“A racehorse?” he asked.
“Yes,” Gabriel replied. “Not to race, however. Orion has foot problems, apparently.”
*
Griff stared atthe irritating grin on Susan Crompton’s face, struggling to deny what he suddenly knew to be true. She’d bought his Godolphin Barb—the horse he’d counted on to add the ultimate cachet to Pendlebury Stables; the stallion whose ancestry would ensure Griffith Halliwell could boast of having the Prince Regent as a patron.
To think, he’d been so easily aroused by bare calves, lush breasts pressed against his chest, and disheveled raven locks. Susan Crompton looked like a wild gypsy with her skirts tucked up—
Cease!
She was devious, and clearly out to retaliate for his perceived failure to take care of his tenants.
Well, he would show her—just as soon as he got his arousal under control.
His worst fears were confirmed when the remaining stable lads lowered the rear door of the van. He’d never set eyes on the stallion Richard Tattersall had undertaken to procure, but he recognized Eclipse’s bloodlines in the magnificent chestnut beast snorting to be free of his confinement.
Almost paralyzed by anger, he resolved to deal with Susan Crompton later. His first concern had to be the horse. The animal was clearly in distress. “He’s been in there too long,” he spat, shrugging off his frock coat and rolling up his sleeves. He entered the van, edging past the deadly back legs.
“Be careful,” Susan cried.
Cooing soothing sounds, Griff maneuvered past a powerful shoulder, then stroked the stallion’s long forehead, breathing again when the horse eventually calmed. “The silly woman is concerned I might hurt you,” he whispered. “Obviously, she doesn’t know me at all.”
Irritated he found Susan’s low opinion of him bothersome, he untied the rope and gently coaxed the horse to move backwards out of the van.
*
Susan was concernedfor the horse, but became fixated on the way Halliwell purposefully rolled up his sleeves. Clearly, his tailor had no need to add padding. His shoulders really were as broad as they seemed. No padding there. The silk waistcoat was form-fitted to his body, emphasizing a trim waist and…
The errant thoughts fled and her heart leaped into her throat when Halliwell ventured into the van. She abhorred the way he treated his tenants, but didn’t wish him ill. Entering a confined space with a very unhappy horse took courage. One kick from those deadly hooves, and…
She was trembling uncontrollably and close to tears by the time he’d coaxed the agitated stallion into the yard.
Compelled by a need to calm her racing heart, she took hold of the halter, rested her cheek against the horse and whispered, “Welcome home, Orion.”
It was impossible to ignore the man standing beside her who held the opposite strap of the halter. The resentment pouring off him was palpable. However, something else flickered in the dark eyes. “I assume you know a valuable stud needs special care,” he said with undisguised mockery.
Susan the Bluestocking might have retorted with some sarcastic comeback, but she couldn’t fault the way he’d treated her horse with love and a sure hand. She had no doubt his expertise had saved the animal from injury. “Thank you,” she whispered, biting back the apology she should perhaps have offered.
Love Her and Leave Her
Riding back toWithins Hall, Griff inhaled the cool night air. It would be a mistake to allow his anger to cloud his thoughts. He had to plan, and planning meant reining in his temper.
He’d secured a breakfast appointment with the earl and his estate manager for the following morning. Hopefully, discussions about improving things at Clifton Heights would prove fruitful.
However, another, more vital goal had come to the fore. If he wanted to retrieve Orion—and he most certainly did—he’d have to win the redoubtable Susan Crompton to his side.
It would be no easy task. She hated him but, as the wrought iron gates of Withins came into view, he chuckled. If there was one thing he excelled at, it was wooing women. Even the most reluctant eventually succumbed to his considerable charm. He’d yet to meet the chit who wasn’t impressed with his physique and his slow seduction.
He’d have to be careful not to show his true feelings, but Susan wouldn’t be the first woman he’d bedded for whom he felt nothing. Sexual congress was a purely physical pleasure. It was dangerous to give a female power over one’s emotions. A man had to guard his heart. The deaths of his beloved parents had almost destroyed him.
Once he’d convinced Lady Susan that Orion would be much better off at Pendlebury Stables than stuck in a rural Lancashire backwater, he’dlove her and leave her, as the saying went.
As he dismounted and handed the reins to a stable boy, the notion was irritatingly troubling. Bedding wealthy widows who didn’t care a hoot about theton’sopinion was one thing; deliberately leading Susan Crompton up the proverbial garden path was quite another.
Even in the north, far from wagging London tongues, a woman’s reputation could be irretrievably ruined.
It wouldn’t be easy, but he was confident he could eventually coax Susan into his bed. The prospect was annoyingly more appealing than it ought to be and he never shied away from a challenge.