Father arched brow. “I agree. That is a very real possibility. And you should have thought ofthatbefore you sneaked here in the middle of the night.” Anger and disapproval dripped from her father’s tone.
“Father, please!” Thea was desperate. “Think about our family’s reputation. Think about Anthony. If this becomes a scandal, it could hurt his future prospects.”
Father’s nostrils flared and he turned toward the door. “It could,” he agreed. “And I intend to leave it toyouto explain to your brother why you’ve made the choices you’ve made. Now, I’m leaving. I’ve brought Maggie with me. She packed a trunk with some of your belongings that you’ll need. She’ll remain with you as a chaperone and caretaker, so you won’t be as much of a burden on Lord Clayton and his staff. Clayton intends to tell his servants that Maggie is newly hired by him.”
“That won’t work. There is certain to be gossip.” Thea tried to push off the covers and move to the side of the bed to stand, but the throbbing pain in her leg was too much. She gritted her teeth in frustration. “You cannot leave me here, Father! Who will plan our Christmastide ball?” She knew such an argument was ludicrous at this point, but desperation was muddling her brain.
Her father’s hand was already on the door handle. “On the contrary, Theodora. Icanleave you here and that’s exactly what I intend to do. The servants will plan the ball. You’ll be home in time for it, don’t worry.” He opened the door and turned to face her. “In the meantime, perhaps you will act better as a guest in Lord Clayton’s home than you do as a resident in mine.”
He turned to leave and was about to step into the corridor when Thea asked in a near shriek, “How long must I stay here? A sennight? A fortnight?”
Father paused and turned his head to the side. “Until your leg heals.”
Thea forced herself to take a deep breath. “Heals? For goodness sake, how long will that be?”
Father’s monotone answer floated back to her. “At least a month, according to Dr. Blanchard.”
“A month,” Thea echoed, nausea roiling in her belly. “I cannot stay here a month. Surely it will be safe enough to travel sooner than a month.”
“The doctor is not convinced. Now, I intend to go speak with Viscount Clayton further about the details. I shall tell him that you will be on your best behavior, Theodora. Donotmake me a liar.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The slight knock at the door to his study made Ewan look up from the ledgers he’d been reviewing. “Come in,” he called.
The door opened and the Earl of Blackstone stepped inside. The older man had a resigned and decidedly unhappy look on his face.
Ewan pushed back his chair and stood. “Would you like a drink, Blackstone?” It may have been morning, but under the circumstances, Ewan thought a drink might well be in order.
“No, thank you, Clayton. I hope not to take much more of your time than you’ve already been forced to give my family over the last twenty-four hours.”
“It’s no trouble, my lord,” Ewan replied. He felt a bit sorry for the man. Blackstone obviously had a high-spirited daughter who was prone to get into trouble. It wasn’t as if the earl could keep an eye on the chit constantly.
“Itistrouble, Clayton,” Blackstone replied, “but you’re a good man to help us.”
“Please take a seat,” Ewan offered, splaying his hand toward one of the two chairs that sat facing his desk.
Blackstone lowered himself into the seat closest to the door and sighed. “I’m afraid when my daughter gets something in her head, she cannot be dissuaded.”
Ewan chuckled. “So I’ve come to learn about her, my lord.”
Blackstone leaned back. “The horse, the Arabian. She believes it belongs to her, or should at least, because we owned him once.”
Ewan nodded. “Yes, my lord. I understand.”
“I’m not excusing her behavior, mind you,” Blackstone continued. “I simply wanted to tell you why she’s caused you so much trouble. Even still, she wants to purchase the animal.” The older man shook his head.
“Yes,” Ewan replied, nodding. “Did Lady Theodora tell you she offered me double the price I paid at auction?”
Blackstone’s brows shot up. “What? No. We don’t havethatamount of money. And even if we did, I wouldn’t spend it on one horse for heaven’s sake.”
“I don’t blame you,” Ewan replied. “Rest assured I declined her offer.”
“I blame myself for her shortcomings,” Blackstone continued with a sigh. “Her mother died when she was younger and, well, I’ve always thought she lacked a woman’s guiding hand these last few years. Perhaps I should have married again and provided her with a stepmother. Instead, I’ve appeased Theodora as much as I could. The Arabian, however, was a step too far. I should never have agreed to send Anthony to attempt to buy him back.”
Ewan eyed the man carefully. Lord Blackstone seemed a reasonable sort, but there was still one outstanding question that bothered Ewan. “May I ask why you sold the horse, my lord, if it meant so much to your daughter as a pet?”
Blackstone shrugged and contemplated his fingernails. “Harlowe offered me an amount I couldn’t refuse. Apparently that horse is from an unimpeachable bloodline. My late wife had been the one to pick out his mother and breed her. Thea’s mother was a fine judge of horseflesh. How was I to know my daughter would take the foal’s absence so personally?”
