Loving the Enemy

Chapter 9

After dinner, instead of the usual entertainment, Lady Healey announced that she'd managed to procure a set of fireworks which she would set off as soon as it was fully dark.

The guests milled about on the terrace while waiting for the fireworks to be set up and light. Footmen had set up chairs and were serving refreshments of Madeira, Negus and port.

Many were excited, for it was most often seen only in Vauxhall Gardens, though there were some that were worried about accidents.

"Did you not see the Temple of Concord at Green Park on 1 August 1814 when the fireworks were set off? It was the most exquisite sight!"

"Yes, but on that same day, the seven-storey pagoda in St. James' Park burnt down last year because of fireworks and everyone present thought it was part of the spectacle!"

Adelaide was standing at the back, letting the conversations drift over her. Before the party, her mother had announced with great buoyancy that she'd managed to secure some fireworks to be set off during one of the nights. Adelaide been quite excited about watching the fireworks again. She'd only been to Vauxhall Gardens but once during the Season and the display that night had left her quite in awe.

A footman passed by in front of her and held out a tray with Madeira and Sherry. She chose a glass at random and sipped from it.

She stared out the gardens. The setup of the fireworks display was to take place further down on the grounds where there was a pond, to ensure no stray sparks would land and start a fire. She could barely make out the people moving about in the twilight but the torches they carried as they moved was a sight in itself, like little flames dancing a top the grass.

"I must say," she looked up to see Wyndham standing next to her and her heart thumped wildly as she recalled Frederica's words, "your mother certainly knows how to throw a party. Fireworks indeed."

"Yes." She faced front again and struggled to keep her breathing even. She could do nothing about her heartbeat but she could —and would — control her breath. "She was quite beside herself when she managed to secure a fire master to light the fireworks. I believe her words were 'something that will stay in everyone's minds long after the party has ended'. Or words to that effect."

"Indeed. As will the image of you riding astride."

Philip didn't know why he always felt the need to tease her. Was it because he wanted to see her lose control? Or was it because he enjoyed the way there was a hint of red to her cheeks, or that her eyes would darken to resemble the twilight sky above Healey Manor?

Whatever it was, he couldn't resist it.

As predicted, he elicited the expected response from her. "If you could desist from raising that fact ever again, I would be most grateful."

"Your haughty tone inspires me otherwise."

She glared at him and the words that came out were honeyed daggers. "If you would be most kind, Mr Wyndham, to forget our little...encounter this morning, I would be ever so grateful." She even curtsied at the end, the little minx, and he found himself hard pressed not to burst out laughing.

He settled for a broad smile instead. "Certainly, Miss Kendall, since you asked so...agreeably. However, I am curious about one thing. Why do you not have one of the stableboys drive you to your destination? It seems you go regularly enough to be friendly with the villagers."

Her glower fell away and her demeanour took on a more gloomy air. "If I were my own mistress, yes, I certainly would. But I'm not one who pays their wages in this house. I can bribe them from time to time but there still remains the possibility of discovery."