“Your imagination is running amok, Blackwood.”
The glower Danby aimed at him might have sent another man scrambling for safety, but Colin crossed his arms, holding out for an answer. Like his father and brother before him, he refused to be taken in hand by anyone.
The older man made a sound of disgust deep in his throat. “Meri had her difficulties in London, but nothing of a depraved nature. I won’t stand for you insinuating otherwise.” Danby rounded his desk once more, retrieved a sheet of foolscap from a desk drawer, and grabbed a pot of ink and a quill. “I am changing the conditions of our agreement, and I want it in writing.”
“You cannot go back on your word.”
The duke’s eyebrows lifted as he took his seat. “You did not accept the first offer. Now it has been withdrawn.”
Danby dipped the quill in the inkpot and scrawled something across the paper. Colin’s heart pounded against his ribs when the duke continued writing.
“Tell me what you want. Ineedthat land.” He cringed at the note of desperation underlying his words.
Danby’s quill halted and he glanced up. “Hire Miss Halliday to be your nieces’ governess, and make certain she resigns before Lord Lovell arrives. I estimate you have three weeks at best to convince her that accepting a position in service is a mistake.”
“Three weeks? God’s blood! How am I supposed to make her resign?”
“I am certain you will think of something—if your sister-in-law doesn’t chase her away the first day. I understand Lady Blackwood has become an expert at running off the help.”
The urge to defend Malcolm’s wife gripped him. Audrey might vex him to no end, but she was family.
Danby returned to writing. “One additional stipulation. Be charming with Miss Halliday. Compliment her. Engage in harmless flirtations. She is bashful by nature, but I expect a bit of attention and flattery on your part will help settle her nerves before she is expected to meet Lord Lovell.”
“You want me to teach her how toflirt?”
Danby’s gaze flicked toward the ceiling as if silently appealing for patience. “Iwanther to become comfortable speaking with a man, and you can assist in the task.”
“That is ridiculous.”
“And yet, it is my price for using the pasture.”
Colin gritted his teeth. He wasn’t one of Danby’s playthings, and he refused to portray the Lothario for anyone. “You know where to find me when you’ve recovered your senses.” With blood simmering in his veins, Colin stalked for the door.
Danby was too slow to catch him. Muttering a string of curses, Colin threw open the door and slammed it into a footman holding a tea service. The servant tripped and everything on the tray tumbled to the marble floor and shattered.
Danby came up behind Colin, clucking his tongue. “William, whatever were you doing lurking outside my study door? I hope you were not eavesdropping.”
The footman looked up with wide, startled eyes from where he was kneeling to gather the broken pieces of china. “No, Your Grace. Mr. Dawson said—”
“That will be all,” Danby snapped. “Have Mrs. Ealey send housemaids to tend to the mess.”
“Yes, Your Grace. Forgive me.”
The butler appeared around the corner of the corridor. Danby nodded an acknowledgment. “Dawson, I expect you will have a talk with this young pup and explain the expectations of this household.”
“I will do as you say, Your Grace. Come along, William.”
The poor sap William scrambled to pick up the larger pieces, then rose to hurry after his superior. Danby’s behavior with the servant. The mysterious appearance of the butler. Everything reeked of Machiavellian designs only Danby was privy to. Perhaps Colin was nothing but a source of entertainment to the duke, and he had no real plans to allow Blackwood sheep on the land.
He jabbed a finger in Danby’s direction. “You truly are a devil-hearted blackguard with the morals of a—”
“Your Grace, has someone been injured?”
Colin whipped his head around to locate the owner of the lyrical, feminine voice and lost all thought of what he’d been saying. It belonged to a most stunning young woman with eyes the loveliest shade of brown—warm umber ringed with a dark cocoa. They sparkled with curiosity as she exited a room across from the duke’s study.
“I heard a commotion.” She held Colin enthralled as she came forward to lay a delicate hand on Danby’s arm, her pink bow mouth curving into a frown. “Is everything all right?”
The duke’s stern face softened. “There was a minor accident, Meredith, but no one was hurt.” Danby held up his hand. “Stay where you are, Felicity. There are shards everywhere.”
