burden. For a very generous sum, I might add.”
Jane smiled. “Are you saying someone has offered to buy Heartland?”
He nodded.
“I hope you told him it wasn’t for sale?”
“I did indicate that it was unlikely. But the sum—”
“I wouldn’t take all the money in the Treasury. No, nor all the jewels, either!”
“I do understand, Miss Jane, but I did tell the gentleman I would approach you.”
Jane shook her head. What next? How could anyone think she regarded Heartland as a burden? It was her home! It was her life!
She turned sharply, her eyes on the discomfited lawyer. “Who was it? It couldn’t have been anyone from Bath. Who would think I might want to sell?”
“I did promise to keep his identity confidential.”
“Mr. Crankshaft, you have worked for my family for the past twenty years. I know I hope you have been happy in this association and wish it to continue.” Jane’s was only bluffing, but the man in front of her had no clue to this.
“It was Lord Devlin. He wants to buy it for his mother.”
“Devlin! I might have known! And all these visits have only been to inspect the property!”
“I beg your pardon, Miss Lindsay?”
“Never mind, Mr. Crankshaft, never mind. You will join us for tea before you go back to Bath, won’t you?”
b
Drew stretched his stiff limbs before picking up the morning mail and papers. He sifted through several before coming to the one he had been expecting. A smile was on his lips as he opened it.
Dear Lord Devlin,
I must apologize for jumping to the wrong conclusions the other day. I want to thank you for saving my cousin from her own foolishness.
Also, I want to thank you for the very generous offer for my house. Heartland is not now, nor will it ever be, for sale. Especially to you.
Most truthfully,
Jane Lindsay
The smile faded from his lips.
She was the most maddening female he had ever met. If he were in the market for a wife, he would marry her just to have the right to teach her how to go on. But he was not in the market for one, of course. Someday, perhaps, but not until his odious uncle was dead. And when he did choose a wife, it would be a sweet, unspoiled girl, perhaps the daughter of a respectable curate like his mother, someone who would be biddable and calm. It certainly wouldn’t be some high and mighty spinster with more hair than wit.
No, that wasn’t fair. Jane Lindsay was anything but stupid. Arrogant, pushy, self-righteous, and prudish, perhaps. Well…not prudish , not deep down.
His mind wandered, as it frequently did, to their encounter in Brother Valentine’s crypt. Passionate was the word for Miss Lindsay, though he doubted very much if Jane would agree with him. She wouldn’t admit to such an improper characteristic. It was no wonder she intruded into his thoughts so often.
Pushing his chair away from the table roughly, he walked to the sideboard and poured a glass of port. Sipping it thoughtfully, he was interrupted by his valet.
“What is it, Samuel?”
“Mr. Havelock wishes a few moments of your time, my lord.”
“Send him in.” Just the man I need to see.
He liked a woman with spirit, but Jane Lindsay was a shrew. She needed taking down a peg. And if what he had in mind resulted in her selling Heartland to him, then so much the better.
“Devlin, old man. So good of you to see me so early in the morning. I do believe the rest of the world sleeps till noon, but I knew I could count on you.” He took the seat indicated.
“Samuel, get Mr. Havelock some coffee. And a plate?” he asked his visitor.
When they had both been served generous helpings of grilled kidneys, eggs, and toast, Havelock said confidently, “How about joining me this evening in a hand of cards? I’m meeting friends for dinner and then cards, dice, and so on.”
“Yes, thank you for inviting me.” Drew waited a few minutes before asking casually, “Tell me, have you had any more thoughts about that little puzzle we discussed
Jane smiled. “Are you saying someone has offered to buy Heartland?”
He nodded.
“I hope you told him it wasn’t for sale?”
“I did indicate that it was unlikely. But the sum—”
“I wouldn’t take all the money in the Treasury. No, nor all the jewels, either!”
“I do understand, Miss Jane, but I did tell the gentleman I would approach you.”
Jane shook her head. What next? How could anyone think she regarded Heartland as a burden? It was her home! It was her life!
She turned sharply, her eyes on the discomfited lawyer. “Who was it? It couldn’t have been anyone from Bath. Who would think I might want to sell?”
“I did promise to keep his identity confidential.”
“Mr. Crankshaft, you have worked for my family for the past twenty years. I know I hope you have been happy in this association and wish it to continue.” Jane’s was only bluffing, but the man in front of her had no clue to this.
“It was Lord Devlin. He wants to buy it for his mother.”
“Devlin! I might have known! And all these visits have only been to inspect the property!”
“I beg your pardon, Miss Lindsay?”
“Never mind, Mr. Crankshaft, never mind. You will join us for tea before you go back to Bath, won’t you?”
b
Drew stretched his stiff limbs before picking up the morning mail and papers. He sifted through several before coming to the one he had been expecting. A smile was on his lips as he opened it.
Dear Lord Devlin,
I must apologize for jumping to the wrong conclusions the other day. I want to thank you for saving my cousin from her own foolishness.
Also, I want to thank you for the very generous offer for my house. Heartland is not now, nor will it ever be, for sale. Especially to you.
Most truthfully,
Jane Lindsay
The smile faded from his lips.
She was the most maddening female he had ever met. If he were in the market for a wife, he would marry her just to have the right to teach her how to go on. But he was not in the market for one, of course. Someday, perhaps, but not until his odious uncle was dead. And when he did choose a wife, it would be a sweet, unspoiled girl, perhaps the daughter of a respectable curate like his mother, someone who would be biddable and calm. It certainly wouldn’t be some high and mighty spinster with more hair than wit.
No, that wasn’t fair. Jane Lindsay was anything but stupid. Arrogant, pushy, self-righteous, and prudish, perhaps. Well…not prudish , not deep down.
His mind wandered, as it frequently did, to their encounter in Brother Valentine’s crypt. Passionate was the word for Miss Lindsay, though he doubted very much if Jane would agree with him. She wouldn’t admit to such an improper characteristic. It was no wonder she intruded into his thoughts so often.
Pushing his chair away from the table roughly, he walked to the sideboard and poured a glass of port. Sipping it thoughtfully, he was interrupted by his valet.
“What is it, Samuel?”
“Mr. Havelock wishes a few moments of your time, my lord.”
“Send him in.” Just the man I need to see.
He liked a woman with spirit, but Jane Lindsay was a shrew. She needed taking down a peg. And if what he had in mind resulted in her selling Heartland to him, then so much the better.
“Devlin, old man. So good of you to see me so early in the morning. I do believe the rest of the world sleeps till noon, but I knew I could count on you.” He took the seat indicated.
“Samuel, get Mr. Havelock some coffee. And a plate?” he asked his visitor.
When they had both been served generous helpings of grilled kidneys, eggs, and toast, Havelock said confidently, “How about joining me this evening in a hand of cards? I’m meeting friends for dinner and then cards, dice, and so on.”
“Yes, thank you for inviting me.” Drew waited a few minutes before asking casually, “Tell me, have you had any more thoughts about that little puzzle we discussed
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