never marry any man!” Her voice was shrill and she took a deep breath. “I don’t care what that—that rake told you, Father. I am not throwing myself at men, especially not at him. I am not drenching myself in cheap perfume. That was all his fault. I—I—”
She fought back words which would be much better left unsaid.
“What?” said her father in blank astonishment. “You trying to tell me now Verderan’s been sniffing at your skirts? You’ll catch cold at that, my girl. I know the type of woman he favors, and you’ve never been that type, even when you had youth on your side.”
“I said no such thing,” gasped Emily from a black pit of hurt and rage. “I know he wouldn’t . . . Father ...” She put a hand over her eyes as if to press back the tears that threatened.
Her father made an embarrassed growl, then said with gruff kindness, “ ’Course he wouldn’t. Now stop having the vapors, girl, and sit down.” Emily had herself in hand again and faced him, but remained resolutely standing. He frowned and said, “As you wish. This is what comes of letting a girl play a man’s role. Addled your wits.”
His tone turned kind again, however. “Oh, Emily-chick. You’ve doubtless fallen head over heels for the man, which ain’t surprising, given his phiz. But if I let you go bothering him, you’ll not thank me when you come to your senses. His tastes don’t run to country spinsters. And though he’s a fine man in the field he isn’t husband material for any respectable woman. But if you do something foolish,” he said bitterly, “there’d be damn-all I could do about it from here, would there?”
Emily’s rage lessened in the face of her father’s anguish. Plenty of it remained, however, stored up for Piers Verderan when next they had the misfortune to meet.
She was able to answer calmly. “There will be no need for you to do anything.” She laid a hand over his. “Truly, Father, I don’t know what he said, but it is all moonbeams. I’ve only met the man twice before today, and both times we merely conversed, with a digression into mild disagreement. You know me, Father. Would I ever look to a rake for a husband?”
Sir Henry eyed her doubtfully. “Not in your right mind, no. But women tend to fall out of their wits with remarkable speed around men of his ilk, especially women past their last prayers. I could tell you stories—-” He broke off and cleared his throat. “Well, let’s just say you wouldn’t be the first plain miss to throw her cap at a handsome rake and have it caught. But only for a brief amusement. That’s all you’d be to him.”
Emily was shocked by the pain his words caused her; she’d always known she was plain, and attractive only for her comfortable dowry and practical skills. Why did it hurt so to have it pointed out so bluntly? She fought to remain impassive. If the only thing she had left in the world was her pride, she would at least hold on to that.
“Father, I have no interest in the man,” Emily said tightly. “You trust me with your business. Can you not trust my good sense?”
His eyes suddenly widened and he chuckled admiringly. “Oh, now I get it. Business, oh? Realized you’ll need someone to hunt those horses. But you’ll catch cold with Verderan, Emily. He’s got his own string, every one a prime bit of blood and you’re hardly likely to besot him into doing you a favor. Now, this friend of Felix’s may be a better bet, but from the story I’ve heard it’s clear you don’t know how to wheedle a man. You should be able to turn him up sweet and still keep the line.”
Emily wasn’t sure if this was better or worse. Now she wasn’t a man-mad spinster, she was a failed seductress with mercenary motives. Well, she could put an end to this.
“I’ve hired Dick Christian to ride the horses,” she said coolly, “starting with Wallingford at the first meet.”
“Christian?” Sir Henry repeated blankly. “But he has his
She fought back words which would be much better left unsaid.
“What?” said her father in blank astonishment. “You trying to tell me now Verderan’s been sniffing at your skirts? You’ll catch cold at that, my girl. I know the type of woman he favors, and you’ve never been that type, even when you had youth on your side.”
“I said no such thing,” gasped Emily from a black pit of hurt and rage. “I know he wouldn’t . . . Father ...” She put a hand over her eyes as if to press back the tears that threatened.
Her father made an embarrassed growl, then said with gruff kindness, “ ’Course he wouldn’t. Now stop having the vapors, girl, and sit down.” Emily had herself in hand again and faced him, but remained resolutely standing. He frowned and said, “As you wish. This is what comes of letting a girl play a man’s role. Addled your wits.”
His tone turned kind again, however. “Oh, Emily-chick. You’ve doubtless fallen head over heels for the man, which ain’t surprising, given his phiz. But if I let you go bothering him, you’ll not thank me when you come to your senses. His tastes don’t run to country spinsters. And though he’s a fine man in the field he isn’t husband material for any respectable woman. But if you do something foolish,” he said bitterly, “there’d be damn-all I could do about it from here, would there?”
Emily’s rage lessened in the face of her father’s anguish. Plenty of it remained, however, stored up for Piers Verderan when next they had the misfortune to meet.
She was able to answer calmly. “There will be no need for you to do anything.” She laid a hand over his. “Truly, Father, I don’t know what he said, but it is all moonbeams. I’ve only met the man twice before today, and both times we merely conversed, with a digression into mild disagreement. You know me, Father. Would I ever look to a rake for a husband?”
Sir Henry eyed her doubtfully. “Not in your right mind, no. But women tend to fall out of their wits with remarkable speed around men of his ilk, especially women past their last prayers. I could tell you stories—-” He broke off and cleared his throat. “Well, let’s just say you wouldn’t be the first plain miss to throw her cap at a handsome rake and have it caught. But only for a brief amusement. That’s all you’d be to him.”
Emily was shocked by the pain his words caused her; she’d always known she was plain, and attractive only for her comfortable dowry and practical skills. Why did it hurt so to have it pointed out so bluntly? She fought to remain impassive. If the only thing she had left in the world was her pride, she would at least hold on to that.
“Father, I have no interest in the man,” Emily said tightly. “You trust me with your business. Can you not trust my good sense?”
His eyes suddenly widened and he chuckled admiringly. “Oh, now I get it. Business, oh? Realized you’ll need someone to hunt those horses. But you’ll catch cold with Verderan, Emily. He’s got his own string, every one a prime bit of blood and you’re hardly likely to besot him into doing you a favor. Now, this friend of Felix’s may be a better bet, but from the story I’ve heard it’s clear you don’t know how to wheedle a man. You should be able to turn him up sweet and still keep the line.”
Emily wasn’t sure if this was better or worse. Now she wasn’t a man-mad spinster, she was a failed seductress with mercenary motives. Well, she could put an end to this.
“I’ve hired Dick Christian to ride the horses,” she said coolly, “starting with Wallingford at the first meet.”
“Christian?” Sir Henry repeated blankly. “But he has his
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