She gazed after him in a kind of horrified wonder, believing for a moment that the chestnuts were bolting. But then’ headlong pace was checked gradually; they dropped into a canter; continued so for a little way; and then clattered into Cuckfield at a smart trot.
Her own team was blown; she could only follow in the Earl’s wake through the narrow street to the centre of the town.
He reached the King’s Head considerably in advance of her and by the time she had pulled up before it he was standing on the ground awaiting her, and a couple of ostlers, shrilly instructed by Henry, were leading off his horses.
“Blow up for the change, Judson!” said Miss Taverner sharply.
The groom, however, was looking at Worth, and did not obey her. The Earl laid his hand on the curricle, and said curtly: “You will be pleased to alight, Miss Taverner.”
She glanced down into his face, and experienced a sensation of shock. She had seen the Earl supercilious, she had seen him scornful, but never had she encountered in him a look so blazingly angry. The breath caught in her throat, but she said with tolerable composure: “By no means, Lord Worth. You were averse, I believe, from my driving to Brighton in Peregrine’s curricle. You must know that I have submitted to your decree, and have engaged to race him there in my own curricle instead.”
“Miss Taverner, must I request you again to get down?”
“I shall not get down, sir. Time is precious. I wait only for the change.”
His eyes met hers; he said with a menace she could not mistake in his voice: “Your race is run. I have a good deal to say to you. If you choose it shall be said here in the open street, but I think you will prefer to hear it alone!”
A flush of mortification at being thus addressed before the groom and the waiting ostlers, spread over her cheeks. She could not doubt that the Earl would be as good as his word, and with one furious look shot at him from under her brows, she gave the reins to Judson, and allowed the Earl to assist her to alight. His fingers grasped her wrist ungently, and released it the instant her feet were upon the ground. He said: “Go into the inn!” and turned to give instructions to the ostlers.