Moonspun Magic (Magic Trilogy 3)

“Come on, Torie! Come! Come!”

“Little terror,” said Nanny Black fondly.

“I’ll bring her back after luncheon,” Victoria said. “Come along, Damie, and we’ll fetch Cook’s picnic basket.” She took Damie’s small hand and together they walked downstairs.

Victoria came to a startled halt at the foot of the wide staircase. There was David, standing very still, looking up at her. He was but four years her senior, ruddy-complexioned, his eyes dark brown, his hair a darker brown. He was slight of build, no masculine compliments coming to mind upon viewing him, but he was kind to her, always had been, and was soft-spoken. She had always liked him.

He was wearing buckskins. Victoria said immediately, “How very natty you look today, David. Doesn’t he, Damie?”

“Natty,” said Damaris.

David wasn’t smiling, nor did he smile now. He said only, “Are you ready?”

She searched his well-known face, feeling a moment of unease. She simply nodded.

“Must the child come today?”

“Come! Come!”

“Well, yes, I promised her, you see. I didn’t know that you would mind. She will be feeding the ducks, David. It will occupy her.”

“Enjoy your outing, you two.”

Victoria forced herself to stay calm and turn easily at the sound of Damien’s voice. He was standing in the doorway of the drawing room, his arms crossed over his chest, his head cocked to one side, studying them.

“Papa,” said Damaris, but she didn’t release Victoria’s hand.

“You make certain your cousin doesn’t let you fall, my dear,” Damien said, not moving. “Esterbridge,” he said, nodding to David. With those words he turned and walked down the back hall toward the estate room.

“Come!” said Damaris, tugging at Victoria’s hand.

“Yes, Damie.”

David walked a bit ahead of them toward the stables, and Victoria wondered at him. It occurred to her vaguely that his mustard-yellow riding jacket wasn’t a felicitous color for him. It made him look bilious. A wifely thought, she decided, and kept her mouth shut.

Toddy, her mare, snorted when she saw Victoria. True to her habit, Victoria withdrew two cubes of sugar and laid them on her palm for the horse to eat.

“Come!”

“I’ll give you a leg up, Victoria,” David said, and followed action to words. Once Victoria was settled on Toddy’s back, he handed her Damaris. The child was squealing with delight and excitement. David didn’t seem at all amused.

“Sit still, love,” Victoria said, encircling the wriggling little body firmly with her arms. She watched the stable lad, Jim, give David the food basket.

They rode down the long drive, eastward toward Fletcher’s copse and pond. There was no opportunity for them to speak of private matters with Damaris chattering constantly. The day was warm and clear, only scattered clouds dotting the blue sky.

“It’s a lovely day,” Victoria said finally, smiling toward David.

“I suppose,” he said.

“I must speak to you.”

He looked at her now, and she saw his hand jerk unexpectedly on his horse’s reins. His stallion snorted, danced sideways, nearly unseating him. Her eyes widened, but she said nothing more until he had his horse under control.

“Almost there!” shouted Damaris.

“Yes, love, very nearly.” What was wrong with David? He was looking at her oddly. Then she saw Damien in her mind’s eye, standing there so smugly, looking at them, and she felt a sense of foreboding.

They dismounted near Fletcher’s pond. David lifted Damaris down, gave her several slices of bread from Cook’s basket, then watched her until she came to a halt a good three feet from the edge of the water.