She closed her eyes, frustrated that she could not come anywhere near to solving this annoying and threatening puzzle. Then she gave herself a mental shake and decided to leave it for now, since there were other matters to attend to. The Lady of Wolfbridge shouldn’t be sitting so silently and trying to recall years past. She should be working for the future, and the most useful thing she could do at the moment was make some lists for the Whit Sunday fête.
That was how Giles found her when he peered in. “My Lady, you have a caller. Baron Randschen is here and requests a few moments of your time.”
She returned her pen to the inkwell, pushed some papers aside and stood, rounding the small table holding her notes and coming to the centre of the room. Giles met her gaze and read her concern. “I will be here in the hall, my Lady.” It was a whisper.
She nodded, somewhat reassured. “Then do please show the Baron in, Giles.” She knew her words would carry past the door and to the ears of the Baron.
He entered, his dark eyes finding her face immediately. His smile was there, but as always she felt no corresponding warmth. This time, there would be no answering smile. She was finished with such pretence.
“Baron. This is a surprise.” She walked back to her chair and indicated the one on the other side of the table. He had no choice but to take it. “I had assumed you would send a message before your next visit.”
He ignored the subtle reprimand. “I could not wait, my dear. My spirits have been quite chaotic as I await your response. I repeated our conversation over and over again in my head, and I came to understand the number of things I never said to you. I did tell you of my deepest regard, but I should also have offered the suggestion that our alliance need not disrupt your life. This is a pretty enough house…” his eyes wandered over the room, “and should the estate be profitable, we could certainly reside here. If not all year, then part of it. Of course, I’m sure you’d prefer London for the season, at least…” He attempted another smile.
Her teeth had clenched as he began his speech. She was surprised she hadn’t cracked a tooth by the end of it.
This had to stop, and it had to stop now. He’d made his reasons quite clear, to her mind, anyway.
She rose. “Baron, I am—of course—honoured by your proposal. But I am not looking for a husband at all. I will not consider marriage, and even if I did, it would not to be to you, sir, a man I barely know, and for whom I do not cherish any warm affections.”
He rose, his mouth opening in protest, a frown upon his face.
She stopped him with a raised hand. “Allow me to finish, if you please. My residence here at Wolfbridge and my assumption of the title Lady of Wolfbridge come from a distant relation. The terms of this inheritance are quite clear. Upon the marriage of a Lady of Wolfbridge, she must vacate the property immediately.”
He paled.“What?”
She squared her shoulders. “Your response tells a tale, Baron. And one that will not, sadly for you, have a happy ending.” She turned away from him and walked to the door. “Giles?” she called.
“Ma’am?” He was there in an instant.
“The Baron is leaving.”
“Very good, my Lady. This way, sir.” Giles stared at the man.
“But…” The Baron stuttered.
“There is nothing for you here, Baron Randschen.” Gwyneth stood straight and resolute. “I will not consider marriage with you, as I have made quite clear. If, as it would seem, you would prefer a wife who comes with an estate, I suggest you repair to London and talk to some of the ladies of the Ton? They are always seeking a title for their daughters. You might find one or two who come with land attached.” Her lip curled. “Whatever you decide, you have my best wishes.”
There wasn’t a thing left for the Baron to say. He clicked his boot heels, dipped his head in a brief salute, and glared at her, his eyes radiating anger. Then he walked stiffly out, past Giles and into the hall.
Giles closed the door behind him, leaving Gwyneth alone.
She sank into a chair, her hand shaking a little. Ordinarily she wouldn’t have been concerned too much after such an experience, but there’d been something so malevolent about the Baron’s eyes.
Jeremy opened the door, looked in and hurried to her side, kneeling down and taking her cold hands in his. “Did he hurt you? Upset you?”
She shook her head. “No, no of course not. I’m well, Jeremy. Really. Giles was outside the whole time. It’s just…” she paused, trying to collect her thoughts. “He’s not a kind or pleasant man. And it was plain he didn’t want me at all, he wanted Wolfbridge. When he found out that if I wed I surrendered it, he promptly lost interest.”
“The cad.”
“Well, I’m rather glad he did.”
“There is that, I suppose.” Jeremy tipped his head on one side. “Honestly? There really wasn’t anything he could have done right, was there?”
She couldn’t help the laugh that tripped from her throat in surprise. “No. No, now you mention it, not a single thing. He was doomed from the start. No wife, and no land. Either way.”
“That’s better.” Jeremy raised her hands to his lips. “I like to see you laughing. Put all thoughts of him from your mind.”
“I will.”
