Page 138 of Kathryn

“I was not aware you knew my wife, Lord Jasper.”

The last time Katie had heard Dulverton’s voice so frigid he’d had his fist around the Earl of Ampthill’s throat. Jasper, the fool, had no idea how much physical danger he was in.

“Oh yes, we are old friends,” Jasper said, oozing a slimy sort of charm.

Katie winced at the suggestive way he said old friends.

“Is Her Grace here today? I swear that is her mount.”

Katie hurried from her shelter before Jasper could do any more damage.

“Ah—there she is!” Jasper cried when she almost barreled into the two men. “Hallo, Katie darling.”

“What a surprise, Lord Jasper,” she said coolly, risking a glance at her husband and then wishing she hadn’t. The white-hot fury in his arctic eyes said he wanted to hurt something. Or someone. “You have come to see our work, have you?” she added.

“How could I resist after you spoke of the dig with such enthusiasm, Ka—er, Your Grace?”

Katie’s hands itched to slap the mocking, sneering smirk from his lying face but instead forced herself to meet Dulverton’s predatory stare. “Have you given him the tour, Your Grace?”

“I am too busy. Mr. Scott can—”

“I will do it,” Katie interrupted. “I was just taking a break from my work inside the tent. It will be no bother.”

Dulverton’s jaw flexed dangerously but he pivoted on his heel and stalked away.

Katie grabbed Jasper’s upper arm and jerked him toward the tent. “I would be happy to show you what I have been working on, my lord,” she said in a loud voice. And then added beneath her breath, “What are you doing here?”

“If the mountain will not come—”

“I told you I did not wish to see you again,” she hissed when they reached the flimsy privacy of the tent.

“I just wanted to see you, darling. Our last conversation ended on such a sour note that I’ve not been able to get a good night’s sleep since. Do not be angry with me, Katie. Please.” He stuck out his lower lip in a pout she remembered from five years ago. She was such an idiot. She’d thought it adorable then; now she saw it for what it was: grotesque and pathetic for a man his age to behave like a coy schoolgirl.

“I have nothing to say to you, Jasper. I’m not sure how many different ways I have to explain that before you comprehend my meaning.” Her eyes flickered over his shoulder, to where Dulverton was standing and—ostensibly—talking to one of the workers, his eyes riveted to Katie and Jasper.

Katie pointed to the table, as if she were showing something to Jasper, and snarled beneath her breath, “There is nothing between us and there never will be. Nothing. And I want nothing to do with you. You are putting my marriage in jeopardy, and I do not appreciate it.”

Jasper smirked. “Dulverton guards you like a dog with a bone. I thought he’d take my head off just for saying hello.”

“Can you really be so stupid?” she demanded. “My husband is not a man to be trifled with. You will find yourself facing pistols at dawn if you do not stop pestering me and leave.”

“I am not frightened of Dulverton.” He gave a dismissive flick of his hand and then his eyes narrowed. “Because you will never tell him about me, will you?” His smile turned ugly. “How much is it worth for him to continue in blissful ignorance, hmm?”

“What are you saying, Jasper?”

“I think you know what I’m saying.”

“You want money, is that it?”

“I know you are well larded—I’ve heard all about the money your generous brothers-in-law bestowed on you.”

Ah, the chickens are coming home to roost.

They certainly were. Impotent rage boiled within her. She wanted to throttle Jasper, but she wanted to throttle herself even more. This whole mess was her fault.

“I do not know what gossip you have heard,” she lied. “I have no money of my own. Everything I had now belongs to my husband.

“Tsk, tsk, no point in trying to hide your golden egg from me, sweetheart.”