loud voices outside the coach and tried not to glance their way. She heard her name mentioned and was certain they were arguing about her. The white witch in her was on edge, sure that Jerry Swit meant her harm. He had not liked the way she had treated him throughout their meal.
He had not liked that she would not speak to him when he addressed her and perhaps that had not been wise, for she knew what he was, but she couldn’t bear to look at him, let alone speak to him.
She didn’t like Jerry Swit and she didn’t quite trust Lord MacTorry. The hunky Scotsman made her jittery and off balance and she was too attracted to him. Throwing Sir Jacob into the mix made it a veritable stew of ingredients that just did not blend well together. She could have put on her witch’s hearing and listened in on their conversation. They were close enough, but just at that moment she was startled and jumped as the carriage door opened wide.
She had forgotten about Sir Jacob.
He stood at the open door and a shy smile crossed his pleasant face, “Are you comfortable, Miss Radley?”
“Yes, thank you. Sir Jacob, if you really are intent on accompanying the coach to Dover, I would so rather you kept me company in here.” she glanced toward Swit and MacTorry in silent explanation.
He understood at once, and his chivalry came to the fore. “With the greatest of pleasure,” he said as he climbed into the carriage and took the seat opposite Exerilla.
Jerry Swit shouted immediately, “Jacob ! I say , what the devil do you think you are doing?”
Sir Jacob opened the window and stuck his head out to smirk at Swit, but did not bother to reply as he closed the window and situated himself. He patted the worn leather and said, “Not all that awful for a stagecoach. I had thought it would be worse.”
Exerilla laughed, but as his lordship rode up at that moment, bent down to the closed window and said with a chuckle, “Looks like Jerry and I are both in the cold, cut out by young Jake!”
She couldn’t help but smile at his sense of humor and sat back against the squabs as the coach slowly moved forward.
Earlier the coachman had begged her forgiveness and she had reassured him that she did not blame him for the harrowing ride at Jerry Swit’s hands. She had told him she was thankful that the ‘bloods’ as he called them, had finally tired of the sport and had decided only to follow the coach instead of drive it.
The countryside took on a subtle change as they left the rolling green downs and approached the coastline. Exerilla was scarcely able to do more than glance now and then, as Sir Jacob kept her entertained with a lively conversation.
She saw at once by the innocent look in his eyes that he loved his home in Dover.
“My family’s estate is called Cressly Towers,” he told her brightly. “It was once styled in Tudor fashion, but my forefathers each wanted to put their own stamp to the place. and the wings that my ancestors installed over the years have given a more modern feel to the original structure.
“I am amazed that you have been away so long. You seem to love your home,” she said curiously.
He looked at her oddly and agreed, “Yes, yes I do, but…well, life does take one in different directions. But I am pleased to return now.”
She saw his reluctance to expound on this, and let it go. He was easy to talk to on so many levels and fun to listen to as well. She was able to interject a question here and there and before they knew it, they found themselves diving into the beginnings of a comfortable friendship.
“So there you have it,” he said rubbing his knees. “Swit heard I was determined to head to the Towers and set it in order and took an interest. When he heard I had also inherited my father’s yacht, he could talk of nothing else.”
“What about his lordship? Was he too interested in viewing the Towers and your yacht?” she asked curiously.
He frowned, “No, I don’t think he was. Once he
He had not liked that she would not speak to him when he addressed her and perhaps that had not been wise, for she knew what he was, but she couldn’t bear to look at him, let alone speak to him.
She didn’t like Jerry Swit and she didn’t quite trust Lord MacTorry. The hunky Scotsman made her jittery and off balance and she was too attracted to him. Throwing Sir Jacob into the mix made it a veritable stew of ingredients that just did not blend well together. She could have put on her witch’s hearing and listened in on their conversation. They were close enough, but just at that moment she was startled and jumped as the carriage door opened wide.
She had forgotten about Sir Jacob.
He stood at the open door and a shy smile crossed his pleasant face, “Are you comfortable, Miss Radley?”
“Yes, thank you. Sir Jacob, if you really are intent on accompanying the coach to Dover, I would so rather you kept me company in here.” she glanced toward Swit and MacTorry in silent explanation.
He understood at once, and his chivalry came to the fore. “With the greatest of pleasure,” he said as he climbed into the carriage and took the seat opposite Exerilla.
Jerry Swit shouted immediately, “Jacob ! I say , what the devil do you think you are doing?”
Sir Jacob opened the window and stuck his head out to smirk at Swit, but did not bother to reply as he closed the window and situated himself. He patted the worn leather and said, “Not all that awful for a stagecoach. I had thought it would be worse.”
Exerilla laughed, but as his lordship rode up at that moment, bent down to the closed window and said with a chuckle, “Looks like Jerry and I are both in the cold, cut out by young Jake!”
She couldn’t help but smile at his sense of humor and sat back against the squabs as the coach slowly moved forward.
Earlier the coachman had begged her forgiveness and she had reassured him that she did not blame him for the harrowing ride at Jerry Swit’s hands. She had told him she was thankful that the ‘bloods’ as he called them, had finally tired of the sport and had decided only to follow the coach instead of drive it.
The countryside took on a subtle change as they left the rolling green downs and approached the coastline. Exerilla was scarcely able to do more than glance now and then, as Sir Jacob kept her entertained with a lively conversation.
She saw at once by the innocent look in his eyes that he loved his home in Dover.
“My family’s estate is called Cressly Towers,” he told her brightly. “It was once styled in Tudor fashion, but my forefathers each wanted to put their own stamp to the place. and the wings that my ancestors installed over the years have given a more modern feel to the original structure.
“I am amazed that you have been away so long. You seem to love your home,” she said curiously.
He looked at her oddly and agreed, “Yes, yes I do, but…well, life does take one in different directions. But I am pleased to return now.”
She saw his reluctance to expound on this, and let it go. He was easy to talk to on so many levels and fun to listen to as well. She was able to interject a question here and there and before they knew it, they found themselves diving into the beginnings of a comfortable friendship.
“So there you have it,” he said rubbing his knees. “Swit heard I was determined to head to the Towers and set it in order and took an interest. When he heard I had also inherited my father’s yacht, he could talk of nothing else.”
“What about his lordship? Was he too interested in viewing the Towers and your yacht?” she asked curiously.
He frowned, “No, I don’t think he was. Once he
Similar Books
