Chapter Eight

James clicked to his horse, having permitted it to amble along the road for some minutes. They had enjoyed a good canter on their way back to the manor house but now, the horse was getting tired and, the truth was, so was he. He and his mother had taken a long walk around the small village, taking in everything and making certain to purchase something from each and every shop. There were only a few, yes, but he wanted to make certain that all of them received some of his custom. Thereafter, his mother had returned with the carriage but James had chosen to take a ride around the area, seeking out a little solitude. It had been a pleasant ride but he was now ready to return home.

The sound of hooves behind him made James turn, only to see the smiling face of Lord Thurston approaching.

"Thurston!" he exclaimed, as his friend drew his horse close beside him. "Good afternoon! I did not think that I would see you."

"No?"

James chuckled at his friend's enquiring look. "No, not when we are to have a soiree at your manor house this evening."

"Ah, but there is very little to do," came the reply. "Besides which, my dear lady wife does prefer to take on all the arrangements. I am not to say a single word to her about it, in fact, but I am to trust that all will be well and, to be truthful, every time I have done so, it had been just as she promised so I have every faith in her."

Smiling, James found himself considering what it would be like to be married. Would he have the very same confidence in his own bride, whoever that might prove to be? Would she desire to take on the running of the home and of all the occasions they might put on? For whatever reason, his thoughts suddenly turned to Lady Temperance and, as her face flashed before his eyes, James shook his head and harrumphed, chasing the image away.

His friend lifted an eyebrow enquiringly but James only shrugged, choosing not to explain his strange reaction.

"Did you hear that the Duke and Duchess of Danfield are to come to stay?" his friend asked, as James frowned. "I hear they are to arrive at the end of the week. "

"The Duke of Danfield? I do not think I am acquainted with him or his wife."

Lord Thurston smiled briefly. "They are Lady Temperance's parents. Lady Temperance told Penelope only yesterday about the news, though she did not appear to be particularly pleased about seeing them."

"I wonder why that should be."

Lord Thurston opened his mouth to say something more, only to snap it closed again and to shake his head. "I will not go into prolonged explanations, only to say that I believe the Duchess is very keen for her daughter to return to society."

James' eyebrows lifted. "But society will only speak ill of her! They will mock and whisper about her behind her back and that will bring her only more pain!"

"Precisely. Thankfully, I think that Lady Hartford is very eager indeed to do as her niece wants and will defend her from such a thing. It is good that she is willing to support her niece in that way."

"Indeed it is," James answered, now thinking very highly of Lady Hartford. "I am surprised that the Duchess would encourage her daughter back into such a situation."

"It is, mayhap the only way that she can see for her daughter to marry and, from what I understand, that is the hope of every mother: for their daughter to marry well."

James bit his lip and refused to say anything more. He wanted to begin to ask why the Duchess of Danfield could not see the pain that being brought back to society would cause Lady Temperance but instead chose to remain quite silent. The chances of the young lady finding a suitable match were very slim indeed, even if she were to return to society. The gentlemen of the ton were very specific in their requirements for a wife and James could not think of a single one who would look past her scar.

Though I would.

The thought sent heat rippling down his spine as he turned his head away from Lord Thurston for fear that his friend would see the heat in James' cheeks.

"I do think that – oh, good gracious!"

James turned his head just as Lord Thurston pulled his horse to the side of the road. The rumble of carriage wheels signaled the arrival of a carriage which was coming much too quickly, giving James only a few seconds to pull his horse to the same side as Lord Thurston. The carriage did not slow and James' horse immediately shied as it rushed up alongside them. With all of his strength and his skill, James kept it under control, though both he and Lord Thurston let out an angry roar to the driver and the occupants within the carriage as it rushed past them.

"Goodness, whatever fool was that?" James exclaimed, bringing his horse back towards the center of the road, alongside Lord Thurston. "Do they not know that this is a country road? That there are other occupants upon it?"

"Clearly, they do not," Lord Thurston answered, his voice holding a note of disgust. "Simpletons, certainly."

As though the carriage driver had heard them, the carriage began to slow and, as James and Lord Thurston continued to ride, came to a complete stop. Thereafter, the carriage door opened and a gentleman stepped out.

James frowned and threw a look to Lord Thurston. "If this gentleman attempts to say that we are at fault, I shall have a few choice words to say to him!" he exclaimed, though he kept his voice low. "Whatever was he thinking forcing the driver to rush ahead like that?"

"Gentlemen!" The fellow spread out both hands, his smile broad despite the fact that his driver had almost caused an accident. "I do hope you are both all right. I do not know what my driver was thinking!"

Choosing to remain astride his horse, James brought his mount to a stop only a few steps away from the gentleman. To his mind, this gentleman was already speaking untruths, for the driver would not have driven in such a way without having been instructed to by his master. "We are both quite all right," he said, a little snippily. "That was a most imprudent action, I must say. Compelling your coachman to urge your horses to hasten their pace on such treacherous roads does not bode well for our safety." He arched an eyebrow as the still smiling gentleman opened his mouth, only for him to snap it closed again. Then, he shrugged.

"I will admit to telling my driver to make his way with urgency. I am greatly desirous to be at the house."

Again, James and Lord Thurston shared a look .

"The house?" Lord Thurston asked, quickly. "I do not think we are introduced and I have resided here for many years. You are not one of our neighbours, I think."

The gentleman shook his head, beaming at Lord Thurston. "No, indeed not. However, I am to reside for a time in a small manor house which is nearby somewhere. It belongs to a friend of mine, Lord Grayson."

Lord Thurston's eyebrows lifted. "Lord Grayson has gone to London for the Season."

"Yes, and has granted me permission to reside in his manor house here," the gentleman explained. "It is still some miles away from what I understand."

Lord Thurston nodded. "Five miles from here," he said, making James' brows drop low as the gentleman's smile finally began to fade. "It will still take you some time to reach there. Might I ask why you have such an urgency? You will need to be careful with your horses. The road can be a little stony in places and they will need to be cautious… unless you want a lame horse."

The gentleman nodded, now looking rather solemn. "I quite understand. Thank you. I will tell the driver to be more careful." His smile returned. "As regards for the urgency, it is because I am very keen to become reacquainted with an old acquaintance who resides nearby. I am coming without their knowledge, so it shall be something of a surprise so I must beg of you not to tell anyone that you have seen me!"

James' brows dropped even lower. Who was this gentleman? What acquaintance did he have around here? There was something about the glint in the gentleman's eyes and the broad, confident smile which whispered of arrogance and James did not much like pride in someone's character.

"We do not know your name, so how can we say anything?" he asked, as the gentleman laughed. "Though mayhap we ought to be introduced?" He inclined his head. "The Earl of Calverton and my friend, Lord Thurston."

The gentleman bowed. "Well, so long as I have your promise of silence, I shall introduce myself." He looked first at Lord Thurston and then to James, who, after a moment, both gave him a small nod. With a smile, the gentleman bowed again. "The Marquess of Barlington, at your service. And now that introductions have been made, I must take my leave of you! I am sure we shall see each other again very soon at some soiree or some such thing, given that you are clearly well acquainted with everyone else in this desolate place! Good afternoon to you both!"

With a cheery wave, Lord Barlington climbed back into his carriage which, after a moment, began to rattle along the road though, much to James' relief, at a much slower pace. With a shake of his head, he looked to Lord Thurston, only to see his friend's eyes wide with shock.

"Thurston? What is it?"

Lord Thurston blinked. "Do you not know that name?"

James shook his head slowly, only for a sudden recollection to hit him, hard. "Oh, no."

"Yes. That was the gentleman who broke off his engagement to Lady Temperance, once he saw the injury that she had sustained from her fall."

James closed his eyes briefly, fighting the furious urge to ride after the carriage and, once it had stopped, demand to know whether the person who was not expecting to see Lord Barlington was, in fact, Lady Temperance herself.

"You think that she does not know of his arrival," Lord Thurston murmured, as James nodded. "Yes, I think I would agree with that." He looked at James, one eyebrow lifted. "We did say that we would keep his secret, that we would not tell anyone of his arrival."

James scoffed immediately, his concern for Lady Temperance pushing aside everything else. "I have every intention of making certain she is aware of it," he stated, as Lord Thurston nodded. "It may be that she is already aware and mayhap it is someone else that the gentleman spoke of but, to be certain of it I have every intention of telling her of his arrival."

"Be cautious when you do so," Lord Thurston warned. "It will come as a great shock. She and Penelope are very dear friends and I know the great injury that his rejection caused Lady Temperance."

James nodded, glancing to the path and wondering if he ought to go to speak with her now rather than wait for the soiree this evening. "You will excuse me, Thurston?"

His friend's eyes flickered. "You wish to talk to Lady Temperance now? "

"I do. I think it would be best to do so at this moment rather than at the soiree. She may be overwhelmed and the soiree would be ruined for her."

Lord Thurston smiled briefly. "That is a wise thought. I hope she will still come to the soiree but yes, I think it would be wisest to make her aware of his presence now. I will see you this evening."

"Thank you, old friend." Without another word, James clicked to his horse, pushing it into a canter again. The urgency which drove him sent fire into his veins and as he came upon the house, his heart began to beat furiously. What would she say to this news? Would she be overcome with shock or fright? Or would she quietly be glad of Lord Barlington's arrival, perhaps hoping that their broken engagement might recover again?