However, he would earn her everlasting hatred if he stole her maidenhead then abandoned her. His cock saluted the vision of Susan writhing beneath him, her cheeks flushed with pleasure as she screamed his name. At the same time, chills ran up and down his spine—fury would be unleashed when she realized he’d tricked her. He would also lose the Earl of Farnworth’s regard, even earn the enmity of a worthy peer. Bertrand Coleman wouldn’t be impressed with such behavior either.
He gritted his teeth as Whiteside’s butler ushered him into the ornate foyer of Withins Hall. The irritating Susan Crompton had him tied in knots.
“To make matters worse,” he mumbled as he mounted the stairs to his chamber, “she genuinely loves Orion.” He chuckled. “She was more concerned about the bloody horse than she was about me.” Given the fate of his hapless tenant weavers, he perhaps deserved her scorn, but her disdain pricked his male pride.
*
Afraid she mightcollapse from exhaustion and the turmoil in her heart, Susan appreciated Emma’s hug as she entered Thicketford Manor.
Sulking, Patsy stood beside her mother, arms folded. “I wanted to stroke Orion.”
Susan put an arm around her niece’s shoulders. “The poor thing wasn’t feeling very happy. Tomorrow, he’ll be more settled.”
She hoped that would prove to be the case. After all, she knew nothing about the care of thoroughbred horses.
“The earl was brave,” Patsy declared as they headed for the drawing room.
Susan agreed. Entering the narrow van could have resulted in a catastrophic injury. She couldn’t deny Pendlebury’s bold confidence had calmed the frenzied horse. It was fortuitous he’d happened along. Gabriel and Bradley were both courageous men who’d distinguished themselves at Waterloo, but she doubted they’d have willingly ventured into the van.
Even the Thicketford ostler seemed intimidated by the stallion. Pendlebury had sensed that too. He’d hurried to the stables and dispensed instructions to the grooms. His love of horses seemed genuine.
“Why don’t you and Rebecca stay here overnight?” Emma suggested. “It’s too late to walk to the dower house and you both look done in.”
Susan agreed. The thought of getting back on a horse and riding home couldn’t be borne, but she would miss her own bed and Rebecca didn’t like having her routine disrupted.
Patsy ran to greet her stepfather when he entered, Frame not far behind.
“What are you doing out of bed, young lady?” Gabriel asked, hoisting her to settle on his hip.
“I wanted to see the horse,” she whined, snaking her arms around his neck.
“You’ll have to wait until tomorrow. The Earl of Pendlebury has promised to return to give us some pointers on feeding and so on.”
Apparently mollified, she kissed his cheek and slid down to the floor. “Goodnight.”
Everyone wished her the same before she scooted back to the stairs where Miss Ince waited.
“I’m starving,” Gabriel declared. “Any chance of a bite from the kitchen?” he asked Frame.
“I’ll see to it, my lord,” the butler replied. “For Lady Susan and Mrs. Waterman as well?”
“Yes,” Susan replied, suddenly deeming it vital she be at Thicketford Manor when Pendlebury called. After all, she wanted to learn as much as she could about racehorses—and implement her plan to flirt. “I think we should stay the night and I’m hungry too.”
“Nothing for me,” Rebecca replied. “We ate on the way home.”
Susan half-expected the earl’s mother to insist they return to the dower house. She was pleasantly surprised when Rebecca agreed to stay.
Emma rose. “I’ll get Mrs. Maple to prepare your rooms,” she said. “It’s good you’ll be here when Pendlebury arrives.”
Susan preferred not to ponder further on why that would be a good thing, nor did she understand the reason for Emma’s knowing smile as she left the drawing room. Was it possible her friend suspected her plan to toy with the rogue earl’s affections?
Let the Games Begin
The next day,feeling a little like Daniel entering the lions’ den, Griff took a deep breath as Frame led him into the morning room at Thicketford Manor.
The noisy chatter abruptly ceased as Earl Gabriel stood, shook his hand, reintroduced everyone at the table, and bade him sit.
“Lady Emma, Lady Susan, Mrs. Waterman, and Miss Crompton, good morning to you,” Griff said, bowing politely to each female before he took a chair. Patsy giggled at the formal address.