Ophelia gave him a curious look. “You might be viewing marriage from only the male perspective. You men have so many interests, do you really think a woman needs as many?”
He smiled. “’Course not. And you’re about to tell me that some women are blissfully happy just being a wife and a mother, that they don’t need a single other thing to feel everything is right in their world.”
She coughed delicately. “Yes, I was.”
“And, yes, that is often the case. But what about the husbands in those marriages? Do you really think they will remain blissfully happy when they have nothing in common with their wives other than the children they produce together? Or is that why they keep mistresses on the side? Because they bloody well aren’t satisfied with their wives?”
He was appalled to hear the bitterness that had just snuck into his tone, and the lady didn’t miss it, either. She was giving him a wide-eyed look. Her maid was doing more than that. She was glowering at him for introducing a subject unfit for her lady’s ears.
Annoyed with himself, he added curtly, “Sorry, I’ve seen it happen. No one’s happy in situations like that. There’s guilt, shame, and a multitude of other nasty emotions that affect everyone involved. And that’s why I feel more is needed in a marriage for both spouses, and they need to know it before they marry, not afterwards when it’s too late.”
Ophelia nodded, mulling that over for a moment. “I must say, you’re sounding more like a guardian angel than a Cupid.”
He burst out laughing. He would never have taken that view, but he knew well that women did not think the way men did.
“Oh, my.” She’d noticed Reed on his way back to the stable with a string of horses behind him. “How did he collect them so quickly?”
“We train them as well as breed them. He’ll get them saddled before he brings them down here.”
Chapter Eight
AMANDA TRIED WAITING IN the coach while Ophelia finished her business, but she couldn’t do it. She was still too angry to sit still for more than a moment. Instead she tried walking off her anger, but that didn’t seem to help either. She was still so furious at Devin Baldwin that she wanted to scream. No one had ever talked to her like that before. No one!
She was amazed that the man owned this impressive horse farm. He must have other people who handled the business aspects for him or he’d have no clients a’tall. Who would deal with someone as arrogant and condescending as he was? She had a good mind to fetch Ophelia before he ended up insulting her, too. They could go to another horse farm to buy Rafe’s birthday gift.
She passed several benches but ignored them, still feeling too agitated to sit. She kicked several clumps of grass before she realized she’d made a full circuit of the three stables. The second time around she saw where Ophelia had gone, over to the track behind the stables. Three horses had just been led inside it. And he was there. It was a wonder hailstones weren’t falling from the sky on his head, she was glaring at him so furiously.
“Insufferable cad,” she said.
“What’s a cad?”
Amanda swung around with a gasp and saw a little girl standing there, holding the reins of a pony and gazing at her curiously. About five or six years of age, she had a pretty, freckled face and red pigtails. What on earth was a child doing on this farm?
Goodness, Amanda didn’t realize she’d spoken aloud. In response to the girl, she said, “A cad is no one you’d ever want to meet.”
“Oh.” The girl looked puzzled. But then she smiled, revealing a missing tooth. “Do you want to meet me? I’m Amelia Dutton.”
Despite her foul mood, Amanda couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, I am delighted to meet you, Amelia. I’m Amanda. Do you live here?”
“No, I live with my parents in Lancashire at Uncle Devin’s other horse farm, but my father brings horses here sometimes. Mum and I don’t usually come with him, but Uncle Devin had this present for me.” Amelia stroked the pony’s mane. “So I got to come this time. He’s wonderful, isn’t he?”
Amanda was startled to hear the word wonderful right after Devin’s name, but then she almost laughed, realizing the child was talking about her pony.
“Yes, that’s a wonderful pony you have.”
“You like horses, too?”
“Well, I used to, when I was your age, but I don’t so much anymore.”
“How can you not like horses?” Amelia asked in wide-eyed amazement.
Amanda wasn’t about to frighten the child by mentioning the terrible accident she’d had falling from a horse when she was Amelia’s age, which was why she’d never got back on a horse again. Instead she asked, “So you’re related to Devin Baldwin?”
Another missing-tooth smile lit up Amelia’s face. “I wish I was, he’s so nice and funny, always making me laugh. But Mum said I should call him uncle since he’s my father’s best friend. That’s my father with him now.”
Amanda looked back at the fenced-in track where she saw two men racing their mounts. The demonstration was for Ophelia, who must not have decided yet which horse to buy for Rafe. Devin, on a black stallion, was slightly in the lead. Amanda would have picked the white horse Amelia’s father was riding, but only because she remembered seeing not long ago in Hyde Park an acquaintance trot past her carriage on a sleek white mare and thinking that she’d look splendid riding a white horse herself. She’d even had a spark of courage that day and had thought she should try riding again. The thought had been there and gone before she got home.
Apparently, Ophelia had made her decision because she was waving at Devin and pointing at his mount. Amanda wasn’t surprised. Even she was impressed by how graceful and commanding Devin looked on the horse. He had such presence that she suspected he could even make a nag salable. Had she been too harsh in her judgment of him? Even this child adored him, and children could be uncannily perceptive.
Having just had that thought, Amanda was taken aback when she heard the little girl say, “You don’t hate horses enough to hurt them, do you?”
She glanced down to see Amelia frowning at her. “I don’t hate them a’tall, I just don’t like to ride them. But what makes you think I’d want to hurt them?”
“I heard my father talking about it.”
“About me?”
Amelia shook her head. “No, he was telling my mum about the rotten hay that made some of the horses sick, and my mum said the horses would have turned up their noses at rotten hay, so it had to be something else that hurt them.”
Amanda understood now. Of course the child would take note of something that sounded mysterious and scary and build it up in her mind.
Hoping to ease the child’s worries, Amanda reminded her, “From what you’ve told me, your uncle Devin sounds too nice to have enemies.”
“I didn’t think anyone was trying to hurt him, just the horses.”
Amanda chided herself for giving Amelia even more to fret over, so she chuckled to make light of it. “I’m sure Devin isn’t going to let anything bad happen to his horses. Now I must rejoin my brother’s wife, since it appears she’s picked out the horse she wants to buy. It was nice to meet you, Amelia.”
Amanda hurried back to the front of the stables. Having calmed down after talking with the little girl, she realized she was a bit chilled after being outside for so long. She stepped into the stable to warm up for a few minutes, and when she heard Ophelia’s voice coming from the back of the building, she headed that way.
“—so I’ll take him.”
“A good choice,” Devin said. “My current stud was sired by him, which is the only reason I’m willing to let him go. But don’t you want to know his price first?”
“When it comes to pleasing my husband, price is irrelevant. And that goes for his family, too.”
Amanda came around the corner in time to see Ophelia hand Devin a heavy purse. “This is for your matchmaking abilities,” Ophelia added. “I’ll double that when you’re successful.”
“An
d who is it you want me to help?”
“My husband’s sister. She’s having a deuced hard time finding love and she won’t settle for anything less. And after three Seasons trying, well, the whole family feels her plight. You’re just what’s needed to turn this situation around, and I’m delighted you’ve agreed to help.”
Amanda stopped cold in her tracks, mortified that Ophelia would do something like this without even discussing it with her. And to make it sound as if she were in dire need?! To tell him that!
She didn’t even notice that Devin had begun to frown halfway through Ophelia’s explanation, but heard him ask, “I don’t suppose your husband has more than one sister?”
“No, just Amanda.”
Devin handed the purse back to Ophelia with a rude snort. “Forget it. If a duke’s daughter can’t make a match in three Seasons, she doesn’t need my help, she needs a miracle, and I’ll even tell you why, free of charge. She talks too much, is too vain to listen to anyone tell her what she’s doing wrong, and by all accounts, she’d much rather run up a tally on how many men she can keep dangling before they get a clue that—”
“How dare you!” Amanda cut in, marching forward. “You’re the one without a clue, you obnoxious clod!”
Devin stiffened, but all he said was “That might have been a bit too blunt, what you just heard, but I didn’t anticipate a young lady would be sneaking around my stables eavesdropping. Not that I’m in the habit of wrapping up the truth prettily for any reason.”
Amanda gasped, even more hot color reddening her cheeks. “No, you’re just in the habit of being an arrogant boor.” But she was even more enraged at Ophelia and dismissed Devin completely to turn her heated glare on her. “Pheli, how could you do this?! Hire him behind my back? Him? I could be drowning and I wouldn’t accept his help!”
Ophelia winced. “Mandy—”
“No, not in front of him. Not another word in front of him!” Amanda hissed.
She lifted her skirt and ran back the way she’d come, afraid she was going to burst into tears at any moment. She could barely breathe she was so choked with emotion. She’d never been so humiliated, but she’d never behaved like such a shrew, either. My God, she didn’t know what was worse, what she’d heard or how she’d reacted to it!
Pushing open the stable door, she ran out and immediately collided with someone. She would have lost her balance completely if a pair of hands hadn’t quickly come to her shoulders to steady her. She glanced up to apologize for the near accident, but no words came out. She was looking at the amiable countenance of one of the most dashing gentlemen she’d ever seen.
“Hello,” he said in a deep voice. “That was clumsy of me. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“No, I—” She found herself completely tongue-tied. He was so handsome! Curly, light brown hair, beautiful green eyes, nearly six feet tall.
“Let’s sit you down for a moment to make sure you’re all right.” He led her to the bench under the lone tree in front of the stables. “Please allow me the liberty of introducing myself. Lord Kendall Goswick, my lady, at your service. May I beg your name?”
Blushing, she said, “Amanda.”
“You are all right? Please, assure me.”
“Truly, I’m fine. The fault was mine, I wasn’t watching my step.”
With a boyish grin he said, “I consider that my good fortune. Are you here buying a new mount? Baldwin has remarkable stock.”
“Yes, for my brother’s birthday.”
“Then you must love horses as much as I do!”
“Well, actually, it was my sister-in-law’s idea, but, yes, certainly, what isn’t there to love about horses?” Amanda smiled at him but she groaned inside. She couldn’t believe she’d just said that!
Chapter Nine
DEVIN STARED AT THE chit as she ran away and in that direction after she was gone from sight. Twice now she’d stalked off in a rage. Amanda Locke, all fire and brimstone, was definitely a sight to behold. Blue eyes flashing, fists clenched, trim little body bristling, she was too angry to even listen to Ophelia’s explanation. He didn’t know too many ladies who would actually lose their decorum like that for any reason—no, scratch that, he couldn’t think of a single one.
After a few moments Ophelia actually snapped her fingers in front of his face to get his attention. He started to laugh at himself, but cut it off and glanced at her instead. She didn’t look too pleased either and appeared to be filled with annoyed chagrin.
“You probably should have warned her,” he said with an amused grin.
“No, I wanted to make sure you were available before I broached the subject with her.”
He shrugged. “Well, you see what I mean? Instead of admitting she’s going about this husband hunt all wrong, she takes offense.”
Ophelia tsked at him. “Anyone would have taken offense at what you just said.”
“I’ll be the first to admit she shouldn’t have heard that, but the truth isn’t always pretty.”
“The truth could be broached in any number of ways that don’t include derision, but first impressions aren’t always accurate, and from the sound of it, you’ve misjudged Mandy out of hand. I would think that you of all people wouldn’t jump to conclusions like that.”
The lady was scolding him? He did laugh this time. “She doesn’t want my help and I don’t feel like leading any men to the slaughter today. So why don’t we scratch this matchmaking mission up as not doable.”
“You make it sound like you think she’s a lost cause. She’s not, you know. She just hasn’t met the right man yet. But that’s where you would have come in, to find that right man for her. So why don’t you keep this.” Ophelia slapped the purse against his chest. “And simply give it some thought. If after a week or two you can’t think of a single man she might like that she hasn’t met yet, then no harm done.”
Amanda Locke was going to need a lot more help than that, but Devin had already said as much. If the lady still wanted to squander her money on a lost cause, he wasn’t going to throw away a gift horse twice.
“Very well,” he said.
“Oh, and if you should meet my husband again, please don’t mention that I’ve hired you.”
“As it happens, he said he was going to come by for a new horse, so you might want to take your stallion home today and give him his present early. But why don’t you want him to know about this other business?”
She sighed. “I broached the subject of hiring you to help Mandy with him last night. He was appalled by the notion, told me to bite my tongue and not give it another thought. He thought his sister would be horrified if she found out about it, and he was right about that, as you just witnessed.”
“He forbade you to arrange this, didn’t he?”
She nodded with a slight wince. “And he’ll think I’ll abide by that.”
“You don’t think his sister will tell him, as angry as she is?”
“I’m going to do my best to convince her that wouldn’t be a good idea.”
“But you’re not really worried about deceiving him?” Devin guessed.
She blinked. “I’m doing nothing of the sort—oh, wait, you think his dictate is the final word in the matter?” She almost laughed, he could tell she was fighting it. “No indeed. We have a marriage of the sort you try to arrange, blissful in every way. I’m trying to help his sister. He would have done the same if he didn’t think Mandy would hold it against him. But even their father has concluded that a new plan of action is needed at this point and last night spoke to one of the old matchmakers he is acquainted with.”
Devin laughed. “Then you don’t need me.”
“On the contrary, I don’t know what came of the duke’s conversation with the matchmaker, but I don’t really think she can help. I do think you can or I wouldn’t have asked. Your approach is innovative. You go beyond what’s clearly on the surface to make sure a match will be lasting.”
He gave her a skeptical look a
s he led her into his office at the back of the stable to conclude their first business. “Do you want me to deliver the stallion today to your London residence?”
“No, we celebrate all birthdays at Norford Hall, and Rafe’s isn’t until next month. The whole family will adjourn to the country for the celebration.” She jotted down the location and the date for Devin. “I’ll think of something to make sure Rafe holds off buying a mount for himself in the meantime.”
“As you wish.”
Devin waited until she’d put the bill of sale away and they were walking toward the front of the stable before he reminded her, “You know I gave your sister-in-law good advice. She took offense and, as you said, was out there snarling at the grass because of it. Now, after what she heard, she’d sooner spit at me than work with me toward her goal.”
“She’s simply touchy about her situation, and that’s quite understandable. All of her friends have found husbands. She’s the only one who hasn’t.”
“Which proves she’s too bloody particular,” he said under his breath as he opened the stable door for Lady Ophelia.
“I heard you, but I disagree. You said it yourself, attraction must come first and—” She paused as she looked outside. “Oh, my, I think that requirement has been met. Who is that handsome young man sitting next to Amanda, enthusiastically talking her ear off? She seems quite enthralled by him.”
“Kendall Goswick, the Earl of Manford,” Devin answered, surprised to see Kendall there. “He’s been a client of mine ever since he came of age last year and shook off his guardians. Quite the horse fancier he is. If you can’t get Amanda back on a horse, he’s not for her.”
“Really?”
“Really. The man spends most of his days in the saddle when he doesn’t have to! He doesn’t just love horses, he’s a bit obsessive about them and thinks nothing of hying off to other countries to track down new mounts for his stable, now that he has control of his purse strings. He must have just returned from Ireland. He went there a few weeks ago to buy a mare he heard about.”
Let Love Find You Page 6