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Book: Miss Carlyle's Curricle: Signet Regency Romance (InterMix) by Karen Harbaugh
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Authors: Karen Harbaugh
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that Lord Brisbane would spend at least an hour in front of the mirror perfecting the folds of his neckcloth.
Diana had no use for such vanity and frivolity. Indeed, she had more serious things on her mind: no one had seen McKinney after the day of the accident. She had searched, had asked around the local villages about him, but no one seemed to know what had happened to the head groom. He had a few friends in the village, but they had not seen him; perhaps he had returned to family in Ireland, they said.
It was possible, but Diana did not think that he would have left without taking his leave of her. He had taught her to ride her first horse, and had given her good advice about training them as she grew from child to young woman; indeed, she had come to see him more as a friend than a servant.
She could not ask Sir James, since he had gone to London, not long after the funeral, which frustrated her. If McKinney had gone to Sir James and offered his resignation, then Sir James would have been able to tell her whether he had accepted the resignation or not.
Not even the stablehands knew what had happened to the groom, which seemed exceedingly odd, for McKinney had prided himself in running a tightly organized stable, and never went on holiday without making sure all duties were accounted for. Indeed, he ran the place so well and so unobtrusively that it was no wonder she had not noticed his absence immediately, for the place ran just as smoothly without him. Under his instruction, the other grooms knew exactly what to do, and when. Lord Brisbane seemed satisfied with their service and said the groom just under McKinney—Joe Baggins—was a promising young man and could fill McKinney’s shoes just as well. Since Diana knew Joe had a will of iron and could run the stables efficiently with just a word or two in his gentle voice, she could not protest this appointment. But she felt hurt, no different than if a dear friend had turned his back on her without a word of explanation.
It was with relief, then, that Diana walked to the stables one day to find Sir James riding in. She was dressed in her habit, ready to go out for a morning ride on her gelding, Lightning. She gazed at Sir James’s mare, a showy piece and well-muscled, but a nervous beast. She wondered if the horse would be less nervous if Sir James had not been riding it. She winced as he came to a stop, the reins pulling just a little too hard on the mare’s mouth.
Sit straighter, and not like a sack of potatoes
, she wanted to say to him,
and don’t be so ham-handed
, but she had promised her mother that she would not judge people by their seat on a horse, and knew that it would be rude, besides. But really, the man had one of the worst hands and seats she’d ever seen. She put a smile on her face, however, and greeted him, and he gave a brief bow over her hand after he dismounted.
His gaze flickered over her hands, and he smiled sardonically. “Well, I see you are not married yet.”
“Of course I am not,” she said, irritated. “There is no reason why I should be.”
“He couldn’t come up to scratch, eh?” She opened her mouth, then shut it again, wanting badly to tell him that Lord Brisbane had said he had fallen in love with her. But she was sure the earl was jesting, and she knew Sir James would mention it in company and set everyone to chattering. Sir James had a way of casually letting drop interesting bits of gossip, sometimes to fuel some bet or other he had made, but sometimes just to stir rumors and bring attention on himself. If she told him, he would mention it, and that might move Lord Brisbane to propose marriage out of honor, and she did not want to be put in such an uncomfortable position.
“That is none of your business,” she said, knowing her reply would make him think that the earl had not one inclination to propose. Once more, she would have failed to get herself a husband and failed to keep herself and her mother from
Diana had no use for such vanity and frivolity. Indeed, she had more serious things on her mind: no one had seen McKinney after the day of the accident. She had searched, had asked around the local villages about him, but no one seemed to know what had happened to the head groom. He had a few friends in the village, but they had not seen him; perhaps he had returned to family in Ireland, they said.
It was possible, but Diana did not think that he would have left without taking his leave of her. He had taught her to ride her first horse, and had given her good advice about training them as she grew from child to young woman; indeed, she had come to see him more as a friend than a servant.
She could not ask Sir James, since he had gone to London, not long after the funeral, which frustrated her. If McKinney had gone to Sir James and offered his resignation, then Sir James would have been able to tell her whether he had accepted the resignation or not.
Not even the stablehands knew what had happened to the groom, which seemed exceedingly odd, for McKinney had prided himself in running a tightly organized stable, and never went on holiday without making sure all duties were accounted for. Indeed, he ran the place so well and so unobtrusively that it was no wonder she had not noticed his absence immediately, for the place ran just as smoothly without him. Under his instruction, the other grooms knew exactly what to do, and when. Lord Brisbane seemed satisfied with their service and said the groom just under McKinney—Joe Baggins—was a promising young man and could fill McKinney’s shoes just as well. Since Diana knew Joe had a will of iron and could run the stables efficiently with just a word or two in his gentle voice, she could not protest this appointment. But she felt hurt, no different than if a dear friend had turned his back on her without a word of explanation.
It was with relief, then, that Diana walked to the stables one day to find Sir James riding in. She was dressed in her habit, ready to go out for a morning ride on her gelding, Lightning. She gazed at Sir James’s mare, a showy piece and well-muscled, but a nervous beast. She wondered if the horse would be less nervous if Sir James had not been riding it. She winced as he came to a stop, the reins pulling just a little too hard on the mare’s mouth.
Sit straighter, and not like a sack of potatoes
, she wanted to say to him,
and don’t be so ham-handed
, but she had promised her mother that she would not judge people by their seat on a horse, and knew that it would be rude, besides. But really, the man had one of the worst hands and seats she’d ever seen. She put a smile on her face, however, and greeted him, and he gave a brief bow over her hand after he dismounted.
His gaze flickered over her hands, and he smiled sardonically. “Well, I see you are not married yet.”
“Of course I am not,” she said, irritated. “There is no reason why I should be.”
“He couldn’t come up to scratch, eh?” She opened her mouth, then shut it again, wanting badly to tell him that Lord Brisbane had said he had fallen in love with her. But she was sure the earl was jesting, and she knew Sir James would mention it in company and set everyone to chattering. Sir James had a way of casually letting drop interesting bits of gossip, sometimes to fuel some bet or other he had made, but sometimes just to stir rumors and bring attention on himself. If she told him, he would mention it, and that might move Lord Brisbane to propose marriage out of honor, and she did not want to be put in such an uncomfortable position.
“That is none of your business,” she said, knowing her reply would make him think that the earl had not one inclination to propose. Once more, she would have failed to get herself a husband and failed to keep herself and her mother from
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