“Because you’re not ready for me. You’re more innocent than I imagined, and I don’t mess with innocence.”
“Why not?”
“Because the innocent have expectations. And I’m afraid Indra, that I’m bound to disappoint. I don’t do emotions. I don’t do love. All that was killed years ago. All I want from you is the pleasure of the flesh, and I know that that won’t be enough for you. Will it?”
She shook her head and watched him sigh and walk away.
Sebastian wished he’d been telling the truth. Because he suspected it wasn’t only Indra who was scared. It was him. This woman was stirring feelings inside of him, which he’d thought had been killed off years ago. Besides, he was getting closer to getting enough information to blackmail her. And, he thought to himself as he closed the door quietly behind him, leaving Indra alone, it was definitely never a good thing to have feelings for the subject of your blackmail. Never.
Chapter6
Sebastian had passed the days since their wedding keeping himself busy with work. He’d needed to focus, needed to stop himself from thinking about Indra, but it hadn’t helped. If she was anywhere within sight he had no choice but to look at her. And, even when she wasn’t present, he saw her in his mind’s eye. Her large brown eyes dominated his thoughts and he swore he could still feel her silky skin beneath his fingers. But he’d managed to avoid being in her company until now—and now he needed her, whether he liked it or not.
It was the day of the Richmond garden party and people milled around the estate gardens, enjoying the food and champagne as they watched the horses going through their paces. Everywhere there were people, but no Indra. Where was she?
Sebastian looked over the heads of the people who thronged the park, watching the magnificent horses gallop by, their coats glossy under the full sun and their eyes bright — spirited but under control. There could be no better way to showcase their training center. Except for one thing. Indra.
The invitation had been sent out under both their names. He was a betting man, and he’d bet his last dollar that most of these people had come because they’d been intrigued by the sudden revelation that he, Sir Sebastian Richmond, had married Lady Indra Richmond. No one was asking about his horses any more, only about his wife. And he hadn’t seen a trace of her all day.
He excused himself from the last inquisitive couple and slipped away through the trees. He passed through the stables and estate offices, but there was no sign of her. He glanced up at the attic nursery windows. Usually he’d catch sight of her dark hair at her desk in front of the window, but there was no sign of her today. And the window was closed, which suggested she wasn’t there. That left only one likely place, that was hidden from their guests in the woods. He set off for the church.
The thick church walls silenced the distant sounds of people, and Indra leaned her head back against the pew and closed her eyes. It had been a long day. She’d been up before dawn because she’d wanted everything to be right. Aside from whatever was going on between her and Sebastian, the future of her beloved estate depended on it. And no matter what Sebastian had expected, she had no intention of showing her face. Yes, she’d make sure everything would happen according to plan. But, no, she could not jeopardize herself by exposing herself to whoever showed up. She only hoped that it would be worth it.
Suddenly, the clunk of the iron ring door handle rang through the silence. She froze, exactly as she always did when threatened, and the fine hairs on her neck rose as a light, warm breeze blew in temporarily before the door closed. He walked slowly up the stone-paved aisle toward her and then stopped. She kept her head bowed as she tried to quiet her heartbeat, which insisted on sending her body into overdrive. She gasped in some of the cool neglected air of the church, willing some of its usual calm to rub off, but it didn’t.
“Indra,” he said, firmly but quietly.
She turned to him. She couldn’t delay it any longer. Besides, shewantedto see him. Over the past week, since he’d been avoiding her as if she were some kind of threat to him, she’d only caught sight of him, talking to the workers, looking every inch the lord of the manor—commanding and impressive. He had tanned since he’d come to Richmond, the years of casino night life forgotten now.
And his blue eyes were brighter, set against the brown of his skin. Now he stood squarely looking at her, hands thrust into his pockets, legs apart. He was wearing pale trousers and an open-necked white shirt above which his chest hairs could be seen. She lifted her eyes higher, past the firm line of his jaw to lips which formed a hard line. She took a deep breath and jerked her head up to meet his gaze. She swallowed down a flutter of nerves.
“You found me,” she said, bowing to the inevitable.
“Yes, it wasn’t hard. You go nowhere and have favorite hiding places. Which begs the question, what are you hiding from?”
She brushed away a lock of hair from her face. “I’d have thought that was obvious.”
“Not to me.”
She nibbled her lips, trying to pluck up the courage to tell him a little of the truth, knowing he could detect any lies.
“Tell me what’s going on, Indra.”
She’d been about to give him a part-truth but didn’t like his hectoring tone. She rose, refusing to be talked down to, and stepped towards him. His frown deepened.
“I’ve done everything I needed to do. The party is going well, isn’t it? Your guests—”
“Ourguests—”
“Are happy, content, impressed?” She paused, waiting for his response. It didn’t come. “Are they not?”
A muscle flickered in his jaw. She was getting to him. He gave a short, curt nod in response.
“Good. Then I believe I have accomplished what I set out to do.”
“Maybe whatyouset out to do. But notme. The invitation was from both of us and people are asking to meet you. If you don’t come and meet them, you’ll undermine everything. Yes, they’re impressed with the horses. Why wouldn’t they be? And that’s a box ticked, but what they really want is to see the beautiful and elusive Indra. My wife. If you don’t come with me now and play the part of a happily married wife, then you’ll have undone all your work.”
She bit her lip to try to stop it from trembling. It was what she’d feared but had been ignoring.