When Sparks Fly by Sabrina Jeffries Page A

barely shielded her charms, something twisted inside him. Perhaps he was only making excuses. Perhaps a marriage was possible. He could still run after her and beg her to forgive him, to stay with him and share his life. . . .
    His dangerous, solitary life.
    He shook off the impulse. “Huggett, I told the boys they have to scrub pots for Cook as punishment for trying to enter the barn. See that they do it, will you?”
    â€œYes, sir,” he said. As the groom hurried off to where the horse waited in front, Huggett fell into step beside Martin. “Miss Bancroft has lovely hair, does she not? It compensates for her rather plain appearance.”
    â€œPlain appearance!” he snapped. “Are you mad?” When Huggett arched one eyebrow, he groaned. “Give it up, man. I’ve told you I can’t have a woman about the place.”
    â€œWhy? Because she might make it warm and cozy? Enliven your days?” Huggett’s voice grew pitying. “Free you from your blind obsession?”
    Anger swelled in him. “Watch it, Huggett!”
    â€œForgive me, sir,” the butler murmured. “I didn’t mean to presume.”
    Martin increased his pace. Of course the blasted man had meant to presume. He always presumed.
    But that didn’t mean he was wrong.
    As Martin mounted his horse, he tried to ignore Huggett’s apt description of his life. His “blind obsession” had a worthy purpose. If his experiments were successful, he might save hundreds of lives.
    While destroying your own.
    He snorted as he rode toward town. He’d been fine before the Metcalfs had come to shatter his peace. Before Ellie . . .
    A vision of her face rapt with pleasure swam before him. God help him, he wished he’d never seen them on that road. Until then, he’d existed in a blessed numbness that enabled him to do nothing but work.
    After knowing her, would he ever be able to do that again?
    * * *
    Ellie spent her morning in a state of fury. Martin and his assumptions! Society female, indeed. He didn’t know her at all!
    But as the day wore into afternoon, even the task of finding a Yule log with the boys couldn’t stop certain thoughts from invading her mind.
    Be honest, Ellie. You would miss dancing at balls, and you would want to do some shopping. And what about visiting the school in London or going to see Lucy? Could you really give that up?
    She wouldn’t have to if he would just tell people what had happened with his brother. He was merely being stubborn. And proud.
    And realistic. Rumors tended to take on a life of their own. Perhaps the nastiness would fade once he married, but it could also increase. The gossips might simply work her into the tale, as he’d said.
    She didn’t care! As long as she and Martin were together, it didn’t matter. With a scowl, she tromped over a rotting stump. It wasn’t right. He was a good man. He deserved to have friends around him, and good society, and a wife who loved him.
    Loved him?
    As the truth hit her like a branch falling from the sky, tears sprang to her eyes, making it hard for her to see where she was going. Look what he’d gone and done—the fellow had made her fall in love with him! It was so unfair.
    Still, she couldn’t help it. Who could not love a man who spent his waking hours trying to better conditions in his mine? A man who didn’t care what people thought of him, as long as he could do his experiments? A man who went to any lengths to keep those around him safe. He’d even made her leave the barn at the end, because he thought it was too dangerous. . . .
    Ohhhh. Could that be the real reason behind his refusal to marry her? Out of fear? Or worry that what happened to his brother might happen to her?
    She clung to that possibility for one heady moment, since it soothed her aching heart. But much as she wanted to believe it, it made no sense. Why