The Earl of Ice (5 page)

“Of course,” replied Diana, not wanting to spoil the enjoyment of others. “I would love to be in the party. I cannot remember when I last went on a picnic, and the weather has been so beautiful.”

That settled, Rollo got down to making the arrangements. “Well, then, we need to find you a suitable horse. The other ladies have all found mounts. Oliver, would you take Miss Wells to the stables tomorrow and help her select a fitting horse?”

Diana panicked. She did not want to spend time with Oliver. Alone. “My lord, I am sure that any horse will suffice. Please don’t put Oliver to any trouble.”

Rollo was surprised by this reaction, until his brother leaned over and very quietly explained that Miss Wells seemed not to be comfortable with him and avoided his company when at all possible. Looking at Diana’s now pale face and seeing that she was wringing her hands in agitation, Rollo concluded that his brother was right. Surprised and somewhat unnerved by his growing attraction to the diminutive shapely lady, he had decided that he would try to avoid her company as much as possible. But this couldn’t be helped. He couldn’t force Oliver’s company on her.

“Oliver has just mentioned to me that he has business to attend to in the morning, so would you permit me to accompany you instead?” he suggested. “I would rather you had the opportunity to get used to the animal before Friday, as it is quite a long and hard ride to Spartan Top.”

“If you are sure that you can spare the time, then I thank you,” Diana replied, her relief evident in her voice and in the stilling of her hands

* * *

The following morning, after breakfast, Diana changed into her dark blue riding habit. She left her hair down in order to accommodate a new riding hat, which sat at a jaunty angle on her head.

Rollo met her in the lobby at eleven o’clock as arranged. Diana’s pulse gave a jolt at the sight of him. He looked breathtakingly handsome and, she thought, slightly dangerous, dressed in black from head to toe. His face was expressionless as always; he was every inch the Earl of Ice this morning. Diana was looking forward to selecting a mount for the picnic tomorrow and so was determined not to be intimidated by him. She gave him a sunny smile in response to his curt nod of greeting.

Rollo, annoyed that Diana’s radiant smile and appearance had sent an unfamiliar pang through him, set off at a brisk walk to the stables. Diana scurried quickly after him, almost having to break into a run to keep up with his long strides. By the time they reached the first stable block, she was quite out of breath. Rollo, who had by then calmed his nerves, noticed her panting and her pink cheeks, and mentally chided himself for being so thoughtless. Just because her presence had an unsettling effect on him was no excuse to run the poor girl ragged!

As they entered the stable block, Rollo explained to her that these horses were mounts for the family. The other blocks housed his racehorses and his stud. As they walked down the central aisle, he told her the horses’ names and pointed out the ones favoured by the other guests. “You may take you pick from any of the others.”

Diana stopped to admire a beautiful gelding standing about seventeen hands high, with a pale, almost cream-coloured coat. She rubbed his nose and he whinnied in response. “He is so handsome,” she remarked. “What is his name?”

“Dempsey, but we call him Demon because he has such a devilish temperament. Notice that there is no horse in the next bay—this is because Demon will nip and kick out,” Rollo explained. “He would not be a suitable choice.”

Diana was disappointed but was more than willing to consider other options. The horse in the bay opposite Demon caught her eye. “Who is this fine mare?” she asked.

“That is Misty. She is very well-mannered and would be a good choice.” He rubbed the mare’s outstretched muzzle.

Diana stood back to consider and found herself being butted gently in her back by Demon, his head reaching out from the bay behind her. She laughed and turned to him. “Jealous, are you?” she asked. “I know that you are a most handsome beast, but I have been told that you do not behave.”

Demon snickered and nudged her again. She stroked his neck. “I have no apples for you. I think you just want to have all the attention.” She continued petting the animal and talking nonsense to him, and the gelding nudged her playfully every time she tried to move away.

Rollo, watching Diana with the horse, realized that this was the first time he had heard her laugh since the incident at the Whittington Ball. He also concluded that any man would be lucky indeed to have Diana looking at him with such tenderness and murmuring such sweet nonsense. For a fleeting moment he wondered how he would be if he were that lucky man, and felt an immediate squeeze somewhere in his chest—one he could not identify and, furthermore, did not find at all comfortable.

“Is he never ridden?” Diana asked, still stroking Demon’s neck.

“I have ridden him and he needs a firm hand before settling. But he’s unpredictable. He has thrown one of the grooms and kicked a couple of the stable hands. It seems that he takes a liking to some people and not others. It has been suggested he be put down, but as you can see, he is a fine-looking animal and not all bad.”

Rollo, since buying Demon, had had many conversations about the horse with his head groom, a man to whom Demon had taken an instant dislike. Rollo could not, however, bring himself to take any precipitous action against so fine an animal and so had advised that only the staff that Demon tolerated should attend him.

“Would you let me try riding him?” Diana asked. “I am considered a very accomplished horsewoman and I would not hold it against you if I were unseated.” Diana unconsciously clasped her hands together as though begging and looked up at Rollo with her big brown eyes full of hope.

Rollo was torn. He wanted to please his guest but he did not want her to break her neck. But those soft, pleading eyes were his undoing, and taking a gamble that Demon would not tolerate a sidesaddle, and thus abort any attempt she made to ride, he gave in.

“I will ask for him to be saddled up and you may attempt to mount him, but only under my close supervision. I must warn you that, as far as I am aware, he has never been ridden by a female and I do not know if he will allow a side saddle.”

“I understand,” said Diana, hopping from foot to foot in anticipation, “and if he does not like the saddle, or me, I will ride Misty instead.”

Rollo called for the stable lads to saddle Demon and his own horse, Periklis, a magnificent black Thoroughbred stallion with four white socks. Then he escorted Diana into the yard to wait. Periklis was the first to be walked out. Diana, recognizing a fine animal when she saw one, admired him openly. Next a young boy walked a skittish, already saddled Demon out into the yard. She immediately walked to the side of the horse so that he could see her. He seemed to whinny a greeting, which encouraged her to pat his neck and stroke his muzzle. This calmed him sufficiently for mounting and she indicated for the stable lad to walk him to the mounting block.

Rollo was feeling very anxious now and cursed himself for giving in to her. He had not expected the horse to tolerate the attention and saddle thus far, and so called for the lad to remain where he was.

“I will assist you to mount,” he called to Diana. At least this way he would be on hand to catch her if she fell or to steady the horse should it decide to bolt.

Diana, thinking only that the earl was being gentlemanly and not doubting her own equestrian ability, gave him a smile in response and lifted one dainty foot in readiness. As she settled in the saddle she felt the horse fretting beneath her and leaned forward to pat his neck. This calmed him, but sensing his unease at an unfamiliar saddle and rider, she did not attempt to make him walk. She gave a reassuring smile to Rollo, who continued to hover alongside her. She thought this may be making Demon more nervous.

“If you want to mount Periklis and go on ahead, I will just stay awhile with Demon in the yard before moving on. I think he and I need to get to know each other a little better.”

Reluctantly Rollo moved away. She did seem to have the horse under control. Not by a fist of iron, but by gentle reassurance and a firm hand. He mounted Periklis and walked him slowly to the edge of the yard, then turned to wait for Diana.

She did not rush Demon. When she felt he had settled, she gently nudged his flank to encourage him to walk. He tossed his head at this, and Diana laughed. “Watch your manners,” she told him as she took a firmer grip on the reins to let him know she would not stand any nonsense. Demon at this point must have decided that Diana was someone to trust because he walked toward Periklis as requested. Diana smiled as the beautiful animal responded to her prompts and smiled at Rollo, too, who watched them, his schooled features showing none of the concern for her safety that he was feeling.

“Are you ready to go?” the earl asked. “I can show you around some of the estate before we need to head back inside for lunch.”

“I would love that,” replied Diana. “Can we take it slowly at first? Demon and I need to get to know each other a little better.”

“Excellent idea,” Rollo responded, still unsure as to how he had allowed this situation to happen. He would have to keep a close eye on her, because he did not trust Demon.

After staying at walking pace for about ten minutes, Diana turned to Rollo and asked if she could try a trot. At his nod she urged Demon on, and as he responded so well, she progressed to a canter, then a gallop. Rollo, following, could not fail to admire the way she rode. Her hair flowing down her back was, from a distance, such a perfect match to the colour of the horse that at times it was difficult to see where the lady stopped and the horse began. She took his breath away. He mentally shook off these fanciful thoughts as he drew alongside her when she returned Demon to a walk.

“I am impressed,” he told her. “You handle Demon well. He likes you, but are you sure you want to ride him on the picnic tomorrow?”

Diana was in no doubt. “Oh, I would very much like to ride him tomorrow. He has been a perfect gentleman today and I think he would be most upset if I did not choose him to take me to the picnic.”

“Very well,” said Rollo, vowing that he would not let her out of his sight while ever she was atop that horse.

The morning sun was already warm as the stable hands walked the horses into the yard for mounting. Diana saw that Demon was being held at some distance from the others and went over to speak to the lad holding him.

“Just keep him here until the others have set off, then you can help me to mount him. I will quickly catch up with the group once he has settled,” she instructed, aware that all the activity was making the horse nervous. She stood by and reassured the animal as she watched the others leave.

Rollo made sure all the ladies were safely mounted before turning to look for Diana. Seeing her standing apart from the others, he wondered if she was having second thoughts about riding Demon. He hoped so. He strolled over to her side.

“Would you prefer to ride Misty this morning?” he offered. “Demon is looking quite skittish.”

“Certainly not,” replied Diana, affronted by this suggestion. “He is just a bit nervous because of all the people and other horses, so please go ahead. I will follow at a safe distance until he settles.”

There was not a chance on earth that Rollo would let any lady, let alone Miss Wells, to whom he felt a certain responsibility, ride unaccompanied away from the main party. “I will ride with you. Periklis will not be disturbed by Demon’s high spirits, and I will keep enough distance between us so as not to spook him.”

When the main group were disappearing into the distance, Diana mounted. She walked Demon slowly out of the yard and he behaved beautifully. She could not see the earl but could hear the hoof beats of his horse not far behind her and felt reassured. When she was confident that Demon was calm, she drew him to a halt and allowed Periklis to catch up.

The smile she bestowed on Rollo as his horse moved alongside hers made him think, not for the first time, that she deserved so much better than the treatment she had received from Cotson. She was a lovely unaffected young woman whose sunny smile and soft brown eyes would warm even the coldest of hearts. Although they would never melt ice, he firmly reminded himself.

Together they trotted their horses forward until they were just behind the main party and began the ascent to the summit of Sparton Top. Once there, everyone dismounted, the ladies assisted by stable lads. Maids and footmen had already laid out cushions and blankets on the grass for seating and were unpacking enormous wicker hampers full of food and drink. A young lad came forward to take their horses.

“Please tether Demon over there,” Diana said, pointing to a tree somewhat apart from where the other horses stood happily munching grass.

“Very wise,” Rollo complimented her. He continued to be impressed by her intuitive knowledge of what was best for her mount.

Diana went to sit next to Caroline, and Rollo, although somewhat reluctant to leave her company, wandered off to make sure all was in order and his guests were comfortable.

“Do you think the Earl of Ice ever enjoys himself?” Caroline whispered to Diana. “He always looks so stern; I find him most unnerving.”

“You are too harsh,” Diana replied quietly. “He has been most thoughtful in recognizing our wish to leave London. I think it was very kind of him to allow my father to move forward his business trip and invite all of us to stay, as well.”

“Yes, but…do you think he is ever happy?” persisted Caroline.

“I am sure he is sometimes happy, but doesn’t choose to show it,” defended Diana. It was too sad to think that this may not be the case. That indeed he was never happy.

The food was plentiful and when everyone had eaten their fill of the pasties, chicken pieces, chunks of fresh bread and tempting little cakes, Diana and Caroline wandered to the edge of the hilltop to admire the view.

Diana’s father was engrossed in conversation, doubtless about horses, with Oliver and Rollo. Her mother and her aunt remained seated, claiming fatigue. As the cousins gazed out at the rolling Hampshire countryside, Diana found her eyes constantly straying to where Rollo’s tall black-clad figure lounged against a tree. She couldn’t hear their conversation, but she could tell that Rollo seemed to be expressing some exciting information, so expressive were his hand gestures. As she returned her gaze to the countryside, she thought about his hands. Even though they were strongly masculine, she’d seen those long artistic fingers with their neatly clipped nails, noticed the little tufts of hair on the backs of his wrists peeping out below the edge of his cuffs. Idly she began to wonder if the hair was also on his chest. She blushed at the thought. What nonsense! What was she thinking?

Looking at the fields with ripening golden corn rippling in the wind, Diana had an overwhelming feeling of homesickness. “I long to return home and put behind me all that happened in London,” she told Caroline.

“Mama was saying we are to depart for home on Monday and we will be back in Yorkshire before the end of the week,” Caroline informed her.

“I hope you have the right of it,” replied Diana. They had been made most welcome at Brockwood Hall, but she now just wanted to be home.

It was midafternoon before everyone was ready to return to the house. Diana again planned to let the other riders go on ahead before she mounted Demon. He would be full of energy having had a rest and plenty of fresh grass to eat. She wandered over to where the horse was tied up and to her surprise found the Earl of Ice leaning against the tree waiting for her. She smiled, pleased to have his company for the return journey.

“I have let the stable lads go ahead so they can help the others dismount and take care of the horses when they arrive back,” Rollo explained as he cupped his hands together to assist Diana to mount.

Diana swung deftly onto the saddle, unknowingly allowing Rollo a glimpse of her slender ankles.
I really shouldn’t be looking at the girl’s legs,
thought Rollo, slightly unsettled at the effect the well-shaped ankle had on him.

By the time Rollo had mounted Periklis, the rest of the party were a small speck in the distance.

Diana, feeling lighter-hearted than she had for days, threw down a challenge. “What do you say we race to see who can get back to the house first?” She knew that she stood little chance of winning, but felt that Demon would give Periklis a good run for his money.

Rollo was about to refuse, fearing for her safety, but could not resist the sparkle of excitement in her eyes. “Very well,” he said, although he intended to keep Periklis to a very steady pace so Diana would not have to be reckless to keep up with him.

In a trice Diana was flying past him, her long hair flowing out from under her hat.
Drat the girl.
He had to give Periklis his head in order to make up the ground between them and it was some time before he drew alongside her not far from the stables. She laughed good naturedly as she waved him past acknowledging he had won, and they both slowed to a trot.

“You took your time,” teased Diana. “I wondered if you’d had a fall.”

“And I wondered if you had lost your senses, careering off at such a breakneck speed,” growled Rollo, who, for a brief moment, had been so worried about her safety that his stomach had knotted in fear. He was very impressed with her horsemanship, but was not going to admit it to this little minx. It was a good thing that his guests were to leave soon, because he was in danger of this young lady penetrating his cold facade; she appeared to see right through it. Or at the very least was not in the least dissuaded by it. Nevertheless, she was his guest and he would try to make her last couple of days at Brockwood Hall enjoyable. If he had a sudden pang at the thought of her leaving his home soon, he ruthlessly squashed it.

It was obvious to him that she had very much enjoyed the ride today. She even seemed reluctant for it to end and was slow to dismount when they walked into the stable yard. He had enjoyed her company and impulsively offered, “I ride Periklis most mornings and wondered if tomorrow you would consider joining me to give Demon some exercise. Perhaps we could run a few errands in the village. The other ladies would be welcome to join us, and Parton Village boasts some interesting shops and a small tea room.”

Diana’s heart leapt at the thought. “I would like that very much,” was her swift reply. She was glad to be offered another opportunity to ride Demon, and she also couldn’t deny the feeling of pleasure that shot through her at the thought of spending another day riding with Rollo.

When the proposed outing was discussed with the others over dinner that evening, it seemed that they had already arranged to ride to the Needlepoint Folly with Oliver and Lady Brockwood the next day. Diana was disappointed, for she saw the opportunity to spend more time with Rollo disappearing. She was further disappointed when all agreed that she must select a more biddable mount should she wish to accompany them to the folly.

Diana, however, did not want to be in Oliver’s company, especially without the earl present, all day; it was irrational, perhaps, but he still made her uneasy and anxious even though he had never behaved in any untoward manner toward her. She also did not care to ride out if she couldn’t ride Demon; having to concentrate on handling the spirited horse gave her no time to dwell on her current situation. “I think I will remain at the Hall and continue with the book I am reading. You all please go. I will enjoy a quiet day.”

Rollo was disappointed; he had hoped that Diana, having enjoyed the outing to Spartan Top, may now be more willing to take part in other activities, but she appeared to have withdrawn again.

Fortunately for Diana, her father, who was seldom perceptive in such situations, realized that his daughter was unhappy with the plans for the next day. He therefore offered what he hoped was a solution.

He turned to Rollo. “Brockwood,” he said, “I would not mind a ride out on the stallion Hermes, whom I am contemplating purchasing from you. Perhaps I could accompany you in the morning and by doing so allow Diana to join us and ride Demon, as was your original proposal.” Viscount Westbury was rewarded by a grateful smile from his daughter and a nod from his wife, indicating she approved of his suggestion. It was rare such praise was bestowed on him and he smiled back across the table benevolently.

Rollo thought this a brilliant solution, too, and it would ensure that Diana enjoyed some time outside in the fresh air. He tried to ignore the niggling thought that his pleasure with this plan stemmed from the fact that he would be in Diana’s company. “Excellent plan. I intend to set off immediately after breakfast, as I have to attend a short meeting with the postmaster, so if this suits you both, then I would welcome your company.”

“Papa, perhaps we can visit the teashop whilst Lord Brockwood attends to his business,” Diana suggested, knowing her father’s weakness for tea and cakes.

“Excellent plan,” said Rollo again, glad that arrangements now appeared to be place. “When we have finished our chores in the village, we can ride up to the folly and join the rest of you at your picnic.”

Viscount Westbury had no desire to picnic, but sensibly refrained from mentioning this. He would extricate himself from that part of the outing tomorrow.