Rogues, Rakes & Jewels

Robby seemed to become flustered as he blushed and said, “Ah, yes—well, just so …”

Jewelene cocked a quizzical look his way, but his cousin Ryker stuck in quietly, “Yes, Lady Lyndhurst is quite a woman. How nice that she was able to regale you with stories of your mother …”

“We had a wonderful time with her.” She eyed the plump marquis and frowned. “You do not favor her, though, at all. No doubt you look like your father.” Jewelene sat back with a sweet cake and plopped it into her mouth, saying, “Oh, I haven’t eaten a thing all day, and this is quite good.”

Ryker looked at his cousin and eyed hi

m for a long moment, as Robby was blushing profusely. He turned away and smiled at Jewelene. “Busy in the stables I take it? May I ask what sort of blood you are schooling?”

“Lightning is a pure Arabian. My father made the purchase … just before his death,” she said turning away slightly. She recovered herself and added, “He is fast, really fast. I know what they say about Arabs—Jack of all trades, master of none—but it isn’t true … at least not with Lightning. We hope to enter him at Derby this month.”

“Arabian, eh? They make good show horses, strong in the work, but I’d not pit an Arabian against a thoroughbred,” Robby answered, entering the conversation.

Jewelene smiled wickedly. “Good … I shall take your wager next month, my lord.”

“Ah, a betting girl …” Ryker chuckled.

“This is most unseemly … honestly, gentlemen …” Aunt Dora objected half-heartedly, looking at her daughter to enter the conversation.

Elizabeth, though, remained quiet until Jewelene started to move off her chair. Then she put out a hand. “Oh, Jewels, do take my wishes to Mrs. Clay and Lyla … and, of course, to Ben.”

Jewel walked over to her, bent, and whispered something in Elizabeth’s ear, who then blushed profusely before Jewelene laughed and stood straight. “Come on, Jimmy …”

The gentlemen got to their feet as brother and sister started to depart and Aunt Dora began a series of objections. Caesar jumped up and padded after his most favorite people in the world without a backward glance at the company he was leaving behind.

Outside, however, he received a tremendous let down as Jewelene commanded heartlessly, “No, boy, you are not coming this time. Stay … that’s right … down and stay!”

Caesar sat, was petted by brother and sister and much pitied, but left behind to sprawl out on the grass and in the shade to watch his adored humans depart.

Four

JEWELS AND HER brother rode through the tall spring grass, taking their usual shortcut towards Yarmouth village and the main Post Road. As they slowed, she turned to eye her brother speculatively. “You know, Jimmy, I am a little concerned about you and Lyla.”

“Are you? Why?”

“Well, the thing is, when we are well … not rich, but independent again, I want you to continue your studies at Cambridge …”

“And what has Lyla to do with that?”

“Oh, now, Jimmy, don’t play the dunce with me. It won’t fadge,” Jewels said impatiently.

He laughed. “Lyla has no place in m’future, Jewels. Lord, I’ve known the chit half m’life. What? Think I mean to seduce her and get snabbled? Not me! Don’t think of her as a woman … and besides, she has a thing for that Wembly lad, and we’ll never have enough money for Lyla. She is looking for bigger game.”

“Wembly? Really—well, yes, I should have thought of that, as they are very well off.” She sighed. “And what do you mean you don’t think of her as a woman? She is a very pretty—”

“So she is … but not in my style. She is sly, isn’t she? Fun, mind you … but just not in m’style.”

“Hmmm,” Jewelene remarked thoughtfully.

“And what about you and Ben?” teased her brother.

“Me and Ben?” Jewelene was shocked.

“Don’t try and gammon me that we are going to the Clays to check in on poor Mrs. Clay. You might be able to bamboozle Aunt Dora with such fustian, but not me!”

“Well, ’tis true, I’ve been wanting to see Ben, but not because of what you think, you odious boy. Ben is thirty, and besides … I don’t think of him that way …” They had reached the edge of the village where the sea stretched out in a wondrous swirl of greens and blues. Jewelene took a moment to gaze out onto the water and sigh. “Oh Jimmy, I do love our sleepy little isle … but …”

“But you wish you could travel … go to London … have a lark.” He frowned. “I wish it for you.” He sighed. “Come on then, we have to get this done before we get into the suds with Aunt Dora.”