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“Excuse me?” she said, before realizing to whom she was speaking. “I am—”
“Lady Leticia Hudson—” Viscount Loery finished the statement for her. “I do believe you are a dear friend of the Duke and the Dowager.”
“I am,” Leticia said, holding her head up high.
“And so, because you are such a valued guest, I’ll do you the courtesy of asking once more what you are doing in the stables,” the Viscount said, his cold words slipping off his tongue. He narrowed his frosty blue eyes at her, and instinctively, a chill raced up her spine. Her hands dropped from her hips, but Leticia tilted her chin even higher, determined not to cower in front of this man, even though he intimidated her.
“I was planning to take Helena for a ride.”
“In that dress?” the Viscount asked, nodding toward the gauzy white and gold day dress. In honor of the wedding, she had chosen several gowns that were more formal than others she owned. This was the one she’d changed into so that she might play some of the games on the lawn with the others, but she had to admit that the Viscount had a point. Even riding sidesaddle, it would still be rather difficult to ride Helena in such a costume.
“Lord Loery, I assure you that if you check with His Grace or even the Dowager, they will tell you I have their express permission to ride Helena whenever I see fit.”
The Viscount seemed unconvinced as he lifted a hand to stroke the small beard that covered his narrow and pointy chin. “His Grace knows that you were preparing to steal away with one of his horses?”
“I was doing no such thing,” Leticia replied hotly, her temper flaring at the accusation of theft. “I have permission to ride these horses.” She strode purposefully toward Helena’s stall then and held her hand out to the mare. Helena nuzzled her snout against the palm of her hand, so Leticia turned to give Lord Loery a defiant stare. “You see,” she continued, “Helena and I are well-acquainted.” Just then, the horse leaned forward and licked at the bluebells in Leticia’s hair, and the Viscount lunged, trying to pull Leticia away.
“Lady Leticia,” he cried.
“Unhand me,” she said at the same moment, swatting him away. Once he managed to pull her a few feet away from Helena’s stall, Leticia made a show of taking a sprig of flowers from her hair and offering them to the horse, but now Helena didn’t want them. She turned up her nose at the gift and sauntered toward the other side of the stall. Leticia huffed and looked back toward the Viscount.
“This is highly improper,” Lord Loery said, fixing her with his piercing stare. “Not only should you be participating in the festivities with the other invited guests, but you should probably be inside the Manor with the rest of the unmarried ladies, seeing to my daughter, the bride.” He said the last word thickly as though she needed him to spell out his meaning.
Leticia felt her usually rosy cheeks flush a deep shade of crimson. On the tip of her tongue waited a slew of words she longed to say to the Viscount, but she held them back, knowing that arguing with him just now wouldn’t make the situation better. “Of course, My Lord,” she said, dropping into a stiff curtsy. She glanced over her shoulder at Helena. “And we’ll go for a long ride later,” she said, raising her voice as the horse was no longer facing her. The long strands of the horse’s tail swished back and forth as she twitched as if to indicate she either didn’t believe Leticia would return, or she didn’t care.
“You, minion, are too saucy,” Leticia told the mare as she stepped away from the stable. As if not to let Leticia have the last word, Helena turned tail and came forward, whinnying in a sassy fashion. This, of course, delighted Leticia to no end, and she thought of several other insults she might sling at the horse but thought better of it when she caught the look of approbation on Lord Loery’s face.
I wonder how many people he plans to tell about the unruly niece of Lord and Lady Pearl who would rather spend her time taunting horses than preparing for a wedding.
But Leticia did not allow herself to be bothered by the notion. The spring that had been in her step after she saw Richard was gone now as she dragged herself back toward the Manor, but at least she figured she could search out Harry or even Richard, and they could form a merry party. Perhaps, if she asked them nicely, they might even consent to return to the stables, so she could take Helena for a ride after all.
She entered just as she had left, using the backdoor, but no sooner had she made it through the breezeway then she was accosted by Lady Loery. The Viscountess was far less severe looking than her husband and daughter. Where Laura was as thin as a reed, her mother was almost plump. And where both the Viscount and his daughter had those menacingly clear blue eyes, the Viscountess had eyes that were a soft blue, giving her the appearance of being someone who was much more friendly and jovial than her family members.
“Ah, Lady Leticia!” the Viscountess said brightly. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“You have?” Leticia was taken aback by the statement, and she let it show as she gave the Lady a look of bewilderment.
“Yes,” she replied. “Your aunt and the Dowager explained that you were already dressed. I’ve been looking for an extra set of hands to help my daughter with her dress.”
“Oh,” Leticia said, glancing sideways as she now felt vaguely uncomfortable. “I am not sure I should help with such personal matters. Doesn’t your daughter have a lady’s maid who is meant to assist?”
The Viscountess laughed jubilantly. “Yes, but it is tradition for unmarried ladies of thetonto assist on the wedding day.”
“But it’s not her wedding day.”
Why must I be the only one who recognizes this?
“Yes,” Lady Loery returned calmly, “but wouldn’t it be nice to surround yourself in the company of other unmarried young ladies? You could all talk and chatter and, of course, ask my Laura lots of questions.”
“I do not think—” Leticia began, ready to explain that surrounding herself with other unmarried ladies didn’t sound like the most enticing idea, but then, unexpectedly, Lady Loery extended one hand and placed it on her forearm.
“Run along,” she whispered, giving Leticia a gentle but insistent squeeze. “They’re all expecting you.” Leticia hardly knew what to make of that statement.
Miss Laura Loery barely knows me.
But this was one of those special occasions where Leticia kept that to herself. Instead, she smiled winningly at Lady Loery and made for the staircase. Electing to take the servant’s stairs probably would’ve been seen as bad form had anyone caught her doing it, but Leticia made her way so quickly up the steps, no one was the wiser.
I’ve already endured several admonishments for my behavior this morning, I’ve no intention of garnering any more negative attention today.
