Rules of a Ruse (Regency Christmas Brides #2)

Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Alden sat at the dining table, wondering if Miss Sidney was a solution to all of his problems. She was not only beautiful but also passionate about horses. Marrying her could satisfy his great-aunt’s conditions for inheriting the horse farm. Now, he just had to charm her, a task he felt confident in, especially since he was well-aware of the effect he had on women. However, he prided himself on not being a rake. Unlike his brother, he treated women with respect.

Rising from his chair, he strode into the corridor, where he saw Mrs. Hardy, still draped in a sheet, hurrying past him. He shook his head at the sight. He had never met anyone who insisted on wearing a sheet over their head. It was peculiar, but it mattered little. His focus was on marriage and leaving this miserable country as soon as possible.

With purposeful strides, he headed to the study in the rear of the manor. Inside, he found Miss Sidney hunched over the ledgers at the desk. In a soft voice, careful to not startle her, Alden said, “Hello, again.”

Miss Sidney’s head snapped up, and her eyes flashed with what seemed like annoyance. But that was impossible. Wasn’t it ?

He smiled, knowing how his smile affected women. “I was hoping for that tour now,” he said.

To his surprise, his smile seemed to have no effect on her. “Very well,” she responded, closing the ledger and rising from her chair.

Her lackluster response only strengthened Alden’s resolve. He would win her over. That, he was sure of.

Miss Sidney came around the desk and smiled. Although, it didn’t reach her eyes. He wondered what it would take to make her truly smile.

Offering his arm, he asked, “Shall we?”

For a moment, he feared she might refuse, but then she placed her hand on his arm, and he led her from the room. In the entry hall, she dropped her hand and stepped away. “Allow me to collect my cloak.”

As if on cue, the butler arrived with a black cloak. “Allow me, Miss Sidney,” he said, draping it over her shoulders.

Miss Sidney tightened the strings on the cloak before turning back towards Alden. “If you have no objections, I would like to start the tour at the stables.”

“I have none.”

“Wonderful,” she murmured.

Alden did not like this. Not one bit. He had never had to work so hard to earn a woman’s favor before. It almost seemed that Miss Sidney was immune from his charms. If that was the case, this did not bode well for him.

The butler opened the door, letting in the chilly weather. Miss Sidney stepped out without bothering to wait for him.

He caught up with her on the path as he tightened his own coat around him. As they walked the short distance towards the large stables, Alden decided the silence had gone on long enough. “It is rather cold here in Scotland.” Did he truly have to resort to talking about the weather?

“Is it?” Miss Sidney asked. “I hardly notice. ”

“You hardly notice the freezing weather?” he asked, noting her pink cheeks.

She glanced at him. “I find it refreshing.”

“That is not the word I would call it,” Alden muttered.

Miss Sidney came to a stop and turned to face him. “If it is too cold for you, we can return to the manor.”

Now Alden suspected that Miss Sidney didn’t wish to spend any time with him. “No, that won’t be necessary.”

Her expression hinted at disappointment. “Then, shall we?” she asked, continuing down the path.

Finding himself curious, Alden asked, “How is it that you seem to enjoy this cold weather?”

Miss Sidney grew silent, her eyes growing reflective. “To me, it reminds me that I am free,” she admitted.

“Free from what?”

Keeping her gaze straight ahead, she replied, “From my uncle. He was my guardian after my parents died, but I was merely a burden to him.”

Alden could hear the pain in her words, and knew there was more to the story, but he didn’t wish to pry. Not yet. He decided to try to change subjects and lighten the mood. “How long have you run the horse farm?”

“For two years now,” Miss Sidney replied promptly, offering no additional information.

He glanced up at the sky, wondering what he could say to get Miss Sidney to open up to him. A thought occurred to him. “Your butler, Bryon, is it?” he asked.

She nodded.

“You seem rather fond of him.”

That got a smile out of Miss Sidney. “I am,” she confirmed. “He was the butler at my parents’ country estate. Lady Edith was gracious enough to hire him on as the butler here, despite most of her servants being Scottish.”

“Does that bother you? ”

“Not at all,” Miss Sidney replied. “At first, I had a hard time understanding some of them, but now I can blether jist like ‘em.”

Alden chuckled. “That is impressive.”

“I am sure my old governess would disagree with you,” Miss Sidney said, a smile playing on her lips.

“So, your parents had a country estate?” Alden asked, trying to pry gently into Miss Sidney’s past.

Miss Sidney’s smile faded, and her eyes took on a distant look. “They did, but it went to my uncle when they passed away.”

“I’m sorry,” he said softly, unsure of what else to say.

With a dismissive wave of her hand, Miss Sidney responded, “It is just the way things are. I am unable to change it so there is no point in dwelling on it. Life moves on.”

They arrived at the stables, and Alden moved to open the door. As they stepped inside, the overwhelming smell of manure and hay assaulted his senses.

Miss Sidney acknowledged the grooms with a polite nod, and they returned the gesture before resuming their work.

As they started walking down the aisle, Miss Sidney began to speak with a note of pride in her voice. “As I said before, these are Galloway ponies and are magnificent creatures. An interesting fact is that Shakespeare mentioned these horses as “Galloway nags” in Henry IV, Part two.”

“You enjoy Shakespeare?”

“I do,” Miss Sidney said. “My mother instilled her love of Shakespeare in me from a young age. We used to read his plays together.”

Alden grinned. “’What’s in a name’?’” he asked, testing her knowledge.

“’A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,’” Miss Sidney finished effortlessly. “I do so love Romeo and Juliet .”

“I suspected as much since most women do.”

Miss Sidney stopped by a bay-colored horse and reached up to pet its neck with a gentle touch. “This is Skye,” she said fondly. “Do not tell the other horses, but she is my favorite.”

Skye nickered in response, nudging Miss Sidney’s hand.

She laughed. “That is Skye’s way of asking for an apple.” She reached down to a bucket and pulled out an apple, holding it out as the horse eagerly gobbled up the treat.

Miss Sidney moved the hair out of Skye’s eyes before sharing, “Galloway ponies may be small, but they are very hardy and active. They are much larger than the ponies of Wales and are highly desired for their size and temperament. They make great horses for children because of their gentle nature.”

Alden could hear the affection in her voice. “You care greatly for these horses,” he remarked.

“How can I not?” Miss Sidney asked, her eyes softening as she looked at Skye. “Unfortunately, many people are starting to crossbreed these horses, which is why their numbers are dwindling. It is disheartening.”

“That is common to crossbreed,” Alden noted, trying to sound understanding.

Miss Sidney offered him a weak smile. “It is, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it,” she replied. “Farmers want a horse of greater weight, better adapted to the draught, especially in Scotland. It is practical, but it dilutes the unique qualities of these ponies.”

Alden reached out and petted Skye. “You must be doing something right since this horse farm is very profitable.”

“I hope that is always the case,” she said. “My father owned a horse farm, and he taught me everything he knew.”

He turned to face her. “What horses did he breed?”

“Cleveland Bay horses,” Miss Sidney said. “My father’s horse farm was much smaller in size than this one, but he enjoyed it. Some might even consider it a hobby, considering he was busy with his other responsibilities.”

“Cleveland Bays are very different from Galloway ponies,” Alden remarked .

Miss Sidney bobbed her head. “They are, but both are remarkable in their own right. Cleveland Bays are powerful and versatile. They are excellent for both work and riding.”

“If you could choose, which breed do you like the best?” Alden asked, finding himself curious about her preference.

A thoughtful look crossed Miss Sidney’s face. “That is like asking a mother who her favorite child is,” she replied. “Each breed has its own strengths and charm. It is impossible to choose, at least for me.”

Miss Sidney continued walking down the aisle, sharing additional facts about Galloway ponies. As interesting as that was, Alden found that he was far more curious in knowing more about the beautiful- and alluring- Miss Sidney.

After Elinor showed the stables to Mr. Dandridge, she led him outside to the pasture to admire the Galloway ponies. She had to admit that he wasn’t awful, but she needed to be careful to not let her guard down. She wasn’t about to lose this horse farm to a man who so clearly did not even deserve it. He hardly seemed interested in the horses.

She came to a stop at the fence and placed her hand on the top rail, watching the horses graze lazily. This was a scene that she could never get tired of.

Mr. Dandridge came to stand next to her and glanced up at the cloudy sky. “Should we go back inside? It looks as if it is going to snow.”

“A little snow won’t hurt anyone,” Elinor said lightly. “But if you insist.” She was cold but didn’t dare admit that, especially not to Mr. Dandridge.

As they started walking towards the manor, Mr. Dandridge asked, “Have you taken some time to consider potential brides for me from the village? ”

“Indeed, I have,” she said. “I can think of three women that would be perfectly suited for you.”

Mr. Dandridge looked at her curiously. “And you do not think they will be opposed to a marriage of convenience?”

She shook her head. “No, I do not think that will be an issue. In fact, I think they would welcome such an arrangement.”

“Wonderful,” he replied. “When can I meet them?”

Tightening the cloak against her, Elinor replied, “We can call on Mrs. Gwendolyn MacBain tomorrow. She is a widow and is the great-granddaughter of a Scottish earl.”

“Is she beautiful?”

“Yes,” Elinor replied. “But are you sure that is the most important thing you should be focusing on?”

Mr. Dandridge clasped his arms behind his back. “What else is important?”

“My mother always told me that I should be brave and fierce,” Elinor said. “And to be real, in a world full of fake.”

“That is easy for you to say since you are beautiful,” Mr. Dandridge remarked with a flirtatious grin.

Elinor rolled her eyes. “You can put away your flattery arsenal, sir. I am not interested in flattery.”

“What are you interested in?”

“The truth,” she declared.

Mr. Dandridge tipped his head in acknowledgement. “If that is the case, would a young woman like you be interested in a marriage of convenience?”

Elinor frowned. “No, I would not,” she said. “If I was mad enough to ever wed, I would do so only for love.”

“You must know that love is rare, especially in marriages.”

“But it is not impossible,” Elinor responded. “I know so because my father and mother loved one another.”

Mr. Dandridge sighed. “My parents hold mutual toleration for one another. We even occasionally dine with each other for dinner. ”

“Don’t you want more than what your parents had?” Elinor asked.

“I’m afraid I do not have that luxury,” Mr. Dandridge admitted. “I am the younger son, the spare. I have to work harder to just prove myself.”

Elinor nodded in understanding. “I understand that, considering I am a woman running a horse farm. People are just waiting for me to fail.”

“And how do you keep out the naysayers?”

“I make sure my voice is louder than theirs,” Elinor replied. “If I gave up every time someone told me I wasn’t capable, I would never have been able to accomplish what I have.”

Mr. Dandridge unclasped his arms and dropped them to his sides. “My brother is my biggest critic. He tells me that I am destined to forever be in his shadow.”

“It sounds like he is afraid of what you could become,” Elinor mused.

“I don’t know if that is to be true.”

Elinor turned towards him. “Why would he spend so much time tearing you down if he isn’t worried that it is he who might fail?”

Mr. Dandridge huffed. “But he is the heir to an earldom,” he said. “Whereas, I only have a small inheritance from my grandmother and hopefully this horse farm.”

“Men in powerful positions can still feel threatened by their own insecurities,” she reasoned.

A guarded look came to Mr. Dandridge’s expression, and it was evident that she had pushed him too far with her remarks. “I would prefer if we talked about you,” he said.

That was the last thing that Elinor wanted to talk about with a practical stranger. “We could always walk back to the manor in silence. I do enjoy a good quiet walk.”

Mr. Dandridge chuckled. “Why are you so sure you would be in a loveless marriage if things were different? ”

Elinor should have known it wouldn’t be that easy. “My uncle wanted me to marry someone that was much older than me so I could bear him sons.”

“That is not uncommon for young women in high Society,” Mr. Dandridge remarked.

“Yes, but the man was almost the age of my grandfather,” Elinor quickly replied. “In fact, he was good friends with my grandfather when they were younger.”

“Oh, I see,” Mr. Dandridge murmured.

Elinor worked hard to keep the bitterness out of her voice. “I pretended to go along with it until I arrived at the chapel. Once my uncle went to claim his seat, I snuck out the back and ran.”

“You ran?”

“As far as I could, which was rather difficult in slippers,” Elinor replied. “I had some pin money tucked away so I was able to eventually convince a hackney driver to take me to Lady Edith’s townhouse. I knew that she wouldn’t turn me over to my uncle.”

Mr. Dandridge lifted his brow. “My great-aunt protected you?”

“She did, despite my uncle threatening to sue her for her interference,” Elinor shared. “That is how I ended up here. When I look around these fields, I feel safe, knowing my uncle has no idea of where I am.”

“Then why not marry and have the protection of your husband’s name?”

Elinor huffed. “Again, I only wish to marry for love.”

“But is it not enough for two people to enjoy one another’s company?” Mr. Dandridge pressed.

“It is not that simple.”

Mr. Dandridge came to a stop and gently turned her to face him. “And I contend that it is.”

“Then by your logic, I could marry my butler,” she said. “I enjoy his company. ”

“Be serious.”

Elinor stood her ground. “I am,” she replied. “Perhaps I will marry a groom. They like horses so we would have something to talk about.”

Mr. Dandridge glanced heavenward. “You are not taking this seriously.”

“You say it is simple, but I just proved you wrong,” Elinor said. “There are many things that go into a good match.”

He put his hands up in defeat. “Fine. I will admit the process to secure a spouse is a little more difficult than just enjoying one another’s company, especially for people in high Society.”

“Thank you,” she said as she continued to walk up the path.

Mr. Dandridge easily matched her stride. “Do you often have to be right?”

“I do, but it comes so naturally to me,” Elinor quipped.

He smiled. “I am a smart enough man to not argue with that,” he said.

As they approached the main door, the door opened and the butler stood to the side to grant them entry.

Elinor removed her cloak and extended it towards the butler. “If you will excuse me, I have work that I must do.”

“Can I assist you in any way?” Mr. Dandridge asked.

“There is no need.”

Mr. Dandridge took a step closer to her. “I insist.”

She had no desire to have Mr. Dandridge and his handsome face underfoot for the rest of the day. But what could she say to get him to change his mind? She had an idea. “Do you not wish to get settled at the cottage before dinner?”

Apparently, that worked because Mr. Dandridge said, “I suppose I should.”

“Good,” Elinor replied. “I shall see you at supper.” And hopefully not a moment before. She just wanted to be alone.

Mr. Dandridge bowed. “Until later, Miss Sidney. ”

The butler gestured towards the door. “The coach to take you to the cottage will be here any moment, sir.”

Elinor dropped into a curtsy. “Good day, Mr. Dandridge.”

And with that, she walked away, not bothering to spare Mr. Dandridge another glance.