‘We?’
‘My mother rarely comes to London, since my father’s demise, except for new hats, and a visit to her dressmaker, and then she enjoys all the benefits of seeing her friends. Otherwise, she is a prolific correspondent.’
‘Is Lady Radstock interested in your horse breeding?’
‘No, my father was a friend of Sir Charles Bunbury,and a member of the Jockey Club. He was more interested in the racing itself, and owned a few good winners in his205time. I suppose I have the interest in, er, my bloodline.’
He smiled, and she laughed softly, her eyes lit by the emotion. The mildly depressing thought that she felt able to do so because she saw him, at least temporarily, as non-threatening, he put aside.
They rode in companionable silence, the groom at a discreet distance behind them, and when they cantered, the mare, in competitive spirit, lengthened her stride to match the bay’s.
‘Oh, for the chance to gallop,’ bemoaned Elizabeth, though she looked happy enough, and her cheeks were tinged with colour. Sir Lucius glanced at her and thought how very beautiful she looked, but even in that brief look the life went from her face and the mask fell into place. The voice that hailed them gave the reason, and they slowed to a walk.
‘Miss Ashling! How glad I am to see you are no longer indisposed. Radstock, your servant.’ Lord Easby raised his hat, and the look he gave Sir Lucius was not amicable, though the smile remained fixed to his lips. ‘Fair lady, you will now be able to resume our driving lessons. I have to say my mornings have not been the same without you.’
Sir Lucius was conscious of a deep-felt urge to wipe the smile from Easby’s face, and it clearly showed, for that smile lengthened. For his part, Lord Easby had been most put out to see Miss Ashling in company with Sir Lucius, but the gentleman’s scowl gave him relief. Had Radstock been accepted he would have the triumphant pride of the victor, not beetling brows. Hope remained, and he206had every intention of exploiting it to the full. Taunting Radstock was merely an additional pleasure. He therefore set about being most agreeable, largely inconsequential and with just a hint of the seducer that the innocent Miss Ashling would fail to see, but of which the increasingly irate Sir Lucius would be fully aware. If the lady did not seem as responsive to his tone as previously, he would not worry. It was fair to say that Radstock had stolen a march on him, but the next move was his.
‘You know, Miss Ashling, I do not think Sir Lucius appreciates my presence. In fact, I think he would dearly like to put an end to my existence at this precise moment. Would it not make you feel important to have gentlemen meet at dawn over you?’ The tone was teasing.
‘No indeed, sir. I can think of nothing more foolish, nor embarrassing for any woman,’ Elizabeth replied, with acerbity.
‘There, Radstock, if you want to meet me, we will have to keep it hushed or the divine Miss Ashling will frown upon the victor.’ He laughed, but Sir Lucius was not laughing.
‘Your funning is in poor taste, Easby.’
‘Is it?’ Lord Easby raised a quizzical eyebrow. ‘I wonder if I am funning.’
The animosity crackled between the two men, and Elizabeth, aware of it, sought only to send Lord Easby upon his way as soon as possible. ‘Your driving lessons, my lord, are they still available?’
‘For you, ma’am, of course.’
‘Then would tomorrow morning be convenient, at eleven o’clock?’
207‘I am, entirely, at your service, Miss Ashling. I will present myself in Mount Street at that time, and look forward to imparting … what skill I possess to you.’ With which, and raising his curly-brimmed beaver once more, he trotted off.
‘What skill he possesses, indeed!’ Sir Lucius nearly ground his teeth. ‘That would take no more than half an hour all told.’
‘Is your dislike of Lord Easby of long standing, sir?’
He could not admit it coincided with that gentleman’s interest in her. ‘I dislike his manner with ladies, he has a far too elevated idea of his own worth and he drives badly.’
‘The last being of greatest importance?’
‘Only when he is driving you, ma’am.’
‘Yet you do not exhibit such antipathy to Lord Collingbourne, who seemed far more likely to throw me into a ditch.’ Her tone was light, for she wished him to come down from the boughs.
‘Ah, but I did ensure he did not take you driving again, ma’am, and on the first two points he is unimpeachable.’
‘In all seriousness, Sir Lucius, am I at risk with Lord Easby?’
He looked her straight in the eye. ‘I fear you will take umbrage if I tell you the truth.’
‘No, Sir Lucius, not if it is simple truth. I ought to say that I already have reason to know that you have taken it upon yourself to “dissuade” another gentleman from pursuing me. Mr Escott has decided that I have toppled from my pedestal as his muse, not least because if I so remained it would be injurious to his health, which latter208part stems from you. He also said that you would not meet him over me, for which you find me grateful rather than affronted.’ She smiled lopsidedly. ‘Are you thinking to do the same with his lordship?’
‘Escott is an appalling cub, of whom you are well rid, ma’am, but no threat to you.’ His tone remained serious.
‘Unlike Lord Easby?’
