A Comfortable Wife

Philip met her gaze with bland incomprehension. 'My dear Antonia, whatever do you mean?'

She shot him a fulminating glance, then turned back to the horses. 'I mean-as you very well know-that such a request from one whose reputation is such as yours can be construed in a number of ways, not all of which the Master is likely to approve.'

Philip's deep rumbling laughter had her setting her teeth.

'Oh, well done!' he eventually said. 'I couldn't have put it better myself.'

Antonia glared at him, then clicked the reins, setting the horses to a definite trot.

Philip straightened his lips. 'Rest assured that my standing with the Master is sufficient that such a request will be interpreted in the most favourable light.'

The glance Antonia threw him held enough lingering suspicion to make him narrow his eyes. 'I do not, dear Antonia, have any reputation for corrupting the innocent.'

She had, he noted, sufficient grace to blush.

'Very well.' Antonia nodded but kept her gaze locked on the leader. 'I'll mention the matter to Geoffrey.'

'No-leave that to me. He'll be more receptive to the idea if I suggest it.'

Antonia knew her brother well enough not to argue. Head high, she turned the horses for home, determinedly disregarding the inward flutter Philip had managed to evoke.

After studying her profile, Philip said no more until she pulled the horses up before the front steps. Descending, he strolled leisurely around to come up beside her, meeting her watchful, slightly wary gaze with open appreciation. 'A commendable first outing. To my mind, you're still holding them a little tight in the curves but that judgement will come with practice.'

Before she could reply, he twitched the reins from her hands and tossed them to the groom who had come running from the stables. While the movement had her distracted, he closed his hands about her waist, well aware of the tension that gripped her as he lifted her down.

'You'll be pleased to know,' he glibly stated, holding her before him and gazing down into suddenly wide eyes, 'that I'm completely satisfied that your peculiar ability to communicate with the equine species operates even when you're not perched upon their backs.'

Antonia continued to stare at him blankly. Reluctantly, Philip released her.

'You-' Antonia blinked wildly. It was an effort to summon not only her voice but the indignation she felt sure she should feel. Breathless, she continued, 'Do you mean to say that today was a…a test?'

Philip smiled condescendingly. 'My dear Antonia, I know of your talents-it seemed rational to test them. Now I know they're sound, there seems little doubt you'll prove a star pupil.'

Antonia blinked again-and wished there was some phrase in his speech to which she could take exception. In the end, she drew herself up and fixed him with a direct and openly challenging stare. 'I assume, my lord, that when we go out tomorrow, you'll permit me to get above a trot?'

The subtle smile that played about his lips did quite peculiar things to her nerves. 'I wouldn't suggest you reach for the whip just yet, my dear.'

'Well! That seemed a most successful outing.' Henrietta turned from the window high above the drive, having watched her stepson and niece until they'd disappeared into the hall below.

'That's as may be.' Trant continued to fold linens, laying them neatly on the bed. 'But I'd reserve judgement if I was you. Early days yet to read anything into things like simple drives in the countryside.'

'Phooh!' Henrietta waved the objection aside. 'Ruthven rarely drives ladies-let alone lets them drive him. Of course it means something.'

Trant merely sniffed.

'It means,' Henrietta went on, 'that our plan has real promise. We must ensure they spend as much time in each other's company as possible-with as little distraction as we can manage.'

'You're planning on encouraging them to be alone?' Trant voiced her query with a suitably hesitant air.

Henrietta snorted. 'Antonia is twenty-four, after all- hardly a green girl. And whatever Ruthven's reputation, he has never, to my certain knowledge, been accused of seducing innocents.'

Trant shrugged, unwilling to risk further comment.

Henrietta frowned, then shifted her shawls. 'I'm convinced, in this case, that strict adherence to society's dictates is not necessary. Aside from anything else, Ruthven will not-would not-seduce any lady residing under his own roof under my protection. We must put our minds to making sure they spend at least some part of every day together. I'm a great believer in propinquity, Trant-if Ruthven is to see what a gem Antonia is, we'll need to keep her before him long enough for him to do so.'

Three days later, Antonia climbed the stairs and entered her bedchamber. She had spent all morning going over the plans for the fete, to be held, as Henrietta had decreed, two days hence; it was now mid-afternoon and Henrietta was napping. As usual, the garden was her destination but she had fallen into the habit of checking her appearance whenever she ventured forth. Crossing to the dressing-table, she smiled absentmindedly at Nell, seated by the window, a pile of darning beside her. 'Don't strain your eyes. I'm sure some of the younger maids could lend a hand with that.'

'Aye-no doubt. But I've little confidence in their stitches-I'd rather see to it myself.'

Picking up her brush, Antonia carefully burnished the curls falling in artful disorder from the knot on the top of her head.

Nell threw her a swift glance. 'Seems you've been seeing a lot of his lordship lately.'

Antonia's hand stilled, then she shrugged. 'I wouldn't say a lot. We ride in the mornings, of course. Geoffrey, too.' She did not think it necessary to mention that for at least half the time she spent on horseback, she and Philip were alone; Geoffrey, encouraged to try the paces of his mount, was rarely within hailing distance. “Other than that, and the three occasions he's let me drive his curricle, Ruthven only seeks me out if he has some matter to discuss.'

'That so?' Nell remarked.

'Indeed.' Antonia tried to keep the irritation from her voice. Although Philip often sought her company during the day, spending half an hour or more by her side, he invariably had some reason for doing so. She sank the brush into one curl. 'He's a busy man, after all-a serious landowner. He spends hours with his agent and baliff. Like any sensible gentleman, he puts effort into ensuring his estate runs smoothly.'

'Strange-it's not what I'd have thought.' Nell shook out a chemise. 'He seems so…well, lazy.'

Antonia shook her head. 'He's not lazy at all-that's just an image, a fashionable affectation. Ruthven's never been truly lazy in his life-not over anything that matters.'

Nell shrugged. 'Ah, well-you know him better than most.'

Antonia swallowed a 'humph' and continued to tend her curls.

Five minutes later, she was descending the steps from the terrace when she heard her name called. Looking about, she saw Geoffrey striding up from the stables. One glance at his face was enough to tell her her brother was in alt.

'A great day, Sis! I had them trotting sweetly from the first. Who knows-next time our teacher might let me take out his greys.'

Antonia grinned, sharing his delight. 'Bravo-but I wouldn't get your hopes too high.' While Ruthven had entrusted his greys to her, he had started Geoffrey with a pair of match chestnuts, by any standards a well-bred pair but not in the same league with his peerless Irish greys. “In fact,' Antonia said, linking her arm in Geoffrey's, 'I'd rather you didn't suggest it-he's really been very generous in helping you take the reins.'

'I wasn't about to,' Geoffrey replied, fondly condescending. 'That was just talk.' Obediently, he fell in beside her as she strolled the gravel path. 'Ruthven's been far more encouraging than I'd ever looked to see. He's a great gun-one of the best!'

Antonia heard the fervour in his tone; glancing up, she saw it reflected in his face.

Unconscious of her scrutiny, Geoffrey went on, 'I assume you know he's suggested I should accompany you to London? I wasn't too sure at first-but he explained how it would set yours and Henrietta's minds at ease-if you could see me in society a bit, build your confidence in me, that sort of thing.'

'Oh?' When Geoffrey glanced her way, Antonia hurriedly changed her tone. 'I mean-yes, that's right.' After a moment, she added, 'Ruthven's very good at thinking of such things.'

'He said that's one of the traits that distinguishes a man from a boy-that a man thinks of his actions in the