rtling because Mr. Fox had outfoxed them and vanished.
Felicia laughed, and Scott pulled a face at her. “Not funny.”
“Well, and it is,” she said. “Besides that, I never really want them to catch up with the poor little beauty. They are so smart and pretty.”
“Poor beauty, indeed! Farmer Kettle wouldn’t agree with you. Why, your poor thing tore into his hen house last week just for fun and killed half a dozen of the beauties—just for sport.” He made a deep sound of disapproval. “Can’t have that, and what’s more, Flip, you know it. Little devil those foxes.”
Felicia sighed. “No, I suppose when there is a culprit around, it must be handled.”
The huntsman signaled that the exercising of the hounds was at an end, and Scott grinned and said, “Come on then, I’ll ride with you to Easton, and we can have a hearty breakfast.”
“You already had a hearty breakfast when you came for me this morning,” she said with a laugh.
“Have another.” He grinned.
She looked at his tall, lanky form in the saddle and smiled affectionately. “I don’t know where you put it. Not an ounce of fat on you.”
All at once, he took off, shouting over his shoulder, “Race you!”
“Why, you horrid thing!” she shouted after him. “You started before me.” She put her horse into a canter and then a gallop as she gained ground.
“Have to if I’m to beat you, vixen!” he called out merrily.
They took their fence in unison and flying with more bravado than grace and only slowed when they had the Easton stables in sight.
They had just dismounted when a groom came hurrying up to them and blurted out, “Miss … oi been woiting on ye this ’alf hour ’n’ more. Somethin’ terrible ’as ’appened.”
“Whatever is wrong, Charlie?” Her brows went up as she considered the worried look on the lad’s face.
“It’s the dook! They saw ’im, they did, down at Northport Village. They say ’is carriage ’as lost a wheel, yesterday it did, and it won’t be ready to move for some hours yet, but—”
“The duke? The Duke of Somerset?” she cried in distress. “As close as Northport? Oh, no. Oh, no … no! She turned to her friend. “Scott, he is coming for me. I shall die if he makes me go with him.”
Scott patted her shoulder and said as he stood tall, “Never you mind. Know just what to do.”
“You do?” She was surprised. She was usually the one that guided them from one moment to the next.
“Aye,” he answered and waved the urchin off.
In spite of her distress, Felicia noted that the groom only left reluctantly. Apparently he wanted to know what Scott meant to do as well.
“Take you to my aunt in London. Don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner. She will see to you. Give you a season. I will stay and visit with her for a while—keep you company. Besides, I have a fancy to see London.”
Felicia saw doubt in his eyes and knew he wasn’t sure his aunt would appreciate her being foisted into her household. She knew his aunt Matilda well, for his aunt had been a frequent visitor at Scott’s home. She had always been in awe of the older woman.
“Your aunt? You do mean your Aunt Matilda?” Felicia asked, just to be certain.
“Yes, only aunt in London, you know,” he added thoughtfully.
No choice, her inner self told her. If it was between the old duke taking her to some outlandish place or Scott’s stern aunt in London? Well, it was London. In another two months she would have control of her money, and the duke’s guardianship would be at an end. Two months was not so very long, after all?
“Yes. That is quite an excellent solution, but for one thing, Scott,” she offered. “She might refuse to let me stay.”
“What? No. She might balk at first, but I have a notion what to say to her about it. You know she is highly respected in the haute ton and has no children. Think this might be just what she will like.”
“Yes, but the duke might not like it and come after me …”
“Why would he do that? Sounds too smoky by half. You’d think he would be happy to be out of it,” Scott returned frowning.