front door, waiting for her.
Swing your right leg over, miss, he said quietly.
What?
He grinned at her. I wont tel anyone.
She swung her right leg over and squealed. Ouch! And: How did you know?
Lord Strange must not have looked closely at your riding, he said. You ride just the way my sisters do. The trick is to grip your knees and keep yourself a little above the saddle. Brace your boots in the stirrups.
He reached up and pul ed her off the horse. Harriet looked around hastily, but the footman at the door had retreated indoors and there was no one to see.
Thank you! she said breathlessly. Id give you a tip, but I couldnt figure out where to put my money since I cant carry a knotting bag.
He laughed. Gentleman have pockets sewn into their garments. Youl find them. Im just happy you didnt sail into the air and land on your rump. He looked a bit uneasy. If youl forgive the familiarity, miss.
Believe me, she said, smiling at him, Il forgive a great deal from the man who just told me how to avoid such a bone-jarring ride. Whats your name?
Nick. Il make sure that I come tomorrow morning as wel .
Thank you! she whispered fervently, and started to limp toward the house.
Though tomorrow was a moot point. Shed be lucky to walk again.
And if she ever did ride againno more padding in front! She surreptitiously adjusted her breeches.
Ouch!
Chapter Thirteen
A Chapter in Which the Delights of Swordplay and Manhood are Confused J em waited in the entry until Cope final y walked back into the house. Probably Vil ierss protegé was out there caressing his mounts nose or some such frippery. Cope final y entered and handed over his greatcoat to Povy. He seemed to be a little stiff.
Good. He needed muscle. If Cope had more muscle, he would lose that effeminate look.
Beef, he said, striding off to the breakfast room. Come on, Cope.
The butler stopped him. Lord Strange, if you cared to eat in your private dining room, Miss Eugenia would be very pleased to join you.
Jem al owed very few of his male guests to meet Eugeniabut Cope was far from a rakehel . He was practical y the girlish playmate he thought of finding for his daughter.
Al right, he said, reversing direction and heading up the stairs. He stopped halfway when Cope hadnt fol owed him. What are you waiting for?
Cope glanced up at him. Did you say something, my lord?
Were having breakfast in my private dining room.
The man had the impudence to grin at him. That must have been my invitation. So sorry I didnt hear it before.
Jem ground his teeth. Cope practical y cooed his little retort.
He should go upstairs right now and tel Vil iers that there was no way he could turn a moon-calf into a bul . But Cope was walking up the stairs. And the odd thing was that Jem actual y liked him.
He liked the stickler way that Cope made it through that ride, even though he was obviously one of the least experienced riders ever put on the surface of the earth. He didnt complain, though. And he didnt look too sissy in a riding jacket. He looked delicate in some lights, but he had a good strong chin. The real problem was his eyes. What man had eyes of burned velvet brown?
Swal owing an oath, he turned around and went back up the stairs.
Just when had he ever wasted time thinking about a mans eyes? He was truly losing his mind.
Il wash my face and hands in my chamber, Cope said. Where shal I join you?
Jem rol ed his eyes. Washing. End of the corridor to your right, he barked.
In the end he went to his own chamber and washed his face too, though he was plagued by the idea that his guests overfastidious habits would be contagious in more than one sense. He strode into his private dining room to find Eugenia there.
She ran over to give him a hug. It was pure Sal y, that hug. His wife used to think that if people would just be kinder and nicer to each other, al problems could be solved.
Remember when you used to carry me around on your shoulders, Papa? Eugenia asked, scooting into
Swing your right leg over, miss, he said quietly.
What?
He grinned at her. I wont tel anyone.
She swung her right leg over and squealed. Ouch! And: How did you know?
Lord Strange must not have looked closely at your riding, he said. You ride just the way my sisters do. The trick is to grip your knees and keep yourself a little above the saddle. Brace your boots in the stirrups.
He reached up and pul ed her off the horse. Harriet looked around hastily, but the footman at the door had retreated indoors and there was no one to see.
Thank you! she said breathlessly. Id give you a tip, but I couldnt figure out where to put my money since I cant carry a knotting bag.
He laughed. Gentleman have pockets sewn into their garments. Youl find them. Im just happy you didnt sail into the air and land on your rump. He looked a bit uneasy. If youl forgive the familiarity, miss.
Believe me, she said, smiling at him, Il forgive a great deal from the man who just told me how to avoid such a bone-jarring ride. Whats your name?
Nick. Il make sure that I come tomorrow morning as wel .
Thank you! she whispered fervently, and started to limp toward the house.
Though tomorrow was a moot point. Shed be lucky to walk again.
And if she ever did ride againno more padding in front! She surreptitiously adjusted her breeches.
Ouch!
Chapter Thirteen
A Chapter in Which the Delights of Swordplay and Manhood are Confused J em waited in the entry until Cope final y walked back into the house. Probably Vil ierss protegé was out there caressing his mounts nose or some such frippery. Cope final y entered and handed over his greatcoat to Povy. He seemed to be a little stiff.
Good. He needed muscle. If Cope had more muscle, he would lose that effeminate look.
Beef, he said, striding off to the breakfast room. Come on, Cope.
The butler stopped him. Lord Strange, if you cared to eat in your private dining room, Miss Eugenia would be very pleased to join you.
Jem al owed very few of his male guests to meet Eugeniabut Cope was far from a rakehel . He was practical y the girlish playmate he thought of finding for his daughter.
Al right, he said, reversing direction and heading up the stairs. He stopped halfway when Cope hadnt fol owed him. What are you waiting for?
Cope glanced up at him. Did you say something, my lord?
Were having breakfast in my private dining room.
The man had the impudence to grin at him. That must have been my invitation. So sorry I didnt hear it before.
Jem ground his teeth. Cope practical y cooed his little retort.
He should go upstairs right now and tel Vil iers that there was no way he could turn a moon-calf into a bul . But Cope was walking up the stairs. And the odd thing was that Jem actual y liked him.
He liked the stickler way that Cope made it through that ride, even though he was obviously one of the least experienced riders ever put on the surface of the earth. He didnt complain, though. And he didnt look too sissy in a riding jacket. He looked delicate in some lights, but he had a good strong chin. The real problem was his eyes. What man had eyes of burned velvet brown?
Swal owing an oath, he turned around and went back up the stairs.
Just when had he ever wasted time thinking about a mans eyes? He was truly losing his mind.
Il wash my face and hands in my chamber, Cope said. Where shal I join you?
Jem rol ed his eyes. Washing. End of the corridor to your right, he barked.
In the end he went to his own chamber and washed his face too, though he was plagued by the idea that his guests overfastidious habits would be contagious in more than one sense. He strode into his private dining room to find Eugenia there.
She ran over to give him a hug. It was pure Sal y, that hug. His wife used to think that if people would just be kinder and nicer to each other, al problems could be solved.
Remember when you used to carry me around on your shoulders, Papa? Eugenia asked, scooting into
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