The Inheritance (32 page)

Nicholas danced Daisy to the edge of the room. “I
need to speak with Miles. I’ll see you later.” And left her again.

Daisy fumed. This was supposed to be her wedding celebration, and instead of paying attention to the bride, the groom was off visiting with the guests. Meanwhile, he had made it plain that if she so much as glanced at another man, he would flatten him. Daisy was ready to hit something herself. Preferably Nicholas. In a place where it would hurt.

Nicholas found Miles on the terrace with Verity. “I’m sorry to interrupt you, but I’d like to speak with Miles privately.”

“Nick, your timing is terrible,” Miles said after his wife was gone. “A party is no time to talk business.”

“This isn’t business, exactly. I wondered what you might know about my mother and father.”

“Oh.” Miles turned and stared out over the garden. The smell of roses was overpoweringly sweet. “I remember your mother smelled of roses the day I met her.”

“When was that?”

“On the ship that took you to America.”

“You were on it?” Nicholas exclaimed.

“I was.”

“How old were you then?”

“Seventeen.”

“Why didn’t I meet you?”

“You were seasick at the beginning of the voyage, if you’ll recall. Later I stayed in my cabin during the day and only came on deck at night.”

“You spoke with my mother?”

“Often.”

“Did she tell you anything about … Were my father’s accusations true?”

“All I know is that she was a very unhappy woman. She obviously loved your father. And she worried about what was going to happen to the two of you. I think she expected your father to come to his senses and come after her. To be honest, she still seemed to be in shock over the whole incident.”

“That doesn’t seem the picture of a guilty party,” Nicholas said thoughtfully.

“I didn’t think so,” Miles concurred.

“Unfortunately, her tragic behavior isn’t proof of anything,” Nicholas said. “She could simply have been upset over getting caught.”

Miles shrugged. “I can’t help you any more than I have.”

“Do you know a man named Estleman? Have you heard of him?”

“No.”

“My mother didn’t mention him?” Nicholas insisted.

Miles shook his head. “I’m sorry. Believe me, I know how frustrating it can be to wonder about something and never know the truth.”

Nicholas recognized the look in Miles’s silvery eyes. He had seen it often in his own mirror. “I’d like to get together again sometime. I’d be interested to hear how you like Wyoming.”

“You’ll have to catch me before the spring,” Miles said. “Verity and I are heading home then.”

“I thought your home was here.”

“I have a ranch in Wyoming that’s home for us now. We only came here for a visit. I hadn’t been back to England in quite some time. It’s interesting how much things change.”

“And how much they stay the same.”

Miles smiled. “I know exactly what you mean. Do you miss your ranch in America?”

“I didn’t leave many friends behind in Texas. Just one really,” Nicholas confessed. “I’m amazed to admit it, but I believe I have more memories of Severn than of my ranch in Texas. I was always on the trail. I didn’t spend much time at home. My friend, Simp, was there with my son, and I came and went on business.”

“What does Daisy think about living in America?”

“I don’t know.”

When Miles arched a questioning brow, Nicholas flushed. “Daisy and I … Daisy’s staying in England.”

“I see. You need her to keep an eye on things here for a while. I can understand that.”

Nicholas didn’t correct Miles’s inaccurate perception of the facts. He didn’t need to explain his life to anyone. But Miles wasn’t content to let sleeping dogs lie.

“How soon is she going to be joining you?”

“She isn’t,” Nicholas said flatly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, there are some people I need to meet.”

Nicholas fled, ran like a yellow cur being chased by a broom. He didn’t want to answer any more questions about his relationship to Daisy. Because the more times he mentioned to someone he was leaving her in England, the less happy he was about the situation.

Not that he loved her, or anything like that. But he wanted her. She was his wife. He wasn’t likely to have another. And if that was so, he would rather have her in his bed than have to find a woman for
the night in the sort of house where he had grown up.

He headed back to the party, determined to meet each and every one of his tenants. It was high time he let them know who was going to be in charge of things from now on.

As he stepped into the ballroom Thompson was just passing by him with a tray of half-filled champagne glasses. The tray slipped and champagne spilled across his new formal coat and brocade vest.

“I’m so terribly sorry, Your Grace,” Thompson said. “That was terribly clumsy of me.”

Nicholas swiped at the fizzy wetness with his hands and perused the butler through narrowed eyes. “I see. There seem to have been quite a few accidents this evening. I don’t suppose you know what’s at the root of all this clumsiness, Thompson?”

The butler never batted an eye. “I’m sure I can’t imagine, Your Grace.”

“May I suggest, Thompson, that you pass the word that I’ve gotten the message?”

“What message was that, Your Grace?” Thompson said.

“It isn’t necessary for you—any of you—to retaliate on behalf of the duchess for the way I treated her this morning. Her Grace is perfectly capable of managing the situation by herself. Do we understand each other, Thompson?”

“I believe so, Your Grace. If Your Grace would like to retire to your room, I shall see that Porter attends you there.”

The duke’s lip curled sardonically. “Thank you,
Thompson. Would you tell Porter I’ve cried peace before you send him up?”

Thompson’s eyes twinkled. “I shall, Your Grace.”

Colin’s eyes hadn’t left Lady Roanna since she entered the drawing room. She was wearing a pink and white striped gown that made her look as soft and pliable as a piece of saltwater taffy. He was surprised when she approached him directly upon entering.

Her eyes met his as she said, “I wanted to apologize for the way I behaved the last time we met.”

He didn’t want her apology. He didn’t want to be anywhere near her. Because when he was, his heart rate slammed out of control and muscle and sinew clenched in all the wrong places. “No apology is necessary.”

She laid a hand on his sleeve to keep him from moving away. Her hands were small and dainty. But absolutely capable of keeping him rooted to the spot.

He forced his voice to be harsh. “Was there something else you wanted?”

Her hand trembled on his arm, and her eyes filled to the brim with tears she quickly blinked back. Colin felt like a scoundrel, but he was fighting hard not to succumb to her again.

“Won’t you forgive me?”

“You’re forgiven,” he said in a raw voice. “Now get the hell away from me and leave me alone.”

He watched her recoil as though he had slapped her. Her hand fell to her side, and a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye. He kept his face as impassive as granite. He wasn’t going to let her tears sway him. She didn’t really care about him.
This was all another game. And this time, he didn’t intend to lose.

Colin was surprised when Lady Roanna stood her ground. He had expected her to turn and run for cover after the tongue-lashing he had given her. His eyes caught on her lower lip, which she was worrying with her teeth.

“I suppose I deserved that,” she said at last. “What I did was rude and … thoughtless. I didn’t realize until you left that I was also dishonest.”

Colin wished she would look up at him again so he could see what she was thinking, what she was feeling. He didn’t want to ask, but she had piqued his curiosity. “Dishonest? How?”

She raised her eyes, and he saw himself as a man going down for the third time, drowning in her tears. “I … I was afraid to admit to you … or myself … that I was attracted to a …” She swallowed. “To you,” she finished.

His heart was thumping so loudly he was surprised she didn’t remark on it. She was attracted to him. But she didn’t want to be, not to someone like him. “You should call me what I am,” he managed to say. “A bastard. That isn’t going to change, so I don’t see what purpose your apology is supposed to serve.”

“It doesn’t matter to me.”

“Doesn’t it?”

He saw the blush that revealed the lie. His voice was soft when he said, “You wish it didn’t matter.” He paused and added, “So do I.”

Her eyes shot to his, and he saw the yearning there, the desire. And knew he would have to be
crazy to do anything about it. “No, Roanna. It wouldn’t work.”

“But—”

Her hand clasped his sleeve again. He glanced over and saw the frown on her father’s face. “Let go, Lady Roanna.” He had used her title to put some distance between them. It didn’t work. When she continued holding on to him, he said in a gentler voice, “Your father is watching us. Let go.”

She did, but as her fingertips slid away he fought the shudder of need that tore through him.

She clasped her hands in front of her, which he figured was a pretty good idea, since otherwise he would have been tempted to reach for her.

“Can we be friends, Colin?” she asked, keeping her eyes focused on her hands.

“Friends?” He frowned. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a lady friend before. I don’t know. What kind of friendship did you have in mind?”

He watched her brow furrow. She started to speak once, stopped, then pursed her lips in frustration.

“Just friends,” she said. “You know. Talk to each other.”

“About what?”

“Anything. Everything.”

“You have to trust someone to tell them things about yourself.” Colin shook his head. “I don’t trust you, Roanna,” he said bluntly.

“Then let me do all the trusting. At least at first.”

“I don’t know.” Colin knew there was a catch somewhere in what she was suggesting. He just didn’t see it right now. He knew he wouldn’t be able to avoid her completely for the rest of the time he was at Severn, and the friendship she was offering
seemed safer than any other relationship he could have with her. To be honest, he liked looking at her, and he liked the way she made him feel when she looked at him.

“All right, Roanna. Friends.”

She looked up at him with such a surge of joy in her eyes that it was all he could do not to sweep her into his arms.

“I promise you won’t be sorry, Colin. I’d better go meet some of the other guests now.”

From the look Colin saw on her father’s face, he supposed she was right. “I’ll see you later.”

She gave him a mischievous smile. “You certainly will. We’re seated together at supper.”

He watched, stunned as she turned and flounced—he couldn’t think of a better word—off toward Lady Linden.

Roanna was ecstatic with the success of her interview with Colin. She had hoped he would forgive her and agree to come see her again. But she had underestimated how badly she had hurt him. It was, she knew, a tremendous concession for him to agree to try to be friends. Unfortunately, she was as much in the dark as he was about how a man and woman who were attracted to each other physically became friends.

She had grown up as the pampered and protected daughter of an earl, never allowed to romp and roam with the neighborhood children. Her only relationships recently had been with the young dandies who had besieged her during her comeout the past season. She knew how to tease and dissemble. She knew nothing about honestly sharing her feelings.
But if that was what Colin wanted, she was willing to try.

It was fortunate she had been able to persuade Daisy to seat them together at supper. As she laid her hand on Colin’s arm, and he led her in to the table, she felt the vibrations that shot between them. She knew it must be happening to both of them. It simply couldn’t be one-sided. She debated the wisdom of trying to flirt with him and decided against it. If she was to have a chance at all of earning back his respect, she would have to do it on his terms. As his friend.

Once they were seated and the soup was served, she searched her mind for a topic, any topic, she might discuss with him.

“Are you—”

“Have you—”

They both spoke at the same time, then fell silent, each waiting for the other to speak.

“You go ahead,” Roanna said, relieved that she wouldn’t have to come up with something intelligent to discuss.

“I was going to ask if you’ve been riding recently.”

“I go every day,” Roanna said.

Silence fell.

Roanna wondered whether he wanted to invite her to go riding with him, or whether he wanted her to invite him to join her.

“Would you—”

“We could—”

Roanna laughed. “This is ridiculous. I don’t know why I should feel so awkward speaking with you. If you asked Priss I’m sure she’d tell you I can talk all
day without taking a breath. Now I’m babbling, so you see she’s not far off the mark. Anyway, I wondered whether we might not ride together sometime. What do you think?”

“I was just going to invite you to join me tomorrow. Along with Daisy and the duke of course. We’re going to be visiting one of the tenants.”

Roanna smiled and Colin felt his stomach do a flip-flop.

“I would love to join you. What time should I be there?”

“Is nine o’clock too early?”

Roanna would have to be up before the crack of dawn to dress and make the ride to Severn, but she said, “Nine o’clock would be fine.”

Colin had been wondering what they would find to talk about, but once Roanna got started, it seemed there were a dozen subjects that arose. She had something to say about every one of them. Not that she hogged the conversation. She asked him questions to draw him out, and he was pleased to note that she listened to him and asked even more questions. It surprised him to realize how intelligent she was and how much she had read.

He was grateful for the respite from Roanna’s company when the ladies left the men and retired to the drawing room. He paid little attention to the conversation of the men sitting around the table with him; he was too caught up in his own thoughts.