One Night With A Rake: A Regency Romance by Louise Allen

Author:Louise Allen [Allen, Louise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

‘The first day of the gathering is Wednesday next week,’ Amanda said, reluctantly standing up and brushing off her skirts. ‘Just look at the state of my dress.’

Jay laughed. ‘Hardly surprising. First crushed by Humphrey’s not inconsiderable weight and then sat on amongst the damp grass of the river bank. No,’ he reassured her as she twisted round to look at the back of her skirts, ‘No grass stains. Would you like me to drive you to Holkham on Wednesday?’

‘Thank you, but no, I will drive Jane and myself in the phaeton with a groom up behind. It is what I normally do and any change from that might cause comment. But I would be very glad of your escort if you can persuade Will Bream to lend you something better than that slug he has been mounting you on. I know he has a very nice young hunter in his stables which he refuses to let me ride.’

Jay grinned at her. ‘And why not, might I ask?’

‘He says it is too big, too strong and not a lady’s mount. He is hoping to bring it on this year and sell it next hunting season for a good profit.’

‘And if I borrow it you hope to wheedle me into letting you ride it at some point in the journey?’

‘Certainly not. The thought had not crossed my mind,’ Amanda said indignantly. ‘I just thought it would suit you very well. It is a thought though. I am sure my saddle would fit in the phaeton.’

‘No. If Will Bream says it is too strong for you, that is the end of the matter. That man’s judgement is uncommonly sound.’

Amanda wrinkled her nose. ‘He is too protective of me. He was devoted to Charles, you see.’

‘From what I can see you need all the protection you can get,’ Jay said grimly.

‘Surrounded with rakes as I am?’ Amanda teased, stepping on to the plank bridge across the weir. ‘We will meet you at the crossroads at eight of the clock on Wednesday morning. Will can show you where.’

‘Until Wednesday then,’ Jay raised a hand in farewell. ‘Unless you need me. Send at once if Mr Clare gives you the slightest annoyance. You have no idea how I long to have an excuse to break my promise to you and hit him from here to perdition.’

Amanda’s sunny mood lasted just as far as the garden gate, then reaction set in. She had enjoyed telling Jay how she had bested Humphrey, had loved being there on the riverbank with him. The memory of his caress still tingled in her palm.

Now the nausea that Humphrey had evoked returned, along with the nagging worry of how she was to maintain some sort of relationship with the Hall when she no longer trusted him to be in the same room with her. To break with the Clares would cause a scandal all around the district.

And Jay’s conviction that the Clippings held a clue had sounded so optimistic that she had not thought through what it might mean.

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