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“Dr. Marbry,” a feminine voice called, jolting him from his unwelcome thoughts.
Lady Honoria approached on a gentle chestnut mare, her maid following several strides back.
He tried to view her in the same manner as he’d viewed Priscilla, taking in the fine cut of her emerald-green riding habit and bonnet with the feather bobbing in rhythm as her horse trotted toward him.
But he could not. No desire stirred. No warmth spread within his chest.
He pasted on a smile and tipped his hat. “Lady Honoria. I apologize for my tardiness. You look remarkably lovely this fine afternoon.” The least he could do was pay the lady a compliment. And shedidlook lovely. Just not as lovely as . . .
He forced that thought from his mind.
“Wonderful,” Honoria said, her attention drawn to where his had been moments ago. “I see Miss Pratt has arrived.”
At that, Timothy’s head jerked between Priscilla and Honoria. “You knew she would be here?” He winced at his accusatory tone, yet Honoria seemed unfazed.
“I hoped. I extended the invitation to Lord Nash and suggested he invite Miss Pratt.”
Nash?
Timothy bit back the unkind words bouncing on his tongue and itching to take flight. He held his gloved hand over his mouth and gave a cleansing cough. “Nash? Why?”
For a fleeting moment, something flashed across Honoria’s face that saidAre you daft?But she quickly schooled her features and smiled prettily. “That should be obvious, should it not? From our encounter with her last week at the bookseller, she doesn’t seem very taken with Mr. Ugbrooke, so I thought perhaps a completely different sort of man might appeal to her. I know you don’t believe she and Lord Nash might suit, but”—she turned toward Priscilla and tilted her head the way women do when they’re thinking—“I believe you might be mistaken.” She returned her gaze to Timothy. “Why don’t we find out?”
Hope flew in on feathered wings that perhaps Nash might not show, then promptly exited as Nash, tall in the saddle, edged his mount toward Priscilla.
Tension snaked in Timothy’s chest when Nash tipped his hat toward Priscilla.The cad.
“Shall we join them?” Honoria waved a hand toward thehappycouple.
After giving Honoria a curt nod, his jaw clenching so tight he feared he might crack a tooth, Timothy nudged his mount forward to join their riding companions.
“Good afternoon, Lady Honoria.” Nash touched the brim of his hat again, his smile faltering and turning glacial when he addressed Timothy. “Marbry.”
“Nash.” Timothy ground out the man’s name.
Priscilla darted a glance at Timothy, her eyes wide in surprise. Clearly, the arrangement had blindsided her as well.
Nash made a show of gazing about, his head tilting up to the sky. “A fine day for a ride, wouldn’t you say?”
Timothy grunted a response he hoped would be interpreted as a yes and motioned for everyone to proceed.
Nash simply smirked and focused his attention on Priscilla, taking the lead with her riding by his side. “You look especially lovely today, Miss Pratt. Your riding habit brings out the depth of blue in your striking eyes.” He glanced over his shoulder as if gauging Timothy’s reaction.
Timothy’s fingers twitched, imagining them tightening around Nash’s neck.
* * *
When the expectedheat didn’t flood her face, Priscilla provided the polite response to Nash’s compliment. “Thank you, sir.” Why didn’t Nash’s words evoke the same reactions she knew they would have if Timothy had spoken them?
It was a conundrum. Nash was handsome, in a dangerous sort of way, and he had been nothing but polite and attentive to her in all of their encounters, not at all living up to his rakish reputation.
“I must say, my lord,” she reciprocated. “You sit your mount most excellently.”
A grunt of—was it disapproval?—drifted from behind her.
“That is most kind, Miss Pratt. I’ve always been a fairly gifted horseman, but recently I’ve taken some instruction from Dr. Somersby. Are you familiar with the gentleman?”
“I’ve met him. Although I can’t say I know him well. How is it you came to take riding instruction from him? I would think a doctor’s skills would be in, well, doctoring.”
