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"Oh, I. . . Of course. It is such a long journey, I can't imagine. But, you see, my brother.. ."
"Your brother?"
"He somehow found out that I'd sent you funds before. He has cut off my allowance."
"I see. Your brother has found you out. That makes sense, then. Where are you going?"
"Me? Oh, I am going shopping in Greendale. There is the most wonderful little millinery there, and Hart has already sent them a note to vouch for my credit. I shall—"
"You must go back home, and access your household accounts."
"Oh, but Hart has declared that he must approve everything! And he is not there. He's gone to London. I don't. . . maybe. . ."
"Yes?"
"No, that would take too long."
"What?" Damien pressed, eyes glinting like cut topaz.
"I could write him a note, send it as soon as I reach Greendale. He promised me a new phaeton, Damien, and two high-flyers! Can you imagine me racing down the drive of Somerhart? If I told him I'd found the perfect matched set of whites and the most wonderful little carriage . . . Do you think a thousand quid would be enough, Damien?"
Those eyes flashed. "I will pay you back."
"But then I shall have to give up my phaeton, I suppose."
"I'll make it up to you," he said flatly. "And I'm sure your dear brother will forgive you."
"Oh, I suppose. All right. Shall I meet you back here then? On Saturday perhaps? It would take a few days to get his response, but I'd think that a week would—"
"Yes. Saturday. There is an inn about five miles ahead. I'll meet you in the orchards next to it."
Alex raised her eyebrows. "Must you stay hidden, Damien?"
"I must."
"Damien .. . I.. . Hart said the most awful thing about you. He said that you wanted John Tibbenham dead. That cannot be true, though. I told him it wasn't." Bile rose in her throat as she watched a glow of triumph light his face.
"Of course not, my dear. It was all a terrible misunderstanding. If I could take it back . . ."
"I know," she made herself say, and thought of how pleased she would be to offer him up to Collin on a platter. A week with Collin—what she'd wanted so much for so long—and then she could give Collin just what he'd been waiting for.
Alex sprang from the chair, padding quickly on bare feet to peer out the window. Again. She propped her arms on the sill and her chin on her wrists and breathed in the smell of old wood and vinegar, the scent she'd been breathing on and off for two hours.
He would come. He had to.
Swaying a little on the balls of her feet, swinging her hips in the air, she imagined herself a simple farm girl waiting for her strapping young beau. Her skirt brushed against bare legs, her hair hung unrestrained down her back, curling over the bright white cotton and lace of the dressing gown.
A simple farm girl. Well, she worked the stables sometimes, didn't she? And certainly crops were grown on her brother's land. And Collin was nothing if not strapping.
Pressing her cheek to the glass, she could just make out the dark wood of the stable. Hmm. If they were going to live out a fantasy, she would do her best to seduce Collin into taking her in there. In the closeness of the afternoon heat, on a bed of clean blankets and fresh hay, as dust motes danced over their heads. Every farm girl made love at least once in a barn, didn't she?
Her smile was a soft echo of the anticipation growing between her legs. She wanted him with such fierceness that she walked through her days with weak thighs and a hard ache deep in her belly. Her nervousness today only made her lust more keen.
She had no doubt he was regretting this agreement they'd come to, had no doubt he'd like to change his mind, but he wouldn't. He would not leave her sitting in this house like an undressed courtesan pining for her protector. At worst, he would arrive and try to talk her out of it. She had ways of dealing with such resistance. She had chased him, after all. If she had made a fool of herself, she would at least have his body as appeasement.
Someone rode into view. Alexandra froze, terrified that Damien had followed her here despite her cautiousness. But the horse drew closer, down the long lane that curved through the trees, and she saw the rider's face.
Oh, here was reality. Collin scowled, thoughtful and tense, and Alex smiled. Yes, he thought this a very poor plan indeed. Too bad for him.
