Free Vixen by Jane Feather

about that. We’ll ride into Manchester and see if we can’t improve your wardrobe.” He wiped the soap off his face with a towel and passed a checking hand over his chin. “That’s better.”
    He subjected Chloe, still perched on the table, to a frowning inspection. “But you certainly won’t do. Samuel, give the lass a jug of hot water to take upstairs. She needs a good wash.”
    Samuel filled a copper jug from the kettle on the fire. He surveyed Chloe appraisingly. “I’d best take it up for ye. A puff of wind w’d blow ye away, seems to me.”
    “I’m a lot stronger than I look,” Chloe said, holding out her hand for the jug. “I can dig canker out of a horse’s hoof, and they’re very heavy to hold.”
    “Good God,” Hugo muttered. “How the hell did you become a veterinarian?”
    “The head groom in the livery stables in Bolton taught me a lot. I used to sneak out Of the seminary on Sundaysand spend the day with him. It wasn’t very popular,” she added.
    “No, I don’t suppose it was.”
    “But there wasn’t anything they could do to stop me,” she continued blithely. “And then there’s a poacher who lives in the village at Shipton. He taught me how to handle birds and small animals.”
    “I’m amazed the long-suffering Misses Trent kept you as long as they did,” Hugo observed.
    “I’m sure they were well paid,” Chloe said, an edge to her voice. “I spent most of the year there, after all.” She hefted the jug and went to the door. “Are we going to Manchester this morning?”
    “Unless you have other plans,” he said.
    “No, I don’t believe I do,” Chloe responded with his own mock solemnity.
    Hugo chuckled, wondering where she’d acquired her sense of humor. Elizabeth had been painfully serious, and Stephen had derived amusement only in extremity. “I have to talk to your bankers. How much allowance do you have at the moment?”
    “Allowance?” Chloe blinked at this novel concept. “I’ve never had any money. If I wanted pin money, Miss Emily would give it to me. But they supplied the bushels … and there wasn’t much else to spend money on.”
    Hugo scratched his head. “I haven’t the faintest idea what would be appropriate for you.” It would depend, of course, on where she lived. After the morning’s visit, he no longer considered the possibility of setting her up in a private establishment with a respectable female companion. At least, not within striking distance of Shipton. She’d find it impossible to avoid her half-brother and Crispin in such circumstances.
    She was still standing by the door, carrying the jug of water, and he waved her away. “Go and change your dress, lass. I’ll sort something out.”
    “So, what’re ye plannin’ on doin’ with ’er?” Samuel asked as the door closed behind her.
    “God knows.” Hugo sighed. “You read my thoughts.”
    “Ye reckon on keepin’ ’er here?”
    “For the moment, I don’t see much choice.” But there must be
some
family she could live with other than the Greshams, he thought. It wasn’t possible at such a tender age to have no one who cared for her.
    It
shouldn’t be
possible. But he suspected it was the case. Her life had been shaped so far by a debauched and bloodstained past in which he’d played a defining part. And now it seemed his chickens had come home to roost with a vengeance.

Chapter 5

    “H OW FINE YOU LOOK ,” Chloe said admiringly, coming into the courtyard half an hour later.
    Her guardian had changed his farmer’s garb for cravat, buckskins, and top boots.
    Hugo regarded her riding habit of brown serge with a grimace. “I wish I could say the same for you, lass. Are all your clothes that ghastly color?”
    “Yes,” she said casually, examining with a somewhat critical frown the dapple-gray pony Billy was holding. “Am I to ride the pony?”
    “I’m not putting you on one of my hunters,” he said. “And Dapple’s the only alternative.”
    “Oh.” Chloe