Griff squared his shoulders. “I understand. I was referring to her love for the horse,” he lied.
In an effort to relieve the unwelcome silence that ensued, he said, “By the by, I called at Withins Hall on my way here. Just to say hello to Whiteside.”
“He’s well, I trust.”
Having embarked on the tale, Griff couldn’t stop now. “Actually, I was rather rudely turned away by a young man I didn’t meet on my last visit there.”
Gabriel’s jaw clenched as he leaned forward in his chair. “Springer, the son-in-law perhaps?”
Griff suddenly recalled the baron’s son had been involved in a crime against the Farnworth household. “Er, no. I met Springer. This man was about the same age. He looked like he’d spent time in the tropics. India, perhaps.”
He startled when Gabriel stood abruptly. “Forgive me,” he said. “I must speak with my wife. Frame will show you to your chamber. Help yourself to more brandy, if you wish.”
And with that, he was gone.
Contemplating Changes
After tossing andturning most of the night, a yawning Susan came downstairs for breakfast the next day determined to be more circumspect and ladylike in her response to whatever was proposed for Orion. She was a reasonable person, after all, although the irrational temptation to sneak along the dark landing and confront Griff in his chamber last night had been overwhelming. Yes, confrontation had definitely been her intent. Why else would a respectable woman visit a man’s bedchamber?
Preoccupied with these confusing thoughts, she startled when both earls rose to greet her in the morning room.
Determined as her intellect was to treat the visiting earl with cool disdain, she couldn’t deny the joy flooding her body. His smile was just so damnably appealing, his broad shoulders so annoyingly broad. “Good morning,” she began, the quiver in her voice obvious even to her. And why was Emma looking so smug?
“Are we going to see Orion now that Aunty Susan is here?” Patsy asked as Susan sat.
“Patience, young lady,” Gabriel replied.
“I’m as anxious as you to see him again, Patsy,” Griff said. “And you’ve been close by, whereas I’ve been at Clifton Heights.”
“But I haven’t been allowed near his stall,” Patsy pointed out.
“Well,” Susan said. “You’ll be welcome to come with us this morning.”
Emma frowned. “I thought you and Rebecca and I might get started on planning the ball this morning.”
Susan was torn. She noted the disappointment in Emma’s voice and wanted to help with the ball in any way she could, but it was imperative she protect her interests as far as the horse was concerned. She couldn’t explain the deep attachment she felt for the animal. Griff would have a fight on his hands if he thought to take the stallion away.
*
Griff’s thoughts weremuddled. He’d spent a restless night contemplating wandering the halls of Thicketford Manor—a ludicrous notion that would have resulted in a terrible scene in the unlikely event he’d even been able to locate Susan’s chamber.
Her arrival in the morning room had instantly resurrected the unwelcome erection he’d been willing away since waking. He genuinely wanted to see Orion again and truly believed Clifton Heights was a better location for a stud farm. However, the fire in Susan’s eyes left no doubt she’d be devastated if the horse was taken away.
The fact he was considering the establishment of a stud farm in the north was perhaps a sign he was losing his mind. Yet, he couldn’t deny the enthusiasm bubbling in his gut for such a venture. He’d received no reply from Tom Glazebrook, though he sensed the man would willingly return to Lancashire.
Even the possibility of leaving London and moving back into Clifton Heights didn’t give rise to the usual knot of dread in his belly, although the enormous place would still be lonely, unless…
“I’m sure a quick visit to the stables won’t infringe too much on Susan’s time,” Gabriel said, earning a sigh of relief from the lady in question and a frown from his wife.
“On another note,” Gabriel continued, cautiously eyeing Patsy. “I’d like to meet later to learn more about the stranger who turned Griffith away from Withins Hall last night.”
Emma didn’t seem surprised by his remark, but Susan’s wide-eyed gaze swiveled to Griff. “You went to Withins before coming here?” she asked, unmistakable pique in her voice.
“Just to pay my respects to the baron,” he lied, gobsmacked by her obvious annoyance he hadn’t made a beeline for Thicketford Manor.
*
Stupidly hurt Griffhadn’t been as anxious to see her as she’d hoped, Susan was equally perplexed by mention of a rude stranger at Withins Hall. She had a terrible premonition—confirmed by the warning in Gabriel’s eyes—it could be Arthur.