Alex’s opinion of him plummeted once more.
“It was not only this particular incident, Lord Hammerton,” she said rather sharply, unwilling to appear a flighty peagoose. “If you must know, this was not the first accident.”
His expression still seemed to indicate that he wasn’t taking her seriously. “Really?”
She felt compelled to explain. “Yes, really. There have been other occurrences. And not only that. I am of the opinion that his saddle’s girth wasdeliberatelydamaged.”
A flash of emotion crossed Hammerton’s face but was gone in an instant. “Thatisalarming. What does your brother think about such disturbing news?”
“He thinks I’m overreacting.”
Hammerton considered her answer for a long moment. “Well, perhaps your brother is right and youaremistaken, Miss Chilton. After all, what possible reason could someone have for wanting to harm your brother?”
Alex sighed in frustration. “I don’t have a clue! But I plan on doing some investigations of my own in order to get to the bottom of the matter.”
He gave her a patronizing smile. “If I were you, Miss Chilton, I would put that idea out of your head. A young lady certainly has other, more appropriate endeavors to occupy her thoughts. I’m sure that your brother can take care of himself.”
As the music was coming to a close, Alex indicated that she wished to be escorted to where her botanical friends were gathered around a display of orchids.
“By the by,” she added as they made their way across the room “It is Mr. Simpson who is very knowledgeable about garden design. I’m certain he would be happy to advise you?—”
“Yes, yes, I shall be sure to consult him later regarding the plans,” interjected Hammerton smoothly. “But I have another engagement right now that I must attend to. Perhaps later.”
He bowed politely. “I look forward to meeting again, Miss Chilton.”
Sooner than you think, he added to himself.
Ten
Alex feathered her paintbrush over the paper, laying in a subtle shading of deep alizarin crimson to create a delicate shadow under the curling petals of the flower. Then, putting aside her palette, she stepped back to assess the finished watercolor.
A smile touched her lips …
It had turned out rather well.
But as she turned away to rinse her brushes, she couldn’t help wondering what Branford would do with it. Would he hang the painting where he would see it often? Or would he quickly tire of it—as Society said he was wont to do with most things—and consign it to some dusty attic?
Alex sighed. It shouldn’t concern her as to what he did with her art—that wasn’t part of the bargain And yet, it would be nice to think the flash of regard she had seen in his eyes as he regarded the half-finished sketch was not merely a passing fancy.
Carefully unfastening the thick, textured sheet of watercolor paper from her easel, Alex carried the finished painting over to the table and slid it inside her portfolio.
Well, at least she was ready to fulfill her end of the business arrangement.
As for father’s note …
Had she made a cake of herself by asking Branford to spend what may turn out to be hours on deciphering the mysterious message? What if it did turn out to be naught but a list of plants and where her father had found them? Perhaps the strange tool-like symbols weren’t hatchets but hand trowels—the kind he used to dig up his specimens. It might very well be that they were simply a mundane notation indicating how difficult the terrain made it to remove them.
Ye heavens.Alex made a face. If that were so, she would feel like an utter fool. No doubt the earl should tease her unmercifully …
And yet, that prospect didn’t seem that bad.
Her gaze drifted towards the tall, leaded glass windows as she imagined his low, mellifluous voice and lively blue eyes …
Alex quickly shook her head to banish such idle daydreams. So far, Branford had done nothing to fulfill his end of the bargain, she reminded herself. He certainly had given the problem no further thought, for she had heard absolutely nothing from him for over a week.
Perhaps he has forgotten about it.
Determined to put all thoughts of the enigmatic earl aside, she quickly took up a fresh sheet of paper and a stick of charcoal.
