The Marriage Market Read online

  “But how did it happen?” she asked. “How was Mr. Timothy House hurt? Who shot him?”

  “I did,” James said, looking at her with a grim expression. “It was an accident, of course. I had been following a hare through the trees when it disappeared into the undergrowth. I lost track of it for a moment, but then I saw some tall grasses trembling in the right direction, so I fired into them. Next thing I knew, Timothy House was writhing on the ground and shouting. I tried to stop the bleeding with my handkerchief, but then the others caught up and Miss House made a tourniquet with a strip from her underskirt. We were just bringing him here so that he could be taken home in the wagon.”

  “But what was Mr. Timothy House doing in the undergrowth?” Victoria asked with a puzzled frown.

  James’ face reddened and David said, “He was not alone, Victoria,” waggling his eyebrows at her.

  “Oh,” she said, sitting down abruptly on the ground beside Margaret.

  “Yes,” said Margaret, chewing her sandwich, “it’s just what you think. Still, this would never have happened if the lazy good-for-nothing had gotten out of bed and come downstairs to meet you this morning. Apparently, he had a rendezvous planned for this afternoon. Maybe this will teach him a lesson.”

  “I doubt it,” her brother said, “but let’s not let Tim’s little accident spoil the remainder of our day, shall we? It’s a beautiful afternoon and there’s still a pretty stroll ahead of us. Tim should be sorted out by the time we get back to the house. So, who wants some of this excellent lager?” He looked at David and James in turn, who shrugged and helped themselves to jars. Victoria selected a sandwich for herself and joined the others on the grass, where they were soon talking of more pleasant matters.

  Chapter Thirteen – A Disagreement

  It was late in the evening on the same day. The gentlemen had lingered over port and cigars in the dining room, and the ladies had retired to bed. David decided to take a turn along the front drive before turning in, and James offered to accompany him. The night air was chilly and tendrils of fog drifted over the lawn.

  “Well, James, you certainly had an exciting day,” David said. “If you don’t mind my asking, how goes it between you and Miss House? Has shooting her brother had a negative effect upon your friendship?” He grinned, and puffed upon his cigar.

  James smiled back ruefully. “Oddly enough, it seems to have had the opposite effect, old man. Shooting her brother seems to have given me a certain panache in Miss House’s eyes.”

  “That is strange, but then Miss House is an unusual woman. What do you think of her, by the way?”

  “She’s intriguing. I’ve never met anyone like her. Certainly she is well-bred and conducts herself conventionally most of the time, but sometimes she takes me by surprise. She was rather indelicate this afternoon when she made that comment about jealous husbands and fathers shooting her brother. I was surprised that she referred to such things in mixed company. Miss House has, shall we say, an ‘earthy’ quality. Her voracious appetites for riding and dancing, her sense of humour, and her independence are all unusual in a woman. I believe that she does not care a fig for social convention if it interferes with her enjoyments.”

  “She is certainly independent. I suppose that her wealth and beauty, as well as her father’s influence in her upbringing, have made her different from the rest of her sex. But does she seem like a potential wife?”

  His friend groaned. “Really, David, first your wife and now you? For pity’s sake, I have only known the woman a few weeks. Yes, I admit that she has a definite allure, but is that not usually the case with women until you discover something ghastly about them? Besides, I am not so quick to be ‘out of the fire and into the frying pan’ after your wife’s last matchmaking attempt.” David laughed heartily, and James relaxed. “Give it some time, my friend, and we’ll see what develops. And convey that message to Victoria, if you will. No more plotting! I’ll find my own wife, if you please. Meanwhile, this visit to the country has proven unusually diverting – so far.”

  The gentlemen re-entered the house and ambled down the candle-lit hallway. David said, “Well, at least she does not bore you, James. For you, I think ‘boring’ is the worst fault a woman can have.”

  James glanced sidelong at David. “You may be right about that. I can forgive a woman for being shrewish, unfaithful, slovenly, or a multitude of other sins, but heaven help her if she is boring.”

  “Chacun à son gout,” David responded as they climbed the staircase to the second floor and made their separate ways to bed. David cracked opened the door to his chamber and crept into the room. Victoria was sitting up in bed, however, with a candle lit on her bedside table. “David?” she whispered, peering into the shadows.

  “Yes, my love. You’re still awake?”

  “Oh, thank goodness,” she said, holding out her hands to him. He took them and sat down on the bed beside her.

  “What’s wrong, Victoria? You’re trembling,” he said.

  “Oh, it’s really nothing, David. Only, Mr. House knocked at the door a few minutes ago to 'inquire after my comfort,' as he put it. I called back that all was well and bid him good night. When I heard the door opening so softly just now, I was afraid . . . . I wanted to be certain that it was you, that’s all.”

  “Blast the old goat! I should have come upstairs with you when you retired. Here, lie down and let me cover you up. You're cold.” He drew the bedclothes up over her shoulders and lay down beside her, enfolding her in his arms. “I’m sorry you had a fright, darling. Better now?”

  “I‘m fine, really David, just a little unsettled. I’m sure he meant nothing by it.”

  David kissed her cheek. “Bless you, I don’t believe that for a second. The gossip is that House gave his first wife a difficult time with his philandering, but I thought that middle age and a pretty, young second wife would have settled him down.” He gazed at his own lovely young wife. “If you are uncomfortable staying here, we can make an excuse and go home in the morning.”

  “Oh no, David, let’s not exaggerate the incident. No harm has been done, and I do wish to show James our support by staying. But perhaps we should retire at the same time for the rest of our stay.”

  “Certainly, my dear. And I shall guard you more closely while we are here,” he replied, getting up to lock the door.

  The next morning, the guests gathered for breakfast in the dining room with Margaret presiding at the table. Mr. House had already departed on business, and Mrs. House was having a tray in her room, as was her custom.

  “How is your brother this morning, Miss House?” Victoria inquired.

  “He is better, thank you. The surgeon instructed him to stay in bed, so of course he is taking advantage of it to be waited on hand and foot. But it is a clean wound and Tim has not lost much blood, so there is nothing to fear. Now, what shall we do today? Shall we begin with riding?”

  “I would be happy to accompany you, Miss House,” James said, “if you think the rain will hold off. The clouds are thick, and the wind is picking up.”

  “We must not let a little rain thwart us, Mr. Wovington. Beside, since Ralph has not deigned to get up yet, you may ride Fireball. Mrs. Ladbrook, perhaps you would like to try Miss Suzy and a little jumping this morning?”

  Victoria turned to her husband with a slight frown. “Do you think I am ready, David?”

  “Now Mrs. Ladbrook, I have told you that no horse is safer for beginners than Miss Suzy,” Margaret said. “If you are going to be the mistress of a country estate, you must be a horsewoman or people will not respect you. Have no fear, I would trust Miss Suzy with a child. A strong young woman like you will have no trouble at all.”

  “If you think so, Miss House, I will try,” Victoria replied with a small smile.

  “Marvellous. Let us make our preparations and meet at the front door in a quarter of an hour.”

  A little while later, the ladies and gentlemen were waiting outside the stable for
their horses to be saddled. Victoria’s Miss Suzy was led out first, and David helped his wife into the saddle. Margaret greeted Dancer as the groom led him out.

  “Let me give you a hand up, Miss House,” James said.

  Margaret smiled at him and gripped the pommel in readiness. Grasping her around the waist, James lifted her into the saddle. She arranged her skirts over the horse’s back while the stable boy brought out a large grey mare with a white blaze on her face for David.

  “I had them saddle Queenie for you, Mr. Ladbrook. We’ve had her for three years now. She’s very steady, but she can give you some speed when you ask for it. She’s good with Miss Suzy, too.”

  “Thank you. She is a fine animal,” David replied. He stroked the horse’s neck and murmured into her ear before climbing into the saddle.

  There was a clatter of hooves on the cobblestones, and two groomsmen appeared leading a prancing Fireball between them. The stallion began to rush forward when he spotted the other horses.

  “Whoa there, boy,” soothed one of the groomsmen, dragging the animal to a halt. Margaret’s Dancer sidled away nervously, but the two mares held their ground. Fireball was pawing the stones as James approached him.

  “Hey there, Fireball,” he said, offering the animal a lump of sugar. Fireball gobbled it up, whinnied, and shook his head. “Enjoyed that, did you,” James said, grasping the reins and swinging himself up into the saddle. The groomsmen stepped back and James turned the horse into the lane. Fireball skittered ahead of the others, kicking up his heels in little spurts. Margaret trotted after James.

  “Perhaps Mr. Wovington and I should start at a more vigorous pace to give the horses some extra exercise, Mr. Ladbrook,” she called over her shoulder. “We’ll come back for you and Mrs. Ladbrook later.”

  “Excellent idea,” David shouted as she broke into a gallop. David and Victoria watched as Dancer caught Fireball and went past him headed for the meadow. As Dancer passed, Fireball reared and took off after the gelding at a gallop.

  “Oh David, do you think that James can handle Fireball?” Victoria asked. Her hand caught at her throat as she watched James dash past Margaret and thunder across the field headed straight for the woods.

  “James has managed any horse I’ve ever seen him on, but that animal is a devil and James does not ride as regularly as he should. Let’s follow them and see how he’s doing.”

  “Wait for me!” Victoria called as David pushed his mare into a canter.

  James was using all his skill to control Fireball as they cannoned toward a hedge. “Give him his head, Mr. Wovington!” Margaret shouted from behind him. Fireball gathered himself and cleared the hedge easily with Margaret following right behind them.

  “Don’t fight him. Let him run hard for a while until he is calmer,” she called, galloping beside him.

  James gritted his teeth and muttered, “Come on, you beast, let’s see what you've got.” He drove his heels into Fireball’s flanks. The animal spurted forward and James leant in close to his neck. Margaret and Dancer were left behind as the trees blurred past him. A log lay across the path and Fireball cleared it without even breaking stride. They pounded down the path through the woods and broke out of the trees into the clearing. James guided the animal along the field’s eastern perimeter and made a circuit of the space. Fireball was calmer by the time Margaret and Dancer caught up with them.

  “Well done, Mr. Wovington,” she said, her breathing rapid. “What a glorious run. Let’s slow down and give them a bit of a rest, shall we?” James nodded and they pulled their horses into a walk, James puffing from the exertion.

  “He really is a magnificent animal, isn’t he?” Margaret gushed. “Isn’t it exhilarating to feel all that power beneath you? Fireball is fearless. He will jump anything, if you give him his head. The trick is to trust him and not get in his way.”

  James responded, “I prefer to be in control of my mount, Miss House, not just sit back and let him take me for a ride.”

  The young lady laughed. “Ralph has been battling that horse for months, trying to show him who the master is. I do not think that he has convinced Fireball of his supremacy yet.”

  James looked sideways at her. “Perhaps it is time someone taught this animal some obedience, then.”

  “Nonsense, Mr. Wovington. It’s criminal to break a horse’s spirit. It will lose its fire, its sheer joy in running, if you do. It’s so much more gratifying when horse and rider work as equal partners. Granted, not everyone can ride Fireball. Only those skilful enough to guide such a primal spirit merit a seat upon his back.”

  “I disagree with you, Miss House,” James said with a frown. “In the relationship between horse and rider, the horse must be obedient to the rider’s will. The horse may have superior strength, but he is just a brute with no intelligence, after all. That’s why the horse wears a bit.”

  “Well, Mr. Wovington, perhaps Fireball will change your mind.”

  James nodded and said nothing more. They rode side-by-side back to the woods in silence. The wind had risen, catching at their clothes, and the trees creaked and swayed over their heads. Now and then a drop of rain splashed upon their faces, and Margaret lifted her head into the wind and smiled. “It’s a grand day,” she said, looking at James.

  James, who had been worrying about his hat blowing off, considered her. “You like riding in the rain?” he asked.

  “Yes. It’s so exciting, isn’t it? It makes me feel like King Lear, pitting myself against the elements. Man and horse, all one with nature. Don’t you agree? James was spared answering by Victoria and David's arrival.

  “Here they are, safe and sound, Victoria,” David said, trotting forward to meet them. “How was your ride, James?”

  “Exhilarating,” Margaret said, pulling her horse to a stop. “Mr. Wovington did very well with Fireball. Dancer and I had to run full-out to catch them.” David and Victoria noticed James’ frown and did not comment. “Well, Mrs. Ladbrook, are you ready for your lesson? There is a log a little way ahead that would make an excellent first jump for you.”

  Victoria agreed to try, and the group rode up the path, Margaret and James hanging back while David rode up to the log. David said, “I’ll jump first, Victoria. You watch, and then give it a try. Remember what I told you about jumping. Lean forward in the saddle and hold onto Miss Suzy’s mane as you go over. Are you ready?”

  Victoria nodded with a determined look upon her face. David cantered toward the log, and Queenie cleared it easily. Riding ahead a little way, he pulled his horse off the path, turned, and waved at Victoria to come ahead. Victoria set her jaw, urged Miss Suzy forward, and let the animal have its head. The steady little horse jumped the log without any trouble at all, trotting toward David and Queenie.

  “I did it, David, I did it!” Victoria exclaimed, bouncing gleefully in the saddle. “It was not hard at all. Aren’t you proud of me?”

  “Yes, very,” David replied, laughing at his wife’s excitement. “Would you like to jump again?”

  “Yes, indeed.” She turned Miss Suzy around and followed David back over the log.

  Margaret applauded Victoria’s success as James tried to quiet Fireball. The stallion was dancing sideway in vexation at being kept from the other horses. “You have a natural talent for jumping, Mrs. Ladbrook,” Margaret declared.

  “Miss Suzy makes it easy. You were so right about her, Miss House.” Victoria leant over and patted the mare’s neck. “You are a wonderful old girl, aren’t you, Miss Suzy?”

  “Shall we ride back to the stable now?” Margaret inquired. “It looks like the weather is about to break, and I know that my step-mother will fuss if we come back wet.” Not waiting for a reply, she and Dancer turned and trotted back down the path.

  “Oh, let’s have a couple more jumps first, David,” Victoria exclaimed.

  “Certainly. Sorry, James, we’ll just be a minute,” David replied.

  “Easy, now,” James said, reigning in Fireball a
s the animal tried to push his way between David and Victoria’s horses.

  “I’ll ride up ahead and wait for you there, Victoria,” David said, giving Fireball some room. He sailed over the log and slowed Queenie to a walk.

  That was too much for Fireball, who was in a frenzy of impatience at being held back from the fun. He lowered his head and bucked across the ground, colliding head first with Miss Suzy. Victoria shrieked and grabbed Miss Suzy’s mane. David heard Victoria’s cry and turned to see what was happening.

  Now, Miss Suzy was the gentlest of horses with her riders, but she would not tolerate aggression from other animals. She spun and kicked the stallion hard in the flank. Fireball screamed and reared, his front legs flailing at Victoria and her mount.

  James fought to prevent his horse from harming Victoria. As the stallion flailed at Miss Suzy, James jerked Fireball’s head to the left and kicked him in the ribs. Fireball started to lose his balance, corrected himself, and jumped in a half circle. Facing up the path away from Victoria, James pulled out his crop and whipped the animal’s side. Fireball leapt forward and galloped blindly back through the woods, James lashing the horse and cursing as they broke free of the trees and thundered into the clearing.

  Just as they emerged, the rain came teeming down. Too furious to give a damn about slipping on the wet grass, James rode the horse hard, thrashing him whenever Fireball began to slow. They splashed past David, Victoria, and Margaret, Fireball’s hooves spraying rain and mud at them. Margaret shouted something as they sped by, but James ignored her. Fireball was lathering with exertion and breathing hard, but still James forced him onward, determined to teach the horse a lesson. Suddenly, Margaret cut across the field, galloping her horse hard to intercept them.

  “Stop it, you fool! Stop it!” she shouted. She thrust Dancer into their path, risking a collision. James cut a sharp turn and steered Fireball to the centre of the field. He reined the stallion in and slowed to a stop, waiting for Miss House to catch up with him.