The Viscount's Vendetta (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) (21 page)

Caroline moved her body against his. He kissed the top of her head.

“It must be almost time for dinner, and we will need to freshen up. Perhaps we can meet later tonight, my dear.” His eyes smiled into hers.

“I would hope so, Damon,” Caroline answered provocatively, surprised at herself.

He got out of bed and stretched, and then he reached for his clothes scattered on the floor. “Don’t look at me so, Caroline, or we will miss dinner, and I have invited guests.”

“Guests.” Caroline sat straight up in bed, holding the sheet to her breasts.

“Don’t get alarmed. I mentioned it to Mrs. Parker before going to my study. I ran into the rector and his wife while I was out and couldn’t get out of inviting them. Mrs. Smitten seemed most interested in making your acquaintance.”

“I wished you had mentioned it to me,” Caroline said as she jumped up and put on her robe. “I am sure Mrs. Parker will do fine, but I like to check on things before guests arrive. I doubt there’ll be time now.”

“I’m glad I didn’t. This lovely afternoon would never have happened. You’d be fretting about our guests, and there is no need.” Damon’s firm voice sounded commanding to Caroline.

“You do not accept me as a capable hostess for your home,” she accused him.

“That is ridiculous. You persist in spoiling every good moment we have together,” Damon said sharply and stormed off into his room, shutting the door firmly behind him.

Caroline rang the bell for Agnes and pulled on her robe. She paced the floor. Why did he have to invite guests tonight? They had such a good afternoon, and she had hoped they were coming closer together. Then she had ruined it with her mouth.

Her sharp words caused problems between them. She had watched her mother do the same to her father over the years. Stunned, she sat in her chair.

Agnes came in, placed a painted screen in front of Caroline and had a hot tub of water brought into the room. Caroline sat and thought about her behavior.

One of her greatest fears was becoming like her mother. Her mother was a beautiful, proper hostess who conformed to exactly what society demanded, and she had become a woman with a cutting tongue.

After bathing, Caroline dressed in her light-blue gown with lace trim, and her maid placed matching ribbons in her hair. She pulled on lace gloves and wrapped a white cashmere shawl around her shoulders.

She went downstairs in time to check with Mrs. Parker, but as Damon had said, everything was in order. When she went into the lounge, Caroline saw Damon and Charles were already sitting comfortably in front of the fire enjoying a tumbler of whiskey. Before she had time to speak or sit down, the butler came to the door with their guests.

Rev. Gerald Smitten was a short man with a reddish complexion and a rotund stomach. His wife Annabelle was as tall as her husband and very thin. She smiled cheerfully at the group.

“I am so pleased your husband asked us to dinner, my dear,” she said to Caroline. “We have been quite looking forward to meeting you. We had hoped to meet you at church last Sunday, but you weren’t there.”

“I had not settled in my new home yet, but I do look forward to hearing your husband’s sermon soon.” Caroline looked toward Rev. Smitten.

“Bless you, child, I shall work extra hard on my sermon this week and hope you will find it helpful.” The reverend stood straighter, his chest puffed out proudly.

* * * *

Charles sat watching the interchange. He glanced frequently at Caroline. He’d noted her expression when she entered the room and realized he was having dinner with them. He smiled his most confident smile at her. She was definitely going to be a problem, and he did not tolerate problems well.

He got rid of them.

Please join us in the dining room,” Damon said, when he saw Buckley come to the door and nod. He took Mrs. Smitten’s arm to escort her into the dining room, and Caroline offered her arm to the reverend.

“I have heard you are interested in starting a school for the children, Lady Royston.”

“Yes, I am, Rev. Smitten. I have discussed it with my husband, and he has agreed. We have not decided where we may place the school. I also need to find a teacher,” Caroline added as the Rev. Smitten pulled out her chair at the table.

“A teacher?” Mrs. Smitten looked across the table at her. “I know just the person. My niece, Annie, lives two villages over and she has finished her schooling. The family is large and would welcome a situation for her.”

“I would like to interview her. Could you ask her to contact me?” Caroline asked.

“Oh, you do not need to worry. She will be perfect. I’ll tell her to plan on moving here right away,” Mrs. Smitten said firmly.

Caroline took a deep breath. She waited until her soup bowl was filled and everyone had started to eat.

“I will be interviewing several candidates. I will be glad to include your niece in the interviews, but she should not assume she will get the job. I will make the decision.” Caroline finished speaking and smiled pleasantly across the table at Mrs. Smitten.

Damon hid his smile behind his napkin as he watched the exchange of words and saw Mrs. Smitten puff up like an angry hen. His wife had gently taken charge. Obviously a rare experience for the reverend’s wife.

* * * *

The rest of the dinner went smoothly, to Caroline’s relief. Mrs. Smitten was quiet, but the men discussed the upcoming hunting expedition for the house guests, and Damon invited Rev. Smitten to join them.

“Perhaps you might suggest some outings for the ladies?” Caroline asked Mrs. Smitten.

Her full-cheeked face brightened and she nodded, the feather in her brown bonnet bobbing up and down. “I would be glad to assist in any way, my lady.”

“You and your husband are of course invited to all the activities,” Caroline added. “Are there other local families I should include?”

“I will make a list for you.” Mrs. Smitten smiled, her feelings appeased by being included in the planning of such a grand affair.

The men excused themselves and went into Damon’s study for a cigar and port. Caroline and Mrs. Smitten returned to the lounge and sat by the fire.

“Why not ask your niece to visit you, and she can be included in the activities. That way I will be able to get to know her better,” Caroline said. “I do still expect to interview several people, and it will be some time before we have a place for the school. But I will interview her first.”

“Thank you, Lady Royston. Annie is a dear girl and will be quite overwhelmed with your gracious invitation.”

“My dear.” Rev. Smitten strode into the room. “It is getting late. We must leave.” He leaned over and offered his hand to his wife. “Lady Royston, everything was lovely. It brings back memories of when his Lordship’s mother was alive. She was a gracious hostess.”

Caroline glanced quickly at her husband and back to Rev. Smitten. “I did not realize you knew my husband’s parents so well. Thank you for such a sincere compliment.”

“I have been at the local church for the past thirty years,” Rev. Smitten replied. He smiled at Damon and Caroline. “I hope you will have many happy years. Thank you for an enjoyable evening.” Damon walked Rev. Smitten and his wife to the front door.

Caroline said good-bye to them in the lounge. She moved close to the fireplace. It was a cool night.

So the Reverend and his wife had been here for many years. She must visit Rev. Smitten and try to get him to talk about Damon and his parents. Hopefully, if she knew more about Damon’s family, she’d understand him better.

“May I fill your wine glass, milady?”

Charles’s voice startled Caroline. His small, dark eyes gleamed with malice when he smiled at her.

“No, I am going to retire.” Caroline started to leave.

“I will win, you know. I never lose.” Charles’s cold words stiffened Caroline’s shoulders.

She turned to him. “Everyone loses sometime in their life.” For the second time, Caroline thought she saw a flash of sadness or despair in his dark eyes, but if so, it was gone quickly. With those final words Caroline walked calmly out the door and up the stairs to her room.

At every corner she felt challenged. If only her old nanny was here with her. She’d have someone who truly loved her and gave her good advice. That was it! She would ask Damon for permission to use her own money to bring Nanny Fowler here along with Mary.

Having to ask permission for anything was difficult and left a bitter taste in her mouth, but she would do it. She wanted her nanny and personal maid by her side.

* * * *

Damon did not forget about taking Caroline riding. He woke her early. “Come, get up, and we’ll go on our early-morning ride.”

Caroline opened her eyes to find smiling dark-blue eyes greeting her. He looked younger in his open-neck shirt and tight leather breeches. His brown hair was curly and tousled. She stopped herself from reaching out to touch him.

Groaning, she sat on the side of the bed. “It’s not even daylight.”

“This is the best time of the day. Get into your riding habit and join me in the barn.” Damon waved and headed out of her door.

* * * *

Agnes came in right after Damon left and helped her dress, arranged her hair, and put on her red bonnet. “You will be noticed from far away, milady, in your fetching hat.”

Caroline laughed. “I’m sure I will. I have never bought any bonnet so dashing before. I love it.”

“You look very pretty,” Agnes said.

Caroline glanced at her reflection in the mirror. The red bonnet set off her black riding habit. She twirled around and felt almost happy.

Sweet Lady and Devil were saddled and ready to go when Caroline got to the barn. Damon helped her up and soon they were riding across the fields. The cool, damp air blew across their faces. The sun was just beginning to lighten the sky.

Caroline sat straight in the saddle and took deep breaths of the clean air. She smiled at Damon.

“Race you to the top of the hill,” Damon said.

“See you there.” Caroline charged forward but knew in her heart that Sweet Lady would never beat Devil. She laughed as she rode ahead of him.

* * * *

Damon followed closely, waiting for just the right moment to speed by her. Her golden hair was confined in her bonnet and he wished he could see it flying free behind her. Her laugh floated back to him on the morning breeze.

The gunshot shattered the quiet and birds flew up out of the bushes squawking. Damon saw Caroline flinch. He urged Devil onward, quickly covering the short distance between them.

Caroline had slowed her horse. Damon reached across and grabbed her reins, stopping her and pulling her down.

“Run for the trees.” He had pulled his rifle out of the holster by his saddle. Trying to shield her, he placed himself between her and the direction from where the shot had come.

Everything was silent. The birds had settled back into the bushes. Damon scrutinized the area around them from the edge of the wooded area. He saw no evidence of anyone. He walked further into the trees to check on Caroline.

“Are you all right? Did you get hit?” Damon asked anxiously.

Caroline had torn her sleeve and was looking at the side of her arm. “It barely grazed me, thank goodness.”

Damon checked her left arm. There was a small red area with very little bleeding on the upper area.

“There doesn’t seem to be anyone about now. I think it might have been a poacher and his shot went wild. It probably scared him when he saw he almost hit us. I’ll have Charles check into it.”

He pulled her close and tipped her face upward. “Are you certain you’re all right?” He kissed her forehead. “My heart stopped for a second when I heard the bullet.” He clenched her tighter to his body as his heart raced with the memory of the last time he’d heard the unexpected sound of a bullet.

“Damon, I am a little shook over being shot.”

“You’re trembling.” He swung her in his arms and carried her to her horse.

“I want to go home.” Caroline glanced at her arm where the area had begun to bruise. Her eyes were tearful.

“Of course, I’m sure this has been very upsetting to you. I’m sorry our ride was terminated so suddenly and so frightening for you.” He brushed the tears away and kissed her gently on the lips.

Then Damon put her on her horse. He rode close beside her back to the house, and carried her in. He called for Mrs. Parker’s help and placed Caroline in a chair in the lounge.

He explained what had happened to Mrs. Parker. She sat beside Caroline and started cleaning the small area.

“Poachers? We’ve not had any poachers in a long time, milord.”

“I know of no other explanation, Mrs. Parker. I will follow up and see what information I can find out in town. Charles and I will ride there this morning. Take good care of milady.”

* * * *

She had worked hard at remaining calm on the ride home. When Damon strode out of the room, she started shaking again.