She turned away from him and examined a dusty shelf. “Yes. Candlewax exploded.”
“So if you burn the hut down with you inside it, I must not worry?”
“I no longer have the need for candles. I have acquired a small kerosene stove which is perfectly safe.”
His mouth twisted wryly. “Then you would fill this space with bottles, some of which would likely contain inflammable liquids.”
He couldn’t bear to have her exposed to any kind of danger while he wasn’t around. Even here on his grandfather’s estate it was possible for some determined scoundrel to attack his family to stop the investigation into their crimes. It was why he chose to bring her to live here rather than London, and arranged for the marriage to take place without delay. A fiancée was just as vulnerable as a wife, if not more so. He simply could not allow it.
“I must insist that you don’t.” As soon as he said the words in that sharp tone, he saw he’d handled it badly, for Mercy’s mouth turned mulish.
“I dislike being ordered about like a servant. I am not so helpless that I cannot spend a few hours on my own away from the house.”
“I am not being unreasonable, Mercy. I have good cause. I would ask you to trust me in this.” He had asked this of her before, and he feared it didn’t sound any more convincing now.
With a distrustful scowl, she placed her hands on her hips. “You ask me to trust you when you have never explained your actions! You are the enigma here, my lord. Not I. I have been completely honest with you.”
The curves of her womanly shape distracted him. He cursed under his breath he’d never felt so ineffectual. A man should be entitled to more respect from his lady. What if he tossed her over his shoulder and took her somewhere more appealing? No, it wouldn’t serve.
“I must insist. Write your book in the house. We have an excellent study and there’s also the library. We can talk about those lotions you wish to create at a better time.”
Her eyes flashed. He met her gaze with regret as she firmed her very kissable mouth. “I already have many successful formulas, but I need to test them. I cannot do that until they are made up.”
“Yes, I quite see that. I just ask you to delay your experimentations for a while.”
“Do you mean you will sanction my business? I need only to suspend my plans?”
Good God, why was this so important to her? He couldn’t fathom it. “Yes, but you may find other things appeal to you more in time.”
“No doubt you hope they will.” She glared at him. “I knew the first time I met you that you wouldn’t agree to my venture. There are those who will assist me, however.”
He took hold of her arm. “We are achieving nothing here.” He urged her out into the fresh air, and they were soon surrounded by clucking chickens, hopeful of dinner. A horde of geese eyed them with what he suspected was malevolence from a few yards away and he feared they might soon take it upon themselves to drive the intruders from the yard.
“That sounded like a threat,” he said, after she shrugged out of his grasp.
She shot him a withering glance. “I don’t make threats.”
“Who is this interested party?”
“Sir Ewan has expressed an interest in supporting my business.”
Grant groaned. “Not Snowdon!” He didn’t like the fellow any more than his grandfather did.
Mercy’s eyes turned stony. “Why not Snowdon?”
“I don’t trust him.”
“But why?”
“I have my reasons.”
“And I suspect you won’t tell me what they are.” She swung around and walked back through the trees.
Grant caught up with her on the path. He was losing this argument, and once again was sorely lacking in diplomacy. Why couldn’t he keep a cool head around her? It must be her stubbornness; it threw him out of sorts. “Mercy, wait for this other business of mine to be settled. Then we’ll talk again, I promise.”
She searched his eyes, then turned and continued toward the house. “Very well, Grant.”
He should have been relieved, but Mercy’s acquiescence seemed out of character. Was he going to have to worry about her every moment he was away? After their wedding, he might be able to make her see reason. He’d been doing a deplorable job of it so far.
