Harry stared at her mouth.God, he wanted to run his tongue over her lips. “Then what is the reason for wanting a barren stretch of land if not for the river. Sheep?”
A soft laugh. “Iron ore.”
Damn. It.
Harry didn’t blink. Didn’t flinch. Give any indication she was correct. He also couldn’t look away from her mouth.
“I imagine the entirety of the Cleveland Hills has pockets of iron ore, but there is anenormousdeposit on the western tip of Marsden.Staggeringin size. Oh, and a bit of copper. Also useful, but the copper pales in comparison to the iron ore. There is enough for you to rebuild the entirety of England if you wish, and Pendergast, along with your other ironworks, will convert it all into something useful. Rest assured, Father doesn’t know. But Dufton must, else he wouldn’t be offering to pay off my father’ssubstantialdebts in return for gaining control of Marsden by marryingme.”
The room was quiet, the muted sounds of the ball barely filtering in.
“I dislike your father.” Harry stalked towards her again. “And Dufton.”
“I don’t blame you, Mr.Eth…” she closed her eyes as if asking for deliverance. Nervous again at his closeness.
Good.
“Estwood,” she finally finished.
The slight lisp obviously mortified her. He hated that he’d never noticed it, never considered that there might be some other reason why she didn’t engage him in a great deal of conversation, and then, only in a whisper. But Lucyhadspoken to him when he’d guided her around the stones, just not…loudly. And Waterstone had deliberately allowed Harry to believe Lucy couldn’t possibly lower herself to speak to him. Because Harry was so far beneath Lucy.
Not if I marry her.
All that breathiness, rustling silk and magnificent curves would belong tohim. His, completely. No man, especially Dufton, would ever have her except for Harry because he was sure, as sheltered as Lucy had been, she remained untouched.
Waterstone would be apoplectic.
And she came with Marsden, the property he lusted after almost as much as he desired Lucy. Not to mention she had a head for business.
“Is there more, Miss Waterstone?”
“I would like to add that your friendship with inventors such as Mr. Bessemer coupled with your being a major supplier of pig iron and wrought iron leads me to assume yourtruereason for wanting Marsden. You are looking towards some sort of future industrial process.”
“Future industrial process?” he said, awed at her skills of deduction. Not even Granby or Blythe understood Harry’s future plans. “What would you know of such things? Pretty ornament?” He added the last bit simply to annoy her, because he liked her temper and flashing eyes.
A soft hiss left her.
“I will save you further speculation.” He took in the way her entire body rippled as he moved another step closer. “Steel, as it happens, Miss Waterstone. I won’t bother with details save to say it is years away.” At least a decade. But Harry would be prepared for the one thing that would revolutionize the world. The deposit at Marsden was enormous and would take years to excavate.
“I’m not a peahen, Mr. Estwood,” she said in that breathless tone, filled with irritation.
His cock twitched in response.
No, she most certainly was not. Lucy was rather formidable when she chose to be but still fragile. Perhaps that was where his attraction to her had started. Harry’s mother had been much the same. Once.
Harry rubbed the blunt nub of his pinky finger.
The fact that Waterstone didn’t know the true value of Marsden was telling. Dufton obviously had been informed but had chosen not to share the information. How the earl had found out was anyone’s guess, though Harry had his suspicions.
But despite her intelligent assessment of his plans, her knowledge of Marsden and Bessemer, Lucy couldn’tpossiblywant to marry him. This had to be some scheme of Waterstone’s…or possibly Dufton’s. A trap.
“Isn’t there another gentleman,” Harry said, inhaling her delicate scent, “who would suit you better, Miss Waterstone?”
Lucy looked down her slippers. “I do not have the time or inclination to find another man to wed, and you want Marsden,” she whispered. “And if I am to be bartered for a piece of land, Mr. Estwood, I would prefer to handle the negotiations myself.”
She had absolutely no idea of the effect of her pretty speech on him, how much her clever mind aroused him as much as those glorious curves and inky hair. He wanted nothing more than to claim every inch of Lucy Waterstone.
“My future husband,” she said, gazing at him from beneath her lashes with a furious look, “will havefull controlof Marsden. Dig entire craters into the earth for your iron ore. Launch a fleet of pirate ships down the River Tees. I won’t stop you.”
