Sarah Mallory - Regency Beauty - Beneath the Major's Scars / Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager

He held her tight against him, one hand cradling her head against his chest. She could feel the thud of his heart through the rough wool of his coat. To be held thus was strange, unfamiliar, but she did not find it unpleasant.

Zelah allowed herself to savour the feeling of safety and of refuge as the silence settled around them once more, but as the shock abated she realised her situation and pushed herself away. He released her immediately.

‘I beg your pardon. Did I hurt you?’

His curt tone only added to her confusion.

Without his arms tight around her she felt quite … vulnerable.

‘N-no. I—um—I have never seen a stag at such close quarters before. Magnificent.’

‘So it is you!’ Nicky’s cheerful voice came from the undergrowth at the side of the path. ‘We wondered what had startled the deer.’

He emerged from the bushes, followed by a thin man in a faded brown coat and breeches who touched his hat.

‘Major.’

‘Good day, Robin.’ Dominic nodded. ‘And to you, young Master Buckland.’

‘But, Nicky …’ Zelah put her hand on her nephew’s shoulder ‘… why are you out of school?’

‘Mr Netherby was called away and he cancelled his classes today, so I joined Robin in the woods. Pray do not worry, Zelah. John the stable boy was in Lesserton and he carried a message back for me, telling Papa that there was no need to send the carriage to collect me. I have been having such a good time with Robin, following the deer. We were doing very well until you startled them.’

Zelah gave an uncertain laugh. ‘I think they startled us .’

‘Ah, beggin’ yer pardon, ma’am.’ Old Robin took off his hat as he nodded to her. ‘The hind turned away from yer voices and found us blockin’ her way, so she took off across the path and the stag followed.’

‘Are they not splendid creatures, Aunt?’ Nicky’s upturned face glowed with excitement. ‘We have been following them all day.’

‘I trust you have not been near Sir Oswald’s land.’ Zelah frowned, concerned.

‘I wouldn’t take the boy there, ma’am, you may be sure o’ that,’ Robin assured her. He turned aside and spat on the ground. ‘Not that Sir Oswald owns all the land he’s laid claim to, whatever he may say.’

‘You know where the boundary runs?’ Zelah asked eagerly.

‘Aye, that I do. Not that the deer follow boundaries of any man’s making.’

Nicky scowled. ‘Sir Oswald’s told Robin that he’ll shoot any animals he finds on his land, but they’ve been wandering there for years, they don’t know any different.’

Dominic shrugged. ‘I’ve no doubt Sir Oswald is trying to make his estate profitable.’

‘Aye,’ said Robin, rubbing his nose, ‘he’s cutting down timber above Lydcombe Park and that’s his right, on that piece of land. What’s going on at Prickett Wood is another matter.’

‘If you know something, then you should tell my brother-in-law,’ said Zelah. ‘Or Sir Arthur, who I think is the magistrate here.’

‘Aye, p’rhaps I will.’

His response was too vague to satisfy Zelah, but before she could reply Nicky addressed her.

‘I am very glad we met you, Aunt, for I was coming to the Tower to see if you were ready to walk home with me. Robin has some work to do.’

The old man turned to the major, his eyes bright in his weather-beaten face.

‘Thought I’d take a look at the moles in yer south lawn, sir, if you still wants ‘em gone?’

‘I do, Robin. If you wish, you can take yourself off to the Tower now. Tell Mrs Graddon I sent you and she’ll make sure there’s a meal for you tonight. I shall escort Miss Pentewan and Master Nicky to West Barton.’

It was on the tip of Zelah’s tongue to say that was not necessary, but the look of delight on Nicky’s face silenced her. They parted from old Robin and set off for the lane. She was not obliged to converse, because Nicky chattered away quite happily to the major, describing his lessons and his friends. The path was narrow and she was content to fall behind, listening to their conversation.

‘This is where I shall bid you goodbye.’ They had reached the lane and Major Coale stopped.

‘Will you not come to the house, sir?’ Nick gaze up at him hopefully. ‘I know Mama would be happy to offer you some refreshment.’

‘Thank you, but no. I have work that needs my attention.’

‘But—’

‘Do not press him, Nicky,’ cautioned Zelah. ‘The major sees no point in social chit-chat.’

He met her eyes, the glint in his own confirming that he understood her. ‘Quite, Miss Pentewan. Good day to you.’

‘What will you wear to the assembly tomorrow, Maria?’

Zelah was sitting in the drawing room with her sister. Dinner had been a quiet affair, just the two of them since Reginald had not yet returned from his meeting in Lesserton.

‘I thought my bronze silk with the matching turban. It has a train, but I will not be dancing, so that will not matter. What think you, Zelah? It is not new but good enough for the summer assembly, I think. After all, it is not a special occasion.’

Zelah sighed.

‘It will be very special to me . I do so love to dance, but it has been three years since I had the opportunity.’

‘Goodness me, yes. I suppose you did not go to the assemblies near Cardinham after … I mean—’

‘No, and I have added some new ribbons to my lemon silk for the occasion,’ Zelah broke in, speaking quickly to cover her sister’s confusion.

‘I am sure you will look charming,’ agreed Maria, thankful to follow a safer line of thought. ‘We will put your hair in rags in the morning to make it curl—’

‘No, no, Maria, I shall be at Rooks Tower.’

‘What? You cannot work on those horrid books tomorrow, you will have no time to prepare for the assembly.’

Zelah laughed at her sister’s horrified look.

‘I am not such a great lady, I need only enough time to change my gown.’

‘No, no, that will never do. Did you not tell Major Coale about the assembly?’

‘I did, but I do not think he attaches much importance to such things.’

‘Well, you must send a note over in the morning, telling him you cannot come.’

Zelah shook her head.

‘I have not seen him since the day Nicky came to the woods to meet me. I fear he was not best pleased with me then, so I would not wish to antagonise him further. He might turn me off.’

‘Oh dear, I never thought, when you decided to earn your own living, that it would come to this. It cannot be right.’

Maria’s voice wavered, she drew out her handkerchief to wipe her eyes and Zelah realised that she had scandalised her sister. In Maria’s world only her duty to her husband and family would take precedence over a social event. She said gently,

‘It is not so very bad, my love. If I was a governess already, I should not be able to dance at all.’

‘Oh, Zelah, if only it could be otherwise.’ Maria dabbed at her eyes. ‘If only you had not—’

Zelah jumped up. ‘Let us not think of it,’ she said quickly. ‘I have a lifetime to regret a moment’s madness, but tomorrow I shall go to the assembly, where no one knows my past, and dance to my heart’s content.’

Zelah went off to Rooks Tower the following day, promising Maria that she would return a little earlier to prepare for the assembly, but soon after she arrived Graddon came to inform her that the carter had brought more books for her.

‘Seems they were missed off his last consignment.’ They watched the crates being carried in and the butler shook his head. ‘Looks to me as if you’ll have to begin all your work again, miss.’