‘Very well, if that is your wish, my lord.’
‘Now I have offended you.’
‘Not at all.’
‘You should know from the outset, Miss Halbrook, that I have no turn for soft words and compliments.’
‘That is quite evident.’
Her sharp retort earned nothing but a swift, sardonic glance. Lucy knew she was fortunate; she guessed he was more than capable of delivering a brutal snub if she pushed him too far.
Lucy curbed her hasty temper. After all, it was not for her to criticise her employer. She decided to enjoy the morning stroll. Lord Adversane led her around the perimeter of the lawn and seemed disinclined to talk, but Lucy had no intention of allowing him all his own way. A gravelled spur off the main drive caught her attention and her eyes followed it to a small wicket gate set into the palings.
‘Where does that lead?’
‘To the moors.’ Did she imagine the heartbeat’s hesitation before he added, ‘And Druids Rock.’
‘Oh, is it far?’
‘Too far to walk there now.’
She was beginning to recognise that implacable note in his voice. It told her he had no wish to continue with the conversation, but that was understandable, since Druids Rock was where his wife had met her death. Their perambulations had brought them round in a circle and she could see that they were now wending their way back towards the house. She decided to make the most of the remaining time alone with her host.
‘This might be a good opportunity for me to learn something about you,’ she began. ‘Perhaps you should tell me...’ she paused, waving one airy hand ‘...the sort of things a fiancée would want to know.’
‘The state of my fortune, perhaps?’
‘That is the sort of thing my parents would want to know,’ she corrected him. ‘No, tell me about you.’
‘I am thirty years of age. I inherited Adversane some nine years ago and it has been my principal home ever since. I have other estates, of course, and a house in London that I use when the House is sitting or to attend lectures and experiments at the Royal Society—what have I said to amuse you, Miss Halbrook?’
‘Nothing, only I am at a loss to see what would have brought us together.’
‘I appreciate art—you will admit that we have that in common, madam.’
‘But that is such a wide-ranging subject that I am not at all sure we would enjoy the same artists,’ she countered, unwilling to concede anything just yet.
He shrugged. ‘I enjoy riding—’
‘Ah, then we do have a common interest.’
‘You ride, then?’
‘It was amongst the accomplishments I listed for Mrs Killinghurst.’
‘But do you ride well?’
‘That you will have to judge for yourself.’ She sighed. ‘It is not something I was able to do very often in London.’
‘There are plenty of horses in the stables that my sisters use when they are at Adversane. We shall ride out this afternoon. That is—you have a riding habit?’
‘Yes, an old one. I wore it to travel here.’
‘Very well, then.’ They had reached the garden door, and he opened it and stood back for her to precede him. ‘I have business with Colne to attend to, but it should be finished by four. I will send for you to come to the stables as soon as I am free.’
Her brows went up. ‘Send for me? Perhaps I will not be able to respond to your...your summons, my lord. I may have found another occupation by then.’
Ralph heard the frosty note in her voice. What cause had she to complain? If he wanted to summon her he would do so, by heaven. She was, after all, only an employee. He gave a shrug and responded, equally coldly.
‘I have already said you will get no fine speeches from me, Miss Halbrook.’
‘Then you will understand if I respond in kind, Lord Adversane!’
Her spirited retort surprised him, but he did not resent it. In fact, he rather liked it and raised her fingers to his lips.
‘I shall be delighted if you do so, ma’am.’
He strode off then, but not before he had seen the look of shock on her face. He felt a smile growing inside him. He was beginning to enjoy his encounters with Miss Lucy Halbrook!
* * *
Lucy’s boots were sodden from walking on the grass, and she went upstairs to change them before making her way to the breakfast room. She did not know what to make of her host. He was blunt to the point of rudeness, showed no inclination for polite conversation, yet that kiss upon her fingers was as gallant as any she had ever received. It had shaken her, along with the disturbing glint she had more than once seen in his eyes. She could believe he was autocratic and impatient, but she did not think him cruel. However, she was not really engaged to him, merely an actor, hired for a few weeks. Perhaps she might feel differently about Lord Adversane if she was his wife, and in his power.
* * *
Over breakfast it was agreed that Mrs Dean would take Lucy for a gentle drive into Ingleston.
‘It is but three miles away and a very useful place to buy little things like stockings and gloves and ribbons,’ Mrs Dean explained. ‘We can also call upon Mrs Sutton, the dressmaker—’
‘No need,’ said Adversane, coming in at that moment. ‘I have arranged for Mrs Sutton to call here tomorrow.’
Mrs Dean stared at him. ‘Oh, have you, Ralph? Well, then...I suppose we need not see her today...’
Lucy chuckled. She was now on very good terms with Mrs Dean and did not scruple to tease her.
‘Ariadne is deeply shocked,’ she murmured. ‘She does not know whether to attribute your actions to consideration for my comfort or to an arrogant high-handedness.’
The widow protested and cast an anxious glance at Adversane, but he merely looked amused.
‘And which of those would you choose, Miss Halbrook?’
She met his gaze, quite fearless with Mrs Dean present and the width of the breakfast table between them.
‘Oh, I think the latter, my lord.’
‘Baggage,’ he said, grinning at her.
Lucy was inordinately pleased with his reaction, but thought it best not to say any more. Instead, she gave her attention to the bread and butter on her plate, which was all she required to break her fast. As she finished drinking her coffee she asked Ariadne how long she thought they would be out.
‘Oh, not long, my dear. We shall drive around the town, that you may see it, and then if you wish we shall stroll along the High Street and look at the shops. There are not that many, and we may well be back by two o’clock or soon after.’
‘Oh, that is excellent,’ said Lucy. She rose. ‘I shall fetch my coat and bonnet and meet you in the hall, Ariadne.’
As she passed Adversane’s chair he reached back and caught her wrist.
‘Four o’clock, Miss Halbrook, do not forget.’
The touch of his cool fingers brought the heat rising in Lucy’s cheeks. His grip was loose, casual, the sort of informal gesture that might occur between good friends, but her heart missed a beat and now it was hammering far too heavily, preventing her from thinking clearly. Thankfully, Adversane did not notice her confusion, for he was explaining to his cousin that he had invited Lucy to ride