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Chapter 8
It was Friday morning, and all fifteen of the guests had arrived. The gentlemen were going out hunting. It was a brilliantly sunny day, warm with a cool breeze. They rode their horses at a leisurely walk while the dogs ran ahead of them, sniffing around with lazy abandon.
Lord Reginald Stay, Marquess of Browning, was riding beside Silas. Lord Browning had been acquainted with the family distantly until only very recently. He had been engaged to another lady—who had, unfortunately, passed after falling ill.
“Your sister, Miss Sweet, is a very intelligent and genteel sort of lady,” he said. There was the hint of sadness about him, but he also seemed very hopeful.
Silas grinned. He had seen Dinah eying Lord Browning. She liked handsome gentlemen and Lord Browning was certainly that, with his brunet hair which tumbled over his forehead and his razor-sharp jawline. He would make her an excellent husband, not to mention, a marchioness.
“She is very eager to find a suitable match,” he said. “I’m sure that the two of you will have time to talk some more later today.” He was fully happy to give Lord Browning his whole-hearted approbation of the match.
“Silas!” Levi called out from up ahead. “Look at these hoof prints! I think it’s him!” His bay hunter danced nervously.
“We’ve been hunting one buck all summer,” Silas told Lord Browning, who nodded, his gaze towards Levi, who was staring down at the ground, trying to discern which way the buck had gone.
“The younger Miss Wilds is a beauty,” Percy said, riding up beside them like a dark cloud on a sunny horizon. Silas eyed him with suspicion. “It’s a shame she’s so… unusual.” Percy wrinkled his nose.
“Whatever could you mean by that?” Silas demanded.
“The woman is likely to end up a spinster, just like her aunt. Once, I heard her express her opinion on politics at my own cousin’s dinner, even though no one had asked her what she thought!” He shook his head. “It was charitable of Lord Thornbridge to invite the two ape-leaders for the weekend, even though they are clearly unwanted.”
Silas saw red. As an unmarried gentleman, he hated the scorn that such a choice caused for both sexes who chose not to wed. It was certainly more so for unmarried females. However, he also cared about what his present company thought, so he held his tongue.
“I find myself inclined to agree with you, Percy,” he said, instead. “A woman having such strong opinions takes away any physical attractiveness that she may have. I would never lay so much as a finger on a woman such as the younger Miss Wilds.” It was all a lie. But Silas knew that if Percy was aware of his preference for Miss Wilds, then he would try to pursue her himself, if only to spite Silas for ruining his chances with Miss Weaver.
“I plan to bag this buck by the end of the weekend,” Percy boasted. “You will all see.”
“I’ll make you a bet, Percy,” Silas offered, suddenly getting a delicious idea.
“Go on,” Percy urged, smiling at him. There was a dangerous glint in his eye. Silas knew that Percy Stalton could not turn down a bet to save his own life.
“If I get the buck, then you must wear a dunce cap to supper that evening.” It had happened before, and Silas had quite enjoyed the evening. They had been at their gentlemen’s club in London. Percy had thoroughly lost to Silas.
“Very well, Mr Sweet,” Percy said, flashing him a dangerous smile. “If I get the buck, then you must ask Miss Lucy Wilds to marry you.”
Levi, overhearing what Percy had said, turned back towards them. “Silas, you cannot agree to it.”
Michael, too, turned his horse around. He looked positively horrified. “You cannot play with Miss Wilds’ affections in this way.”
Silas was eager to beat Percy, however. He was annoyed by his constant, nagging presence and wanted nothing more than to beat him and watch that smug grin drop from his face. “Let’s shake on it, Percy.” He thrust out his hand, in the space between their horses. Percy clasped hands with him.
Silas glanced back, to see if his father had heard. However, Lord Thornbridge was far back, with three other older gentlemen. His face was turned towards home.
“Let’s go,” Percy said, urging his horse into a gallop, just as the hounds took off baying.
Silas hurried after him, touching his heels to Black Jack’s sides. His horse sprang into a gallop. Percy was already vanishing ahead of him, into the clearing up ahead. Silas heard the sound of a rifle, discharging just ahead of him. He arrived in the clearing just in time to see that Percy had gotten the prized buck.
Silas’s heart sank. He had lost the bet. His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Percy sat up proudly on his mount. The barrel of his rifle was smoking. “Congratulations on your engagement, Silas.”
