Devil grinned, and set course for a nearby hillock. He halted on the crest; Michael drew up alongside. Devil glanced his way. "I've no idea what Honoria wrote, so I'll start at the beginning."
Michael nodded. "That might be wise."
Gazing over his fields, Devil outlined the events leading to Honoria's presence at the Place. "So," he concluded, "I've suggested that getting married is appropriate."
"To you?"
Devil's brows flew. "Whom else did you have in mind?"
"Just checking." Michael's grin surfaced briefly, then he sobered. "But if that's the case, why have I been summoned to escort her to Hampshire?"
"Because," Devil replied, "your sister imagines she's so long in the tooth that a reputation
is neither here nor there. She plans to be the next Hester Stanhope."
"Oh, lord!" Michael cast his eyes heavenward. "She's not still set on Africa, is she?"
"It's her dearest wish, so I've been informed, to ride in the shadow of the Sphinx, pursued, no doubt, by a horde of Berber chieftains, then to fall victim to Barbary Coast slave traders. I understand she believes she's starved of excitement and the only way she'll get any is to brave the wilds of Africa."
Michael looked disgusted. "I'd hoped she'd grown out of that by now. Or that some gentleman would appear and give her mind a new direction."
"As to the first, I suspect she'll grow more determined with age-she is, after all, an Anstruther-Wetherby, a family renowned for its stubbornness. But as to giving her mind a new direction, I already have that in hand."
Michael looked up. "Has she agreed to marry you?"
"Not yet." Devil's expression hardened. "But she will."
There was an instant's silence, then Michael asked: "Free of any coercion?"
Devil's eyes met his; one brow lifted superciliously. "Naturally."
Michael studied Devil's eyes, then his features relaxed. He looked out over the fields; Devil waited patiently. Eventually, Michael looked his way. "I'll admit I would be glad to see Honoria safely wed, especially to a man of your standing. I won't oppose the match-I'll support it however I can. But I won't agree to pressure her into any decision."
Devil inclined his head. "Aside from anything else your sister is hardly a biddable female."
"As you say." Michael's gaze turned shrewd. "So what do you want of me?"
Devil grinned. "My brand of persuasion doesn't work well at a distance. I need Honoria to remain within reach." With a gesture, he indicated that they should ride on, and touched his heels to Sulieman's flanks.
Michael cantered alongside. "If Honoria's set on returning home, I'll need some reason to gainsay her."
Devil shot him a glance. "Is she her own mistress?"
"Until she's twenty-five, she's in my care."
"In that case," Devil said, "I have a plan."
By the time they cantered into the stable yard, Michael was entirely comfortable with his brother-in-law to be. It appeared that his sister, usually an irresistible force, had finally met a sufficiently immovable object. He matched his stride to Devil's as they headed for the house.
"Tell me," Devil said, his gaze roving the house, checking for impending interruptions. "Has she always been frightened of storms?"
He glanced at Michael in rime to see him wince.
"They still make her twitch?"
Devil frowned. "Rather more than that."
Michael sighed. "Hardly surprising, I suppose-I still get edgy myself."