"I apologize, but I've just remembered that I need to attend to something," Victor said. "Tell me the rest of your story at dinner."
Talbot gave a good-natured smile, and Victor slipped away. He waited a few minutes before following Lady Juliet so that no one would notice they'd gone to the same place. But when he reached the stables, he didn't see her. A groomsman greeted Victor and asked if he wanted to ride.
"Perhaps I will ride," Victor said, walking by the stalls to find his pair of bays. One was missing.
He turned to face the groomsman. "Do you know where the other bay is?"
The man paled. "Lady Juliet took it. I hope that is all right."
"Without a riding habit?"
Now the groomsman flushed. "I didn't think it was my place to remind her."
"It's no trouble," Victor said in a casual tone. "Can you saddle up the other bay?"
"Of course, my lord." The groomsman set to work.
Moments later, Victor was riding out into the countryside, leaving his cane behind. His ankle was much better now, but riding a horse for the first time since his injury made him a bit nervous. Instead of thinking how he'd been thrown just a couple of months ago, he focused on how the setting sun had transformed the green of the countryside into a gold orange. The sky's blue had deepened in color, reminding him of the lady he was currently following after. While the heat of the day had faded, there was still plenty of warmth, so Victor appreciated the breeze.
As he rode, he found a path that led through a hedge connecting the estate to what had to be Lord Stratford's place. Victor had met him earlier in the day, and there was no doubt the man had designs on Lady Juliet. She had cited only their age differences in why she wouldn't marry him, but it was clear she wasn't comfortable around him. Victor had plainly seen the man ogling Lady Juliet.
But Victor was willing to count Stratford's proposal as one toward the end goal of three. And with Talbot's interest, Victor had already pinned down two.
He should be pleased with this realization, but it only caused him to urge his bay on, toward the lane that wound past Stratford's place. Up ahead, he saw the form of Lady Juliet upon his other bay. She rode at a canter, and he'd catch up to her soon enough.
It was clear she wanted to be alone, so Victor didn't know how she'd react to seeing him. She disappeared for a moment as she rounded a bend, but when Victor arrived at the same spot, she was even closer. She'd slowed the horse to a walk and removed her hat, and it hung by its ribbons around her neck. She, too, must be enjoying the late afternoon breeze.
Victor slowed his horse as well, since reins were meaningless at this point because the two bays knew each other so well. In fact, he was surprised it took Lady Juliet so long to notice his presence. And when she finally turned, Victor was gratified to see not surprise, but a welcoming smile.
"You've found me." Her voice was like a melody to his ears.
He returned her smile, and soon they rode side by side. "Ditching the party?"
She cast him a sideways glance, and he knew his heart shouldn't quicken, but it did. "I'm not used to conversing with this many people for so long. I can't believe how exhausting it can be."
He smirked. "Socializing is harder than it looks."
She turned her head fully to meet his gaze. With the setting sun splashing its warm colors about, her hair took on the appearance of spun gold, and he could very well imagine her as an artist's model for a storybook painting. He wanted to reach out and run his fingers through the tendrils of her hair to see if her hair felt as soft as it looked.
Instead, he had to settle for riding next to her and keeping his hands to himself. It was better that way; he was nearly an engaged man. "I've been wanting to speak with you since I arrived."
Her lips parted in surprise. "Have you?"
He didn't miss the teasing gleam in her eyes, and he grasped the reins of her horse and drew the bay right next to his so that her skirts brushed against his legs. "Has your brother been behaving himself?"
The amusement faded, and she looked at where his hands held the reins of her horse. "Define behaving."
This man had no business knowing Juliet's personal issues with her brother, yet, if there was anyone who would understand, it was Lord Locken. He had been the one to deliver John on that fateful night three weeks ago. Lord Locken was also the man who'd pulled off this house party. The more Juliet thought about the guest servants, the food, the gazebo renovation, and the new clothing that John sported, the more she knew her brother had made a deal with the devil. Either him or Lord Locken.
And now, she was mere inches away from him, albeit they were riding two bays, but the presence of only the horses, and no other people, made this encounter feel secluded.
"Lady Juliet, surely you must know I am deeply interested in your welfare," Lord Locken said in a low voice, one that filtered through her hesitation. He released the reins of her horse, and the two bays continued side by side along the lane.
"I think you have made that clear." She gave him a half smile. "My brother is behaving himself as far as no gambling. He drinks more than I'd like, and I've heard more than one argument at the door with a creditor. Mostly, he's been moping, although he took great interest in ordering new clothing. I'm not quite sure how he managed to pay for it all."
Lord Locken didn't respond, but Juliet knew he must have financed the new clothing for her brother. His brown eyes met hers with a steady gaze, and she wanted to lean closer, to be nearer to him.
Instead, she ignored how the setting sun splashed bronze throughout his dark hair and made his olive skin look golden. "How shall I ever thank you for your kindness to my family?"
"You could lose our wager," Lord Locken said, "and let me keep my horses."
She laughed, and he grinned back. "Are we still doing the wager?" she asked. "I wasn't sure."
"We most definitely are."
"There are some fine gentlemen on the north lawn," she said.
"Any of them catch your particular attention?" His amusement had fled, and now his gaze was intent on hers as they continued riding their horses at an ambling pace. Was that a mark of a man she could trust? Unlike her brother, who looked everywhere but her, Lord Locken almost challenged her to break her gaze first.
You are the one who's captured my attention, she almost said.
But there could never be anything between them. First of all, her brother was on the cusp of ruin, and even with her dowry, her family's reputation would be an embarrassment. She'd never meet Lord Locken's father's standards.
Besides, Lord Locken had made it clear he was going to propose to Lady Diana Allen. Juliet had no issues with the woman; Diana was a beautiful woman who would no doubt make the perfect duchess. If only Juliet could imagine the two of them together without getting an achy knot in her stomach. Soon, the house party would be over, and everyone would return to their lives. And hopefully by then, Juliet would have a proposal and could start her own future.
"You're doing a lot of thinking," Lord Locken said. "Perhaps there are too many choices in men here?"
"Don't be silly," she said.
"I can assure you," he drawled, "I am never silly." The amusement had returned.
That didn't make her feel more at ease, though. "Yes, there are very real possibilities for a husband at this house party. Although, I think I have a problem discerning flattery from sincerity."
One of his dark brows arched. "How so?"
"Well . . ." She smoothed back the hair from her forehead as the wind picked up. "It seems that compliments come quite naturally to gentlemen of the ton, so how am I to know that a compliment paid to me is not simply a compliment paid to all women?"
"Ah, I see." Lord Locken continued riding for a few more moments. "You are correct in understanding that most men of the ton will be generous in their compliments to other women of the ton. It is the way of polite society."
"To be insincere?"
"To be polite."
"Can that really be a reliable indicator of whether one should accept a marriage proposal?" she asked.
"Of course not," Lord Locken said. "There are plenty of other factors, such as temperaments, compatibility of families, common interests, and perhaps even romance."
Juliet raised her brows. "Do you have all of that with Lady Diana?"
Lord Locken shot a gaze in her direction. "Most."
"Which parts are missing?"
He maneuvered his bay so they were close enough again for him to grasp her reins. Which he did. And he again stopped both of their horses. "You ask a lot of questions," he said as he scanned her face.