Captain Durant's Countess(50)

“You must not!” If possible, she was even paler than she’d been when the footman Phillip told her of her uninvited guest.

“I’m headed for your stables, Countess. Isn’t it true that you are looking to acquire more horses? I’m particular about where I sell my stock. Call me peculiar, even. I think I’ll just inspect your accommodations. If you have need of me, you know where to find me.”

“Oh, Reyn.” She spoke softly enough that Phillip and Stephen wouldn’t hear her. “All right. But I think it’s unnecessary.”

“I do hope so. You there! Stephen, isn’t it?” Reyn called to the man who held the carriage horse still. “I’m going to take a look at the countess’s stables. She’s thinking of making some renovations before she purchases some new horses and wants my opinion. Shall we have a look?”

Maris shot him a warning glance, and then disappeared up the steps.

Reyn spent the next quarter hour poking into every corner of every box, asking what he hoped were pertinent questions of Stephen when his mind was really on Maris and whatever indignities David Kelby planned for her. He struggled to keep the bees from buzzing too loudly in his head, but it was a losing battle. When it was obvious that his distraction was alarming the groom, Reyn shrugged with a grin, excused himself, and headed to the house.

He was just being neighborly, he assured himself. Reporting his findings. Bidding the countess good-bye after his inspection. It would be the height of rudeness just to wander off, wouldn’t it?

Phillip admitted him and took his hat, and with a friendly wink, Aloysius appeared as well. The elaborate green Kelby livery and towering wigs had been replaced with simpler suits and their own shorn heads.

“Is Kelby up?”

“Aye, sir. He and the countess are in the breakfast room.”

“Take me there, Aloysius.” Maris wouldn’t like it, but these two young footmen, no matter how devoted to their countess, were not equal to dealing with a man like David Kelby.

Maris’s tea cup clattered to its saucer when Aloysius announced him.

“C-Captain Durant! I expected you to be on your way to Shere by now.”

Reyn bowed deeply. “My apologies, my lady. I took the opportunity to check out your stables as we discussed, but I see I’ve come at an inopportune time. Good morning, Mr. Kelby.”

“That’s ‘my lord’ to you, Durant. What is he doing here?”

Kelby was as bleached of color as Maris, his eyes bloodshot. Reyn noted there was nothing on his plate but plain toast, though the heavy scent of kippers, kidneys, and eggs wafted in the air. Maris’s cook was doing her best to unsettle the earl’s stomach.

“It’s the most amazing thing, Kelby,” Reyn said smoothly. “I came into an absolute gem of a legacy and have been able to leave the unprofitable academic arena behind. I purchased the horse farm that abuts the countess’s west boundary last winter. Such a small world, isn’t it? One could have knocked me down with a feather to discover that Lady Kelby was my new neighbor. She has consulted me on the purchase of some horses and the expansion of her stable block and I’ve come to give her my opinion.”

“Know about horses as well as antiquities? Aren’t you the Renaissance man,” Kelby mocked.

“I do hope so. My experience in the army has given me insight in what to look for in one’s mounts. I should be happy to give you the benefit of my expertise if you should desire it.”

Kelby’s mouth twisted in distaste. “I’m perfectly satisfied with my horseflesh. My uncle’s stable is one of the finest in Surrey.”

“Yes, I had occasion to note that during my brief stay at Kelby Hall. What brings you to Hazel Grange?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I have a care for my aunt’s welfare.” Kelby tore off a corner of his toast, probably wishing he could do the same to Reyn’s head.

Across the table, Maris rolled her eyes but had not spoken again since she’d greeted Reyn when he entered the room.

“Very kind of you, I’m sure. All of her neighbors naturally hold her in the highest esteem, and we all care for her welfare. One might say we all stick together in our little corner of the world. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. I’m sure you know what it’s like in a small village. The Countess is the center of attention at present.”

As far as Reyn knew, no one had laid eyes on the elusive countess except for a handful of people, though it was true she was the subject of gossip. Whether the good people of Shere would lift a finger for her was a matter of conjecture, but he gave them the benefit of the doubt. He pictured the villagers rising up with pitchforks to throw David Kelby flat on his arse.

“I’m sorry if we gave you a fright yesterday,” Reyn continued. “Lady Kelby was quite safe. As you know, the storm came on so quickly and was so dreadful my sister insisted the countess spend the night at Merrywood.”

Kelby’s eyes narrowed. “And where were you, Captain?”

“In the barns, I’m afraid. One of the horses is especially sensitive to noise and it was all I could do to calm him down. What a show he put on. I quite thought I might be trampled to death. I have great hope for Brutus as a stud, but he would have made a miserable army charger. My old Phantom holds him in complete contempt.”

Reyn watched Kelby’s eyes glaze over as he recited his horses’ virtues and deficiencies. Best if the man thought Reyn was too preoccupied with his animals to even notice that Maris Kelby was a woman. “Well, I won’t keep you any longer. Countess, your servant. You know you may depend upon me and my sister Virginia should any difficulty of any nature whatsoever arise. Just send us word. We’ll talk another time. I’ll tell Mr. Swift that you’re desirous of his company this morning when I see him. Good day to you, Mr.—Lord Kelby.”

Reyn hoped he’d given the impression of a friendly neighbor, a consummate gentleman. But he also wished to convey to Kelby that the countess was not isolated. She had champions, even if they were young servants, a country parson, and a faux scholar and his sister.

“Keep an eye on Kelby,” Reyn said to Aloysius as he left. “I have an odd feeling about the man. I don’t think he wishes the countess well.”

“Of course, sir! He threw me out of the breakfast room, he did, saying he had private matters to discuss with her ladyship. But I’ve been right outside, just in case. We remember what he was like, always sneaking around Kelby Hall. He’s not fit to fill the old earl’s shoes. All of us hope the countess has a fine bonny son. That’ll fix him.”

Or make their problems worse.





Chapter 29


Maris had bitten her cheek raw as Reyn ruffled David’s feathers with his neighborly attentions. She couldn’t really be angry with him for disregarding her wishes and coming into the house. Like some protective sheepdog, he’d made it very clear to David that she was not alone, even if he was stretching the truth by miles. She was as yet unacquainted with any of her neighbors save those at Merrywood.

“What a bore he is,” David drawled once Reyn left.

Maris buttered a piece of toast she did not want. Her stomach was still in knots. “Do you think so? He does seem very devoted to his horses. I do not know him very well, but his sister has been all that is kind since I moved here last month.”

“Jumped-up climbers, no doubt. And he’s in trade.”

“Horse breeding is perfectly respectable for a gentleman. And I believe they are in some way connected to the Marquess of Wayneflete, although they do not speak of it.” Henry had done an extensive family tree for Reynold Durant to make sure there would be a drop of bluish blood, no matter how diluted, in any future Earl of Kelby.

David snorted. “Wayneflete is as far up River Tick as one can go without drowning.”

“Thank goodness one cannot be judged by the behavior of one’s relations,” Maris said with deceptive sweetness. “Let’s get to the point, David. Why are you here again so soon?”

“I thought you might be missing me.”

Maris gave an unladylike snort. “Cut line, David. Is it money? Mr. Woodley has assured me you are receiving a most generous allowance while we wait.” Involuntarily, she placed a palm across her stomach. “You can’t have run through it already.”

“Oh can’t I have?” David muttered. “But it’s not about money. This time.” He shifted in his seat, radiating discomfort. Maris had never seen him when he was not in perfect control of his emotions, not that he’d ever displayed anything but pique and cunning heretofore. What could have caused this sudden glimpse into his humanity? Who would have thought he even had humanity?

She found she was curious. “I’m listening.”

“I don’t quite know where to begin.”

Maris stopped herself from saying “the beginning.” She decided not to make anything easier for the man who had brought such heartbreak to the house of Kelby.