Regency Christmas Pact 02 - A Gentlemen's Pact by Jerrica Knight-Catania

handsome men as being romantic heroes apt to run a way with a beautiful young miss.
    Not that she was the young miss in her fantasies. She preferred the more grounded types, the ones likely to remain faithful until their dying days. Now that was romantic.
    Stephen, on her other side, chimed in. “Northcotte, Lady Miriam’s father, Lord Alderford, has a runner he enters in some of the race meetings further north. I believe he was at Newmarket last spring.”
    “That’s correct,” Northcotte replied. “I remember his bay. I believe he came in fourth behind my runner and David’s.”
    Oh, dear. The man enjoyed horse racing, too. How lucky for her that her parents weren’t there. They’d push for a match based on that fact alone.
    Stephen caught Miriam’s eye. “ The Hursts are known for their runners.” At the sound of a cough from David, he added, “As are the Lumleys, of course.”
    The men bantered over whose horses were better, but Miriam couldn’t get past one word she heard. Hurst. She studied Northcotte from the corner of her eye. His features were familiar, but she might have seen him at any number of balls and card parties over the past six years. It didn’t signify he was her Mr. Hurst.
    The others laughed at something, and she smiled as if she knew what was said. Yet her stomach knotted. He didn’t act as though he recognized her. Or perhaps he was pretending not to remember her, to avo id having to explain his lack of contact two years ago.
    There was her answer . He knew exactly who she was but didn’t want to acknowledge her. That suited her purposes as well, as much as it hurt. It would save her much embarrassment. All she had to do was pretend for the next month that she and Lord Mystery were not under the same roof.

For the next two days, Northcotte managed to avoid running into Lady Miriam except at dinner when they all ate together. He had an uneasy feeling about her presence at Hambleton Cottage, or to be more specific, the way her visit coincided with his. This was the first time he had stayed with Stephen and his wife, so he couldn’t confirm his suspicions, but he was reasonably certain there was a matchmaking scheme afoot.
    Little did Joanna and Jane know, but Northcotte considered himself permanently off the marriage mart. He would be polite to the innocent victim they’d chosen for him, but wouldn’t do anything to indicate any attachment forming. If necessary, he could always claim he’d received a message from London calling him back. A few coins to the butler should ensure his cooperation.
    Northcotte’s luck didn’t last. David’s sisters, Lady Patience and Lady Madeleine, arrived early one afternoon when everyone was relaxing in the drawing room. The girls were on the verge of womanhood in years, but clearly clinging to the pastimes of their youth.
    “We came to ride in the sleigh,” announced Lady Patience, a petite beauty with pale curls down her back.
    “Before the snow melts ,” her twin, slightly taller with slightly darker curls, finished.
    “Mama said we may stay the night, if you will permit it.” Lady Patience crossed to the fireplace and held out her hands to the warmth. “I hope you’ll allow it. We want to play with Annie and William.”
    David shook his head. “I cannot believe Mother let you come that far with just your maid as a chaperone.”
    Lady Madeleine ducked her head. “ It took us barely three hours. What could have happened to us in that time?”
    “We are grown now, David. Mama lets us shop in the village and pay calls to our friends, too.” Lady Patience was clearly the less docile of the two.
    Jane signaled to her husband. “Stephen, order the sleigh to be brought around . I can’t go for a ride, of course, but that doesn’t mean you all must stay inside.”
    “Northcotte, why don’t you take Lady Miriam for the first jaunt?” Joanna didn’t wait for an answer. “I’ll have her cloak and gloves brought down.”
    Lady Miriam had