Tenacious Trents 03 - A Reluctant Rake (22 page)

He approached the door and studied it
before raising his hand with the intention to knock. That was
ridiculous. The place was clearly abandoned and even if she was
using the necessary it wasn’t as if that was in the front room and
he seriously doubted there was a necessary on the
premises.

Instead of knocking he turned the
handle and opened the door.

Audrey squeaked. As his eyes adjusted
to the light he realized that she was standing in the center of the
room in only her chemise and riding skirt. His mouth went
dry.

Jordan could only stare. The fine line
of her neck tapered to delicate shoulders. Full breasts threatened
to spill from the fine silk that covered them. He wished the fabric
were more sheer so he could see the color of her nipples but right
now he could only see the outline and she was clearly chilled. He
would love for there to be a different reason for them to be erect.
For being such a fine boned and delicate miss, her breasts were
larger than what he suspected. How did he not notice in her gowns?
Where the chemise ended at her waist her riding skirt began. If
only he had entered a few moments earlier would he have caught her
naked?

Audrey grabbed the shirt and held it
against her body, hiding the beauty he had just been admiring. He
glanced up to her face. It was a deep rose and she was glaring at
him.

“My pardon,” he offered, not the least
bit sorry for walking in on her in her state of undress.

“I told you I would return in a
moment.”

He shrugged. “You were gone longer than
a moment, I became worried.”

Her eyes narrowed and she pursed her
lips. She knew it was a lie as much as he.

“Please leave so I can finish
dressing.”

“Why here?” He glanced around to the
dusty room. There was one chair, table and mirror, nothing to offer
comfort.

“I can’t very well parade around in my
riding clothes before Mr. Slaine’s employees, now can
I?”

She did have a point. Not only would
they be salivating in her presence but they also wouldn’t be able
to get a bit of work done in the process. “You have a good
point.”

“Now,” she pointed to the door. “Would
you please leave so I can finish dressing?”

Instead of leaving he took a step in
her direction. They were alone in a cottage, she was already half
undressed. What harm would there being in tasting her lips and
those lush breasts.

She took a step back and held out a
hand to stop him. “Out.”

Jordan sighed. It wasn’t the best place
for a seduction any way. But in time, he would know how those
globes felt in his hands and the peaks against his tongue. “Very
well.” With reluctance he turned around and returned outside. The
more he was with her the more he knew he had to have her. What he
just witnessed inside the cottage only confirmed that
fact.

Audrey emerged a few moments later,
completely dressed much to his disappointment. She untied the reins
and began leading the horse back to the road that led to the
stables. Jordan walked along at her side. His horse would need to
be wiped down before they returned to London.

Audrey kept her head down, the bonnet
shielding her face. She was all that was demure and feminine. If he
hadn’t just spent the afternoon with her teaching him how to race
he would have never believed it if someone had told him what an
excellent horsewoman she was. She rode better than any gentleman he
knew and Jordan suspected the only people who rode better than she
was the professional jockeys.

“How long have you been
racing?”

“My father says I was born in a
saddle,” she sighed. “Had I been a man, I could ride and race and
never have to worry about anyone seeing me.”

“I, for one, am very glad you are a
female.”

She gave him a slight smile but it
didn’t quite meet her eyes. Perhaps she was simply tired. Jordan
knew he was, yet there was a musical he was to attend this evening.
He usually did not enjoy those types of entertainments but he had
it on good authority that Miss Montgomery was to be present and
where she was, he intended to be until they finally lived in the
same house and did not have to go anywhere so he could be with
her.

“You didn’t answer my question. When
did you start racing?”

A melancholy look washed over her face.
“I was twelve.”

Good God, she could have been killed.
“Isn’t that a bit young?”

She simply chuckled. “I had been riding
since I could remember. Father let me be with him and watch when
the horses were being trained and I started riding as the jockeys
did. Papa saw me galloping across a field one day and called me to
his library later.” Audrey glanced up at Jordan. “I thought I was
in trouble, but he was actually proud. Of course, I had to swear
not to tell my mother.”

Having met Mrs. Montgomery, Jordon
suspected the woman did not support her daughter’s interests.
Hadn’t she claimed whenever Mrs. Montgomery found her breeches they
were burned?

“Papa let me spend time with the horses
that were being trained and they responded to me.”

Jordan could well understand. With a
simple flick of her wrist or pressure of her thigh he would do
anything she wanted. He longed for the day when the pressure of her
thighs urged him on.

The night in the garden flashed across
his mind of Audrey kneeing Everton in the bullocks. It wasn’t a
half delivered feminine kick but one she used all of her strength
in. After witnessing the strength of her legs it was a wonder
Everton’s bullocks were not in his throat. As it was, Jordan would
be surprised if the man would be able to father a child. Not that
it bothered Jordan any. Everton deserved what happened. Had he not
come along and Audrey not been taught how to defend herself, Jordan
had no doubt Everton would have raped her.

The entire situation sickened him. Why
would Lady Lydell make such a suggestion? Wasn’t Audrey supposed to
be her friend?

Jordan didn’t want to think about the
ugliness of the night before and returned to the topic at hand.
“You can tell if a horse will be a good racer?”

“I suppose.” She shrugged. “I can just
feel it in them when I ride. I can tell if they have the drive and
the passion and the love for a hard run.”

Could she read the passion in him as
well?

As they neared the stables Mr. Slaine
stepped out to greet them. “How did she do?”

Audrey gave the man the most beautiful
smile and Jordan wished she would look at him the way she did when
she thought about racing horses. “She was magnificent. I want you
to promise to let me know when you race her.”

One of the workers ran forward to take
the reins from her. Another did the same for Jordan’s horse. He
wasn’t going to let go. He needed to see to the horse and then
return to London.

“Louis will see that your horse is
patted down. Come inside before you return to London.”

With reluctance Jordan let the lad take
his horse and followed the two toward the three story
manor.

“Who is going to place your bet?”
Slaine asked Audrey with a laugh.

“I am sure I can find someone.” She
glanced back over her shoulder toward Jordan. This was promising if
she thought she could count on him to place a bet for her since
ladies did not bet on horses. Or at least they didn’t under their
own name.

“I am not sure she will be ready by
June.”

“Newmarket in October should be plenty
of time.”

Slaine nodded and rubbed his
chin.

That was months away and Audrey thought
they would be in a situation in which he could place a bet for her
then the future did look promising.

Mr. Slaine led them into a small parlor
and a maid appeared moments later with tea and cakes. Jordan hadn’t
realized he was so famished until the refreshments were placed
before them.

“I just saw your father at Newmarket,”
Slaine said after taking a sip of tea.

“He wrote that his horses made a good
showing.”

She turned to Jordan. “The reason Papa
doesn’t attend the Season is because he must see to the horses and
make sure they are prepared for the races. In May he will be in
York, then Ascot in June. Sometimes he goes to Manchester,
Liverpool and Chester. He never misses the races at
Newcastle.”

Jordan simply nodded. He knew all the
names and that races were held during the spring and early summer
months but he had attended very few. He had never really had time.
But, if Audrey was to be his wife, he should become familiar with
the racing world and perhaps invest in a few horses of his own. He
might even need to look into the Jockey Club. He had heard much
about it but wasn’t sure what the requirements were for
membership.

Life would be interesting with
Audrey.

“Thank you for allowing me to ride
today,” Audrey said with complete sincerity to Mr. Slaine. “I
haven’t been able to really ride in well over a month. “

“There are places to ride in London,”
Mr. Slaine pointed out.

“As long as one uses a sidesaddle.” She
scrunched her face in disgust.

Shadows filtered into the room and
Jordan stood and stuck out his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Slaine, but I
must head back to London. It is growing late.”

Audrey and Mr. Slaine stood as well.
“I’ll have Audrey’s carriage brought around.” He tilted his head
toward Jordan. “You did not bring another horse with you, or a
carriage.”

It hadn’t occurred to him to do so and
he shook his head.

“Do you think it is wise to ride him
all the way back to London after working him so hard this
afternoon?”

Damn, he hadn’t even considered, but he
had little choice now. He certainly wasn’t going to walk back to
London.

“Why don’t you ride with Audrey?” The
man nodded to the young woman. “I’ll see that your horse is
delivered tomorrow. I need to be in town to visit
Hawmarket.”

An hour, alone with Audrey, in a closed
carriage? He could think of no more pleasurable ways to spend the
late afternoon. “I think that is an excellent idea.”

“He can’t,” Audrey protested. “I didn’t
bring my maid. What will people think?”

Slaine frowned. “You didn’t travel with
a companion or chaperone? ”

“I saw no need.”

“Then I insist you take Trent with
you.”

“I will be perfectly fine,” she
insisted.

“What if you are set upon? It is
growing dark.”

She laughed. “There have not been
highwaymen here in quite some time. I am sure I will arrive in
London unharmed.”

“I insist,” Jordan found himself
saying.

Audrey rolled her eyes. “I do not need
a protector.”

“I also insist,” Slaine added in a firm
tone. “If you do not take Trent with you for protection then I will
not allow you to return and ride when you choose.”

Her mouth popped open in shock. “What
if someone sees me? I can’t travel alone with a
gentleman.”

“Your carriage is closed, black and
with no markings to indicate that it belongs to your uncle.” He
turned and guided them toward the entry. “Keep out of sight when
you enter London and make sure you are not seen when Trent is
dropped at his home and you will have nothing to worry
about.”

Slaine turned to look at Jordan. “I
have heard of you reputation and if you so much as touch a hair on
her head, you will hear from me and then her father.”

“Really…” Audrey began.

“I will preserve your reputation and
honor,” Jordan interrupted. At least he hoped. Perhaps being alone
with Audrey for so long wasn’t a wise idea. Her reputation would
always be protected as they would marry, however he might find
himself seducing her before that day.

He quickly dismissed the idea. He was
going to court her as a gentleman. He would not seduce her and he
would not take her virtue until they were married. Even if it
killed him.