will remember I warned you about Lady Milicent. Spending time with her is rather like playing with a poisonous snake—provocative and entrancing, but deadly dangerous.”
Never during his acquaintance with Lady Milicent had Rudley considered her as a possible mate. Even though she was an enticing creature with many good attributes, she had two outstanding qualities that he knew would cause disharmony between them: she was exceedingly proud and she was excessively self-centered. She was always on her best behavior with him, yet he was shrewd enough to recognize that life with her would be stressful.
Unlike some of his friends, who viewed marriage as a necessary inconvenience, something to be pushed as far into their future as the pressures of family and society would allow, Rudley had always considered it a desirable state. His parents had shared a long and happy marriage, and his sense of family was strong.
As a young man Rudley had assumed he would marry and that his life would follow, more or less, the pattern set by his parents. He had entered into his early marriage with the blind enthusiasm of extreme youth, and when that union ended in disaster, he had accepted full responsibility. While not abandoning the idea of marriage, he had resolved to make his next choice with cool deliberation. His first wife he had chosen neither wisely nor well; if ever he married again he was determined to do better.
* * * *
When Lord Rudley and Mr. Seaton arrived in Berkeley Square two days later, they were informed that her ladyship and Miss Marie were out but Miss Harrington and Miss Stillwell were at home. The purpose of their visit was soon revealed and Charity, not unexpectedly, tried to refuse the invitation. However, with Katherine supporting Oliver in his entreaties, she finally yielded, and the following morning was set for a short excursion to Hyde Park.
The day proved fine, the gelding was everything Oliver had promised, and Charity actually enjoyed herself. Katherine was equally delighted with the bay mare Karma. As Oliver rode beside Charity, reining in his black gelding to match her horse’s plodding pace, Rudley and Katherine rode ahead.
She reached forward to run a gloved hand down her mare’s neck. “Lord Brent tells me that Karma is only a three year old, my lord. He also said you personally vouched for my ability to handle her.”
“You must not forget, Miss Stillwell, I have seen you with one of Rolly Beecham’s fiery thoroughbreds in hand. Believe me; I have no concern that you will spoil that filly.” It was unquestionably a compliment, but before she could respond he continued, “Were you at Beecham’s this year?”
“Yes. We had a wonderful time. But you were not there.”
“No. I had personal business that kept me in town.”
“You missed some excellent weather and many marvelous runs.”
“I don’t doubt it. But tell me, did Rolly have some unmanageable horse all picked out for you to gentle for him?”
She turned to regard him. “Why do you ask?”
“I was so impressed with the bay gelding you rode last year that I asked about him. Rolly told me that you were responsible for his fine performance that day.’’
She smiled, allowing him a glimpse of the easy humor he remembered. “He was being rather unpleasant with the stable lads,” she said, “but I was most anxious to try him. He tested the limits of my skill, though. He nearly threw me twice.”
“Rolly did not tell me that.”
“I did not tell him! I was afraid he would not let me ride Wizard, and I wanted to, desperately. He went splendidly!”
“He certainly did. And I will not soon forget your riding. I have seldom seen a better seat.”
She flushed with pleasure. “Why, thank you, my lord. Coming from such a noted horseman I consider that rare praise, indeed. The horse you hunted at Lord Beecham’s—he was impressive, too. What was his name?”
“Tortuga. He is a steadier horse than your Wizard and a bold
Never during his acquaintance with Lady Milicent had Rudley considered her as a possible mate. Even though she was an enticing creature with many good attributes, she had two outstanding qualities that he knew would cause disharmony between them: she was exceedingly proud and she was excessively self-centered. She was always on her best behavior with him, yet he was shrewd enough to recognize that life with her would be stressful.
Unlike some of his friends, who viewed marriage as a necessary inconvenience, something to be pushed as far into their future as the pressures of family and society would allow, Rudley had always considered it a desirable state. His parents had shared a long and happy marriage, and his sense of family was strong.
As a young man Rudley had assumed he would marry and that his life would follow, more or less, the pattern set by his parents. He had entered into his early marriage with the blind enthusiasm of extreme youth, and when that union ended in disaster, he had accepted full responsibility. While not abandoning the idea of marriage, he had resolved to make his next choice with cool deliberation. His first wife he had chosen neither wisely nor well; if ever he married again he was determined to do better.
* * * *
When Lord Rudley and Mr. Seaton arrived in Berkeley Square two days later, they were informed that her ladyship and Miss Marie were out but Miss Harrington and Miss Stillwell were at home. The purpose of their visit was soon revealed and Charity, not unexpectedly, tried to refuse the invitation. However, with Katherine supporting Oliver in his entreaties, she finally yielded, and the following morning was set for a short excursion to Hyde Park.
The day proved fine, the gelding was everything Oliver had promised, and Charity actually enjoyed herself. Katherine was equally delighted with the bay mare Karma. As Oliver rode beside Charity, reining in his black gelding to match her horse’s plodding pace, Rudley and Katherine rode ahead.
She reached forward to run a gloved hand down her mare’s neck. “Lord Brent tells me that Karma is only a three year old, my lord. He also said you personally vouched for my ability to handle her.”
“You must not forget, Miss Stillwell, I have seen you with one of Rolly Beecham’s fiery thoroughbreds in hand. Believe me; I have no concern that you will spoil that filly.” It was unquestionably a compliment, but before she could respond he continued, “Were you at Beecham’s this year?”
“Yes. We had a wonderful time. But you were not there.”
“No. I had personal business that kept me in town.”
“You missed some excellent weather and many marvelous runs.”
“I don’t doubt it. But tell me, did Rolly have some unmanageable horse all picked out for you to gentle for him?”
She turned to regard him. “Why do you ask?”
“I was so impressed with the bay gelding you rode last year that I asked about him. Rolly told me that you were responsible for his fine performance that day.’’
She smiled, allowing him a glimpse of the easy humor he remembered. “He was being rather unpleasant with the stable lads,” she said, “but I was most anxious to try him. He tested the limits of my skill, though. He nearly threw me twice.”
“Rolly did not tell me that.”
“I did not tell him! I was afraid he would not let me ride Wizard, and I wanted to, desperately. He went splendidly!”
“He certainly did. And I will not soon forget your riding. I have seldom seen a better seat.”
She flushed with pleasure. “Why, thank you, my lord. Coming from such a noted horseman I consider that rare praise, indeed. The horse you hunted at Lord Beecham’s—he was impressive, too. What was his name?”
“Tortuga. He is a steadier horse than your Wizard and a bold
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