Startled, she gazed into his gray eyes, finding them sharp and assessing. How unpredictable he was. “I like all animals. I have a cat.”
“I seem to have acquired a dog,” he said with a rueful expression. “Turned up at my stables in London. I tried to give it to my coachman, but Spot…” He shrugged apologetically when a laugh escaped her lips. “Yes, I know, not very original a name, is it? But he does have an awful lot of black spots, and is not at all handsome, I’m afraid.”
“What sort of dog is he?”
“Eh? Of an indifferent breed. A bit of this and a bit of that, with a remarkably long curly tail.”
“Is he friendly?”
“Very much so to me, although not always to others.” He grimaced. “But a fine ratter as it turns out.”
“He won’t like to be left behind.”
“No he wouldn’t.” He grinned. “So I didn’t. Spot is spending the evening in Sir Horace’s stable.”
Her smile broadened in approval. “You brought the dog with you?”
Montsimon adopted a chagrined expression although she doubted the validity of it. “I did attempt to leave Spot in London, but he would have none of it. Followed my carriage, so I had to take him up.”
Althea was still smiling when the dance ended. His kind heart was a nice surprise, but it may well have been a ploy to soften her attitude toward him. She still considered it wise to keep him at arm’s length. Perhaps even more so now as he proved to be a good deal too charming.
She next partnered the flamboyant, Edward Hughes Ball for a quadrille. He had inherited the princely sum of forty thousand a year from an uncle and expressed a fervent desire to buy Oatlands from the financially strapped Duke of York.
Sir Horace escorted her onto the floor for the final waltz. He was a forceful dancer without a shred of grace. She disliked his hands on her. “I require a word with you,” he murmured in her ear. “Come to my study after the dance. It’s to your right at the top of the stairs.”
She drew in a breath. “What will Lady Crowthorne think? Can you not tell me what this is about?”
“No. It’s a business matter. Lady Crowthorne understands.”
Althea doubted she did. “What sort of business? I’m about to leave.”
His hand crushed hers, and his hard eyes compelled her. “I shall go up first. Slip away after a few minutes.”
She had to steel herself not to disengage from his grasp. It wouldn’t do to cause a scene. “I’m sorry, Sir Horace. I don’t feel it’s wise.”
“I must insist that you do come. It will be to your disadvantage not to, Lady Brookwood.”
At the conclusion of the dance, Sir Horace strode from the room. What lay behind this invitation? Surely he didn’t plan to seduce her with his wife already on the alert. She hesitated. Could she slip away and go home? She had no transport. And if she did not see him now, he would turn up at her home tomorrow and force his way in as he’d done this morning. She wanted this at an end. If he was about to suggest a carte blanche, she would firmly put him in his place.
Althea searched the ballroom for Lady Crowthorne. Her hostess’ attention was fully engaged with Montsimon. Althea murmured to the lady beside her that she was to visit the retiring room, then left the ballroom. She located Sir Horace’s study at the top of the stairs and entering, leaving the door ajar.
“Ah, there you are.” He crossed the room and closed the door behind her.
She clutched her reticule in nervous fingers. “I can’t imagine what this is about, Sir Horace,” she said, her tone all business. “But could you be brief? I am about to retire.”
He waved her protest away with a hand, his eyes gleaming with intent. “Please sit. The leather armchair close to the fire is comfortable.”
“No, thank you. I shan’t be here long.”
He shrugged. “Then I’ll come right to the point. I wish to buy Owltree Cottage, and although it’s not a valuable piece of property, I’m prepared to offer you a good price for it.”
Althea went cold. “What made you believe I want to sell?”
Sir Horace strode to his desk and unrolled a length of paper. He beckoned her over. “This is what I wished to show you.”
Curious, she stepped closer to the desk. He held up a plan of his property and the surrounding area. She located Owltree Cottage, like a small island in the sea of woodland on his vast estate.
“I don’t see why you would want to buy my house.” She stared up at him, alarm bells ringing.
