Herr Von Bremen’s gaze settled on hers. “And will you be pleased to see me, Miss Harrismith?”
“Father!” Barbara detached her hand from Jenny’s and ran to clutch the duke around the leg. “Misty has kittens!”
He widened his eyes. “I thought the cat’s name was Carrot. And wasn’t it a male?”
Barbara gazed up at him adoringly. “No, silly. Misty. She’s a girl cat!”
It pleased Jenny to see the child openly affectionate with her father. “Ah, well that explains it!” With a fond smile, His Grace bent to tug gently on her blue bonnet ribbons.
When he straightened and nodded to Jenny, however, his gaze was cool. “I see the groom awaits with your horse, Ivo. Ask him to saddle Cicero, will you?”
“Certainly.” Ivo bowed his head. “Until this afternoon, Miss Harrismith.” He walked away.
“What is to happen this afternoon?” The duke demanded.
“Herr Von Bremen is to visit the schoolroom. Lord William wants to learn more about the Lippiza horses.”
She saw his fingers tighten around his crop. “As long as it is only about the horses, Miss Harrismith. It is not my policy to have my guests mingle with the staff.”
Her first instinct was to protest, but she could only watch open mouthed as he strode away toward the stables and the waiting threesome. It was the second time he’d been irritated when she was in the company of the German gentleman. Was it her, or Von Bremen who had annoyed him? Or both of them? It was frightfully unfair, and it cut her to the quick to think he might believe such a thing of her. Did he compare her with the former governess? Might he expect her to run off with the German, or perhaps a footman? Annoyed at not being able to defend herself, she tied her green bonnet ribbons firmly then clasped Barbara’s hand.
*
Some hours later,Andrew returned to the stables after putting Cicero through his paces. The chocolate brown stallion was always up for a good gallop. Ivo and Raymond had joined him when the path offered a good straight run. Then, laughing, they’d ridden back to Greta, who grumbled that a sidesaddle was too restricting.
As they walked the horses home, Raymond recalled his holidays at Castlebridge while the old duke was alive. “It was jolly fun, wasn’t it, Andrew? We got up to all manner of high jinks. Remember when we hid in the priest hole in the library? My mother looked for us everywhere. She almost had a fainting fit when we burst out in front of her. Her maid had to run for the smelling salts.”
Raymond was the only one apart from himself who knew every secret place in the old house. But Andrew couldn’t bring himself to believe his cousin would harm William. All his attention seemed focused on Greta, who so far had done little to deter him.
When he’d brought Greta here, Andrew had expected it to be the perfect opportunity for them to grow closer. But the opposite had occurred. It was Ivo who tried to bring them together. During their evenings Ivo made sure he partnered with Raymond at cards. And today, he’d distracted Raymond by riding alongside him and engaging him in conversation, which left Andrew and Greta alone. The man wanted the marriage, of course, if he was rolled up and needed an infusion of funds.
Trouble was, Andrew felt disinclined to be convivial. In fact, he’d begun to wish them all to Jericho, especially when Greta encouraged Raymond to make a fool of himself. He’d been struck by a dismaying realization. Greta’s beauty and charm had blinded him to her less attractive qualities. He hadn’t considered it particularly important that he wasn’t madly in love with her when they were courting in Vienna. But coming home had changed him. Here at Castlebridge, where he’d once been so content, made him want that life again.
Society being what it was, men often did not marry for love. Instead they took a mistress. But it would not suit Andrew to escort a beautiful wife to dinner parties and balls and have her flirt with other men. Or for him to have a mistress. A hollow life which did not attract him at all. As soon as he could he would put an end to his and Greta’s association, although he was sure she already knew it. It was just Ivo who did not.
Andrew dismounted at the stables. The others handed their horses over to grooms and called goodbye. He raised his hand in farewell as the earlier scene which had taken place here with Miss Harrismith caused him to feel some regret. What had got into him? He’d been unjust. She’d done nothing to warrant him cautioning her. He sensed she would have liked to object, but she merely raised her chin, while beneath the brim of her poke bonnet, her gray eyes had darkened with reproach.
He led his stallion into the stable stall and took a moment to lean over the loose box wall to see the kittens. Dashed cute they were, but before long the stables would be overrun. Good ratters, they would turn out to be, perhaps some of his tenants would like them. Squire Grimshaw’s daughter, Sally, might like one for a pet. When the kittens were a little older he would ride over and invite her to choose one.
He settled Cicero into the stall and took down the curry brush from its hook. Working with the ease of long practice, he swept it over the horse’s back. Miss Harrismith didn’t appear to welcome Ivo’s attentions. But to Ivo, flirting with a pretty woman was as natural as breathing, despite Andrew’s warning to leave the governess alone. He was a good looking man, Andrew had to admit, with the same golden hair and cornflower blue eyes as his sister. Would Miss Harrismith find him so?
Andrew brushed over Cicero’s withers. He wondered what was needling him. What harm could Ivo do in the schoolroom with an armed footman outside the door, just supposing he wished to? Andrew frowned. He still didn’t want the man anywhere near Miss Harrismith.
He rubbed Cicero between the eyes, put down some hay for him and went in search of Irvine.
