Nicola Cornick - The Notorious Lord

‘You must be a prodigiously fine shot to have been invited to join the Suffolk Rifles, Cory,’ she said, ‘for they are very proud of their reputation. What did you do to deserve that?’

Cory gave her a look that said he knew exactly what she was about and that she would learn nothing. ‘I have no notion,’ he said evasively.

‘And your friend the Duke of Kestrel,’ Rachel pursued. ‘Does he not have connections at the Foreign Office?’

Cory grinned. ‘Lord Hawkesbury is a cousin of his, yes.’

‘And one of the Duke’s brothers is an Admiralty man,’ Rachel said, ‘and another is in the regular army…’

‘You are very well informed, Rae.’

‘And you are all here in Midwinter this year. How very interesting. There must be an extremely powerful reason that so many important men are gathered in this one place.’

A lazy smile curved Cory’s lips. He put the curry brush down and came towards her. To her surprise, Rachel found herself feeling slightly out of breath as he backed her into a corner of the stable.

‘You are too quick, Rachel Odell,’ Cory said, with an expressive lift of the brows. ‘I always said that education in a woman was a mistake.’

Rachel laughed. She tilted her head to look up at him. ‘No, you did not, Cory. You are not the man to feel threatened by an intelligent woman.’

Cory’s smile deepened. ‘Maybe not. Nevertheless, I could wish you to see a little less clearly in this. Justin Kestrel is here for the summer merely for entertainment, as are his guests.’

‘I see,’ Rachel said. ‘Well, you will not hear me contradicting that, Cory.’ She sighed. ‘Could you step back, please? This corner is very dusty and I do not wish my gown to be spoiled.’

‘Of course,’ Cory said. He held her gaze for a moment and then moved away, picking up the brush and resuming his work on the horse. ‘So, is society here to your taste, Rae?’

‘Oh, yes, I like it extremely,’ Rachel said. She gave a sigh. ‘It is so peaceful. So very staid and normal. Or at least I thought it so until you put me right.’

Cory gave her his brilliant smile. ‘What do you do with your time?’

Moving over to the manger, Rachel pulled a handful of hay and proffered it to Castor, who gobbled it eagerly.

‘I read and write letters, and take tea with the ladies of the villages, and go shopping. It is quite delightful. And then there are the balls and assemblies in Woodbridge…’

‘The town plays host to the 21st Light Dragoons these days, I hear,’ Cory said.

‘Oh, they are prodigiously unpopular.’ Rachel laughed. ‘The soldiers get drunk and cause fights, and take over the theatre and all the amusements. One can scarcely move for red coats.’

‘It sounds as though they find no more favour with you than my friends and I shall,’ Cory observed.

‘I do not suppose that you will repine,’ Rachel said, smiling. ‘Your arrival will cause a huge commotion amongst the wives and daughters of the military.’

Cory laughed. ‘You imagine them to be ladies more susceptible than yourself, Rae?’

Rachel shrugged. ‘I would think so. I confess I do not find adventurers attractive.’

‘Most other ladies do not agree with you.’

Rachel gave him a speaking look. ‘So I have heard. It is a pity you did not meet them by the river rather than myself.’

Cory was laughing at her, his grey eyes bright with amusement. ‘Did I disturb you so much that you cannot put it from your mind, Rae?’

Rachel realised her mistake. ‘Not at all,’ she said with dignity. ‘I was quite able to manage.’

‘In your usual practical manner?’ Cory put his head on one side. ‘I do not believe I have ever seen you so ruffled before, Rachel. It was…interesting.’

There was something in his eyes that suggested that if Rachel had seen him in a different light, then so had he seen her. For a long instant they held each other’s gaze whilst the warm, heavy excitement beat in Rachel’s blood again. She broke the contact with deliberation and dusted the bits of loose hay from her skirts.

‘I was certainly not expecting ever to see you in such a manner,’ she said. ‘It was like-’ she struggled a little with her feelings ‘-like knowing too much about my own brother!’

Cory was watching her. It made her feel slightly uncomfortable.

‘So your feelings for me are brotherly?’ he asked.

Rachel fidgeted, pulling a sliver of wood from the doorframe. She felt rather hot and awkward, without really understanding the reason why. ‘What else would they be, Cory?’

She saw Cory’s expression change and had a sudden feeling of panic at the thought he might actually answer her-and that the answer might not be to her taste. She could hardly deny that their scandalous encounter by the river had had a wholly unexpected effect on her. Yes, she had been shocked, but she had also been captivated, tempted, excited…Her thoughts broke off in utter confusion as she saw that Cory was smiling at her with speculation in his eyes.

The clock on the tower chimed ten and Rachel felt almost faint with relief. ‘Oh! I must go. I am promised to the reading group at Saltires at half past.’

Cory paused, brush in hand. ‘At Saltires? Lady Sally Saltire hosts a reading group? Well, I’ll be damned!’

Rachel paused. ‘Do you know Lady Sally?’

‘Everyone knows Sally Saltire,’ Cory said. ‘She is a most prominent London hostess. In fact, she is the only woman I know who has made being bookish a fashionable occupation. I believe that she was known as La Belle Bas Bleue when she was younger.’

‘The beautiful bluestocking,’ Rachel said, smiling. ‘That is pretty.’

‘It is a soubriquet that could equally be applied to you,’ Cory said, his gaze warming.

Rachel blushed. ‘Thank you, Cory, but you know that I look no more than well to a pass.’

Cory’s eyes narrowed and once again Rachel felt a quiver of panic at what he might be about to say. For a moment he looked quite angry.

‘What are you comparing yourself with, Rae? A classical Greek statue?’

‘We were speaking of Lady Sally Saltire, not myself,’ Rachel said hastily.

‘So we were,’ Cory said. ‘I believe society was amazed that she chose to bury herself in the country this summer rather than visit the fashionable resorts.’

Rachel smiled a little. ‘But surely everyone knows that Lady Sally seldom does the expected thing?’

‘Those who know her well, perhaps.’ Cory cocked his head. ‘Had you met her before then, Rae?’

‘We met in Egypt,’ Rachel said, ‘several years ago. Just before Napoleon’s invasion.’

Cory nodded. ‘Of course! I remember. Your father has a talent for choosing to excavate in precisely the place you would wish him not to be.’

Rachel smiled. ‘Papa is so unworldly. He barely notices the great events unfolding around him. When we were forced to flee Egypt, he merely complained that Napoleon’s army had forced him to lose a year’s work.’

‘You were lucky that you got away with your lives,’ Cory said drily.

‘I know. It was far too exciting for me. Which is why I prefer Midwinter Royal and Lady Sally’s reading group.’

‘What is the text that you are studying?’ Cory asked.

‘I have only been to one meeting of her reading group,’ Rachel said, ‘but we are currently discussing The Enchantress by Mrs Martin.’

She thought that she saw Cory’s shoulders shake slightly. ‘Why, what is the matter?’

Cory straightened and gave his horse a final pat. ‘Your classical education has no doubt been magnificent, Rachel-I know of no other young lady who can read Hebrew and Chaldean-but your literary one is sadly lacking. I believe The Enchantress to be a Minerva Press publication.’