‘That scandal-sheet!’ Guy’s lip curled. ‘Ignore it, I do. What they cannot find out they make up, and as long as it is only about my amorous adventures it does not bother me at all. Besides, if the scandals are bad enough, perhaps those ambitious mamas will finally give up the chase.’
‘I know the gossip doesn’t bother you, but it does anger your friends. Take the latest on dit about the Ansell chit, for example.’
‘By heaven, I dance twice with a girl and immediately I am thought to be in love!’
‘Well, her mother thought so, at all events. Told everyone you had invited them to Wylderbeck.’
‘They invited themselves. Ansell started telling me how his daughter was interested in architecture and that she had heard such wonderful things of Wylderbeck. I told ‘em they were welcome to take a look at the old house.’ Guy shot his friend a quick glance, his grey eyes glinting. ‘I hope they enjoyed it. I had a letter from my steward last week saying they had come hotfoot to Yorkshire, only to be told I was not at home! My housekeeper showed ‘em around the house and suggested they could put up at the Darrington Arms.’
Davey laughed, but shook his head at him.
‘A devilish trick to play, Guy.’
‘One becomes weary of being constantly pursued. Scandal goes some way to reduce the problem.’
‘I sometimes think you are happy for people to think you betrayed your country,’ muttered Davey, frowning.
‘If you think that, then you are a fool,’ Guy retorted. ‘I regret my youthful folly more than I can say, but the damage is done. However, I prefer that the news-sheets and the ton should talk about my scandalous love life and leave the past alone. It may be forgotten now, but the smear is there, and always will be.’
‘But it could be erased—indeed, it was never more than a salacious rumour, but your withdrawing from politics was taken by some as an admission of guilt. Come back to London,’ Davey urged him. ‘There are many in government who know your worth and would welcome your help, especially now, with the unrest in France.’
‘Mayhap I will, but I would be happier to do that if those matchmaking dragons would leave me alone.’
‘There is a simple answer to that,’ remarked Davey. ‘Take a wife.’
‘Never!’ Guy shook his head, laughing. ‘Now that …’ he grinned, kicking his horse into a canter ‘… is a step too far!’
A speedy chase along the ridge followed but when they reached the highest point Guy brought his horse to a stand and looked around him, enjoying the freedom of the wide open space. He thought he could smell the sea on the light breeze, even though they were nearly thirty miles from the coast.
‘Are you sorry now that you suggested we should stay on here?’ he asked as Davey came alongside him. ‘Would you have preferred to go on to Osmond’s house with the others?’
‘Not at all! Much as I like having a large party at Highridge, I prefer this: we can do away with ceremony, rise when we wish, do what we want and talk or not, as the mood takes us.’
Guy reached across to lay a hand briefly on Davey’s shoulder.
‘You have been a good friend to me, I appreciate that. Always there to support me, even when the whole world thought the worst—’
‘Nay, there were plenty of us who realised you were not to blame, even though you preferred not to defend yourself. Too chivalrous by half, Guy.’
‘What would you have had me do?’
Davey scowled. ‘Put the blame squarely where it belonged.’
Guy shook his head.
‘The woman had fled the country: my protests would have looked very ungallant.’
‘Gallantry be damned,’ exclaimed Davey. ‘You gave up a promising career for that woman and robbed the country of a most able politician! Your talents have been wasted, Darrington.’
‘Not at all. I have spent my time putting my estates back into good heart. My father almost bankrupted the family, you know, with his profligate ways. And it was useful to be in the north while my scapegrace brother Nick was away—I could keep an eye upon his estates.’
‘But it must be five years since he settled down. Surely you might make a push now to return to politics.’
‘To be subjected to ridicule and constantly reminded of my disgrace?’ Guy stared out across the hills. ‘No, I thank you!’ He gave himself a mental shake. ‘But this is dismal stuff for such a fine September day! Let us press on. What else did you wish to show me?’
Realising confidences were at an end, Davey pointed to the north-west.
‘Thought you might like to visit Mount Grace Priory. I know the family, so there will be no difficulty seeing the ruins. I know you have an interest in antiquities of that sort.’ He grinned. ‘Not quite in keeping with the image of the Dangerous Lord Darrington, which is why I didn’t suggest it while the others were here.’
Guy laughed. ‘Much I care about that! But you are right, they would not have enjoyed such a visit.’ He glanced up at the sun. ‘But it is midday already—is there time?’
‘Of course. We can spend a couple of hours looking at the ruins, then take the lower route back to Highridge, stopping at Boltby. The inn there is famous for its dinners.’
‘Very well, then, let us go to it!’
In perfect accord the two gentlemen set off at a canter, enjoying the freedom of the hills before they were obliged once more to descend to the lower ground.
The ruins of Mount Grace had occupied most of their afternoon and by the time they set off again for Highridge the sun was far to the west.
‘Looks like rain is coming,’ observed Guy, eyeing the heavy grey clouds building on the horizon.
‘We should crack along if we are to avoid a soaking,’ agreed Davey. ‘Come along then; mayhap we’ll forgo dinner at Boltby and cut across country. What do you say?’
‘Why not? We have been jumping these walls for the past couple of weeks; my horse is accustomed to it now.’
Davey laughed.
‘It will be the muddier route, but that will make the roaring fire and rum punch all the more enjoyable when we get home!’
Davey led the way through the winding lanes for another mile before turning off on to a narrow track. As they left behind them the little villages that lined the main highway the country became ever more barren and soon they were riding across a wilderness with no houses in sight. Guy glanced up at the sky. The sun had disappeared behind thick clouds the colour of lead and the air was heavy with the threat of rain.
‘How much farther is it?’ he asked as they slowed down to a walk, resting the horses.
‘About another five miles,’ replied Davey. ‘I am sorry we did not think to bring our greatcoats. If this rain comes down, it will be heavy, I fear.’
Guy shrugged.
‘No matter. We may yet beat it.’
‘We may indeed. We can at least cover the next mile or so at speed, if we cut across the fields.’ With that Davey spurred his horse and they were off again, galloping across the large, rectangular fields. Guy’s powerful hunter took the dry stone walls in his stride, but he silently cursed his friend’s recklessness as they scattered sheep and a herd of milch cows in their headlong flight. The daylight was reduced to a gloomy twilight and a soft rain had started to fall as they thundered towards another grey stone wall. It was not particularly high, but as they approached it Davey’s bay mare stumbled. They were too close to stop and she made a valiant effort to clear the wall, but a trailing hoof caught one of the topstones, sending horse and