“Such a long face,” Brandon noted. “Can it be you missed us?”
Distance giving her courage, Shannon stuck out her tongue. She was mortified when the earl’s eyes grew wide with surprise at the insulting, saucy behavior. She stood quickly, stammering a hasty apology that brought a smile to the face of both men. “Please, don’t take my things!” she called as they turned simultaneously and followed the path away from the brook. “Oh, come back! I must have my shoes!”
Brandon glanced over his shoulder and gave Shannon an exaggerated wounded look. “We are not thieves, m’dear. We’ll return in a moment.”
Shannon was tempted to follow them, but common sense saved her from making the hazardous crossing yet again. While she did not completely trust the colonial, she had every faith in the Earl of Glen Eden. Her faith was rewarded a few minutes later when Brandon and the earl came riding down the path on their mounts. Shannon stepped back as the huge stallions crossed the brook at a shallower point and came to a restless halt on either side of her. The earl was holding her basket, and he tipped it to show her shoes were inside. Shannon reached eagerly for the basket, murmuring her thanks.
Eric held the basket out of her reach while Brandon dismounted. “We are of a mind to provide an escort and deliver you, the basket, and one pair of soggy shoes to the vicarage.”
“Oh, but—” Her objections died in her throat as Brandon’s large hands circled her waist, lifted her, and deposited her on the saddle of his horse. She looked at the earl, appealing to his sense of fairness and propriety, only to find he was a willing conspirator in her abduction. He probably hadn’t forgiven her for giving him a peek of her saucy tongue.
Brandon felt Shannon stiffen as he climbed up behind her. He gathered the ribbons in one hand, motioned Eric to lead the way, and put his other hand at Shannon’s waist to steady her. “You would do well to relax and simply enjoy the ride,” he told her.
But Shannon could not enjoy it. She did not enjoy the teasing in his voice or the proximity of his body. She shivered, unaccountably afraid of this man who held her and even more fearful of her stepfather’s reaction should he chance to see her in the company of the earl and the colonial.
Brandon tucked his jacket more closely about Shannon’s shoulders. “Better?” he asked politely.
“Yes,” she answered, unwilling to have him know it was not the cold that caused her trembling. When they reached the edge of the wood, Shannon asked Brandon to allow her to dismount. “My home is not far,” she pointed out. “I can make my own way.”
“I’m certain you can, but humor me. It is not often I have a chance to play the gallant.”
“I don’t believe that,” she sniffed. “You must have the attentions of many young ladies.”
“You are confusing me with the earl,” Brandon said in a voice that was meant to carry to Eric’s ears. “His reputation as a libertine could not have escaped the notice of Glen Eden’s villagers.”
While the earl merely laughed at his friend’s banter, Shannon was shocked that Brandon could speak so of the master of Glen Eden.
“I, on the other hand,” Brandon continued good-naturedly, “have no such reputation with the ladies.” Here Eric actually snorted with humor, and Brandon amended his statement. “At least no such reputation with ladies as beautiful as you.”
“False words ill become a man who fancies the role of a gallant. I am hardly beautiful, and it is not kind of you to hold me up to ridicule.”
Brandon’s dark eyes widened at Shannon’s briskly delivered retort. Had she no idea of her own beauty, or was she merely casting her line for further compliments? He glanced at Eric, who was now riding beside them on the open road, and the brief warning that flashed in his friend’s eyes seemed to indicate Shannon was unaware of her own attractions. Brandon let the matter drop reluctantly.
“Will you sing in church tomorrow, Shannon?” the earl asked to bridge the uneasy silence that had grown between them.
“Yes, m’lord.” She could not elaborate. Her tongue seemed stuck to the roof of her mouth.
Eric took pity on her. “Then I shall look forward to the service,” he said sincerely.
Shannon smiled slightly. “I believe Father has an exceptional sermon planned.”
Eric coughed. “Yes, well, there’s that.”
Brandon gave the reins a tug and his mount stopped. “Is that your father?” he asked.
Shannon followed Brandon’s gesturing hand. Thomas Stewart was leaning heavily on his walking stick at the end of the cottage’s path. His glowering expression did not bode well for Shannon, and she whispered frantically to her companions. “Please, allow me to dismount. I will explain everything to my father.”
Neither Brandon nor Eric was deaf to Shannon’s urgency, but both thought she exaggerated the vicar’s displeasure. After all, nothing untoward had occurred this afternoon. Confidently they allowed their horses to approach the cottage.
“Stewart,” the earl said in the way of a greeting. “A lovely day, is it not?”
Thomas Stewart dared not be rude to the man responsible for his living, but he could not summon graciousness either. He grunted something in reply, lifted his cane in a halfhearted salute before his sunken eyes settled frostily upon Shannon. “Have you been making a nuisance of yourself, girl?” he asked sharply. “What are you doing on that mount, and why are you wet?”
Brandon spoke before Shannon could reply. “Your daughter had a slight mishap at the brook, sir. But she is recovered now, and the earl and I offered our escort.” He guided Shannon from the saddle, though he did not dismount himself. He could not fail to notice that Shannon did not meet her stepfather’s gaze as she skirted his mount.
Shannon took her basket from the earl, terribly conscious of her bare feet and naked legs. Fingering the basket and looking at the ground, she broke into a nervous introduction to cover her unease. “Mr. Fleming, my father, the vicar of Glen Eden. Father, this is Mr. Fleming, a friend of the earl’s from America.”
“A pleasure,” Brandon said, wondering if the vicar could detect the lie. Brandon could not recall when he had met a more reserved and disapproving man.
