"No, she got tired before we had been out an hour, and we came back. I have been giving Mama a hand with the arrangements for tonight's party. The baroness said she was going to join you two in the garden."
Laura felt the gravest misgivings. "We haven't seen her since lunch. Is her mount in the stable?"
"It must be. We left them there more than an hour ago," Talman replied.
"That's plenty of time for her to have shabbed off again," Hyatt said. "Let us have a look."
The three of them darted to the stable, to learn that the baroness had returned not ten minutes after returning with Talman and gone out again.
"Did you send a groom with her?" Talman demanded, for he wanted to blame someone for the situation.
The groom shook his head. "She said she was just hacking about the park. She didn't want an escort."
"You shouldn't have let her go alone."
"She was very insistent, milord. Shall I send someone to look for her?"
"I'll go myself," Talman said through clenched teeth. He cast an accusing eye on Laura and added, "How very strange. The baroness has a broad streak of independence, has she not?"
"You must not worry, Lord Talman," Laura said, to appease him. "The baroness is an excellent rider, and she would not have left your property."
"It is not Miss Harwood's fault," Hyatt said, rather angrily.
"We'll help you look," Laura said.
"No need for you to trouble yourself, Laura," Hyatt said.
Talman called for his mount, Hyatt for another, and they went galloping off. As Laura was wearing a light muslin gown, she could not join them, but she set off through the park at a swift pace on foot, knowing it was a vain effort. She felt that if she did not walk off her temper, she would strike Olivia when she was eventually brought home.
At the bridge, the baroness had long since tethered Briar and stood hand in hand with Yarrow, gazing down into the water.
"The visit has been horrid," she pouted. "And when I go back, they'll ring a peal over me. Talman has no notion of entertaining guests. He made them tour his stupid old house all morning. But tonight he is having a rout," she said, cheering at the prospect.
"Daresay the old goat plans to make an offer."
"He will be a duke one day," she said, to incite Yarrow to jealousy. "He's ever so rich, with half a dozen estates."
"You have your own title. You don't have to marry to gain a handle. As to six estates-why, a man can only live in one house at a time. Nothing but a nuisance, having to run six houses for your poor relations to batten themselves in."
"How large is your estate, John?" she asked.
"I'll come into an abbey when my old Uncle Charlie sticks his fork in the wall. How big is your place?" He knew the baroness was a great heiress but had not yet determined the exact extent of her holdings.
She adopted her moue and said, "You sound as if that's all you're interested in."
"By the living jingo! That's not true. You asked me first. I am in love with you. I have been wanting to kiss you ever since I first spotted you, dancing in your bare feet in that park. Just like something out of an old Greek fairy tale. Phoebe, or Diana, or one of those nymphs."
"You never did kiss me," she said encouragingly.
Yarrow felt he had been too slow, and he grabbed her into his arms for a violent embrace. Despite her waywardness, Olivia had never been kissed by a man before. She had pictured a more civilized attack. A little sweet talk first, then a kiss on the fingers. She was frightened and pushed Yarrow away.
Deuce take it, she had as well as asked him to kiss her, he thought. He held more tightly and pushed his lips against hers, while she wriggled to free herself.
That was how Talman found them: Yarrow forcing his attentions on the struggling baroness. Talman let out a holler and came galloping forward, ventre a terre. He dismounted, grabbed Yarrow by the collar, and kicked him into the river. Yarrow landed on his back and lay, spluttering and cursing. Seeing he was only a boy, Talman did not feel obliged to challenge him to a duel but satisfied himself with a few rough words.
"If I ever see your sniveling face on my property again, I'll set the hounds on you. Now be off. Come along, Baroness."
Olivia looked from one to the other. She had felt strange stirrings of excitement when John kissed her, but really he did not look at all attractive, all soaking wet and spluttering as he dragged himself from the water. Talman looked much more handsome. And besides, she was deeply embarrassed.
"Let us go home at once," she said, glaring at Yarrow.
She mounted and went docilely along. If Talman had been the least bit sympathetic, he might have won a bride that day. He was now convinced, however, that the baroness was not the bride for him. A hussy!
"It was unwise of you to venture into the woods alone," he snipped. "You said you were too tired to continue our ride."
"I suddenly felt much better. We can continue our ride now, if you like."
"It will be best if I turn you over to your aunt."
"You won't tell her, Lord Talman!"
"Certainly I shall. I shall also advise that she keep a closer watch on you. If you are determined to make a cake of yourself, Baroness, you might at least have the courtesy not to do it while under my father's roof."
There was no hope of dissuading him. Olivia had suspected from the beginning that he was one of those stiff gentlemen. This being the case, she didn't bother trying, but thought about John instead and how it had felt when he held her tightly against his hard chest. He was a real man, and he kissed like a man. Talman, she felt, would not be so delightfully savage. Her daydreams had been sadly dull, compared to the reality of lovemaking.
Lord Talman sent her upstairs and went at once to report to Mrs. Traemore. A guest, Mrs. Campbell, seeing his angry stride, hovered outside the drawing room to admire a marble statue of Apollo. Talman was too upset to close the door properly, thus allowing Mrs. Campbell to hear every word that passed, and even to see the duchess's face.
Mrs. Traemore and Mrs. Harwood sat with the duchess, looking at old drawings of Castlefield. They were all three bored to flinders and welcomed the intrusion, until they heard its cause. Mrs. Traemore and Mrs. Harwood went upstairs at once to chastise Olivia. Unfortunately for Mrs. Campbell, they closed the door behind them, but the eavesdropper had heard enough to be assured of a sensation when she purveyed her gleanings.
"I was never so taken in in my life," Talman said to his mother. "I thought her unspoiled, natural. She is a hussy to the tip of her toes. I regret that she is to spend two more days with us."
His mama shook her head at his stupidity. "Don't be such a gudgeon, son. Do you forget you have two younger brothers who are on the catch for a monied bride? Either Rodney or Rufus would snap at her. Pity they ain't here this weekend. I'll send them to London next week. You must keep up a show of friendship with that saucy piece and let them have a go at the tin mine."
"I would not wish her on either of them," he felt obliged to say, although he soon realized his error. "Rufus is not at all nice in his demands for a bride. Such a baggage as the baroness would suit him excellently.”
"I rather think Rodney…”
He looked surprised. "Rodney? Surely Rufus-"
"Either one. Now send a note up to the baroness, asking how she is feeling. Ask her for a dance this evening. Not the opening minuet, mind. That will raise expectations. The aunt is quite conversable. shouldn't mind having her for a connection. My sawbones is coming to have a look at her back."
The baroness received Talman's note with ill-concealed glee. She enjoyed showing it to her aunt and Mrs. Harwood, after they had cut up so rusty. Most of all she enjoyed showing it to Laura, who thought she was so perfect. Laura had spotted Talman and the baroness from the park and dashed to the house to hear the story.