Love With a Scandalous Lord by Lorraine Heath Page B

out on the garden. But here no books for pleasure were housed on the shelves behind his desk. Here, there was little more than ledgers and books designed to help run massive estates. Here, he could not escape his obligations. Nor, in this smaller room, could they escape him.
    He crossed the room, turned, leaned his hips against his desk, and curled his fingers around its polished edge. He did not invite his belligerent guests to sit. What he had to say was better received standing.
    “Did your father not inform you that you were to vacate the premises during the afternoon?” he asked.
    “He did,” Lydia replied succinctly, “but—”
    “I didn’t want to go for a carriage ride,” Colton finished.
    Lydia turned to him. “I’ll handle this.”
    “I can take care of myself.”
    Rhys recognized the battle raging within Lydia. The older sister wanting to protect the younger brother who wished to prove himself a man. Rhys was captivated by the various emotions sweeping across her face, and yet within each one was shadowed the depth of her love for the boy.
    She gave the barest of nods, and the boy stepped forward, his mouth set in a grim line.
    “It’s more boring than a month of Sundays to sit in a carriage, doing nothing. Pa said I could stay here as long as I stayed in my room. I was looking out the window and saw you riding in. I wanted to find Lydia to see if I could borrow a horse and go riding. I stepped into the hallway about the same time the Duchess came up the stairs.” He shrugged. “Bad timing.”
    “I daresay that’s an understatement,” Rhys mused aloud.
    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lydia’s mouth twitch. He leaned forward slightly, and all the humor fled from her face. She took an almost imperceptible step toward him and closer to the lad. He eased back. She retreated.
    Fascinating .
    “How is it you don’t find riding a horse, looking out over the countryside, as boring as a…what was it? A month of Sundays?”
    “You’re not doing anything while you’re sitting in a carriage. Riding a horse”—an excitement came into the boy’s eyes—“you’re the master.”
    “Don’t you think your father would object to your riding alone about a countryside which is so decidedly foreign to you?”
    “Nope. I ride to town by myself or go in search of stray cattle on my lonesome.”
    “Quite so. But in Texas you are familiar with the area. Here you could quite easily get lost.”
    “I know how to mark a trail and look for landmarks. I could always find my way back. Even at night, I’m bettin’.”
    “Could you now?” Rhys asked, unable to keep the skepticism out of his voice.
    “Yes, he could,” Lydia said.
    Her voice carried no reservations, dared Rhys to doubt her or to question her brother’s claims any further.
    “I see. I’ll take the matter up with your father. If he’s in agreement, then I’ll arrange for a horse to be made available for your use while you’re here.”
    Colton’s eyes lit up. “Thanks.”
    “Are you as skilled at telling time as you are at marking a trail?” Rhys asked.
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Then explain to me how it is that you were out and about in the hallway during the forbidden time.”
    “I don’t have a watch. Felt like I’d been sitting there forever.”
    Rhys straightened his stance, easing away from his desk slightly, noticing at the same time that Lydia inched closer to her brother. He pitied the man who harmed a hair on the lad’s head.
    Reaching into a pocket on his vest, he removed his watch and unlatched the chain. He rubbed his thumb over the ducal coat of arms etched in the heavy goldcover.
    “This watch belonged to my father,” he said quietly. “Given to him by his father.”
    He extended it toward the lad. It pleased him no end to see the boy take it with the reverence it deserved.
    “Wow! It’s fancy,” he said in awe. “Look at it, Lyd.”
    Easing closer, she murmured her agreement.
    “It’s yours,” Rhys