The old man nodded. ‘Ridiculous, isn’t it? People thought David mad to hand over the reins to a slip of a girl. But she was a quick learner and she knew the place like the back of her hand. She loves it. Unlike that bumptious nephew of David’s. He’d run it into the ground.’
‘You’re telling me Alice Trehearn managed this whole estate?’ It wasn’t possible, surely. In addition to the manor house, which was in pristine condition, there were farms and woodlands, this cluster of cottages, all by the look of them in fine order, and—
‘She did.’ The old man’s smile faded. ‘Not that I approve of what David did, mind you. Say what you will, it was selfish of him burdening her. But who could blame him?’
Adoni was torn between curiosity and a deep reluctance to hear details of her life with her sugar daddy.
‘Here we are.’ Alice appeared, brandishing a jar of jam, surveying them speculatively.
Adoni’s mind raced. Was she a gold-digger with a talent for good management? Jasper Hyde didn’t seem the sort to be seduced by a pretty face yet he was protective of Alice. Clearly too she’d left the estate in good condition, though her own financial circumstances were dismal.
Was her poverty real, or a ploy for sympathy?
Not having answers drove Adoni crazy.
He stirred from his reverie as Alice kissed Jasper on the cheek, promising to send photos of Greece. Jasper growled something about being careful, then Alice and Adoni turned back to the path through the woods.
‘What were you and Jasper talking about?’ Her voice was high, almost breathless.
‘You.’ Adoni saw her start.
‘What about me?’
He was tempted to string her along, sure he’d discover more about her if she was on edge. But he preferred the truth. ‘About you running the estate. Why didn’t you mention it?’ His investigators had neglected to add that, though they had referred to her having access to Bannister’s accounts. Adoni had taken that as proof of her avaricious ways.
‘Why should I? It’s not relevant.’
Adoni disagreed. Anything about her character was relevant while he tried to determine who the mother of his child was.
Especially when he responded to her more than was desirable. Like now as she marched beside him, her narrow jaw set and a frown knotting her brow. They passed through the perfumed dell and Adoni wanted to pull her close, discover if her hair still smelled of orange blossom and if her skin was as satiny as he recalled. If she’d sigh a welcome as he took her voluptuous mouth. How would she respond if he powered her down into the swathe of bluebells and—?
‘You let me think you were just David Bannister’s lover.’
Instantly her full lips pinched and her nostrils flared in distaste. ‘I did no such thing!Youcame to that conclusion.’ She paused, her breathing fast and shallow. ‘I don’t need to explain my past. Besides, you wouldn’t believe the truth if it rose up and bit you.’
Adoni looked into bruised blue eyes and felt his chest constrict. ‘You could try me.’
‘Could I, indeed? That wasn’t what you said in London.’ Her hands jammed onto her hips and her chin tilted. ‘Besides, you’ve set yourself up as some sort of judge! It’s none of your business.’
She whirled round, her skirt belling around shapely legs, and stalked down the path.
Adoni watched her go, grumpy yet tantalisingly sensual as she strode away. Dappled sunlight picked out the dark auburn in her hair and the natural sway of her hips ignited a pulse of unwilling, inevitable awareness.
She was the mother of his unborn child.
Adoni was stuck with her. He needed to know her, understand her. For his own sake.
Because he wanted her still. Again.
And he intended to have her, on his terms.
But he refused to be duped again.