Loving the Enemy

Chapter 4

He felt a hand rest on his shoulder. It squeezed him with infinite tenderness, yet he felt the strength of his brother's love beneath it. "They haven't been as bad lately." He thought about the time he spent with Eliza in London and it brought a rueful smile to his face.

"You've found a remedy?"

"Of sorts. A woman. A widow in London." He quickly added. "Being with her has helped me a little."

Christopher chuckled. "I wouldn't deny that a woman's touch is indeed a soothing balm. But now that she isn't here to help you, what will you do?"

Philip stared out the window into the immaculately kept gardens below. "I'm not sure. Something that will wear out the body enough so my mind will follow suit. Walking, swimming, horseback riding. Whatever there is to be done."

Garrett dashed off a note to his friend to meet him in the library. However, the footman came back to inform him that the other man had gone riding with his brother.

He looked out the window and thought that was a fine idea indeed. And if he were lucky enough, he might meet the pair en route.

After having changed his clothes to something suitable for riding, he made his way to the stables, and bumped into his sister with her friend, Miss Frederica Blackmore, who were coming in from the gardens.

"Good afternoon, Miss Blackmore. I see you have arrived safely. My sister would be glad of your company."

"Thank you, Mr Kendall. You have quite the beautiful house here, and large fine grounds I heard. You must like it very much here."

They were no strangers for he'd seen her take tea at Healey House in London during the Season. She was a lovely woman who possessed a pair of emerald green eyes and light brown hair that would turn coppery red in the sun. Her cheeks were still plump with youth though the rest of her was womanly and beguiling.

However, he knew nothing of her character for they'd spend no extended time together since he'd deliberately avoided the Season's activities, as his sister and mother were very well aware of. Hence he knew nothing about her beyond the fact that she was a distant relative of a baronet and a debutante like his sister.

He suppose she must possessed some characteristics that his sister approved of for they'd become intimate friends over the course of the Season and were rarely seen outside each other's company.

"Yes, I do. In fact, I'm off to ride around said grounds."

"Oh, can we join you?" His sister piped. "I can use it as an excuse to not accompany Mama as she greets her guests as a pretence to introduce me to potential husbands." She rolled her eyes and they two of them chuckled.

"Yes, I don't see why not."

"Wonderful." She tugged on her friend's arm. "Let us change and we'll meet you in the stables. You can look for a suitable mound for Frederica." Then she spied her lady's maid, Betsey, coming toward her.

"Miss Kendall!" Betsey hailed her. "Her ladyship wishes to see you."

"Drat!" She turned to him. "Will you keep my friend here company while I go see what Mama wants?"

He nodded and then it was just the pair of them left. "Should I fetch your maid to be your chaperone, Miss Blackmore? I'm not quite certain what rules I should follow."

She lifted her shoulders. "We aren't cloistered in a room with the doors closed. We're out here for all and sundry to see. I daresay we aren't flouting propriety too much."

"Yes, I suppose that is true."

An awkward silence descended and he wondered what he could say to her that wasn't about the weather or fashion — which he realised was all the conversation he'd ever had with ladies in London during the Season.