Did she want him to remain?Grayson had yet to meet a woman who rebuffed him, and despite her distant behavior, he knew he could rouse Kate’s passions effortlessly.He stared at her, willing her to give him answers to questions he could not put into words.
“Kate!”The sound of a shout brought them both around, and a short, rotund man burst into the room, followed by an apologetic Badcock.
“There you are!”the man said loudly as his head swiveled toward Kate.
“I beg your pardon, my lord,” Badcock said, his expression tight with disapproval.“But this… gentleman insisted upon seeing Lady Courtland.”
“Squire Wortley,” Kate said, her greeting decidedly unenthusiastic.
“Uncle!”Rutledge exclaimed, jumping up with a look of alarm on his boyish face.
“And you!”the squire sputtered, turning toward his nephew.“What’s all this nonsense about you marrying?”
Squire Wortley.Grayson fixed his contemptuous gaze on the man who had so swindled the innocent Courtlands.Already annoyed by his recent exchange with Kate, Grayson found himself only too ready to take on the squire, preferably by slamming him into the wall.
“Squire Wortley,” he said coolly, rising to his feet.“What a propitious meeting.I have been anxious to speak with you.”
Wortley swung toward Grayson.“And who the devil are you?”
Grayson’s lips curled grimly.“I am Wroth.”
“Wroth?”the squire asked, looking puzzled.“The marquess?”
At Grayson’s nod, he swallowed.Obviously, even Wortley had heard of him, and Grayson took some pleasure in his reputation.He tilted his head in acknowledgment.
“And you, Squire, have arrived at a most opportune time.Let us speak, privately.”
“Privately, eh?What’s this?Katie?”The man shot Kate a panicked glance, but she ignored his pained expression with such regal grace that Grayson paused a moment to admire her.Then he nodded to Badcock, and without blinking an eye, the valet assumed the duties of a butler, leading the marquess and his reluctant guest to the study and closing the doors behind them.
“Please, be seated,” Grayson said, waving his hand toward one of the threadbare chairs that stood near the empty grate.
As he moved to a place behind the desk, Grayson took the opportunity to assess his opponent and experienced a vague disappointment.The squire was a fleshy, red-faced little man whose bulging belly told of his fine table and whose expensive rings and watch fob spoke of his prosperity.
Suddenly Grayson wondered whether the fellow had sold the items he took from Hargate in order to realize a tidy profit.His fingers clenched, and he purposely spread them, steepling them before him as he fixed the squire with a cool gaze.
“I, uh, really, my lord, I do not see what business you could possibly have with me,” the man muttered.“I came to see Ka—uh, Lady Courtland—about a matter involving my nephew.”
“Ah,” Grayson said.“The impending nuptials, I assume.”
Wortley’s head swiveled toward Grayson, his small eyes bulging in surprise.“Yes!I, rather… It is most unusual, most unusual—”
“Surely, you can have no objection to the marriage.”
Wortley’s gaze darted about nervously as he cleared his throat.“I hardly think it is a matter for my lord’s interest.”
“Oh, but you are wrong.I am very much interested,” Grayson said smoothly.
With a scowl, Wortley abandoned his manners.“Dash it all, the boy has only a small allowance from his grandmother, and we all know the Courtlands have no money.I have allowed him to live with me, out of respect for his father—”
“A viscount’s younger son, I understand.”
The squire colored.“Well, yes, but blood hardly signifies, when there are pockets to let.As I was saying, I have allowed the boy to live with me—”
“And received his management skills free of charge.”
“Now, see here,” Wortley sputtered, apparently reaching the end of his patience.“I would like to know what connection you have to this household!”
Grayson smiled slightly.“Very well.Although it is not common knowledge, considering the circumstances, I will take you into my confidence.”He leaned forward, as though bestowing a favor upon the portly squire.“The elder Lady Courtland and I are betrothed.”
