have heard that their lemonade is quite good.”

“I believe it is.”

Once they had mounted, he showed her another path through the wood.

“I must say, this is magical, with the sun seeming to send shafts through the trees and the flowers dotting the ground.”

Charlie always thought the same when he came this way. “I know what you mean. My sister and I used to imagine it was full of fairies and other creatures.”

She gave him an amused look. “You do know that fairies do not have good reputations.”

“All ours did.” He tried to look offended. “After all, they were on our land.”

Oriana’s laugh was like a trilling tinkle. “That would make all the difference.”

“Naturally it did.” He nodded. “It seemed as if we led charmed lives; then our parents died.”

“That must have been difficult.” Oriana knew it was; she had lost her mother.

“It was. For all of us, but especially for my eldest sister.” Stanwood’s voice was somber, and a hint of sadness touched his face.

“Because she had to take care of the rest of you.” His sister had been prepared to give up a life of her own with a husband and children. Mary would only have been a baby.

“Yes. I felt guilty about it. I was the earl, but I was too young to take charge of anything.” He glanced away for a moment. “I haven’t thought about that in years. Until I came back to England. After she married all of our lives were much better.”

Oriana wanted to comfort him. She remembered how devastated she was when her mother died. How much harder must it have been taking charge of seven siblings at such a young age? She could not imagine it. “I am glad you all had one another.”

“I am as well.” His lips tilted up slightly. “What happened when you lost your mother? How old were you?”

“I was sixteen.” A really horrible time for a girl to be motherless. “My father said he didn’t know anything about raising a girl and sent me to my maternal grandmother. It turned out to be for the best. He was unable to cope with Mama’s death and died a few years later.” For the first time she wondered why none of Stanwood’s relatives had taken them in. “Why did none of your family take care of you?”

“Oh, they would have.” He sounded angry. “But none of them wanted all of us. They would have parceled us out in ones and twos. Mama had made Grace promise not to allow that to happen.”

The closeness of his family began to make perfect sense. They would all have had to work together to stay together. “I am still amazed that you managed it.”

Charlie barked a laugh. “We weren’t perfect by any means, but those of us who were old enough knew we had to help Grace, and we did.”

Oriana had a vision of family members waiting for something terrible to happen so that the children could be removed from his sister’s care. “It must have been a relief when she met Worthington.”

“It was.” Charlie grinned. “I thank Charlotte and Louisa for bringing all of the brothers and sisters together and scheming to get Grace and Worthington wed.” Charlie glanced at Oriana. “Of course it helped that they were in love.”

She had not thought about falling in love. That love would happen to her. They had reached the outskirts of Stanwood town. “We have arrived.”

He looked up. “We have. Are you hungry as well as thirsty?”

“Not really.” Although the sun was still high, she knew by its position that it was late afternoon. “It is not long until dinner.”

“As you wish. We’ll just have something to drink.”

When they reached the inn she tried to steal herself against his touch. Not that she had much experience with gentlemen, but she had never had the reaction to anyone that she had to Stanwood. But no matter her attempt, the second he touched her it was as if her blood was effervescent. He found them places at a narrow table and bench set against the inn’s front wall.

“Lemonade?” he asked when a server came out.

“Yes, please.” She did not need anything that might affect her more than she already was.

“Ale, please.”

“Straightaway, my lord.”

A few minutes later, while they were quietly partaking of their libations in the sun, a figure stepped up and stood in front of them. Ognon . “Oriana, there you are. Why aren’t you at home?”

Next to her, Stanwood stiffened, as if preparing for a fight. “Miss Ognon to you, and I am not obliged to remain at home. Especially on such a nice day.”

“We are cousins,” he said in a belligerent tone. “I am here to ensure that you do not require anything.”

“Cousins or not, I did not even know you existed until after my father and brother died. Based on our distant relationship, I insist you not make free of my name.” She glared at the idiot. “As to needing your help with anything, I do not. I am perfectly able to handle my own affairs.”

She felt rather than saw Stanwood move. When he stood he towered over her cousin. “Ognon, allow me to assure you that if Miss Ognon requires any kind of assistance, she may call on me. As her nearest neighbor, I will be happy to give her any help she might require.”

Well. She had not expected that .

“I don’t know why you would. You’re not related to her. I’m her closest relative.”

Oriana decided to enter the discussion. It was about her after all. “No, you are not. My aunt is. You are merely a distant cousin.”

Ognon stuck out his chin, and she could only think what a perfect target it was. “Another female. What good is that? I am the head of your house. It is my responsibility.”

“Nevertheless,” Stanwood said in a firm but easy tone, “I live much closer to Miss Ognon than you do.”

Ognon appeared to be trying to ignore Stanwood. “Come with me. I shall escort you home.”

Stanwood raised a brow but said nothing.

“No, thank you. I already have an escort.” Her cousin opened his mouth again. “And even if Lord Stanwood were not here, I would not accept your offer. Goodbye, Cousin.”

When Ognon remained where he was, Stanwood seemed to make a point of looking down at the man. “Did you not hear the lady? She does not wish for your assistance.”

After a few more seconds her cousin stamped off like a petulant child. “Thank you. You know, I really do not need anyone’s help.”

He inclined his head. “Everyone needs help sometimes. As a neighbor, I would expect you to come to my aid if I required it.”

Leave it to him to take the edge off her ire. “And I will be happy to assist.”

He left some coins on the table. “We should be going. I have a feeling I’m pushing the time until dinner.”

Oriana drained her glass of the excellent lemonade. “Yes. I am as well.”

Their horses were brought around, and once again he lifted her onto her mare. She must find a way to stop his touch from making her tingle. It was disconcerting.

As they walked their horses through town, she was shocked by the number of times they were stopped for everything from requests for help to expressions of thanks for something Stanwood had done to words of advice. He handled them all knowledgeably and kindly. She had expected him to take some of the advice, such as how to handle a neighbor’s dispute, with some expression of haughtiness, but he had simply told the person he would consider their suggestion. She would not have been as patient. Was he on his best behavior because he was with her or was he truly that considerate? And how would she know?

They galloped from the edge of Stanwood to Liliford and walked the horses again. There were not quite as many people coming up to him, but they clearly thought of him as the answer to all their difficulties. Although in Liliford some of the residents approached her as well. She almost expected him to take offense, but he waited patiently and did not intrude to offer his opinion.

Eventually they reached the end of the village and turned onto the road leading to her house. “Does that happen all the time?”

Mirth shone in his eyes when he glanced at her. “Does it happen to you all the time as well?”

She supposed it did. “Yes.”

“That is my answer as well. These people rely on me and on you. It is our duty and, in my case, a pleasure to be able to help them.”

That put her in her place. “It is. I suppose I have simply never seen them approach anyone but me. I do not go to Stanwood town often at all.”

Stanwood smiled at her. “Would you like to go riding again tomorrow?”

“I would. However, it must be either late morning or in the afternoon again. I have tenants I must visit.”

“I as well. If you don’t mind, I’ll come over when I’m done. I usually see a few several days a week rather than everyone at once.”

Oriana tended to make her rounds once a week, but she did not have nearly as many tenants as he did. “I shall see you, then.”