Today you are in luck. No matter how much I desire
those horses, I cannot bring myself to pay your price.”
The baron’s shoulders slumped in relief, but
his next words were belligerent. “You still insist I didn’t wish to
sell?”
“ I am certain of
it.”
“ Has my wife said something
to lead you to this conclusion?”
An odd inflection colored the baron’s voice,
putting every nerve in Adam’s body on alert. A blunder here could
prove costly, if not for himself then certainly for Catherine.
“ Really, sir, Lady
Bourgeault and I talked only of mundane matters. After all, we’ve
only just met. There would be little reason for us to discuss the
complicated issue of what motivates her husband.”
Adam hoped he conveyed an attitude of
nonchalance. Just how much had his host guessed?
“ Ashworth, let us be
perfectly clear with one another. Yesterday I allowed you to put my
grays to the reins with the idea I might sell them, reluctantly, I
admit.” He stopped, and his eyes narrowed as if to emphasize his
next words. “Without my permission you also put my wife to the
reins, symbolically speaking, of course. Make no mistake,” each
word was a measured rap, “Lady Bourgeault is not for sale, either
reluctantly or otherwise.”
The earl was
astounded. The man knew! Adam could deny everything, but intuition warned
him to face his accuser by counter-attacking.
“ You’ll understand if I’m
confused, sir. Your treatment of your wife leaves a great deal to
be desired and, frankly, it appeared you simply didn’t
care.”
“ Appearances can be
deceiving,” the baron bit out.
“ Now that we have
established my lack of understanding, I want to know how Lady
Bourgeault will fare once I’m gone.”
“ I owe you no
assurances.”
“ Nonetheless, I would
consider it a favor if you would put my mind to rest where the
baroness is concerned. I dislike the idea that I might have caused
her trouble.” The words were unthreatening enough, but the earl
inserted a deadly quality to his voice that left no doubt as to the
import of the request.
As Adam saw it, the baron had a choice.
Probably the man’s first inclination was to tell the earl to take
his request and put it in a dark bodily place. That was the most
satisfying course of action but not the wisest. Adam had power and
influence and many friends. To cross the Earl of Ashworth might
cost the baron more trouble than the temporary pleasure of defiance
would be worth. The baron’s next words proved Adam’s theory.
“ My wife,” he said
grudgingly, “will never know this conversation took place.” He
sighed. “I’m not unaware of my shortcomings as a husband, and I
don’t blame her for yearning after greener pastures. But fact is
Catherine is still lawfully married to me. Though my attitude may
seem cavalier, I can promise it is not.”
And with that the earl had to be satisfied.
Because no matter how much he wished it were otherwise, one
inalterable fact remained—Catherine was this man’s wife.
Adam took his linen napkin and dabbed his
mouth. “Well then, I see no point in prolonging our adieus. It has
been an interesting two days, Bourgeault. You will, I hope, send my
regards to your wife.”
Considering what the baron insisted he knew
of the previous forty-eight hours, this last could be perceived as
a slight. It occurred to Adam to voice regret for his conduct, but
it would have been an insincere apology at best, and he found he
could not bring forth the required words.
It didn’t matter, really. The baron had
apparently chosen to ignore all but the fact his guest was ready to
depart. He stood and bowed slightly, though he did not offer his
hand.
“ I think it’s been a
learning experience for us both,” he said.
The earl rose from his chair as well. “It
didn’t go quite the way either of us planned, did it? Yet, I must
say, you had a head start on me. I’ve been in the dark from the
beginning.”
“ Perhaps it has never
those horses, I cannot bring myself to pay your price.”
The baron’s shoulders slumped in relief, but
his next words were belligerent. “You still insist I didn’t wish to
sell?”
“ I am certain of
it.”
“ Has my wife said something
to lead you to this conclusion?”
An odd inflection colored the baron’s voice,
putting every nerve in Adam’s body on alert. A blunder here could
prove costly, if not for himself then certainly for Catherine.
“ Really, sir, Lady
Bourgeault and I talked only of mundane matters. After all, we’ve
only just met. There would be little reason for us to discuss the
complicated issue of what motivates her husband.”
Adam hoped he conveyed an attitude of
nonchalance. Just how much had his host guessed?
“ Ashworth, let us be
perfectly clear with one another. Yesterday I allowed you to put my
grays to the reins with the idea I might sell them, reluctantly, I
admit.” He stopped, and his eyes narrowed as if to emphasize his
next words. “Without my permission you also put my wife to the
reins, symbolically speaking, of course. Make no mistake,” each
word was a measured rap, “Lady Bourgeault is not for sale, either
reluctantly or otherwise.”
The earl was
astounded. The man knew! Adam could deny everything, but intuition warned
him to face his accuser by counter-attacking.
“ You’ll understand if I’m
confused, sir. Your treatment of your wife leaves a great deal to
be desired and, frankly, it appeared you simply didn’t
care.”
“ Appearances can be
deceiving,” the baron bit out.
“ Now that we have
established my lack of understanding, I want to know how Lady
Bourgeault will fare once I’m gone.”
“ I owe you no
assurances.”
“ Nonetheless, I would
consider it a favor if you would put my mind to rest where the
baroness is concerned. I dislike the idea that I might have caused
her trouble.” The words were unthreatening enough, but the earl
inserted a deadly quality to his voice that left no doubt as to the
import of the request.
As Adam saw it, the baron had a choice.
Probably the man’s first inclination was to tell the earl to take
his request and put it in a dark bodily place. That was the most
satisfying course of action but not the wisest. Adam had power and
influence and many friends. To cross the Earl of Ashworth might
cost the baron more trouble than the temporary pleasure of defiance
would be worth. The baron’s next words proved Adam’s theory.
“ My wife,” he said
grudgingly, “will never know this conversation took place.” He
sighed. “I’m not unaware of my shortcomings as a husband, and I
don’t blame her for yearning after greener pastures. But fact is
Catherine is still lawfully married to me. Though my attitude may
seem cavalier, I can promise it is not.”
And with that the earl had to be satisfied.
Because no matter how much he wished it were otherwise, one
inalterable fact remained—Catherine was this man’s wife.
Adam took his linen napkin and dabbed his
mouth. “Well then, I see no point in prolonging our adieus. It has
been an interesting two days, Bourgeault. You will, I hope, send my
regards to your wife.”
Considering what the baron insisted he knew
of the previous forty-eight hours, this last could be perceived as
a slight. It occurred to Adam to voice regret for his conduct, but
it would have been an insincere apology at best, and he found he
could not bring forth the required words.
It didn’t matter, really. The baron had
apparently chosen to ignore all but the fact his guest was ready to
depart. He stood and bowed slightly, though he did not offer his
hand.
“ I think it’s been a
learning experience for us both,” he said.
The earl rose from his chair as well. “It
didn’t go quite the way either of us planned, did it? Yet, I must
say, you had a head start on me. I’ve been in the dark from the
beginning.”
“ Perhaps it has never
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