Shock began to commingle with the concern on Jane’s face. She opened her mouth to speak, but her husband interjected first, with a sliver of steel in his voice, “I would advise you to watch your tone, Taviston.”
The two men eyed each other across the horses.
Miss Forster spoke up. “I am physically unharmed, and I believe my mental faculties will shortly return to normal, though that isn’t necessarily a blessing.” She smiled at the Northfields, obviously trying to lessen the sudden tension.
The muscles in Taviston’s jaw relaxed, as did Northfield’s.
Keeping the same note of friendliness in her voice, Miss Forster asked, “Jane, what happened to the gentle and sweet Daisy? Has she ever done something like this before?”
The marchioness exchanged a guilty look with her husband. There was puzzlement in her voice, though, as she said, “Well, yes, but...”
“We bought Daisy from a farmer near one of my estates. Jane insisted on rescuing her when we saw her being abused.” Northfield grimaced. “Once we brought her to our stables, the grooms soon realized cursing drove her mad, literally. It seems the despicable farmer would preface his ill-treatment with a string of curses, so when Daisy hears those words and tone, she fears violence is imminent. Needless to say, our grooms learned soon enough to watch their language around our Daisy.”
Jane still looked bewildered. “But, Edmund, that doesn’t explain this morning’s—”
“Perhaps you should guard your tongue better, miss,” Taviston admonished Victoria.
His words lit an instant fire in her pale blue eyes and she spoke in outrage. “Guard my tongue! What about your lying, arrogant, insulting—”
Taviston clapped a hand over her indignant mouth. Luckily the sparks lighting up her eyes didn’t incinerate him. He mused, “I do wonder what it was you were cursing.”
He would have continued to tease her, but she had the sudden inclination to bite his hand, apparently in an attempt to persuade him to remove it from her mouth. All she was able to manage, however, were little nips at his flesh.
Leaning closer, he whispered in her ear, “That isn’t having the affect you desired.”
Her eyes flew to his and she immediately ceased nipping at his hand and tried to take in a gulp of air. With his hand covering her mouth, she ended up descending into a fit of coughing. He released her and settled his hand on her thigh with enough pressure to keep her right up against him.
A blaze lingered in her eyes, but the fury had faded and was replaced by untried passion. Inwardly, Taviston mocked himself. He was such an idiot for encouraging their seemingly mutual, but entirely inappropriate, desire. Ah well, it was truly enjoyable, and they certainly weren’t harming anyone. It was all a matter of keeping this passion in check.
“Oh! Good gracious. Look at the time,” Jane said as she did just that with the gold watch pinned to her habit. “My sweet little Dominic will be howling for his next meal any minute now. And Edmund, darling, don’t you have an appointment with your banker at nine?” She gave her husband an innocently inquiring look, not fooling Taviston for a minute.
Northfield did not hesitate. “You are correct, my love. We had best go. Taviston, would you be a good chap and see Miss Forster home?”
&n
bsp; “No! I can see myself home. My footman is around here somewhere.”
“Oh, but Victoria, you’ve had the biggest fright. We would not feel right if you weren’t escorted home,” Jane said.
Taviston sighed so that Victoria could hear him, but inside he was in full agreement with his friends. He, too, needed the assurance of seeing her home. “We shall have to walk, I’m afraid, as it would be far too indecent for you to ride with me.”
She squirmed around in front of him, which only made him more aware of her than ever.
“Good day to you both, then,” called Northfield.
Jane smiled and waved as the couple rode off, leading poor Daisy.
Chapter Fourteen
Victoria kept her eyes on the retreating backs of the Northfields, not daring to move an inch. It was thrilling and yet frightening that Taviston obviously desired her. But they were alone now, and she was completely out of her depth with an overly stimulated male. Though intrigued, common sense had finally caught up with her and she decided to behave herself.
Within but a minute Taviston dismounted the horse and without warning grasped her around the waist and hauled her off the beast as well. As he quickly released her, Victoria hoped his common sense, which he seemed to possess in abundance, was also emerging.
Looking down at her skirts, she lifted up the hem. “My habit is torn,” she said dully as she eyed the jagged tear in the beautiful blue velvet.
“You are missing your hat as well.”
Her hands flew up to her head and she smoothed her hair down as best she could. She must looked a fright, although that didn’t appear to be fear in his grey eyes.