“Do you have something in your eye, Susan?” Griff asked as they entered the dining room.
“No,” she replied, disentangling her arm from his, reassured her gushing welcome had been prompted by nothing more than a desire to make him believe she cared for him. Which she most definitely did not. Just because his kiss was the most…
“I expect you’ll want to see Orion in the morning, Lord Pendlebury,” Emma remarked.
“Why can’t we do that tonight?” Patsy whined.
“Because it’s past time you were in bed,” Gabriel replied. “Please bid everyone goodnight and off you go.”
Pouting, Patsy did as he asked.
“She’d have put up a fuss if I’d sent her to bed,” Emma said with a smile after her daughter left. “But she always listens to my husband.”
Polite conversation ensued, but Susan’s thoughts wandered. Emma and Gabriel had always made her feel part of their family. Yet, she wasn’t. Suddenly, being the maiden aunt to their children wasn’t as appealing as it used to be. Passing on her love of learning to little ones of her own would fill her life with purpose.
A footman arrived with a plate of food for their guest. She watched him tuck in, thinking how wonderful it would be if…
Rebecca began to describe to Emma some of the improvements to Clifton Heights they’d suggested. Caught up in visions of little girls with Griff’s smile and intriguing eyes, Susan paid scant attention, merely smiling like a contented cat when required.
She bristled when she realized the earls were discussing Orion. She should have paid closer attention. Surely, Griff hadn’t said the breeding facilities at Clifton Heights were better than those at Thicketford Manor?
Gabriel was nodding. Had he agreed?
This was exactly the kind of male arrogance she despised. She might have expected it from Halliwell, but Gabriel? How dare they exclude her from their discussions?
“Ready for a brandy?” Gabriel asked his guest as he stood.
“Indeed,” Halliwell replied, dabbing his mouth with a napkin.
They departed for the library before Susan had a chance to shove aside the memory of kissing those full lips.
*
“My apologies againfor the late arrival, Farnworth,” Griff told his host as his weary body settled into the red leather armchair.
“Think nothing of it,” his fellow earl replied, handing him a glass of brandy. “And I prefer to be called Gabriel.”
“My thanks,” he said, raising his glass. “Here’s to Orion.”
The excellent brandy warmed Griff’s throat, but he detected a note of hesitancy in Gabriel’s voice as he echoed the toast. As he might have expected from the plain-speaking Earl of Farnworth, the reason was soon forthcoming.
“I hear what you’re saying about moving Orion to Clifton Heights, but you must remember the stallion actually belongs to Susan. She’ll have the last word.”
“Of course,” Griff agreed, still confused by Susan’s reaction when he’d arrived. He was used to being able to classify women without any difficulty—some were mistress material, others not.
Susan was impossible to pigeon-hole. He acknowledged he definitely wanted her in his bed, but she would never agree to be his mistress. Nor would he be comfortable suggesting it. However, the women who fell into the non-mistress category were unappealing and usually boring. Life with Susan would never be boring.
He took another sip of brandy, alarmed by the direction his thoughts had taken. Was it possible he was contemplating spending his life with her?
“I’m glad to see you and Susan getting along,” Gabriel said, interrupting his musings.
“Yes,” Griff replied, wondering about the hint of curiosity in the remark. “She and your mother have been a tremendous help with the house. I just hope she’ll at least consider the proposal to move Orion.”
“I’ve always found her to be a reasonable woman,” Gabriel replied, after draining his brandy.
Griff might have agreed had it not been for the way Susan had responded to his advances—not how he’d expected, and definitely not rational. The same could be said for the fire she’d lit in his loins. “What’s the old saying?” he asked with a chuckle. “The heart has its reasons that have nothing to do with reason.”
Gabriel narrowed his eyes. “I don’t want to see Lady Susan hurt,” he warned. “She’s a much-loved member of this family.”