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Not exciting. Terrifying.
So terrifying, he’d gone mute even as his heart raced. What was he doing, clutching Lenora up against him as if he feared someone would steal her away?
He released her. As she moved back, she took the air in his lungs.
She adjusted her gloves. “Now, when we get back to London, Millie, Nettie and I will be moving into D’Acre House with Adrian and Eliza, but we can meet clandestinely in Asquith House’s stables.”
Meet him in his own stables? With his mother within shouting distance?
Diabolical.
“Nettie and I have set up weekly visits with your mother,” she continued. “Godmama agreed to let us into the attic so we can go through some of my mother’s old things. The story veils our true intent perfectly. I’ll slip away while Nettie continues to make noise. Adrian’s sister will likely join us as well. Emily and Nettie are so close, at this point, Emily is almost an honorary Wainwright.”
“But Barker—”
“Don’t worry about your head groom. He can be bribed. We did so often enough while we lived with your mother last Season.”
“Bribed?!”
She glanced heavenward. “Even your undergroom is partial to a bit of coin tossed his way. How do you think Eliza was able to go to a gaming hell in the middle of the night?”
Again, she’d rendered him speechless.
He shook his head, remembering Eliza was no longer his responsibility.
“Never mind.” The past concerned him less right now than the future.
How should he answer Lenora? What outcome might occur if he rejected her demands?
After this evening, she could not only tell Harbury and Adrian about having seen him unclothed, she could also reveal she’d kissed him, and in Adrian’s back garden, no less.
He’d done nothing to stop her. In fact, he’d held her close. And he longed to do so again.
Though Asquith considered both her powerful new brothers-in-law friends, he doubted they would take kindly to either incident. They could even insist he relinquish his guardianship, or force a marriage between himself and Lenora.
No matter which tack they took, he would find himself in Chancery court.
He pictured the Lord Chancellor poring over his books, his brow furrowed in disapproval.
Although his estate was financially sound, his income was modest, and he’d taken on debt to transform part of Asquith Park into Asquith Park Stud, a place where well-heeled gentlemen would bring their mares.
His stable expenses ran well beyond the estate's usual needs. Eventually, the stables would turn a profit, but, at present, a study of his books would metaphorically strip him bare.
Like a criminal.
Like a boy at the mercy of a conscienceless tormentor.
“Seems,” he said slowly, “you have me at an impasse.”
She nodded. “That was my plan.”
She was determined to have him. But he was equally determined to see her married to a gentleman who could give her a peaceful, secure life.
Could he use the meetings for his own ends? Convince her he was not the man she wanted?
Adrian and Eliza only intended to stay in London between the end of October and Advent, meaning he only had to suffer through six or seven meetings. He should be able to manage that much without losing his head.
Then, he would return to his own estate and focus on his horses.
