Not Quite A Gentleman

Two

Today’s Modern Woman must recognize that once she asserts herself, she will face many temptations. Sometimes this temptation takes the form of a delectable gown, or a delicious confection, which, depending on her financial situation, she should perhaps resist. However, sometimes this temptation takes the form of a delectable, delicious gentleman, in which case she should never resist.

A Ladies’ Guide to the Pursuit of

Personal Happiness and Intimate Fulfillment

by Charles Brightmore

Nathan hammered another nail into place, banging on the small metal head with a satisfying thump.

“Pounding out your frustrations?” asked a deep voice from behind him.

Nathan tensed at his brother’s question. He then drew a deep breath and forced his shoulders to relax, wondering when, or if, the awkwardness between him and Colin would ever dissipate. After exhaling, he whacked the nail head with a final grunting stroke, then looked over his shoulder. Impeccably dressed in riding attire, immaculately groomed, and exuding the image of a perfect gentleman that Nathan had long ago given up emulating, his brother regarded him with his usual inscrutable expression.

Nathan turned and grabbed his rumpled, discarded shirt to wipe his damp forehead. The sun warmed his bare back, and he welcomed the cool, sea-scented breeze that brushed over his heated skin. “Pounding out my frustrations,” he repeated. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.”

“Based on the amount of hammering I’ve heard all morning, you must be frustrated indeed.” Colin jerked his chin toward Nathan’s handiwork. “Quite the animal pen you’re building.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, I arrived at the estate with quite a number of animals.”

“Would have been damned difficult not to notice, what with all the mooing, baaing, clucking, barking, meowing, quacking, oinking, and… what sort of noise does that goat make?”

“That goat has a name. It’s Petunia.”

Colin pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. “I find it nearly impossible to understand why you think it necessary to keep such a menagerie, and even more impossible to comprehend why you would bring it-them-all the way to Cornwall. But what I truly cannot fathom is why you would burden the unfortunate beast with a name like Petunia.”

“I didn’t name her. Mrs. Fitzharbinger, my patient who gave her to me, named her Petunia.”

“Well, clearly Mrs. Fitzharbinger possesses no sense of smell whatsoever because never in my life have I ever caught a whiff of anything that less resembled a flower than that filthy beast.”

“I’d mind my words if I were you, Colin. Petunia is sensitive to insults and fond of butting the arse of those who speak ill of her.” He shot a glance at his goat, who, upon hearing her name, lifted her pale brown head from the patch of flowers upon which she munched and stared at him through obsidian eyes. Telltale purple flowers and stems protruded from the sides of Petunia’s mouth as her scruffy chin worked back and forth. “She has a particular fondness for petunias, thus her name.”

Colin looked skyward. “If she were named by her favorite foods, then she also could have just as easily been dubbed ‘Handkerchief,’ ‘Button,’ ‘Vellum-’”

“Yes, she loves to eat paper-”

“As I discovered this morning when she ingested a note I’d tucked in my waistcoat pocket. At which time I also lost a button.” He sizzled a heated glare at Petunia. Petunia continued to chew in an unconcerned fashion.

“What about your handkerchief?”

Colin’s eyes narrowed. “That was yesterday. Doesn’t that beast know she’s supposed to eat grass?”

“Actually, goats prefer to eat shrubs, bushes, leaves, and gorse.”

“Seems to me she prefers to eat anything that isn’t nailed down. At every opportunity.”

“Perhaps. But she won’t appreciate you saying so. I’d watch my arse if I were you.” Nathan cocked a brow. “Your note must have been from a young lady. Petunia harbors a great appetite for love letters.”

“Because she can read, I’m certain.”

“In truth, I wouldn’t be shocked to discover she could. Animals are much more intelligent than we give them credit for. I’ve discovered that Reginald can differentiate between apples and strawberries. He does not care for strawberries.”

“I’m certain Lars and the entire gardening staff will breathe a collective sigh of relief at the news, especially given the current sad state of the petunias. And which of your brood is Reginald? The goose?”

“No, the pig.”

Colin’s gaze shifted to where Reginald lay sprawled on his side in porcine glory, beneath the shade of a nearby elm. “Ah, yes, the pig. Another gift from a grateful patient?”

“Actually, he was payment from a grateful patient.”

“A patient who most likely thought he’d provided you with a feast of pork, ham, and bacon.”

“Most likely. How fortunate for Reginald that I’m not overly fond of bacon.”

“Or beef, either, by the looks of that cow.”

“Daisy. Her name is Daisy.” Nathan jerked his head toward the black and white bovine munching grass near Reginald. “I know you like to think of yourself as impervious, but look at her. One glance from those huge, liquid brown eyes and even you couldn’t think of her providing anything other than fresh milk.”

Colin shook his head. “Good God, you’re a candidate for Bedlam. Petunia, Daisy,” he muttered. “Are all your pets named for flowers?”

“Not all of them. The mastiff’s name is B.C.”

“Based on the size of the beast, short for Bone Crusher, no doubt?”

“No. Boot Chewer. Consider yourself forewarned.”

“Thank you.” There was no missing the sarcasm in Colin’s tone. “B.C. is payment from another grateful patient?”

“Yes.”

“As I suppose the ducks, geese, cat, and lamb were.”

“Correct.”

“You are aware that money is the normal compensation for a physician’s services?”

“I receive that as well. Occasionally.”

“By the looks of your menagerie, very occasionally.”

Nathan shrugged. He’d never convince Colin or their father that he was perfectly content living in a cottage that could fit, with room to spare, in Creston Manor’s drawing room. Or that his mismatched animals were his friends. His family. And as such, he needed them here, to help him through the ordeal he suspected awaited him just around the corner. “I’m paid enough to keep a roof over my head and keep my furry and feathered friends fed.”

“Quite a bit tamer than the old days,” Colin said.

Instantly the wall between them that they’d skirted around since Nathan’s arrival yesterday could no longer be ignored. Yet he had no desire to talk about the past. “Much tamer. And that’s just the way I like it.”

“This was your home, Nathan. You didn’t have to leave.”

How was it possible that such softly spoken words could hit him so hard? “Didn’t I?” He couldn’t keep the edge of bitterness from his own words.

Colin studied him for several long seconds through green eyes that were so like their mother’s they inspired another wave of memories Nathan had to fight back. Finally Colin turned his head and stared into the distance.

“You could have made different choices.”

“I don’t see how. Even if I’d wanted to stay, Father demanded I go.”

“He spoke in anger. So did you. He’s since written to you, inviting you to come home.”

“True. But by then I’d already settled in Little Longstone.” He raked a hand through his hair. “While our relationship is civil, there remains an… awkwardness between Father and I that I’m not sure we’ll ever breach.” He didn’t need to add as there remains between you and I. The words hung between them like a dank fog.

Colin nodded slowly. “You hadn’t intended to return.”

Nathan’s gaze inadvertently flicked to the wooded area behind Colin. He jerked his head in a tight shake. “No.”

“Yet you’re here.”

“Lord Wexhall’s letter left me little choice.”

“I’d have thought you’d embrace the chance to clear your name.”

“Believe me, the opportunity to do so is the only reason I agreed to come here.” Guilt pricked Nathan when Colin’s jaw tightened, but it was better he told the bald truth. There were already enough lies between them.

“Evidenced by the fact that you haven’t been home in three years,” Colin murmured.

Yes, three years. Three years since his life had changed so drastically. Three years of burying memories and striving to find peace. Of finding a place where he belonged, where the past didn’t linger around every corner. “I’ve written.”

“Infrequently.”

“My time was consumed with finding a place to settle. Establishing myself.”

“Which happened to be three hundred miles from here.”

“Yes. In a place where no one knew me. Where no one knew what happened.”

“Leaving as you did only made you look more guilty.”

“Everyone believed me guilty anyway, so I cannot see that it mattered.”

They exchanged a long, measuring look. Then Colin said, “I was surprised that you gave up so easily. That you didn’t fight to clear your name. You’d never before been a quitter.”

“Well, I guess you didn’t know me as well as you believed.”

“Apparently not.”

“Or I you.” Another look passed between them, then Nathan said, “At least at a distance of three hundred miles I’m not subjected to the whispers and stares. Which is one reason my ‘beasts,’ as you call them, are so important to me. They care nothing of my past. They do not judge me. They can’t hurt me.”

“And that is how you wish to live? Feeling nothing?”

“Avoiding rejection and pain is not the same as feeling nothing.”

“It’s been three years, Nathan. It’s time for you to move on.”

“I have.”

“I meant more than geographically.”

“And I have. It’s just that this place… being here is… difficult.” His gaze dropped to Colin’s leg, which he knew bore scars. “Have you so easily forgotten?”

“Of course not. And neither has Gordon. But neither Gordon nor I have allowed what happened to rule us.”

Nathan nearly flinched at the name. Gordon… Earl of Alywck… boyhood friend and neighbor. Another man who’d almost lost his life, whose body bore scars because of that final disastrous mission for the Crown. Because of me…

“Neither of you were accused of stealing the jewels. Neither of you lost your honor. Your reputation.” Lost everything. “Neither of you were responsible for…” Nathan’s voice trailed off and he clenched his jaw so tight his teeth ached.

“You saved my life, Nathan. Gordon’s as well.”

A bitter sound erupted from Nathan. Yes, he’d succeeded in repairing the physical damage, but he’d failed in so many other ways. Ways he had no desire to think about or relive. He’d never forget the accusing doubt in Colin’s eyes. And it was no less than he deserved.

Determined to steer the conversation back onto lighter topics, he said, “I suppose our guests will be arriving today.”

Colin stared at him for several seconds, then slowly nodded, clearly taking the hint. Excellent. Nathan had endured all the reminiscing he could stand for one day.

“Yes. Lady Victoria and her aunt are expected today,” Colin agreed. “Lady Victoria… can’t say that I recall her very well, other than a vague remembrance that she was remarkably pretty.”

Years of practice allowed Nathan to keep his features perfectly composed. He remembered Lady Victoria only too well. “Probably you don’t remember her because on the occasion we were together you abandoned the chit to me while you spoke to her aunt, Lord Wexhall’s sister.”

“Hmmm, yes. No doubt you’re correct. Lady Delia was quite an entertaining character as I recall.”

“Not that I would know,” Nathan said with a pointed look, “as I was the one with Lady Victoria foisted upon him.”

“Foisted? Odd, I seem to recall that you rather commandeered her and asked her to show you the ghastly family portraits.” Colin nodded slowly, and Nathan well recognized the gleam in his brother’s eyes. And it suddenly struck him how much he’d missed it. “I also recall that your feathers were quite ruffled after your, um, conversation with the lovely Lady Victoria.”

Nathan slammed the door on the flood of memories that demanded entrance. “Nothing of the sort. I simply did not enjoy conversing with a supercilious child.” He dispassionately marveled at his ability to still lie so effortlessly. Clearly some things never changed. Yet, the hollow ache in his gut indicated that perhaps the lying wasn’t achieved so effortlessly after all.

“Conversing? Is that what you were doing in that dimly lit room that rendered your hair mussed? And at eighteen, Lady Victoria was hardly a child,” Colin said, the gleam glowing brighter.

“She certainly behaved like one, chattering inanely about the weather and fashion.”

“Well now, at twenty-one, even by your standards she is a child no longer. And Lord Wexhall is sending her here. According to his note, he expects you to look after her. How very interesting.”

“And how precisely would you know what my note from Lord Wexhall contained?”

“I read it.”

“I don’t recall giving you permission to do so.”

“I’m certain you meant to, as you left it lying on a table in the library.”

“I’m certain I did no such thing.” Damn Colin and his superior pickpocketing skills. Well, he might be light-fingered, but an expert cipher he was not. Even if he’d studied Lord Wexhall’s missive at length, he wouldn’t have been able to decode the secret message it contained. Guilt pricked Nathan for not sharing the hidden contents of Lord Wexhall’s note with Colin, but he wanted to wait until he had further information before doing so. No point in dragging Colin into a situation that could potentially be dangerous until he knew exactly what the situation was.

Colin waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. “Perhaps it was a table in the drawing room. How did Lord Wexhall put it in his letter? Oh, yes. ‘I expect you to take care of Victoria and see that no harm comes to her,’ ” he recited in a sonorous voice. “I wonder what sort of harm he believes might befall her?”

“Probably thinks she’ll wander off and fall from a cliff. Or overspend in the village shops.”

Colin cocked an eloquent brow. “Perhaps. Note how he said you. Note how I was not mentioned at all. The chit is completely your responsibility. Of course, if she’s as lovely as I recall, I perhaps could be persuaded to assist you in looking after her.”

Nathan blamed the heat that scorched him on the unseasonably warm afternoon. Bloody hell, this conversation was bringing on the headache. “Excellent. Allow me to persuade you. I’ll give you one hundred pounds if you’ll watch over her,” Nathan offered in a light tone completely at odds with the tension consuming him.

“No.”

“Five hundred.”

“No.”

“A thousand pounds.”

“Absolutely not.” Colin grinned. “For starters, given the fact that you’re routinely paid with farm beasts, I doubt that you have a thousand pounds, and unlike you, I’ve no wish to be paid with things that make ‘mooing’ sounds. Then, no amount of money would be worth giving up seeing you do something you so clearly do not wish to do, as in acting as caretaker to a woman you think is a spoiled, irritating twit.”

“Ah, yes, the reasons I stayed away for three years all come rushing back.”

“In fact,” Colin continued as if Nathan hadn’t spoken, “I’ll give you a hundred pounds-in actual currency-if you’re able to carry out your duty to Lady Victoria without me witnessing you fighting with her.”

Well accustomed to Colin’s tricky nature, Nathan said, “Define fighting.”

“Arguing. Exchanging words in a heated manner. Verbal altercations. I’m assuming you would not enter into any physical altercations.”

“I’ve no intention of getting within ten feet of her,” Nathan said, meaning every word.

“Probably for the best. She’s unmarried, you know.”

He stilled. No, he hadn’t known. Not that it mattered. He shrugged. “Can’t say as I’m surprised. I pity the poor bastard who finds himself leg-shackled to that puffed-up bit of talkative goods.”

An image rose in his mind of silky dark hair and laughing blue eyes, and a plush, delicious mouth. In spite of being fully aware that she was testing out her newly minted feminine wiles on him, he’d found himself charmed by her combination of innocence, flirtatiousness, and nervousness in his presence, and had been unable to resist stealing a kiss. He’d meant it to be nothing more than a teasing way to end her nervous chatter, but it flared into an inferno, stunning him. Virginal Society misses barely free from the schoolroom had never been to his taste, and he hadn’t counted on his reaction to that kiss. Or her reaction. Both had taken him by surprise, and he wasn’t a man who liked surprises.

But those few stolen moments were in the past, and as he’d learned, memories and regrets were best buried in the deepest crevasse one could find. Over the past three years he’d convinced himself that Lady Victoria had matured into nothing more than a peer’s typical empty-headed daughter, able to converse about nothing save fashion and the weather. A nose-in-the-air hothouse flower reeking with self-importance and affected manners. A woman who pouted and sulked to get her way-indeed, he’d firmly categorized her as the exact sort of woman he could not abide.

And now he would be forced to endure her company. To protect her. But from what? Whom? And for how long? According to Lord Wexhall’s encoded letter, he’d secreted information in Lady Victoria’s luggage-information that would answer those questions and that could help him solve the mystery of the missing jewels that had plagued him and his conscience for the past three years. Recover the jewels. And regain everything he’d lost.

“Even if he believes her in danger, it’s odd Wexhall would send his daughter all the way to Cornwall,” Colin said. “I think he’s likely trying to get her away from some unwanted suitor. Probably hopes to marry the chit off, in which case it seems he’s chosen you as the victim, er, lucky man.”

Nathan simply stared. “Impossible. He would want her to marry the heir, not a second son.” Especially one whose reputation was tarnished. He wondered how much Lady Victoria knew about his past-how much her father might have told her, or if he’d been the subject of gossip in London. “And I cannot imagine Lady Victoria wanting anything less for herself.” Nathan’s brows rose and he shot his brother a speculative look. “Yes, indeed, perhaps he is hoping to rid himself of the chit. In which case, you would certainly be the intended victim, er, lucky man.”

“Yet his wishes are for you to look after her. And I’ve no intention of allowing you to fob her off on me.”

“Given your status as the heir and mine as the poor, second son who is paid for his doctoring services in farm beasts, I’m certain I won’t need to fob her off at all. I suspect she’ll run directly in your direction.”

“How fortunate that I am fleet of foot.”

“And how fortunate that I have neither the title nor estates that would lure an heiress, or even make marriage necessary, as I’ve no need to produce an heir. I’m afraid all the family marriage hopes fall on you, Lord Sutton.”

“You would need to marry if the title was yours.”

“But it’s not, thank goodness.”

“Yet it would be if I failed to produce an heir.”

“Only if you died, and you appear to be in excellent health. And if that should change, luckily I am a superior physician and I shall see to it that you live to a ripe old age. And marry. And produce many children.” Nathan smiled. “All while I remain a carefree bachelor.”

“Do you recall how I used to toss you in the lake, little brother?”

“I do. It’s how I learned to swim.” He gave Colin a pointed head-to-toe look. “You’ll note I’m not so little anymore. You’d have one hell of a time throwing me in that lake now.”

“Perhaps.” Colin nodded toward the pen. “Are you nearly finished?”

“Another hour or so should do it.” He looked at Colin’s pristine white shirt, brocade waistcoat, Devonshire brown jacket, buff breeches, and polished boots. “I don’t suppose you’d care to lend a hand?”

“I don’t suppose I would. I’m off to Penzance to meet a lady. A lovely lady, who, unlike your Lady Victoria, would never be described as a supercilious child.”

“She is not my Lady Victoria.”

Colin merely laughed. “I’ll be home in time to join everyone for dinner this evening.” Then, with a wave, he entered the stables, leaving Nathan to stare at his back, with an odd lump tightening his throat.

God, he’d missed his brother. Hadn’t allowed himself to think about how much, but seeing Colin again brought it all roaring back. Those hints of the camaraderie they’d once shared made his chest ache with loss, but also gave him a ray of hope that this visit might, if nothing else, mend the rift with his family.

With a sigh, Nathan picked up another nail, set it in place, then hit it sharply with his hammer. The vibration radiated up his arm, and he repeated the action, while he speculated what the upcoming weeks might bring.

When he’d left the Crown’s employ under a dark cloud of suspicion and his reputation in tatters three years earlier, he’d vowed that nothing would entice him back into the fold-except the opportunity to clear his name. Yet when he made that vow, he hadn’t suspected that the opportunity would ever arise. He’d buried the past, built a new life in a new place, and existed in peace-a marked difference to the life he’d left behind. Yet now that the opportunity had arisen to possibly recover the jewels and restore his reputation, his feelings were more than a little ambivalent. Someone had once told him to be careful what he wished for as his wish might come true. He hadn’t truly grasped the meaning until now. To add to this sudden wrinkle in his peaceful existence was the fact that he’d have to see Lady Victoria again.

Well, his interaction with her would be minimal. Indeed, he had the entire scenario planned. He’d secure the information she carried with her, then, as soon as possible, send her back to London. He’d hopefully clear his name, then return to his peaceful cottage in Little Longstone and resume his calm existence. Yes, it was indeed an excellent plan.