"Yes," she said.
Lester gave the marquess an exaggerated and conspiratorial wink before following Nancy and the viscount and viscountess.
* * *
Allan Turner was clever, Lord Crensford was thinking rather grimly.But not clever enough.He might not be quite as intelligent as Clarence and Teddy—he had grown accustomed to being compared unfavorably with his two brothers—but he had not been born yesterday either. And he had lived in London for a number of years and had learned something of life.
They had made the two visits, to the Flemings first and then the Pierces. Miss Pierce and Simon had been about to leave for a walk into the village. He and Miss Wickenham would walk with them, Allan had suggested casually, and later walk back again to collect their horses.
That would not do, Lord Crensford had been quick enough to say. Mrs. Wickenham had specifically said that her daughter was to be back well before luncheon so that she could write a letter to her papa in time to catch the day's post. There would be no time for her to walk to the village and back. But Beatrice would doubtless be delighted to go while he himself rode home with Miss Wickenham.
Allan had frowned at him and had clearly lost interest in the walk, but what could he say? He had gone walking off with the Pierce brother and sister and Beatrice.
And so Lord Crensford found himself in the unlooked-for-position of being alone with Angela Wickenham.For he had not maneuvered to have her alone.He had no wish whatsoever to be alone with her. He merely felt it his duty to protect her from being alone with Allan.Or Michael, or Lester, or Jack.
"Why did you say that?" she asked as they began their ride home, alone. "About my writing to Papa, I mean. Mama merely suggested that I write if we were home in time. She would not mind if I were late."
"Parents are meant to be obeyed," he said with a frown.
"Nonsense," she said. "I am eighteen years old. And besides, Mama did not give a command. It is just that you did not want me to go with Mr. Turner. You don't like to see me enjoy myself."
"Enjoyyourself?" he said."With Allan Turner?You are just a green girl. You don't seem to realize the danger you might be in while enjoying yourself, as you put it. Haven't you seen how the man has been drooling over you for the past two days?And some of the others too?"
"He has been attentive," she said."As have Mr. Decker and Mr. Houndsleigh.I see nothing wrong in that. It is pleasant to be appreciated."
"Appreciated!"He looked at her in some disgust. "It was that dance that did it all. I should never have allowed it."
"Oh," she said crossly, "what was wrong with the dance? Everyone clapped most politely and commended me warmly. And who are you to allow or riot to allow anything I do? My tnama is here with me, and she does not say I should not dance or I should not go walking with certain gentlemen."
''Perhaps your mama does not know them as I do," Lord Crensford said.
"And yet," she said, "it seems that it is perfectly unexceptionable for me to ride alone with you."
"I am not like to say improper things to you," he said, "or to make improper advances."
"Oh, no," she said bitterly, "youare not, are you? I am just a child as far as you are concerned."
"If you were a child," he said scornfully, "you would not have to be protected from men like Allan Turner."
"Well, Mr. Turner has been very kind to me in the last couple of days," she said. "And I am eighteen years old and I enjoy his admiration. So there! I used to think you were very dashing and heroic, but I was mistaken. You are bad-tempered and stuffy. And I am going to gallop home."
She suited action to words, and soon Lord Crensford was swearing at empty air, not merely with exasperation, but with real fear. This was rabbit country. The little pests had their burrows everywhere. She would fall and break her neck for sure, and he would have her death on his conscience for the rest
of his life.
By the time he caught up with her, they were almost across that particular field. But she would not, of course, take any notice of his shouted warnings or commands to stop. He had to reach across and grab her bridle and slow the horse to a walk.
"Are you trying to kill yourself?" he barked at her when both their horses had stopped. He still grasped her bridle. One of his knees was pressed against hers. "Don't you have a brain in your head?"
"You would not believe it if I said yes," she said. "Let go of my horse, please. I want to go home.To write my letter."
He was still glaring at her. "I want your promise first," he said,"that you will not deliberately try to kill yourself again."
"Let me go," she said again. "I don't like you anymore, my lord. I used to like you, but no more. And I would be obliged if you would stop following me about as you have been doing ever since I came here. You should have gone riding with Mrs. Ingram this morning, instead of with me. You are never cross with her." There were tears in her eyes as she swung her horse's head away and made for the gateway leading into the next field.
''What the deuce?"Lord Crensford was left frowning after her. He followed her a few moments later, but stayed somewhat behind her for the remainder of the ride home.
13
