Lady X

“Indeed, and squire, while it is quite excellent, I hope you will accept a few bottles I purchased the other day. Though I cannot approve of how they arrived here, for I am told they never saw a custom house,” he cocked a brow and a smile at the squire. “I found this batch exceptional.”

Exerilla frowned. Although she was surprised she kept silent. The squire appeared to be thrilled and obviously would continue to welcome his lordship into his home. She watched as the squire bent his head questioningly toward his lordship and said, “French brandy; nothing like it. It’s all the better when it doesn’t pass through the customs house. We are of one mind, you and I.”

David’s eyebrows came together as he shot his father a strange look. Exerilla asked, “Hold a moment. I don’t quite understand. Are you saying that you deal with smugglers?” She directed her question at all three gentlemen, singling none out.

David hurriedly answered, “No. Of course not, dear. The flaskers run overland and sometimes on ours or a neighbors’ property, as they make their way to London.”

“So you are helping them hide from the excisemen?” she pursued.

“Not precisely, but it wouldn’t do to take a stand against them. It’s risky either way and best not to get involved. They leave a few bottles of brandy as their way of saying thank you.”

Exerilla frowned. “That is the same as helping them for payment.”

“You are a woman and don’t understand,” David said impatiently.

His lordship’s blue eyes twinkled at her. “ Being a sweet lass, ye are quite right. Gentlemen these smugglers are called, but gentlemen they are not. This business they are in sends gold to the French and we are at war with the French.”

The squire grumbled into his drink. David eyed his lordship thoughtfully and said, “An interesting point, my lord. Yet you purchased smuggled goods.”

“Aye that I did. If I were ye, I would wonder aboot that,” MacTorry said mysteriously. He then inclined his handsome head and moved to take up Exerilla’s fingers and put them to his lips as he bent over her hand. “I look forward to seeing ye on the morrow, Miss Radley.”

“I hope you manage to get back before the rain hits,” she said lightly and sighed to herself as he left.

The squire waited only long enough for the sound of the front door closing before he turned on Exerilla and said, “Where is Mrs. Horwich?”

“I couldn’t say.” Exerilla resented his tone and the manner in which he treated his wife.

“Damn the woman! No doubt off to see a sickly farmer when she should be here, attending to me.” He stomped toward the open parlor door. “I will tell cook to get dinner early. If she isn’t here in time, we’ll just sit without her.”

X frowned as she turned to look at David who simply shook his head and said, “One learns to ignore what one cannot change.”

“Hmm, I suppose,” Exerilla allowed doubtfully. She could argue the point, but what good would it do. These two men were already set and not about to change.

David went to sit beside her. “Don’t think poorly of me, Exerilla. He is my father yes, but…”

“It isn’t your father that would make me think poorly of you; only your own conduct that would concern me.”

“You don’t approve of the manner in which I conduct myself?” His brow went up, but his eyes stayed cool.

“I didn’t say that,” she answered softly. She didn’t need to make enemies while she was momentarily stuck at Horwich.

One hand went to her shoulder and the other to her arm in a deft movement. As he tried to draw her closer his voice was low. “Exerilla, don’t think I don’t care how my father treats my mother. There isn’t anything I can do about it. They are what they are. If my father mistreats my mother…” he shrugged. “…she allows it. If she allows it, I can’t stop it.”

“You don’t have to defend yourself to me, David,” Exerilla said wishing she could vanish.

“Oh, but it matters to me what you think of me.” He was moving in on her and she was fully aware that she was going to have to stop him.

Gently, she pulled out of his hold and stood. “I understand your position David. I haven’t known you long enough to think anything.” She got up and started to walk away saying, “Now it is time I go and change out of my horsey scented clothes.”

He stood up and took a long stride toward her, grabbed her arm and held her in place. As she turned to face him, there was shock as she arched her brow.

He said, “No Exerilla! You don’t understand at all…but I mean to show you.”

X nearly screamed. Something inside of her turned inside out with revulsion. She couldn’t bear his hands on her. She broke away before he could kiss her and said, “David, how dare you! I am a guest in your parents’ home.”

“Don’t fight this. Don’t fight me,” he whispered. “For I mean to have you. Yes, you are a guest in my father’s home and guests come and go.”

She heard the threat in his words. He wanted her to think that if she didn’t come across, he could put her out in the cold. That was what women of the time were subjected to…men like that. She made up her mind about him in that moment.