you so shamefully and in public?”
Andrew gave him a world-weary look. “When I was as green as you, I would have gladly welcomed any opportunity for a fight. Since then, I have learned a good many painful lessons. Now I find that I can bear a knave’s insults far better than his bruises. In faith, I have grown quite fond of my blood, and I prefer to keep all of it safe inside me.”
Jack grimaced. “Then heaven shield me from gray hairs and soft brains! I did not need your help just now. I can fight my own battles. I will make Hogsworthy rue this morning.”
Andrew grasped the young fool’s shoulder and shookit, wishing he could shake some sense into Jack’s head as well. “Never underestimate Gareth Hogsworthy. He is a well-seasoned jouster and not above cheating his opponents. Consider this if you wish to live long enough to celebrate your twenty-second birthday.”
The younger man looked at Andrew, then at the ground in silence. Andrew relaxed. Jack could be foolhardy at the worst of times, but he possessed a good mind when he chose to use it. He prayed that Jack would heed his warning and allow his anger to cool.
When Jack looked up again, he flashed a boyish grin. He patted the clothing that Andrew still held against his chest. “So, tell me, my venerable teacher, what pleasant sport have you been doing today? Did you win all this finery off the back of some innocent but willing lady?”
Andrew assumed an injured air. “Methinks a long soak in a tub of salted herring would do you wonders, Jackanapes. This wardrobe was honorably obtained from Lady Mary Washburne. Tis for my Rosie.”
Jack laughed. “I am not surprised! I warrant Lady Mary is now your confederate in your game. Does she approve of your latest whimsy?”
“She will keep an eye on me,” he replied.
“And does Lady Alicia also know of your plan?”
Andrew rolled his eyes with true horror. The mother of Brandon and Guy would descend upon him like an avenging angel. “I pray that the good Countess of Thornbury is both deaf and blind for the next two weeks.”
“Amen to that,” Jack agreed.
Chapter Eight
B ehind the curtain of rose silk that Andrew had drawn to give her some privacy, Rosie stared at the incredible pile of clothing that covered his large bed. She gently ran her finger down the bodice of a peach colored damask gown. Never had she felt anything so rich. She chewed on her thumbnail, then caught herself. Sir Andrew would take away one of her precious pennies if he spied her indulging in her “nasty habit.” She wiped her hands on the nightshirt she still wore, then ventured to pick up a white chemise made of the sheerest lawn. How could she possibly wear such a fine garment?
On the other side of the flimsy wall, Sir Andrew cleared his throat. “How goes it, Rosie?” he asked with a cheery note.
“If you need any help, Rosie, I am your man,” Jack offered. He could scarcely disguise the hunger in his voice. “I am well acquainted with the ins and outs of a lady’s apparel. In truth, I am the very champion when it comes to disrobing a woman.” He chuckled.
“Go to the devil, Jack,” Sir Andrew suggested in a mild tone.
Emboldened by the protection of the concealing bit ofsilk, Rosie stuck out her tongue in the direction of the lecherous young lord.
“Rosie?” her protector called. “Is something amiss?”
“Haint ever seen the like of all this, my lord.”
He clicked his tongue against his teeth. “Rosie, mind your vocabulary. Repeat after me. ‘I have never seen the like of all this.’”
Jack chortled again. “Hoy day! Twould be easier to teach a pig to dance than to school yon strumpet into a lady. Your wager is already in Brandon’s pocket!”
Rosie swore under her breath at Jack, then cleared her throat. “By my troth, Sir Andrew, I swear that I have never seen such goodly clothes, and, by my troth, Sir Jack, I am not a strumpet!”
Both men laughed. Goblets clinked as they poured wine
Andrew gave him a world-weary look. “When I was as green as you, I would have gladly welcomed any opportunity for a fight. Since then, I have learned a good many painful lessons. Now I find that I can bear a knave’s insults far better than his bruises. In faith, I have grown quite fond of my blood, and I prefer to keep all of it safe inside me.”
Jack grimaced. “Then heaven shield me from gray hairs and soft brains! I did not need your help just now. I can fight my own battles. I will make Hogsworthy rue this morning.”
Andrew grasped the young fool’s shoulder and shookit, wishing he could shake some sense into Jack’s head as well. “Never underestimate Gareth Hogsworthy. He is a well-seasoned jouster and not above cheating his opponents. Consider this if you wish to live long enough to celebrate your twenty-second birthday.”
The younger man looked at Andrew, then at the ground in silence. Andrew relaxed. Jack could be foolhardy at the worst of times, but he possessed a good mind when he chose to use it. He prayed that Jack would heed his warning and allow his anger to cool.
When Jack looked up again, he flashed a boyish grin. He patted the clothing that Andrew still held against his chest. “So, tell me, my venerable teacher, what pleasant sport have you been doing today? Did you win all this finery off the back of some innocent but willing lady?”
Andrew assumed an injured air. “Methinks a long soak in a tub of salted herring would do you wonders, Jackanapes. This wardrobe was honorably obtained from Lady Mary Washburne. Tis for my Rosie.”
Jack laughed. “I am not surprised! I warrant Lady Mary is now your confederate in your game. Does she approve of your latest whimsy?”
“She will keep an eye on me,” he replied.
“And does Lady Alicia also know of your plan?”
Andrew rolled his eyes with true horror. The mother of Brandon and Guy would descend upon him like an avenging angel. “I pray that the good Countess of Thornbury is both deaf and blind for the next two weeks.”
“Amen to that,” Jack agreed.
Chapter Eight
B ehind the curtain of rose silk that Andrew had drawn to give her some privacy, Rosie stared at the incredible pile of clothing that covered his large bed. She gently ran her finger down the bodice of a peach colored damask gown. Never had she felt anything so rich. She chewed on her thumbnail, then caught herself. Sir Andrew would take away one of her precious pennies if he spied her indulging in her “nasty habit.” She wiped her hands on the nightshirt she still wore, then ventured to pick up a white chemise made of the sheerest lawn. How could she possibly wear such a fine garment?
On the other side of the flimsy wall, Sir Andrew cleared his throat. “How goes it, Rosie?” he asked with a cheery note.
“If you need any help, Rosie, I am your man,” Jack offered. He could scarcely disguise the hunger in his voice. “I am well acquainted with the ins and outs of a lady’s apparel. In truth, I am the very champion when it comes to disrobing a woman.” He chuckled.
“Go to the devil, Jack,” Sir Andrew suggested in a mild tone.
Emboldened by the protection of the concealing bit ofsilk, Rosie stuck out her tongue in the direction of the lecherous young lord.
“Rosie?” her protector called. “Is something amiss?”
“Haint ever seen the like of all this, my lord.”
He clicked his tongue against his teeth. “Rosie, mind your vocabulary. Repeat after me. ‘I have never seen the like of all this.’”
Jack chortled again. “Hoy day! Twould be easier to teach a pig to dance than to school yon strumpet into a lady. Your wager is already in Brandon’s pocket!”
Rosie swore under her breath at Jack, then cleared her throat. “By my troth, Sir Andrew, I swear that I have never seen such goodly clothes, and, by my troth, Sir Jack, I am not a strumpet!”
Both men laughed. Goblets clinked as they poured wine
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