Before he had a chance to call his words back or defend himself in any way, she took off, spurring her horse toward home. He wanted to chase after her, but restrained himself. Best to cut his losses and try again some other day.
By the time he reached the stables, she was nowhere to be seen. He waved away the stable lad and groomed the horse himself, enjoying the familiar, soothing rhythm. He’d always ridden whenever he had the opportunity. It was a gentleman’s sport, and he’d never had the luxury when he was young.
As he worked, his tension eased. He let his mind wander over the events of the day. Kate had been touched when he’d asked her about her roses. Her lovely face had lit up when she’d spoken of them. He smiled, thinking perhaps he’d found the key to melting her defenses.
She claimed she’d miss her roses the most, which spurred a plan. If he arranged to have a few of her rose bushes brought aboard ship, it would cheer her and perhaps help him regain some of the ground he’d lost today.
It would give her something to remember him by.
Feeling morose, he handed the curry brush back to the groom and exited the stables. So much for keeping his emotions out of it. He couldn’t shake the thought that after he’d done what he must, she’d never think of him with fondness again. She’d hate him with all the green-eyed passion she possessed.
Just the same, he resolved to send a footman down to Rosewood Manor this very afternoon. Kate should have at least a few of her roses. It was the only thing he could do for her.
* * * * *
Daniel Sinclair was at his club sharing a bottle of port with Philip Carrington when his father tracked him down. Daniel watched through narrowed eyes as Sutcliffe bore down on them, his face set in grim, foreboding lines.
“Oh, Lord,” Philip groaned, noticing Daniel’s sudden inattention. “What on earth is he doing here?”
Daniel shook his head, willing the tyrant who’d sired him to perdition. “I don’t know. But maybe you should make yourself scarce.”
Philip tossed a lock of blond hair out of his eyes, frowning. “Bugger the old bastard. He has no right to treat you this way.”
Daniel just shook his head, knowing all he stood to lose. Philip wasn’t the only thing his father could take from him with a mere snap of his fingers. “I’ll be all right. Just go.”
Philip stood and bowed as Sutcliffe joined them. “Sir. I was just leaving.”
Sutcliffe gave Philip a look of pure disgust. “Then by all means, do so. I need to talk to Daniel alone.” He took the chair Philip had vacated, dismissing him.
Philip glared at Sutcliffe’s broad back for a moment then shrugged and wandered away toward the gaming tables. Daniel watched his lover go, in no hurry to listen to his father’s complaints.
“You’ll be pleased to know everything is in order.” Sutcliffe helped himself to the port, staring at Daniel as though he was an insect in need of squashing. “I’ll expect you to be on board the ship when it sails.”
Daniel’s anger spiked. “I don’t understand why I have to go anywhere. Why can’t your golden boy seduce Kathryn right here on British soil?”
Sutcliffe quaffed his drink. “There’s already too much talk. No less than half a dozen people have asked me why your wife was riding in the park with my bastard since I entered the club.”
Daniel laughed. He couldn’t help himself. No matter how much he hated his half-brother, he was glad to see his father in such a state. “Very inconvenient. But I don’t see why we can’t just go to France for a few weeks. We could rent a villa, and I could amuse myself with Philip while the two of them conceive the perfect little heir.”
The thought of being separated from Philip for months on end killed him. Why should he be forced to give up his lover while his wife took one beneath his very nose?
Sutcliffe slammed his heavy crystal glass down on the polished oak table. “You’re getting on that ship. I don’t want to hear another word about it.”
Daniel clenched his fists at his sides, feeling totally impotent. “You can’t force me to claim another man’s child as my own. Just listen to yourself. This entire plan is mad. It will never work.”
“I can do anything I want.” Sutcliffe was eerily calm, considering this was one of the only times Daniel had ever found the courage to stand up to him. “You should know that by now.”
Daniel knew. He knew all too well. Swallowing, he prepared himself for whatever hell his father had in store for him this time.
* * * * *
Kate spent the rest of the afternoon in her room, brooding over what had happened in the park. Talon seemed to bring out both the best and worst in her. She couldn’t explain her erratic behavior.
Talon wasn’t a knight in shining armor. He hadn’t come here to rescue her. He was Sutcliffe’s son, and she couldn’t expect him to risk his relationship with his family to have an affair with her.
She’d been upset the other night, and he’d kissed her out of pity more than anything. He’d probably been regretting his generosity ever since. As for the rest of it, his sweet words in the library this morning, his claim that he admired her… well, she mustn’t read too much into it.
He was a man, after all. It was her duty to keep him at arm’s length.
