The Fall of Lord Drayson (Tanglewood Book 1) Read Free

molasses. Lucy studied his person, wondering who he was and what business he had with her family.
    “I’m here to see Mrs. Beresford, if you please.” The deep timbre of his voice matched the depth of his eyes, and Lucy was sure she had never beheld such a handsome creature. Tall and broad-shouldered, he was dressed impeccably, from his traveling coat and simple cravat to his perfectly shined riding boots—a sharp contrast to her own untidiness.
    Aware that she was practically gaping at him, Lucy forced her gaze back to his face, where she found a hint of an amused smile.
    She cleared her throat. “Mrs. Beresford is away, I’m afraid. Perhaps I might be of assistance?”
    Apparently he didn’t care for that answer. His jaw tightened, and his lips became a straight line. When he didn’t respond right away, Lucy glanced past him through the sleet, to where a beautiful black Arabian stood tethered to the post.
    “Is that your horse, sir?” she asked, ready to offer the use of the stables as shelter for the poor animal.
    He followed her gaze before turning back to her. In a dry tone, he said, “I have never seen that animal before in my life.”
    Lucy’s lips twitched. “You are bamming me, sir. Is this your way of pointing out the silliness of my question? You know as well as I that the animal is, indeed, yours.”
    “You should never assume anything about a stranger,” he said.
    “Are you a stranger?” she countered, her curiosity growing by the second.
    “Perhaps,” was all he said.
    Unperturbed, Lucy nodded toward the horse. “Does the animal have a name, or is that a silly question as well?”
    The man studied her for a moment, as though assessing whether or not she was worthy of knowing such information, before answering. “Darling.”
    “Pardon?”
    “His name is Darling.”
    She studied him for a moment. There was a hint of humor in his eyes, as though he was challening her to believe him. “I do think you are serious.”
    “I am.”
    “Surely not. No respectable man would name his horse Darling.”
    “Perhaps I am not respectable.”
    “I’m beginning to think that might be the case.”
    His lips twitched a moment before settling back into a straight line. “If you must know, I experienced a moment of weakness when I promised my mischievous niece that she could name my next horse. Once decided, there was no talking her out of Darling. I should probably forget my promise and give the animal a name more suited to his sex and disposition, but alas, I am a man of my word. So I must either sell it, which would be a pity, or call him Darling.”
    Charmed by the fact that he had a soft spot for his niece, Lucy said, “You could always omit the L and call him Daring, or something a little more masculine.”
    He pressed his lips together as though considering it. “Not a bad idea. Perhaps my niece would allow Darling to be his surname instead.”
    “And Daring his Christian name?”
    “Exactly.”
    “Daring Darling?” Lucy laughed. “That could twist one’s tongue, couldn’t it?”
    “Ah, but therein lies the genius of it, as my niece is vastly fond of alliteration. And with a name like Amelia Applegate, how could she not be?” His expression was now relaxed and somehow more handsome than before.
    “I must adjust my earlier judgment of you, sir. Any man who dotes on his niece in such a way must be at least a little respectable.”
    The praise had a perplexing effect on him. Instead of smiling, his lips straightened. In an instant, he became the formal and stiff gentleman who had first appeared at her door.
    “You give me too much credit, I’m afraid,” he said. “Now, if you would be so kind as to tell me when I might expect to find Mrs. Beresford at home?”
    “A fortnight.”
    “A fortnight!” If he had not been displeased before, he certainly was now. Apparently two weeks was far too long for Lucy’s mother to be away.
    Her mouth lifted into an impish smile, and she gestured