The Virgin Huntress (The Devil DeVere #2)(9)

“I suppose that might have done it,” said Diana. “There’s nothing for it but to take her home.”

“Would ye have me carry the lass, Captain Hew?” offered Pratt.

Vesta held her breath on another prayer. No! Please, Mama! I’ll be so very good if you will only let me stay a little longer cocooned against Captain Hew. If she had her choice, she would remain wrapped in his powerful arms and cradled against the solid warmth of his chest forever.

“No, Pratt. Please see if you can catch that flighty mare, and I’ll take the girl home.”

Thank you, dear Mama. Vesta had been granted at least fifteen minutes reprieve, an entire quarter hour to indulge her senses, perhaps even longer if he didn’t hand her off to a footman immediately upon their arrival. Vesta smiled against the crimson wool, scented of horse, leather and Captain Hew.

***

“Took a faint, my sweet arse!” Polly mumbled once Diana and the others had departed. “Now, young lady, you tell me what this ruckus is all about,” she began her diatribe. “You may have fooled the rest wi’ yer damsel in distress act, but don’t think to bamboozle ol’ Polly.”

Vesta’s lips twitched as she tamped down the impulse to giggle.

“I saw that, missy! Ye can pretend all you like, but I know you hear me.”

Vesta cracked one eye open.

“I know ‘twas a great shock when your papa brought a bride home, but the world don’t turn on Lady Vesta Chambers’s command. You’ve been far too indulged, and now you be making sheep’s eyes at that Captain DeVere when anyone can see he’s already taken with my lady.”

“What would you know about anything?” Vesta wailed.

“I have eyes in my head, foolish child,” said Polly.

“But he saved me, Polly! If I meant nothing to him, he wouldn’t have cared. He would have sent Pratt after my horse. Don’t you see?”

“’Tis you who be blind, missy. The captain is a gentleman of the first order and a war hero to boot. One of his stamp would never allow anyone to be endangered. Can’t ye see, the captain is not for a young chit like yerself. He’s a man been to hell and back in the war and no likely to dally wi’ some silly young miss.”

“Silly!”

“Aye!” said Polly. “Keep it up, and ye’ll only make a fool of yerself and spoil any chance for a suitable young man.”

“But I love him, Polly!”

“Pshaw! The frog in the well knows nothing of the great ocean.”

Vesta scrunched her face. “Must you always speak in riddles?”

“Ye’ve been mollycoddled, missy, and can know nothing how the world works.”

“But I do know love, Polly! I loved Captain Hew from the moment I saw him, and I just know I can make him love me too!”

“Humph!” Polly scoffed. “And the ass dreams of thistles too!”





CHAPTER SIX




DeVere House, Bloomsbury

Surprisingly true to his word, Lord DeVere returned from Epsom in time to sup with his brother. After indulging in five heavy courses, he beckoned for a refill of his wine and slumped indolently in his chair. “I assume you’ve paid your duty call to Upper Grosvenor?”

Hew smiled. “I, indeed, paid a call and discovered to my delight that it was not in the least onerous. On the contrary, it was most pleasurable.”

“Was it, at that?” DeVere look intrigued. “And how is little Vesta?”

“Vesta? She has quite the look of Annalee about her, pretty enough to take, I suppose, but a timid little thing.”

DeVere studied his glass. “She’s coming out this season. Comes from excellent stock and has a healthy dowry.”

Hew raised a hand. “Rein back, big brother! I recall you promised me no interference on that front—choosing my own path to hell and all that rot. Don’t think to match me with some simpering chit just because you desire an alliance with your best friend!”

DeVere gave a blithe shrug. “Simply pointing out the obvious advantages. Though you do surprise me by your description of the girl. Although I have not seen her in several years, I seem to recall Vesta as an unusually spirited child.”

“The only spirit I saw was in her damned horse. I don’t know what Ned was thinking to have sent such a high-strung mare with his daughter.”

“What do you mean? I’ve seen the chit on the hunt. As a child of no more than thirteen, she was already taking fences with the best of them.”

“Well, she nearly took the bloody hedgerow into Kensington Gardens this morning! The horse bolted, she lost her reins, though I’m not sure in which order. When I caught up to them, she was clinging like a grapevine to the mare’s neck, and I was certain she’d break her own. I was in danger of a heart seizure myself until I plucked her from the saddle. She then fainted dead away in my arms.” Hew drained his glass.

“You do not describe the child I remember.” DeVere added with rare reflection, “But then again, I suppose one should expect some diminished exuberance after the loss of her mother.”

“I will say her present guardian seems to have done a remarkable job in assuming the role,” Hew said.

DeVere’s brows lifted. “You speak of the duenna? Was she not the dragon we expected?”