“Can it hurt to ask her?” Simon persisted. “I’ll be gone in a day or so anyway. I’ve decided to buy Kettleston Hall.”
Ian’s gaze sharpened. “When did you reach that decision?”
“This morning. I sent Viscount Manley a note and received an immediate reply. You were right about his need for money, apparently. He readily agreed to my offer.”
“But you haven’t seen the estate.”
“You said it was an excellent property. I’ll take your word for it. Which direction is it from here?”
Ian pointed. “You can see the house from our tower. It’s scarcely a mile cross country, although it’s farther by road. Would you like to walk over?”
Simon shook his head. “That’s not necessary. My requirements for a hunting lodge are flexible.” proximity to Netherton Castle the first consideration. “Now, is there something I can do to change your mind about having Lady Caroline for dinner?
Jane frowned. “You won’t be deterred, will you?”
“It’s a harmless dinner.”
“Humph. Don’t look at me with those guileless eyes. Such determination makes me question your motives.”
“I have no motives.” About dinner at least, he could say without perjuring himself. “It’s simply four people dining together.”
When he said it like that, Jane didn’t have much choice unless she wished to look exceedingly foolish. “Very well, but you must absolutely promise not to captivate my governess… or try to do anything,” she blushed, “seductive.”
Simon nodded. “I will keep my remarks strictly impersonal… the weather, the state of the roads, the success of our hunting-nothing I wouldn’t say to your children.”
Jane and Ian exchanged dubious glances.
“Lady Caroline used to hunt with the Beaufort Hunt. As I understand, she’s a bruising rider.”
Jane’s eyes lit up. “She never said a word.”
“That world, perhaps, is quite distant for her now.”
“Ian, you must find her a good mount,” Jane quickly declared. “She might enjoy the jumps near Hungerford.”
“Yes, dear.” Ian shot Simon a censorious look and met one of imperturbable calm. “But if Caroline decides to leave because of you,” he said, holding
Simon’s gaze, “I swear, I’ll call you out. And don’t think I won’t”
Simon grinned. “No need for that. I’ll be on my best behavior, tonight Wait and see.”
Chapter 12
It looked as though Simon’s best behavior would be unnecessary because Caroline refused Jane’s invitation. If the Carlisles had wished her company at dinner, they could have invited her anytime before Simon arrived.
They hadn’t.
Simon was behind this invitation.
And the last person she wished to see right now was the father of Lady Blessington’s child.
Shortly after refusing Jane’s invitation, Caroline responded to a knock on her door and found Simon’s valet outside. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, my lady.” He held out an envelope.
“And you as well, Bruno.” When had he arrived? She smiled at the man who had been taking care of Simon for as long as she could remember. “Although Simon wasted your time sending you up here.”
“You know the master, my lady,” he replied, tactfully. “I have orders to wait for your answer.”
“One moment.” Shutting her door, she opened the envelope and pulled out a card that was embossed with Simon’s ducal crest COWARD, he’d boldly scrawled. I won’t bite.
“Yes, my lady. I told him if you said no, you meant no.”
“Exactly right, Bruno. He’s had his way too often.”
“Yes, my lady.” Although he’d known Lady Caroline from the cradle and she and his master were well matched when it came to willfulness.
“I wish no more correspondence from him. Make that plain.”
“I’ll tell him, my lady. And Bessie would want me to give you her greetings. She waits for your letters.”
“Thank you, Bruno. Tell Bessie I miss her.” Bruno’s wife had been like a mother to her. “If all goes well, perhaps I’ll have time to come and visit next summer.”
“We’d like that, ma’am.” He knew better than to say Simon would like it too. “If’n you ever need something… you make sure you let us know.”
“Thank you, Bruno. I’m doing well at the moment.”
“The Carlisles seem right nice.”
“Yes, yes, they are. You see that Simon understands.”
“Yes, ma’am.” And with a bow, he walked away.
Caroline was back at work on her manuscript when she heard the heavy tread of footsteps moving swiftly in her direction. She quickly piled her pages together and began to slide them in the table drawer when her door opened with such force, it crashed into the wall.
She squealed, and dropped the manuscript.
Simon held up the card with her message. “What the hell does this mean?” Striding across the scattered manuscript pages, he tossed the card on the table.
“Shut the door,” she hissed. “Do you want the entire nursery staff listening?”
“You think they don’t know?”
“They’d better not know,” she snapped, and glaring at him, she jumped to her feet and ran to the door. Jerking the knob out of the shattered plaster, she closed the door, and turned back, quivering with rage. “Say whatever you came up here to say and then get the hell out!”
“No one calls me coward.”
“But you’re allowed to do so to me?”
“Mine was in jest.”
“Mine wasn’t.”
His eyes narrowed to slits. “If you were a man, I’d call you out and kill you.”
“But then men are exceedingly stupid.”
“Really,” he surveyed her room with a derisive glance, “and women aren’t?”
“I’m here because my father chose to drink himself to death-not exactly a model of wisdom… and my husband was enticed by avarice.”
“Rather than your beauty.”
“That’s
Although, I hear you’ve left one such beauty in London somewhat the worse for your company.“
“Why don’t you just come out and say it,” he growled. “Jane told you, didn’t she?”
“Very well.” Her gaze was chill. “I heard you left Lady Blessington with your child in her belly. Is that blunt enough?”
“Have I ever come in you?” he inquired, his voice acrid with restraint. “Have I?” he said again when she didn’t answer.
