A Country Miss by Emily Hendrickson

Author:Emily Hendrickson [Hendrickson, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1988-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

“Naughty, naughty, naughty!” Lady Tavington’s voice carried over the meadow where the members of the picnic were straggling back to the oak tree and their interrupted lunch.

Lord Kenrick gave a startled glance over his shoulder, saw that Lady Tavington was shaking a gloved finger at the monkey, then abruptly placed Charity on her somewhat shaken feet. “Er. . . there you are, safe and hopefully sound. You weren’t injured in your fall, were you?” He surveyed her as she brushed bark from her gown, pulled a leaf from her curls, and gathered her fractured poise about her.

Charity was not quite certain if she ought to be thankful for the interruption or not. She mentally checked all her limbs—not to mention other areas—and shook her head. “I daresay I am fine, my lord. No damage done. Not even my dress suffered.” She turned aside from those penetrating eyes of his, the romantic blue now dark with concern, she supposed. She wouldn’t vouch for the condition of her heart. She had never before been held so close in a man’s tight and wonderfully satisfying embrace. His arms had been like bands of strongest hemp, only much nicer. No inanimate object could possibly stir her as his touch.

“That was a stupid, fool thing to do. You could have been killed if I had not caught you,” he said suddenly. His voice was cold and cutting. He looked as though he might breathe fire like some mythical dragon, however.

“I only did what I had to do, my lord. Excuse me, I must go to my aunt.” Ignoring the fast beat of her heart, she snatched her bonnet before she fled to Lady Tavington, avoiding a censorious look from those knowing blue eyes.

Across the meadow, Lady Sylvia stared thoughtfully at the two figures who had been in such a strangely close attitude. A dark frown briefly marred the perfection of her forehead. She smiled graciously at Lord Harwood, who had been assisting her as they wandered along the River Darent. Tapping him playfully on the arm, she urged him toward the group clustered beneath the oak tree where Lord Kenrick now stood. Her smile was strained as they neared the others.

“You found the dear little animal! How lovely.” Lady Sylvia’s voice lacked a certain quality of enthusiasm to make her words totally believable, but no one paid attention to her. Lord Harwood gave her an odd look, one Sylvia did not observe.

“Miss Lonsbury can lay claim to that feat. Quite a daring rescue.” Lord Kenrick gazed at the muslin-covered figure with an inscrutable expression neither woman could fathom. “If I was able to be of assistance in my small way, I am most happy.”

Lady Tavington arched an eyebrow as she coolly listened to Lord Kenrick. Her eyes questioned him, but she remained silent.

Charity wanted no part of any deception. She had enough of that on her plate as it was. “Lord Kenrick saved me from a nasty fall, Aunt. I espied Chico in that

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