Page 20

Garrick appeared to consider the problem.

“Imagine,” she said. “That she’d have so little experience riding with Eddard as her father.”

“Eddard?” That had clearly managed to surprise him. “I didn’t realize he had a daughter.”

“Well, neither did he for quite some time. Which may explain her lack of interest in horses. A few years back, a woman whom Eddard had, um . . .”

He cocked his head. “Sought out the service of Venus?”

It took her a moment, but when she understood, she shivered as surely as if they were still conversing in the cold stable at Kenshire.

“Cold, Emma?”

Of course not. In fact, it was quite warm down here in the cellar. “Nay.”

“I thought I saw you shiver.”

He was a churl to say such a thing. “Your eyesight must be poor.”

“I don’t believe it is.”

Did he know how he affected her?

Just because she didn’t like the way he’d ordered her to leave the great room didn’t mean she was immune to his charms. The Earl of Clave was perhaps the most good-looking man in all of England. Was it any wonder that she noticed?

“I’ll leave a man behind to bring her to Dunmure when she’s ready.”

A man? Her? What had she done to convince him to leave her behind?

Oh, Edith.

“Is that safe?”

“Safe?”

Oh dear, how would she say this?

“A strange man. With my maid?”

He lifted his brows as if mocking her.

Arrogant earl.

“He is not strange to me,” he said. “And ’tis no different than you being down here alone. Or traveling to Dunmure with me and my men.”

He had a point. “I do believe my brother will not be very happy to learn I traveled with you unchaperoned.”

“Yet you sit here with me now.”

“You insisted.”

“Your safety is my only concern.”

“Your only concern?” She hadn’t meant it that way. Nor had she meant to put quite so much emphasis on the word “only.” Her point, or rather the point she’d intended to make, was that he seemed just as concerned about being in control as he did of her safety.

But that was not how it sounded.

“Unfortunately, yes,” he said bluntly.