Dangerous in Diamonds - Madeline Hunter [20]
She probably worried for no reason. Castleford was not a total scoundrel, from the talk. He had been kind to both Audrianna and Verity at times. He might spend six days a week whoring and drinking, he might not care what was said of him, and he might delight in being bad, but no one had ever painted him as evil or cruel.
Unfortunately, putting her off that land would not qualify as either of those things. It would only be the act of a man making the best use of an inheritance. Hardly evil. Expected, actually. Smart.
She remembered the look in his eyes during those horrible few minutes after he stopped embracing her. She heard again the dark, sardonic tone with which he took his leave at the greenhouse door.
Her heart sank, and she ceased trying to be optimistic about how this meeting would end.
She probably should have begun packing right after she heard his horse galloping away at dawn.
Soon, a little thunder of footsteps worked its way through the adjoining drawing room. Two footmen opened the doors to the airy chamber, then held them wide. A line of men walked in, led by Castleford.
He appeared less informal today, Daphne thought. Crisper. Tidier in indefinable ways. Harder.
He walked like a man striding through life with a purpose. His severe expression spoke of sharp attention to whatever matter was at hand.
It became quickly obvious that, for the moment, she was that matter.
He gave her a good look. His gaze reflected his elevated station in ways not seen before. A duke accustomed to always getting his way was examining a woman who had dared deny him that privilege.
He made introductions to her and Katherine of the two men who had entered behind him. The young one with blond hair, spectacles, an unexpectedly firm jaw, and an earnest expression was his secretary, Mr. Edwards. The older, portly, balding man was one of his solicitors, a Mr. Goodale. Mr. Goodale carried a large roll of paper under his arm.
“Mr. Edwards, please take Miss Johnson below and show her the garden,” Castleford said briskly, once the formalities had been completed. “She is an expert in horticulture. She is here to instruct you on all the things our gardeners are doing wrong, and you are to take notes for reference and improvements.”
Mr. Edwards pulled a little ledger book out of his coat for those notes. He bowed to Katherine. “Miss Johnson, if you would do me the honor?”
Clearly confused, Katherine allowed Mr. Edwards to remove her from the chamber.
Castleford settled into a chair facing the settee. Daphne hoped his relaxation in that chair heralded a similar relinquishment of the severity his face wore.
Another dark scrutiny came her way. This time she could see the devilish lights in his eyes, only today they made him appear more dangerous than mischievous. Castleford was not a different man today, but his temperament seemed to sharpen along with his wits when he remained cold sober.
“Forgive my removing Miss Johnson with that little deception regarding her purpose here, Mrs. Joyes. I thought you might not want your friend to hear our conversation. I did not know if you had confided in her,” he said.
“I have not confided. It is best she is not here.” She had counted on Castleford to be circumspect around Katherine during this visit and to communicate his decision without being explicit. She had not expected him to receive her with a little entourage in tow.
“Then let us discuss the business at hand. Goodale here has a talent for finding information quickly. He is much smarter than he looks and enjoys poring over documents and records. He did a bit of investigating, so that I would know what I required in order to make a decision last Tuesday.”
Her blood pounded in hard, slow beats. “Investigating ?” It was all she could do to get the word out in a calm voice.
She looked at Mr. Goodale cautiously. He in turn ignored the insult buried in Castleford’s praise and beamed with pleasure at his master’s expression of high regard.
“It is wise to research inherited property, to see just what is what,” Mr. Goodale explained.