An Earl In Want Of A Wife

‘I thought it would be the perfect afternoon to go for a ride.’

Lizzie found herself nodding. She missed the freedom of racing along the mud tracks surrounding her uncle’s home just outside Bombay, she missed feeling the warm breeze on her face and seeing the scenery whip by. She’d always much preferred being outside to indoors. Back home her perfect afternoon had been trotting off on her own on horseback with a book tucked under her arm. She’d ride for a while, then find a spot to sit and read for hours on end until the light was fading. Amelia never had understood how Lizzie could spend so long in her own company, but for Lizzie it had been a welcome escape from a home where she didn’t really belong.

‘I’ve instructed my groom to be waiting in Hyde Park with two horses. If you would like, we can spend the afternoon on horseback.’

Lizzie stood and smoothed down her skirt. It sounded like a wonderful way to spend the afternoon and if they were riding they would be alone, which gave her the opportunity to find out exactly what secrets Daniel was hiding.

‘I’ll go and change,’ she said, hurrying from the room.

* * *

Twenty minutes later they were strolling through one of the entrances to Hyde Park. Lizzie noted that Daniel was careful enough to avoid the spot where they’d seen the woman and small boy the day before, as if by not reminding Lizzie of it he could pretend the encounter hadn’t happened.

‘What beautiful horses,’ Lizzie said as they approached Daniel’s groom.

One was the huge black beast that had nearly trampled Lizzie the week before. The other was a slightly more docile-looking chestnut mare.

‘Will you let me assist you up?’ Daniel asked.

Lizzie nodded, feeling her heart start to race as he moved behind her. She positioned herself to mount the chestnut mare and glanced back over her shoulder. Daniel was close, almost as close as he’d been during their encounter in the Prestons’ garden. She could feel his breath on the nape of her neck and it sent delicious shivers down her spine. She could imagine him wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his body and lowering his lips to her skin.

Lizzie swallowed and tried to regain control. She wasn’t even sure if she liked him and here she was fantasising about him being entirely inappropriate in a public park.

‘Are you ready?’ His voice was low and seductive in her ear.

She managed to nod before she started to pull herself up on to the horse. His hands looped under her leg and boosted her the rest of the way, lifting her as effortlessly as if she were a rag doll.

Seated on the horse, Lizzie took a moment to regain control. Now Daniel wasn’t quite so close she felt as though she were in charge of her brain once again.

‘Shall we set off?’ Daniel asked as he pulled himself up on to his horse.

Lizzie nodded and nudged her horse forward, concentrating on finding her equilibrium for a few seconds before falling into step beside Daniel.

They rode slowly at first. This part of the park was busy and Daniel had to greet most of the people they passed. It gave Lizzie the opportunity to watch him and try to figure him out. Daniel was still very much a mystery to her. She’d seen so many sides to him she didn’t feel as though she knew the real man.

After about ten minutes the crowds started to thin out. Lizzie knew now was her opportunity to ask him what had upset him so much the previous day. If she left it much longer, it would be difficult to bring up.

‘Daniel,’ she said, still wondering how to phrase her question.

He turned to her with a lazy smile and for a few seconds Lizzie forgot entirely what she was meant to be saying.

‘Yesterday, just before we left the park, something upset you.’

Daniel nodded, the smile remaining on his face, but Lizzie could tell underneath he was frozen.

‘What happened?’

There was silence for well over a minute and Lizzie had almost convinced herself that he wasn’t going to answer her question.

‘I am sorry about how I left you yesterday,’ Daniel said. ‘It was rude and ungentlemanly. I hope you can forgive me.’

Lizzie nodded, she’d forgiven him already, but it wasn’t his apology she wanted, it was an explanation.

‘Something upset you. Was it that woman who walked past?’

His whole body stiffened and Lizzie knew she was right. He’d known the woman who’d not even stopped to speak to him. She wondered again if it was an old lover and felt an immediate pang of jealousy. Lizzie tried to shake it away, Daniel wasn’t hers to be jealous over.

‘It was nothing,’ he said eventually. ‘A case of mistaken identity. I thought she was someone I once knew. I was wrong.’ It was said with such finality that Lizzie knew he would say no more on the matter.

They lapsed into silence. Daniel’s evasive answer had reminded Lizzie that she didn’t really know anything about the earl. He was charming and attentive towards her, but she had to keep telling herself it was because he thought she was someone else. In reality she didn’t know this man at all. It might feel as though she’d known him for ever when he covered her lips with his own, but for him that was probably just another part of this charade.

It was clear Daniel was not going to tell her who his mystery woman was, and for a moment Lizzie wondered if he might still be seeing her. Surely he wouldn’t be courting her and carrying on with a mistress at the same time. Lizzie knew a lot of married men kept mistresses, but she didn’t want to believe Daniel would be kissing her by day and sleeping with another woman at night. With a shake of her head Lizzie dismissed the thought. She might not know the earl well, but she was almost certain that he wouldn’t be so cold and disrespectful. Which still left the question of who the woman was.

‘I wanted to ask you a favour,’ Daniel said as they rode, his expression serious. ‘I want you to educate me about India. I find I’m most ignorant on the subject. Did you know before yesterday I didn’t even know they had crocodiles in that part of the world?’

Daniel grinned and Lizzie couldn’t help but smile. His good mood was infectious and very effective at distracting her from thinking about his potential mistresses.

‘What do you want to know?’

‘All the interesting stuff,’ he said. ‘I’m your avid pupil.’

Lizzie thought a moment before saying anything more.

‘The cow is the sacred animal of India, at least to the millions of Hindu people who live there.’

‘The cow? Really?’

‘Trust me, we found out the hard way just how sacred they are.’

‘You have to explain.’

‘My cousin was very popular with the army officers,’ Lizzie said, knowing that was a bit of an understatement. ‘She happened to mention one day that she was fed up of eating curry and wished she could have a lovely meal of roast beef and potatoes.’

‘Ah.’

‘Some of the more eager young officers took it on themselves to provide the freshest beef possible, enraging the locals. There was nearly a rebellion.’

Daniel turned to her with a smile. ‘At least she didn’t say she wanted an elephant steak for lunch.’

Lizzie felt herself smiling, too. There was something about Daniel’s easygoing manner that made her relax. She knew she shouldn’t encourage him, but he made their time together so enjoyable. Lizzie couldn’t remember the last time anyone had wanted to know anything about her life and Daniel’s attention and good-humoured observations meant she was having a lovely time on their outing.

‘I took the liberty of laying out a picnic,’ Daniel said after a few minutes of riding in silence. They were just reaching the top of a small hill and there were wonderful views over the rest of the park. Lizzie could see a blanket and a hamper on the grass ahead of them. She glanced around, knowing he must have had a member of his staff set out the picnic, but not able to see anyone in the vicinity.