The sun showed it to be late afternoon. He was probably only an hour away from his destination. Without too much thought, Rupert went a few yards into the growth, opened the fall of his trousers, and let nature take its course. Then he heard the sound of horses.
Finishing quickly, he was barely buttoned up when a carriage stopped behind his.
A footman riding on the backboard jumped down and unfolded the steps before opening the door. Out stepped a tawny-haired young lady, followed by another with darker curly hair, loosely swept up and yet wildly springing all around her face.
“Good day,” said the first while the second merely stared at him with her dark-brown eyes.
“Good day, ladies. May I assist?”
“Oh, no,” said the fairer-haired miss. “We thoughtyoumight need assistance seeing how your carriage had halted.”
“Very kind of you. I was simply stretching my legs.”
It didn’t seem safe for these two to be gallivanting around the countryside, stopping to help strangers, but that was probably the way of modern women.
“I am finished ...uh... stretching, and I shall now continue on my way. Is there anything I can do for you?” he offered again.
“You are most kind,” the light brunette spoke again, while the curly-top still said nothing, merely considering him. Perhaps she was a simpleton. “We want for nothing. We shall stretch, too, and then be on our way. We’re heading to a house party.”
Rupert supposed he had to ask. After all, this was the best track from London, albeit dusty, bumpy, and lacking facilities.Where were the Romans with their good straight roads when you needed them?
“It stands to reason since I, too, am going to a house party, that we might be attending the same. Is it Lady Osbourne’s?”
“The very one,” spoke the same lady, looking pleased.
“Hm,”Rupert huffed. Suddenly, these innocent chits seemed malevolent with matrimonial mischief.
“Then I shall see you anon.” With a congenially nod of farewell, he moved swiftly toward his coach. About to be trapped with these females for two weeks, he didn’t have to spend another instant at their disposal. Strangely, at first glance, he hadn’t seen anything that would cause either to be shunned by his fellow men.
At last, theotherfemale spoke.
“My lord,” she said, stopping him.
Perhaps she wanted to form a bond with him to get an early start on the matchmaking.Was she going to invite him into their carriage?He wouldn’t fall for that.
Rupert turned. “Yes, my lady.” He was unable to keep the hint of annoyance from his tone.
“Your shirt,” was all she said, gesturing toward his trousers.
Glancing down, the blood rushed to his head. Poking from the fall front was his white shirt tail, sticking out between the buttons, having caught there in his haste. It looked like an obscene tail.
“Oh,”he exclaimed.The devil!
Turning away with a wave of his hand, which he hoped signified gratitude, Rupert climbed into his carriage.
If the ladies hadn’t stopped in the first place like a couple of meddlesome busybodies, his disgraceful state of undress would never have occurred. Thus, he found it difficult to be thankful, even to the curly-haired one who broke her silence to point it out.
He would steer clear of them both.
Especially when he glanced back to see the ladies laughing.
Blasted females!
Chapter Two
Lady Osbourne’s estate was as grand as one would expect for hosting sixteen people — eight skittish men and eight wide-eyed women — for an entire fortnight.
Rupert nearly stayed in his carriage when he pictured what lay ahead. After another fortifying sip of brandy, however, he stepped out into the late afternoon sun and was greeted by two household footmen, a butler, and Lady Osbourne herself.
