Lord Vincent caught her gawping. She quickly looked away, but not before she noticed a teasing little smile playing about that full mouth of his. It was as though he had guess the nature of her thoughts: thoughts had no place inside the head of an unmarried woman. Well, it was hardly her fault if a combination of her grandfather’s circle of unusual friends and living constantly in the company of a reformed courtesan had made her a little too aware. She had attended their rather wild parties since the age of fifteen. No one seemed to think it was unusual that she should be there, and felt no necessity to restrain their behaviour as a consequence.
They had been informative times.
“Nate has not long finished university,” Lord Vincent said. “He will most likely get involved in that enterprise with Romsey.”
“That won’t be easily achieved. Policing highway robberies, I mean. I think it very unfair that the men who did manage to come back from France after fighting for king and country cannot find gainful employment. One can hardly blame them for turning to crime if that is the only way for them to feed their families.”
“You have inherited your grandfather’s philanthropic attitude.”
“And that is a bad thing?”
“Not in the least. What’s more, I tend to agree with you, but if we did not have laws to protect people and their property from harm then there would be anarchy.”
“That is undeniable, I suppose.” Nia was in control of herself again and managed a brief smile. “Just be prepared to be unpopular.”
This time his smile was tinged with a wicked edge. “Just so long as you do not take me in dislike, Miss Trafford.”
“Just so long as you do not give me any reason to, Lord Vincent.”
“ Touché.”
Where were the boys? Nia didn’t feel the least bit in control of this conversation and she so hated not to be in command of herself. She wished she could decide why Lord Vincent had taken such an interest in her. Why her heart fluttered and warmth streaked through her body when he looked at her in a certain way. Perdition, she was the sensible, level-headed Trafford, and could not afford unrealistic flights of fancy, even if they were conducted within the privacy of her own thoughts.
“You must also deal with feuding villagers.” Nia smiled. “Perhaps there is more to being in a position of authority than I had realised and there is no time for idleness in your family after all.”
“You saw for yourself yesterday just how intense the feuding has become.” Lord Vincent frowned. “Those boys did not pick on Leo and Art because Ruff stole a few sausages, but because they thought your nephews were spies sent from Shawford.” He shrugged. “Heaven alone knows what there is to spy on, but spying is considered a far greater crime than thievery in the eyes of the villagers. And the tragedy is that the adults encourage the children to think that way.”
“Why do they feud?”
“That is a very good question to which no one can give you an honest answer. We do know it is about our family, in one way or another.”
“Both villages wish to claim ownership?”
“Something like that. Crista coming from Shawford does not help. Compton villagers feel disadvantaged because of that connection. Amos was smitten the moment he saw Crista and no one in the family was prepared to let the feud stand in the way of Amos’s happiness.”
“Your family really are as open-minded as they appear on first acquaintance. I should have thought, excuse me, but I—”
“You would expect us to inter-marry within the aristocracy?”
“Well, yes.”
Lord Vincent laughed. “Only two of the six of us have married thus far, but in both instances they have been love matches.”
“Then I am very glad for those concerned. Everyone deserves to be loved.” It felt as though his deep, penetrating gaze reached into her soul. It definitely made her shiver. “Are you cold, Miss Trafford?”
“No, I am
They had been informative times.
“Nate has not long finished university,” Lord Vincent said. “He will most likely get involved in that enterprise with Romsey.”
“That won’t be easily achieved. Policing highway robberies, I mean. I think it very unfair that the men who did manage to come back from France after fighting for king and country cannot find gainful employment. One can hardly blame them for turning to crime if that is the only way for them to feed their families.”
“You have inherited your grandfather’s philanthropic attitude.”
“And that is a bad thing?”
“Not in the least. What’s more, I tend to agree with you, but if we did not have laws to protect people and their property from harm then there would be anarchy.”
“That is undeniable, I suppose.” Nia was in control of herself again and managed a brief smile. “Just be prepared to be unpopular.”
This time his smile was tinged with a wicked edge. “Just so long as you do not take me in dislike, Miss Trafford.”
“Just so long as you do not give me any reason to, Lord Vincent.”
“ Touché.”
Where were the boys? Nia didn’t feel the least bit in control of this conversation and she so hated not to be in command of herself. She wished she could decide why Lord Vincent had taken such an interest in her. Why her heart fluttered and warmth streaked through her body when he looked at her in a certain way. Perdition, she was the sensible, level-headed Trafford, and could not afford unrealistic flights of fancy, even if they were conducted within the privacy of her own thoughts.
“You must also deal with feuding villagers.” Nia smiled. “Perhaps there is more to being in a position of authority than I had realised and there is no time for idleness in your family after all.”
“You saw for yourself yesterday just how intense the feuding has become.” Lord Vincent frowned. “Those boys did not pick on Leo and Art because Ruff stole a few sausages, but because they thought your nephews were spies sent from Shawford.” He shrugged. “Heaven alone knows what there is to spy on, but spying is considered a far greater crime than thievery in the eyes of the villagers. And the tragedy is that the adults encourage the children to think that way.”
“Why do they feud?”
“That is a very good question to which no one can give you an honest answer. We do know it is about our family, in one way or another.”
“Both villages wish to claim ownership?”
“Something like that. Crista coming from Shawford does not help. Compton villagers feel disadvantaged because of that connection. Amos was smitten the moment he saw Crista and no one in the family was prepared to let the feud stand in the way of Amos’s happiness.”
“Your family really are as open-minded as they appear on first acquaintance. I should have thought, excuse me, but I—”
“You would expect us to inter-marry within the aristocracy?”
“Well, yes.”
Lord Vincent laughed. “Only two of the six of us have married thus far, but in both instances they have been love matches.”
“Then I am very glad for those concerned. Everyone deserves to be loved.” It felt as though his deep, penetrating gaze reached into her soul. It definitely made her shiver. “Are you cold, Miss Trafford?”
“No, I am
Similar Books
