someone would be willing to escort you and show you around, if you wanted to take a ride.”
He saw her eyes light up in a triumphant glint and he knew he’d been had.
Batting long lashes at him, she said demurely, “Are you offering your services, Monsieur Despard?”
STORMY HEIDE KATROS
28
He was about to decline, when Thomas broke in and offered his services for him. “André knows this country like the back of his hand. I am sure he would consider it an honor to show you about.”
André smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Their frosty blue speared into Thomas and he felt hard-pressed to keep the tension from his voice. “I am sure Lady Michaella would feel much more at ease with people of her own age.”
Tom kicked his brother’s leg beneath the table. They didn’t want to be saddled with Stormy, because they had their eyes on a couple of young ladies and it simply wouldn’t do to make them jealous. They started to shake their heads simultaneously. “We already have plans for this morning, father.”
“In that case, you would be doing me a great favor, if you took my brother’s daughter for a ride around the countryside.” Thomas emphasized the words brother and daughter, when he noticed Trevor’s disapproving scowl.
André’s mind churned for a legitimate excuse, but he couldn’t think of one. Hell, he couldn’t think of anything. He would be alone with this hellion and god only knew where that would lead.
He inclined his head as graciously as he could and bit out, “I will meet you at the stables in say half an hour?”
“I’ll be ready.” Stormy relished the idea of being alone with André. She disliked his aloofness toward her. She was used to young men fawning over her. Well, she would charm him like a spider did a fly and then she would drop him like a stone. He definitely needed a comeuppance.
Before Stormy could leave the room, her father stopped her. “I expect you to behave yourself. Cut the poor man a little slack.” He grinned down at her, knowing full well that Stormy could hold her own, but he wasn’t so sure about André.
“Since you will ride out with Mister Despard, your mother and I intend to take a short trip to Bellingshire and visit the Cormacs. I am not sure if you remember, but they are the people who owned Dreamscape before I bought it from them. Actually, they made me a good deal at the time and I will be forever grateful to them for that. Just in case we are asked to stay overnight, I know you are in good hands here at Emerald Hills.”
Stormy stood on tiptoe and kissed her father’s cheek, while she crossed her fingers behind her back, knowing full well that she was about to tell a lie. “You and mother have a good time. I promise to behave.”
At the appointed time Stormy strolled into the stable and André almost swallowed his tongue. “Mademoiselle, I am afraid you cannot go out riding in that … that manner of dress.
You might get away with it in the colonies, but here it is out of the question for a young lady to ride in men’s breeches.”
Oh, she had known that all along, but she had wanted to get his goat and she apparently had succeeded. Pivoting on one foot, she turned a complete circle to taunt him. “But I don’t understand, monsieur.” She widened her eyes in that innocent way that turned his insides to mush. “I am completely covered from head to toe. What objection could anyone have?”
“Trust me, it won’t do,” André rasped, surprised that his voice sounded so strangled even in his own ears.
Laughter bubbled in the back of Stormy’s throat, but she wasn’t about to let him know how much she relished his discomfort. Hanging her head she pretended to feel chastised and STORMY HEIDE KATROS
29
started to walk out of the stables with an exaggerated wriggle of her derrière. She turned at the entrance, just to look at him once more in time to see him swallow convulsively.
Straight-faced, she speared him
He saw her eyes light up in a triumphant glint and he knew he’d been had.
Batting long lashes at him, she said demurely, “Are you offering your services, Monsieur Despard?”
STORMY HEIDE KATROS
28
He was about to decline, when Thomas broke in and offered his services for him. “André knows this country like the back of his hand. I am sure he would consider it an honor to show you about.”
André smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Their frosty blue speared into Thomas and he felt hard-pressed to keep the tension from his voice. “I am sure Lady Michaella would feel much more at ease with people of her own age.”
Tom kicked his brother’s leg beneath the table. They didn’t want to be saddled with Stormy, because they had their eyes on a couple of young ladies and it simply wouldn’t do to make them jealous. They started to shake their heads simultaneously. “We already have plans for this morning, father.”
“In that case, you would be doing me a great favor, if you took my brother’s daughter for a ride around the countryside.” Thomas emphasized the words brother and daughter, when he noticed Trevor’s disapproving scowl.
André’s mind churned for a legitimate excuse, but he couldn’t think of one. Hell, he couldn’t think of anything. He would be alone with this hellion and god only knew where that would lead.
He inclined his head as graciously as he could and bit out, “I will meet you at the stables in say half an hour?”
“I’ll be ready.” Stormy relished the idea of being alone with André. She disliked his aloofness toward her. She was used to young men fawning over her. Well, she would charm him like a spider did a fly and then she would drop him like a stone. He definitely needed a comeuppance.
Before Stormy could leave the room, her father stopped her. “I expect you to behave yourself. Cut the poor man a little slack.” He grinned down at her, knowing full well that Stormy could hold her own, but he wasn’t so sure about André.
“Since you will ride out with Mister Despard, your mother and I intend to take a short trip to Bellingshire and visit the Cormacs. I am not sure if you remember, but they are the people who owned Dreamscape before I bought it from them. Actually, they made me a good deal at the time and I will be forever grateful to them for that. Just in case we are asked to stay overnight, I know you are in good hands here at Emerald Hills.”
Stormy stood on tiptoe and kissed her father’s cheek, while she crossed her fingers behind her back, knowing full well that she was about to tell a lie. “You and mother have a good time. I promise to behave.”
At the appointed time Stormy strolled into the stable and André almost swallowed his tongue. “Mademoiselle, I am afraid you cannot go out riding in that … that manner of dress.
You might get away with it in the colonies, but here it is out of the question for a young lady to ride in men’s breeches.”
Oh, she had known that all along, but she had wanted to get his goat and she apparently had succeeded. Pivoting on one foot, she turned a complete circle to taunt him. “But I don’t understand, monsieur.” She widened her eyes in that innocent way that turned his insides to mush. “I am completely covered from head to toe. What objection could anyone have?”
“Trust me, it won’t do,” André rasped, surprised that his voice sounded so strangled even in his own ears.
Laughter bubbled in the back of Stormy’s throat, but she wasn’t about to let him know how much she relished his discomfort. Hanging her head she pretended to feel chastised and STORMY HEIDE KATROS
29
started to walk out of the stables with an exaggerated wriggle of her derrière. She turned at the entrance, just to look at him once more in time to see him swallow convulsively.
Straight-faced, she speared him
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