Serena

“Indeed, I look forward to doing just that,” his uncle responded thoughtfully.

The serving girl had arrived at that moment with plates full of food, and his lordship said, “Come, Freddy, our dinner.”

~ Six ~

DANIEL PENDLETON SLOWLY worked his horse down the main pike on his way to Moorely Grange. He meant to pay Miss Serena Moorely a morning call.

He saw the fingerpost denoting Country Lane Three and turned off to the right as he had been directed to do by the landlord of his posting inn.

Ahead, he saw a lovely Georgian-styled manor house reposing elegantly at the top of the hill. The surrounding lawns were maintained in parkland style, and although not as extensive as some, they were certainly exceptionally well maintained and most charmingly laid out.

There was something welcoming about the property, and he wondered if Serena had had anything to do with its smartly arranged evergreens and flowerbeds. He knew the squire had never married, and he could see the grounds most definitely had ‘a woman’s touch’ throughout.

He didn’t know what to make of Miss Moorely. She seemed every bit a lady. She sounded from Freddy’s account to be a very decent sort with a good head on her shoulders. Could it be that she actually was in love with Freddy? He frowned over the thought. Freddy was a handsome lad, and although he had never witnessed his nephew flirting with the ladies, his lordship imagined that he might be charming enough when he chose. She was only a few years older and might have fallen for Freddy. He was Frederick of Radburn, with a respectable fortune, and that might have gotten her attention. After that … who knew?

No. He cut such thoughts off. It was almost unthinkable that Freddy should wed at nineteen. What the lad wanted now would not be what he wanted in ten years … even in five years.

But if that were the case, if Freddy had led her on because of his infatuation, well, that would change everything, and his lordship knew his principles about such matters would not allow him to stand in their way—whatever the consequences.

He sighed and hoped that wasn’t the case, but if it wasn’t, what the devil did she want with the boy, for in many ways, Freddy was still far too youthfully exuberant for a young woman.

From what he had seen for himself, this particular woman needed a man, not a boy, and that was another thing. Why wasn’t this particular woman already spoken for? Odd that, for she had beauty, composure, and a respectable background.

Damn, but it was a puzzle.

None of this made any sense to his lordship. He had to ask himself, was she after a title? Did she want entrée into the haute ton? Did she think Freddy was her way to it? One never knew what moved a woman, especially one who was nearing spinsterhood.

Of one thing, he was certain. She had Freddy caught tightly within her clutches. All the boy could do was talk of Serena. Her name had crept into the conversation all through dinner and then again this morning.

The lad held her on a pedestal, and his lordship could see there would be no wresting Freddy away from her—at least not easily. Things were far more desperate than his sister realized.

He had of course devised a solution to the problem. He had an idea, but it didn’t sit well with him, and he did not look forward to that idea’s implementation. Perhaps he could find another way to wrench her hold from Freddy?

Suddenly, a musical giggle assailed his ears and interrupted his thoughts. He looked to the left and saw Serena on her chestnut mare, unaware of him and careening over a stone wall to land neatly on the other side. She leaned forward and encouraged her horse to pick up its pace through the grassy field.

Damnation! Now what should he do?

Well, since she was obviously not up at the house to receive a morning call, he had no choice but to give chase. He would catch up to her and then engage her in a light conversation. Perhaps, just perhaps, in this way he could take her measure, for she would not be on guard and might give herself away without even realizing it.

A moment later he put his horse into an easy lope and took the big roan gelding over the same stone wall. His landing, however, caused him to curse softly and hope the dip his roan had taken would not bring him up lame.

Dragon snorted and lunged into a canter, and as his lordship’s position in his saddle had not been compromised by the difficult landing, he could feel that his horse’s gait was unaffected. He breathed a sigh of relief. He was fond of his gelding and pleased that the clumsy landing they had endured had not injured his horse.

He looked up towards the rise of the grassy field and saw he would have to move faster if he was going to catch up with Miss Serena Moorely.

Luckily for him, Serena slowed and circled her horse at the top of the hill, and he heard her tell her mare, “There now, Brandy, easy … girl.”

As he approached he heard her laughing as she affectionately patted her horse’s neck. “Silly mare, forever wanting to race,” she breathlessly told her mare. “Have you had enough? I hope so, for I don’t want to bring you back all sweated up and have old Grimsly squeak at me.”

She turned and shaded her eyes as he approached.

His lordship was for a moment unable to speak.

It was no wonder Freddy was besotted with her. The woman was a diamond of the first water. Her face, her figure, those dark, penetrating eyes—everything about her could bring a man to heel!

She wore no hat, and the sun’s rays lit in her hair, making it look as though gold dust was sprinkled throughout its curls and waves. Her face was exquisite—her cheekbones high, her lips full, rosy, and pert … so damn pert and kissable.

She smiled and called, “Hallo, Lord Pendleton. What a glorious morning for riding.”