“Do your sisters disapprove?
“Neither of them wanted me to ride today. Said hunts are a dangerous sport.”
He readjusted his seat and tried to imagine she wasn’t there. Her nearness hadn’t waned his body’s reaction. “So you mentioned.”
“Look,” she said suddenly, “we’re at the finish. Everyone is here.”
True, and they were the last ones, which everyone seemed to know because both her sisters came rushing over to them. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Graham and Arthur on their way as well.
“Where have you been?” her sister Agnes inquired, eyeing Charles up and down. “And what are you doing riding astride?”
“I always ride astride,” she replied. “Lord Charles came to my rescue after he realized my horse had thrown me.”
A stable boy had come and taken the horse while another held the bay’s reins. Charles swung himself off the back of the saddle and on to the ground. Carefully he assisted her down. Her sister grabbed her by the arm as her feet hit the soft grass.
“Thank you for your assistance, Lord Charles, but I’ve got her,” her sister Agnes said. She had a look on her face Charles was familiar with. In her eyes, he was a madman, someone who shouldn’t be out of an institution.
“Thank you again, Lord Charles,” Lady Cathryn said softly.
Instead of saying another word, he turned and walked away. He noticed Daphne with a brandy in one hand standing off to one side.
“It’s a good thing you happened upon Lady Cathryn.”
“I’m not so sure of that,” he replied. “Her sister thinks I’m some sort of monster.”
Daphne laid her hand on his forearm for a moment. “You are overreacting. I’m sure Lady Agnes is just concerned for her sister.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” he replied. Glancing back over to where Lady Cathryn and her sisters were, he noted Arthur and Graham talking with the trio and the two sisters being quite adamant and vocal with displeasure.
People who were nearby were starting to glance over at him. He knew when that happened it was time to leave. If he didn’t, he’d be the gossip for the day. He knew how this all worked; he’d been through it before.
Not wanting to draw attention to himself, Charles spoke to his sister-in-law. “If you’ll excuse me. I need to walk. I’ll see you back home.”
“Don’t you dare. Don’t let those two win.”
“I have no intention of that. I simply don’t wish to cause a problem for Roxanne and Graham.”
“You aren’t.”
“It’s best for me to go.” He turned and began walking a path away from the crowd.
He passed almost no one as he stopped in front of the house. He knew Graham’s estate backed up to his family’s so he began to walk to a path that would lead him in the general direction. He’d then pick up the pace and would soon be somewhere near the house.
A few light-gray clouds dotted the afternoon sky but he was undeterred by the sight of them. He instead continued his walk. Keeping up a swift pace, he finally reached a large meadow. Before he could cross it, he had to get over an old rock fence. Charles glanced about the fence, looking for any break in it. Not finding any opening, he walked the fence line for a moment or two when he found a gate. It opened easily and Charles walked through it before finding his way back to the path.
It was about at that time that Frazier found him. From the look on his face, something was seriously not good. His face was like the gray clouds above them.
“His Grace sent me to find you. He wants you to go to the house and wait for him in your rooms.”
“What have I supposedly done?”
“Lady Agnes is accusing you of making inappropriate advances to Lady Cathryn. She is demanding satisfaction.”
“I never did any such thing! What does she want?”
“I don’t know. His Grace finally got Lady Agnes to agree to speak about it privately rather than airing things in public.”
Charles kicked his boot along the ground. “I can’t bring shame to my family.”
