Page 45 of Miss Devon’s Choice

Gilbert veered his horse from the house to Christian’s footpath. “Good morning, Easton,” he greeted, a wide grin on his face. “We are well met this morning. I have come to extend an invitation to you and your betrothed.”

“Really?” Christian’s heart gave an odd little tug. It would be his first time to escort her anywhere, other than to and from meals. The idea of getting away from Annesbury Park for a few hours held great appeal. “What sort of invitation?”

Gilbert dismounted with practiced ease. “Doctor and Mrs. Hastings arrived yesterday evening. Julia is very eager to see her youngest sister. Will you come spend the day with us? Of course, you’ll have to return to Annesbury Park for dinner, to avoid stirring the aunt’s suspicions.” The gentleman’s grin never dimmed. He seemed to enjoy the clandestine nature of the event.

“I would be happy to accompany Miss Devon to your home.” Christian looked back up to the house. “And I will do my best to escape undetected with her.”

Gilbert chuckled. “I’ll let Christine know you’ve accepted. She’ll make certain you are both comfortable during your stay.”

Given Mrs. Gilbert’s treatment of him at the card party, Christian wasn’t entirely certain she’d willingly be a gracious hostess to him. To keep his word in aiding Rebecca’s visit, he was prepared to brave her unearned displeasure.

“When would you like us to arrive?” Christian asked, bending to scratch Ajax’s chin.

“As soon as you are able. The sisters haven’t been together for nearly a year.” Gilbert’s smile sobered and he tapped at his thigh with the reins. “This is important to them, Easton.”

Though he had no siblings of his own, Christian frequently missed the cousins with whom he’d grown up. Spending every summer until his fifteenth birthday in their company had created bonds that he hoped had lasted into adulthood.

“I understand. I will find Miss Devon and tell her the news.” The men shook hands, then Gilbert was mounted and off again. Ajax bounded after the horse but came back the instant Christian called. “Come, boy. Your exercise is through for the day.”

The first order of business was to request horses be saddled for he and Rebecca. Then they would wait for nothing but to change clothing.

After seeing to the arrangements regarding the animals, Christian went in search of Rebecca. She hadn’t come down to breakfast yet. A servant would need to be found to carry a message to her room. He stepped into the hall, looking for one of the nearly always present footmen, when he heard his name.

“Christian, good morning. I saw you were out with Ajax.”

He turned to see her approaching, her long hair coiled up in a braided crown. Her eyes sparkled with her usual cheerful expression, her whole countenance bright despite the muted green gown she wore. For the space of two breaths, he completely forgot what it was he needed to tell her.

“Did you finish your walk already?” she asked, her head tilting to one side.

He snapped back to attention. “It was cut short.” Christian took a step closer to her, unknowingly raising his hand, palm up. Rebecca didn’t hesitate to place her hand in his without so much as blinking. “I met your brother-in-law, Mr. Gilbert. He’s invited us to come spend the day at his home.”

Rebecca’s eyebrows raised. “Really? Do you wish to go?”

“More importantly, you will wish to go.” He’d said nothing of the Gilberts’ hopes for the third sister’s visit. Before he spoke of it, he looked about the hallway carefully. Seeing no one, he drew Rebecca closer and bent to speak directly in her ear. The fresh, flowery scent of her nearly made him lose his thoughts again. “Your sister, Mrs. Hastings, has come to visit.”

The soft, swift inhale of her breath made him grin. He leaned back, just enough to take in her wide eyes and softly parted lips.

“Truly?” she asked in a whisper. “Julia is here?”

Christian gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Get dressed for riding. We might be able to slip away without a chaperone if we act quickly.”

Her eyes softened. “You know I’m not supposed to see her?”

Christian lifted one shoulder. “You grow nearer to being a married woman every day. I will not put such constraints upon you. I fail to see why they are necessary at all. But hurry, carina. I have already arranged for the horses to be readied.”

The gratitude in her smile, the excitement in her eyes, made his heart leap. “Go, Rebecca.”

She laughed and dropped a curtsy, then turned and ran so quickly that her skirts fluttered behind her. Christian went in search of the earl, to make their excuses, absenting them from the day’s events. The earl didn’t keep him long, knowing the situation well enough, and before half an hour had passed Christian was seated on King Lud and Rebecca sat primly upon the back of a young mare.

“I cannot believe everyone kept this a secret,” Rebecca exclaimed as soon as they were out of sight of the earl’s lane. “I have missed Julia. The last time we saw each other was after she had her baby, last summer. We had to keep it a secret then, too. I’m only allowed to write her.”

Christian couldn’t understand the severity of the estrangement. What father would completely cut off a child when nothing untoward had been done? And why punish the other children in such a manner? It made him wonder about the wisdom of connecting himself with Mr. Devon, whom he still hadn’t met. Was the man a complete tyrant?

“You will love her, I am certain. Julia is the kindest of the three of us.”

“She must be a saint, then,” he said, admiring Rebecca’s upturned profile. “Because you are one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.”

Rebecca’s eyebrows raised and her mouth dropped open. “Oh, that doesn’t speak well for other people you know at all. I’ve done nothing but beleaguer you since you’ve arrived.” Her cheeks grew pinker as she spoke. “I have cried, forced my company upon you, argued, and now require you to take part in my subterfuge. I feel certain you must have found me troublesome at least a half dozen times.”