Thea winced and shrugged. “I called him an ass and then I left.”
Maggie’s hand flew to her mouth again, this time in obvious shock. “Oh, good heavens. Of course you did.”
“Heisan ass,” Thea maintained, her leg bouncing up and down beneath her skirts.
“Perhaps, but you know you should not have allowed him to rile you so much that you called him that, Thea.” Maggie’s gaze captured hers.
Thea winced. Maggie rarely called her by her first name. She was being rebuked indeed. And she deserved it. She knew. Thea wasn’t proud of the fact that she’d allowed Viscount Clayton to make her so angry she’d reacted in such an unladylike manner. The look Maggie was giving her didn’t require additional words. Thea and her friend were both thinking the same thing, Thea’s mother would never have approved of her only daughter behaving in such a wild manner. It didn’t even matter that she’d behaved that way in front of a neighbor and a peer. Mama wouldn’t have countenanced Thea behaving in that manner in front of the lowliest servant either. She hadn’t raised her daughter to be a rude termagant. Thea closed her eyes as shame washed over her.
“You’d better hope the viscount doesn’t pay your father a visit and tell him about your behavior,” Maggie added.
Thea slumped down in her seat and crossed her arms tightly over her middle, contemplating the whole awful situation. She may have behaved like a petulant schoolgirl, but she still wanted to see Alabaster. Desperately.
“I hadn’t contemplated that,” Thea replied, misery washing over her.
“Don’t fret over it too much,” Maggie replied, leaning over and patting Thea on the knee. “I suspect Lord Clayton is merely happy to be rid of you.”
“He’s not rid of me yet,” Thea replied.
“What? What do you mean?” Maggie gave her an extraordinarily wary look.
“I don’t care whether Lord Clayton refused to allow me to see Alabaster. He’smyhorse and I’m not about to let that man stop me from at least paying him a visit.”
Maggie was shaking her head. “What do you intend to do?”
“I intend to … I intend to …” Thea glanced out the window of the carriage and saw a stableboy running up a nearby lane. An idea flashed through her mind. A mad idea. But one that just might work. “I intend to ask you to make me boy’s clothes. I’ll need breeches and a neckcloth and—”
“Breeches?” Maggie’s eyes widened until they looked like moons. “And a boy’s shirt?”
“Yes,” Thea replied with a decided nod. “I’ll need both. Oh, and a cap too. To hide my hair.”
Maggie closed her eyes and swallowed. “I certain sure know I’ll be regretting this, milady, but why exactly do you need such clothing?”
Thea turned and gave her friend a half-wild smile. She could pass for a boy, at least temporarily. “Because I intend to become a lad, Maggie. At least long enough to see my horse.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Ewan’s slight knock on the bedchamber door was met by silence. It was always met by silence. He waited a few moments before turning the handle and pushing it open.
The maid had come in as she did each morning to open the curtains and allow light to stream through the large glass windows that covered the wall on the far side of the room.
Ewan allowed his eyes to adjust to the brightness for a few moments before his gaze fell on his friend, sitting in a chair in the corner, facing the opposite wall.
Phillip’s location around the room each day often varied, but the fact that he sat in silence, did not.
“Good morning,” Ewan offered as he closed the door behind himself and moved farther into the room.
More silence met his ears.
“A beautiful day today,” Ewan continued. Outside the window the trees were filled with beautiful bright autumn colors. The entire landscape looked as if it was set ablaze. It was one of Ewan’s favorite times of year. Phillip rarely looked out the window.
“How are you feeling?” Ewan asked. He asked the same question every morning even though he knew he would receive no answer.
“I’ve seen to my books after an early meeting with my solicitor and this afternoon I intend to go riding,” Ewan continued, talking only to himself.
It was awkward, carrying on a one-sided conversation, but that is what the doctors had told him to do.Act as if nothing is different, my lord. When he is ready, he will reply.
Ewan hoped they were correct. But with every passing day, with no response from Phillip, a bit of hope faded.
